Hi all fellow AZ'er, hope all is going well on this wonderful Thursday afternoon as we all bite down hard during this crappy economy.
Today, after I got out of the gym, I decided to go check out a Predator Z-2 shaft. I have been seriously thinking about upgrading my shaft for my Schmelke, or getting a Z-shaft and sending it to either Rick to make a Sneakiest Pete or sending it to Varney to make a plain jane players.
So I head down to my local billiard shop, Art's. I walk in asking the clerk, do you guys have a Predator Z-2 shaft for a 3/8 10. He walks to the back and comes back with a standard 29 inch shaft, picked up an 18 ounce McD and handed it to me. As I get on the table (No chalk allowed, policy, you chalk it, you buy it!) I start banging a few balls around, I noticed, I am not missing anything. I think I ran about 5-6 balls on this 9-foot Olhausen they have set up for testing cues. I was quite impressed, giving that my usual is 3-ball run (if lucky) and I would be off the table. This is probably all mental, but there was no chalk and everything was center ball hits.
Quality: I think overall the quality of the shaft was great, it has a firm and responsive hit. I really like the short ferrule combo with the 11.75mm tip
After testing out the Z-shaft, I picked up a predator demo cue they have with a 314 cat shaft. The cue was very solid, a great firm and responsive hit as well. Firmer than the Z-shaft. When I picked up the cue, it just felt solid in my hands, almost as if I can go to war with this thing. This time I get to chalk the demo, and I must say, it can put some english on that CB compared to my schmelke. Again, this might all be mental as well. The thicker shaft of the 314 produced a firmer and stiffer hit compared to the Z2-Shaft.
As for pricing wise, it is pretty damn steep to come out of pocket for a Z-shaft, since I like playing with a smaller diameter tip. They are running a special, 20% off everything, and they were selling the Z-shaft for the low ($224
).
They older store clerk, which I am thinking is the owner, is not the brightest when it comes to billiard and pool knowledge. He told me that my Schmelke is not a 3/8 10 (so I bought the cue from them earlier this year, but his son sold it to me, I know what the hell joint I have on my Schmelke, and it is a 3/8 10) because Schmelke doesn't offer 3/8 10 joints, only McDermotts offer 3/8 10 joints. **cough** idiot **cough**
, not to mention, this is the same fellow that sold my brother his viking and shaped the tip on it. I'm glad the Lord has sent me to go buy my cue with my brother, because I had to come home and re shape the entire tip, the guy was not exactly the person we should have running a billiard shop. I hesitate to even take my cue in to get it re-tip there.
So ok, there is my experimental experience for the day, and I must say :thumbup: for the Z-shaft, I likey!
P.S. Sorry for the long post, I am on summer break, I have nothing better to do, and the splint came off a week ago, and I am glad I can type with both hands again lol. Have a good one all.
Happy shooting!
Chino
Today, after I got out of the gym, I decided to go check out a Predator Z-2 shaft. I have been seriously thinking about upgrading my shaft for my Schmelke, or getting a Z-shaft and sending it to either Rick to make a Sneakiest Pete or sending it to Varney to make a plain jane players.
So I head down to my local billiard shop, Art's. I walk in asking the clerk, do you guys have a Predator Z-2 shaft for a 3/8 10. He walks to the back and comes back with a standard 29 inch shaft, picked up an 18 ounce McD and handed it to me. As I get on the table (No chalk allowed, policy, you chalk it, you buy it!) I start banging a few balls around, I noticed, I am not missing anything. I think I ran about 5-6 balls on this 9-foot Olhausen they have set up for testing cues. I was quite impressed, giving that my usual is 3-ball run (if lucky) and I would be off the table. This is probably all mental, but there was no chalk and everything was center ball hits.
Quality: I think overall the quality of the shaft was great, it has a firm and responsive hit. I really like the short ferrule combo with the 11.75mm tip
After testing out the Z-shaft, I picked up a predator demo cue they have with a 314 cat shaft. The cue was very solid, a great firm and responsive hit as well. Firmer than the Z-shaft. When I picked up the cue, it just felt solid in my hands, almost as if I can go to war with this thing. This time I get to chalk the demo, and I must say, it can put some english on that CB compared to my schmelke. Again, this might all be mental as well. The thicker shaft of the 314 produced a firmer and stiffer hit compared to the Z2-Shaft.
As for pricing wise, it is pretty damn steep to come out of pocket for a Z-shaft, since I like playing with a smaller diameter tip. They are running a special, 20% off everything, and they were selling the Z-shaft for the low ($224
).They older store clerk, which I am thinking is the owner, is not the brightest when it comes to billiard and pool knowledge. He told me that my Schmelke is not a 3/8 10 (so I bought the cue from them earlier this year, but his son sold it to me, I know what the hell joint I have on my Schmelke, and it is a 3/8 10) because Schmelke doesn't offer 3/8 10 joints, only McDermotts offer 3/8 10 joints. **cough** idiot **cough**
, not to mention, this is the same fellow that sold my brother his viking and shaped the tip on it. I'm glad the Lord has sent me to go buy my cue with my brother, because I had to come home and re shape the entire tip, the guy was not exactly the person we should have running a billiard shop. I hesitate to even take my cue in to get it re-tip there. So ok, there is my experimental experience for the day, and I must say :thumbup: for the Z-shaft, I likey!
P.S. Sorry for the long post, I am on summer break, I have nothing better to do, and the splint came off a week ago, and I am glad I can type with both hands again lol. Have a good one all.
Happy shooting!
Chino
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