Joss w/ Predator shaft

Viking7215

Viking7215

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have been playing pool since i was about 8 years old i'm 21 now and more involved in the sport now than ever before. I have been in a league for the past 4 years with some really good players so far i am 8-0 two weeks into our season and my team is in 2nd place. Anyways i have two Vikings because it is what my grandpa ( The man who taught me how to shoot RIP) always played with. I bought my first Viking with me first paycheck of my first job and i have had that one ever since and got my 2nd Viking about 3 years later.

Although i have had a lot of success with these sticks I want to upgrade and don't know any other way but Viking, Joss seemed like the way to go and I have not heard anything bad about Predator shafts so that combo is what i am aiming for but I have heard good things about McDermotts G Core shaft, the OB1, and the Black Dot. These are the sticks I am looking at and eventually I will get a Predator 314 shaft for one of these.. Opinions and or tips of advice....

jos21250x150-13248.jpg
JOS21-$342

jos12250x150-13240.jpg
JOS12-$524

jos16250x150-13244.jpg
JOS16-$375
 
Last edited:
You should consider getting a Mezz WD700 shaft. It's probably on a competitive level against a predator 314-2.

The WD700 plays stiffer than the predator 314-2 but the 314-2 tends to be more forgiving in terms of shotmaking, giving you a larger margin of error.

I've owned a Mcdermott I-3 shaft before and it's pretty good as well. However, due to the slimmer tapers Mcdermott adapts, it's tends to imitate the idea of a Z-2 shaft, making your english shots easier to pull off but is much less forgiving in your shots, since your tip will be smaller as well (any movement that deviates off your focus point on your CB will be further magnified with a smaller tip, due to a thinner shaft)

I'd say my favorite amongst those 3 will be a WD700 shaft, for the fact that it's stiffer. Otherwise, all 3 of them are LD shafts.

Just my 2 cents worth. In the end, it's best to pick something that you feel best with. I'm not even using a production shaft anymore because I don't really like it =\

Cheers,
Clarence
 
I have not even played with shaft the caliber of any of these i have always shot with a stock Viking shaft.
 
The Joss sticks you've provided as options won't really make a difference in play I think. They just vary in prices due to the fact that the butt design as well as the materials used to produce it is different.

The joss shaft that comes with the butt for all 3 of them will most likely be the same for all 3. The more important factor is whether you prefer which of the 3 designs and what shaft you will want to put with the cue itself. That you will have to probably ask around for more opinions regarding such shafts or just try them out yourself from friends/ your league players.

Hope I helped.

Cheers,
Clarence
 
arknova said:
...or just try them out yourself from friends/ your league players...
Click to expand...

I think Clarence hit the nail on the head with this statement...

People can give you opinions all day long, but what works for one or feels comfortable for one won't necessarily for you.

I've shot every LD shaft there is...I've narrowed mine down to the Tiger X-Ultras on a several of my cues because of the way they play (Schon/Joss/Jacoby/JD Custom), but on my Mezz cues, I prefer the WD700 (but don't like the WD700 on the Schons...go figure...).

On my custom Andy Gilbert, I play with his stock shaft...because it plays UNBELIEVABLE for a "stock" shaft...

Jason
 
All of those JOSS cues will shoot the same. They will probably come standard with a 13.25mm shaft, but you can order anything you want. All their new cues have a short ferrule as well.

Now, here is the cool part IMHO: I believe JOSS will make you a radially laminated shaft if you want. They have been doing it for a number years and I think you will find the pricing surprising. Call them, as far as I know they are still doing it.

Personally, I don't like such shafts from any maker, but if that is what you want, and you want a JOSS, why not get the shaft from JOSS built to your specs?

But why not try the JOSS with the standard shaft first?
 
Both have made very good points. Jason hit it on the head with all the different opinions from different people. A prime example is I bought a Joss from Jason that came with an OB2 shaft, I had never in my life shot with a LD shaft before and I got that Joss with the OB2 shaft, shot about 2 games with it, and back up for sale it went. Same thing with a predator, I absolutely HATE a LD shaft.

IF you have never shot with a LD shaft before, do your best to try one out before buying one, they are not for everybody and you may not like them. I MYSELF prefer the stock Joss shaft whereas Jason doesn't like the Joss shafts and prefers his LD shafts on a Joss.
 
Thank everyone and after reading your replies I think i'm gonna just get the cue and play with the stock shaft.
 
Chopdoc said:
Now, here is the cool part IMHO: I believe JOSS will make you a radially laminated shaft if you want. They have been doing it for a number years and I think you will find the pricing surprising. Call them, as far as I know they are still doing it.
Click to expand...

I play a Joss laminated shaft and wont go to anything else. Ive been looking for a second one for a while now without success. (havent called Joss directly, just looking on here, ebay etc)

The Joss shaft is head and shoulders above any other LD shaft Ive used. I have a predator 314-2 as a back up, hasnt hit a serious ball ever.
 
D_Lewis said:
I play a Joss laminated shaft and wont go to anything else. Ive been looking for a second one for a while now without success. (havent called Joss directly, just looking on here, ebay etc)

The Joss shaft is head and shoulders above any other LD shaft Ive used. I have a predator 314-2 as a back up, hasnt hit a serious ball ever.
Click to expand...

I have heard others say the same thing. It really surprises me that people don't just contact JOSS rather than screw on whatever the flavor of the month logo shaft is. I mean....we're talking about a custom laminated JOSS shaft here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top