Need Advice

O

onadraw

New member
I am a new shooter and will be buying a Predator cue. I want a Sneaky Pete but I dont know whether to get the wood to wood joint or the steel joint. Is there a big difference? Is one more durable than the other? Is it just about the feel of the hit? Please give me your comments and please tell me which of these you would personally choose. Ive tried both but as a new shooter didnt personally have a preference.

Thanks

g
 
I do most of my shooting with a sneaky pete and i love the feel of a wood to wood joint. to me i also like the feeel alot better than a metal joint. that is my personal opinion. but the ultimate decision is going to be the hit and feel that you like..................mike
 
You're going to get a lot of conflicting advice here. It depends on the shooters experience and personal preference.

I prefer and play with a wood to wood joint, because I grew up playing with one piece house cues. I think the w2w give me more of the feel of a one piece cue than other joint types. Whether that is real or just my perception, I can't say.
 
thanks

Thanks for the comments so far. I understand that I am asking for opinions not a cut and dry answer.

Please keep the opinions coming.

g
 
my advice is if you get a predator sneaky pete, get the 8 point sneaky pete predator because the wood to wood joint has a phenolic ring around the inside like the jacoby cues use and it go together better and stronger.. and the price for the 8 pointer isnt much more.. and its a way better looking cue.. i will pm you the prices i can get them for.. they are a pretty good value for the amount of cue your getting..

chris
 
thanks Chris

I prefer the look of the 4 point red Sneaky. Do these have a different wood to wood joint than the 8 point?
 
onadraw said:
I am a new shooter and will be buying a Predator cue.
g
Click to expand...

Who sold you on a Predator cue, I buy a Dufferin Sneaky Pete, and the SAVE Money I would spend on a Pro Lesson Series...:)
 
PoolSleuth said:
Who sold you on a Predator cue, I buy a Dufferin Sneaky Pete, and the SAVE Money I would spend on a Pro Lesson Series...:)
Click to expand...

Good advice for a beginner. OR could spend the money on a lesson from a Professsional teacher
 
PoolSleuth said:
Who sold you on a Predator cue, I buy a Dufferin Sneaky Pete, and the SAVE Money I would spend on a Pro Lesson Series...:)
Click to expand...

I have a friend that regularly wins local tournys that has offered to give me lessons. They strongly suggested Predator so thats what I will get. I am just unsure about what joint to get. They told me the difference is mostly about the feel of the hit but I really couldnt feel a difference with my current lack of skill. Looks like wood to wood is getting all the votes on this thread.

g
 
I play with a predator and break with a mace. My mace is my backup cue have 2 predator shafts for it. The mace is flatfaced wood to wood 5\16-18 and the predator is piloted stainless steel 5\16-14. They play different but not much, the stainless steel joint feels sort of dead. Either one isn't going to hurt your play just pick the one that looks better and get used to it.
 
I know that the choice is all about personal preference. But I also see a lot of professionals shooting with Stainless Steel joints on TV.

There are a lot of factors that determine the feel of a cue including tip, ferrule, shaft taper and wood used. The joint is just one aspect. Two wood-wood Predators can have a different feel if you change the tip. My opinion is to choose whatever you think looks best and personally like better for now. As you said, you really can't tell the difference in feel right now anyways. When you do know what you like better you may decide to change at that point. But right now I would say pick what you like best.

Vicdotcom
 
If you are a new shooter, I believe a Predator cue will only hurt your learning process. Play with a standard sneaky pete and learn how deflection and spin works before you buy something like a Predator. I have seen all too many cases of people who don't know how to play buying Predators or Tigers believing it will help them when in reality I have seen ot hurt their game because they didn't understand deflection to begin with. Predators do not eliminate deflection, they only decrease it. Your stroke will ultimately be hurt by goin to predator so early.
 
onadraw said:
I am a new shooter and will be buying a Predator cue. I want a Sneaky Pete but I dont know whether to get the wood to wood joint or the steel joint. Is there a big difference? Is one more durable than the other? Is it just about the feel of the hit? Please give me your comments and please tell me which of these you would personally choose. Ive tried both but as a new shooter didnt personally have a preference.

Thanks

g
Click to expand...


I have mint condition, like new, 2 months old Predator 4k1 and 4k4 with 314 and Z shafts for sale. Let me know if your interested. ;)
 
The rep for Predator used to post here and he said he liked the wood-to-wood joint best, so when I purchased a Predator, I got the SP with the wood-to-wood joint. I enjoy it immensely. Bells and whilstle do nothing for me.

My teammate bought a Predator and called me from Muellers asking my advice as he was buying it. He decided on a SP with the steel joint and both of us are happy. I've played with his and the differences are small, imho.

Using a Predator will limit your abilities when you are forced to use a standard cue, which for a beginner, I'd think would be more often than for a seasoned player. That's because of squirt and curve---both are way different for a Predator than a standard cue. If you're going to use a Predator for the rest of your life on every game no matter what, then go for it. Otherwise, a standard cue may be a better choice until you have the knowledge to make an informed decision about YOUR game and how the cue affects it.

fwiw,

Jeff Livingston
 
Onadraw,
What chefjeff said. I play with the stainless steel joint Predator. I can't tell a lot of difference between the 2 types of joints.

Any cue that is straight will do; the lower the deflection the better, ESPECIALLY for players just learning about using sidespin.

Joe Tucker addresses this issue in his "Guaranteed Improvement Drills".
 
every wood to wood jointed cue i have ever had has always come loose at the joint after a few shots. you wont ever again see me playing with a wood to wood joint.

DCP
 
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT DEFLECTION AND SUCH THINGS.
As a beginner it just makes the whole thought process MUCH MORE CONFUSING.
PLAY CENTER BALL ONLY until you master accuracy and speed control.
Joint type is a PREFERENCE. But, as a beginner, you will get used to whatever you buy.
I like steel joint, because that is what I learned to play with.
Nothing wrong with Predator. It's a good cue you won't quickly need or want to change.

With my 2 cents you can't even get a cup of coffee, but there it is.
 
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