McDermott Intimidator I-3 (5/16x18 Joint)
- Thread starter vacation
- Start date
Will do! You're thread inspired me to pull the trigger on a post!
Love these I3 shafts. Worth every penny, but that's just me. If you have a chance to get to an event that McDermott is at you may have a chance to pick up a "blemished" I3. That's where I got my first one at an excellent price, the only blemish was the word 'blemished' printed on the shaft. I'm a very loyal predator guy, and I can switch out from the Z, Z2, or Z3 with the I3 seamlessly. I really can't think of a negative thing to say about the I3. Excellent piece of equipment. You won't be disappointed
Thank you for the response and the "blemished" tip. I'll keep my eyes out! Thanks again.
The I3 is easily the better all-around shaft. If I was told you can only play with one cue (including the break), the shaft I'd pick would be the I3. To me the feel, the taper, the hit (with identical tips) is nearly identical to the Z2. My feeling is that the Z2 plays better with a softer tip, while the I3 is much more of a Chameleon. After having experimented quite a bit, I'd never put something more than a soft tip on the Z2 and I'd try to stick to the SS, right now on the I3 I have a Moori M and I love it, but it played just as well for me with a Kamui SS, an Elkmaster, right on up to the Moori M and everything in between. I think the Z2 is much more of a delicate finesse shaft.
The Z3 feels so much stiffer than any of the others, it's been difficult to get used to. I tried it for a while the way it came from the factory and after a couple of weeks the first thing I did was get rid of the Predator tip, I thought that was absolutely the worst.I tried a few tips on and what I went with was a Kamui Brown soft. But still, there is something about it that I just don't care for, but I'm not ready to give up on it yet. The Original Z is an outstanding shaft, I wish I could find a new on somewhere at a reasonable price. The taper to me feels like a hybrid Pro/Euro, It is a conical taper but it feels much more gradual, love this shaft.
If I were picking one shaft to play all day with I'd have to go with the I3, but I'd have the Original Z with me and switch up from time to time. If I were playing a tournament I'd probably have to go with the Z2. On league night it could be any of the three depending on the cue I an using, right now it's the Original Z with a Schon but I have the I3 with me as well. If I take a Predator I'll likely have a Z2 with me.
As to which is my favorite, tough to say, forced to choose I'd suppose I'd have to go with Z2, but only because I've used it longer and have several of them. But really the transition is pretty seamless.
Well, that wouldn't fulfill my request at all.