More Affordable Predator Revo Cues

pinkspider said:
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?
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Great Analysis, I'm a big Predator fan on the edge with this shaft. I appreciate your comments.
 
pinkspider said:
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?
Click to expand...

This is a good review.
 
This is absolutely untrue. Tony Robles, who is a top pro player SWEARS this shaft is allowing him to play his best pool, and he will never return to a wood shaft. Part of the reason is the extreme low deflection of the Revo shaft. I happen to concur with Tony. Therefore, this is only your opinion, and not necessarily a reflection of true performance with this shaft by expert players.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

pinkspider said:
  • – (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
Click to expand...
 
Scott Lee said:
This is absolutely untrue. Tony Robles, who is a top pro player SWEARS this shaft is allowing him to play his best pool, and he will never return to a wood shaft. Part of the reason is the extreme low deflection of the Revo shaft. I happen to concur with Tony. Therefore, this is only your opinion, and not necessarily a reflection of true performance with this shaft by expert players.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Potential buyers....Scott says it's good.Tony says it good. Any questions?
 
Scott, I have to ask, are you being paid or compensated by Predator in any way? For the past 4 or 5 years, you have been super pro McDermott G Core shaft, recommending them in every thread you touched where a member asked. Now, you are super pro this predator revolution shaft. And obviously, you were given special treatment, as you had a shaft made just for you to your specifications.

For the record, I'm pro-predator also, have been for 15 years. But if you have a financial arrangement with them, you should say so when endorsing their product. IMO:)
 
cleary said:
Since I own the cue, I don't need anyones review. I'm able to review for myself. I could care less what anyone else thinks of the cue or shaft, I like it and play my best pool with it.
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I picked up a P3 GN Revo after hitting some with a buddy's. Instantly fell in love with it and since my old pre cat 314's are wearing out, I am replacing them with Revo's.

Absolutely love the way they play!!!
 
poolhustler said:
Then they should have painted it all black and called it a day.....
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I like the combo but it sure looks good on the iKon2-1 butt.
I do not think anyone here bought the cue because of Scott. I bought it because I wanted it. And because I could. Who bought theirs simply because Scott endorsed it?
Scott has no reason to blow smoke up Predators ass. If it were junk he would say so.
 
GoldCrown said:
I like the combo but it sure looks good on the iKon2-1 butt.
I do not think anyone here bought the cue because of Scott. I bought it because I wanted it. And because I could. Who bought theirs simply because Scott endorsed it?
Scott has no reason to blow smoke up Predators ass. If it were junk he would say so.
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I didn't even know Scott endorsed the cue before I bought mine. I tried, I liked, I bought. Simple.
 
I haven't played the Revo yet, but at this price point, my concern is the law of diminishing returns. I currently play a tiger x-pro, and I wonder if the Revo can reduce the deflection/squirt enough to make it worth paying this much money. In fact, I wonder if a deflection free cue would be worth that much money in comparison to what I am playing. I do actually think a deflection free shaft would be worth it, but does the Revo really change the shot that much that is worth 4-5 x the price of what I am playing, especially since my pool life (and most here) is purely recreational?
 
mantis99 said:
I haven't played the Revo yet, but at this price point, my concern is the law of diminishing returns. I currently play a tiger x-pro, and I wonder if the Revo can reduce the deflection/squirt enough to make it worth paying this much money. In fact, I wonder if a deflection free cue would be worth that much money in comparison to what I am playing. I do actually think a deflection free shaft would be worth it, but does the Revo really change the shot that much that is worth 4-5 x the price of what I am playing, especially since my pool life (and most here) is purely recreational?
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simple answer.... no
 
Scott Lee said:
This is absolutely untrue. Tony Robles, who is a top pro player SWEARS this shaft is allowing him to play his best pool, and he will never return to a wood shaft. Part of the reason is the extreme low deflection of the Revo shaft. I happen to concur with Tony. Therefore, this is only your opinion, and not necessarily a reflection of true performance with this shaft by expert players.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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Hey Scott, on hindsight I should have worded that better. The reason why I said it that way is because I don't want to perpetuate the idea of a silver bullet, that's all.

And yes, ultimately it's just my opinion – it is near impossible to be scientific about these things after all!

Good to hear that Tony loves it, hope to see him win more titles in future
 
poolhustler said:
simple answer.... no
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agreed. if diminishing margin returns and cost is an issue, don't. if it isn't, pull the trigger, it'll probably be the most fun and cool pool tool (that works as advertised) you can buy this year.
 
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If they play a bit better than the usual predator mince, and will last more than twice as long, then they have to be worth the price surely? I will try, and if I like, I will definitely buy without reservation!

I never liked predator shafts in the past due to lack of hit or feel. But...... I have heard many people say that you get good feedback with these shafts, and some of this from people who were militantly anti-predator in the past!
 
mantis99 said:
I haven't played the Revo yet, but at this price point, my concern is the law of diminishing returns. I currently play a tiger x-pro, and I wonder if the Revo can reduce the deflection/squirt enough to make it worth paying this much money. In fact, I wonder if a deflection free cue would be worth that much money in comparison to what I am playing. I do actually think a deflection free shaft would be worth it, but does the Revo really change the shot that much that is worth 4-5 x the price of what I am playing, especially since my pool life (and most here) is purely recreational?
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Try it if you don't like it return it...

https://www.seyberts.com/return-policy
 
iusedtoberich...To answer your question...no, I am not being paid or compensated in any way, for my opinions and personal promotion of Revo shafts. I just happen to LIKE them a lot, and believe personally that they can elevate your game. That opinion is apparently being shared by many folks who have purchased this shaft.

To be completely fair, in addition to the G-Core shaft, I also have played extensively with and strongly promoted the Tiger Pro X shaft at the same time. I still recommend either of those shafts for anyone. As far as Predator making me one for my cue...they have done that for dozens of people, not all pro players. I use the same shaft, right out of the box, as everyone else...it's just fitted to a radial pin, instead of a Uni-loc pin.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

iusedtoberich said:
Scott, I have to ask, are you being paid or compensated by Predator in any way? For the past 4 or 5 years, you have been super pro McDermott G Core shaft, recommending them in every thread you touched where a member asked. Now, you are super pro this predator revolution shaft. And obviously, you were given special treatment, as you had a shaft made just for you to your specifications.

For the record, I'm pro-predator also, have been for 15 years. But if you have a financial arrangement with them, you should say so when endorsing their product. IMO:)
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Nothing...I'm helping promote the shaft through nationwide teaching, getting feedback from hundreds of normal poolplayers. Predator saw the value in that, and gave me one. Nothing different than me getting a free shaft from Tiger and G-Core. I wasn't compensated by them either.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

WoodyMPW said:
How much did you pay for your REVO?
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