I know that practically nobody here knows me so I understand if you think I'm talking out of my ass. Just found the conversation interesting enough that I decided to chime in.
I bought a P3 Revo for fun, thinking at the very worst I'll be able to sell it without much trouble as there was sufficient enough interest in my area and not much by way of supply. I have always been interested in the idea of finding a more consistent and stable material to replace wooden shafts.
So I went in expecting the worst, but I wound up becoming a satisfied user and the cue is staying with me. Here's my $0.02; so yeah, for what it's worth...
Pros
- – Consistency from one shaft to another (butt will change characteristics though), which means replacing a shaft doesn't require you to make massive adjustments in future. Caveat: I only had two to compare with so far.
- – Very low deflection although that's also subject to the stiffness of the butt it's attached to. Actually, I think that's a vague and unhelpful description, but oh well, ain't got time to do all those experiments.
- – Very easy to maintain, doesn't get sticky like the old Cuetec stuff. A quick wipe is all you need. No need to clean and buff etc.
Cons
- – Cost. Most expensive shaft ever that happens to have a butt that comes with it. I still can't figure out how drunk I was when I bought it. It is relatively silly money.
- – (Elephant in the room / #hardtruths alert) The supposed increase in low deflection is irrelevant if you are a consistent, decent player. Is it really worth to pay that much more when more often than not you can get more from practice and just a regular/314 shaft? #notgonnaopenthatcanofworms
- – Unknown quantity. How long can this shaft last before it falls apart? Reviews are good only for that time period. It's like u see many raving reviews for XX brand of smartphone, but fast forward one year later and it acts like a turd. In my case, I willingly (some say stupidly) accepted the risk.
Other thoughts
- – The slimmer flatter taper of the P3 Revo butt compensates for the stiffness of the shaft and makes it easier to play a larger variety of shots, especially those requiring finesse and a loose stroke. Stiffer, fatter butts tend to make the shaft play rather heavy-handedly due to its stiffness. The hit, though rather metallic, is generally rather satisfying. It's really down to preference, but I could understand why they re-tapered the P3 for this version. The shaft generally works well with the regular slim Predator butts too.
- – The weight distribution of the shaft is unique and tends to make cues more front-weighted.
- – Difference between a seasoned medium tip and a soft one is quite massive (IMHO) in terms of how the shaft behaves. Not quite sure which I prefer yet. If people don't quite like the soft tip, I recommend that you give the medium Victory (or anything similar) a try. Not too hard, though; the shaft is stiff enough. I can see why they went with a soft tip in the end, it helps balances out the stiffness of the shaft.
- – It's so straight it's ridiculous. Although not the right way to measure straightness, just try rolling it on the table anyway; it's quite a mindf**k. How long will it stay like this?
I love the shaft, despite the overwhelmingly diminishing marginal returns. And the reality is, it's not really going to improve my play by any significant measure. Let's not kid ourselves, practice matters more at the end of the day.
Do I think it's better than a wooden shaft? Depends on your definition of better. Nothing will replace the hit and feel of a quality maple shaft, period. But that's not my priority when I'm looking for a cue for serious play. It so happens that a low deflection shaft suits the way I set up my shots, that's all. I would still plonk down good money for a well-crafted 'traditional' cue; ultimately it's about what you want out of your purchase.
Is it something I would recommend? Not at this price. Unless you're prepared (and don't mind) to pay over the odds, to begin with.
I think I'm more fascinated by its potential (rather than the actual shaft) and hoping this could be a watershed moment, much like when graphite tennis rackets became de facto. But at these prices, I doubt it will happen anytime soon. Unless copycats can do a reasonably priced alternative that performs competently. If not, our collective mindset towards these shafts will not change. Why pay more when you don't believe in the benefits?