Need your input on Predators.

[AZE]

Hey board,
I've been shooting with a Predator 314 for a while now - but the shaft I have doesn't give me the same hit that alot of other 314s give me - that STIFF hit, like the balls are just supposed to go in when you shoot at 'em. Mine feels a bit flexy - as do a small few others that I've hit with.
Most of the GREAT shafts I've got to use (owned by friends of mine) are a bit older - a year or more.
I've heard that Predator moved their operation to China or Japan - and I don't know what that means for quality, like with that new 314-2 and all.

I'm just wondering, from those of you with experiance, do the new shafts hit just as good? Are the older shafts better? I'm thinking about buying and I don't know if I should order new or buy old.

I'm also wondering if my theory about the colors of the 314 shaft are true. I feel that all of the shafts that hit good, to me, are the ones that have that dark/light/dark/light apperance from the different peices of wood. The shaft I have almost looks like one solid grain of wood, you need to look real close to see that it's different peices.

 

[Varney Cues]

It is my personal opinion that the darker brown ones are best. When I hand select ones for me I choose the dark ones with the unique grain patterns. You know how on each side of a maple shaft you have the little grain boxes (forgive me I should know the name) that connect all the way up the side of the shaft. You will have two of the box grain lines running the length of the shaft on opposite sides (look all shafts have them). The trick is to find the 314 that each piece is made from that grain section. Then when you can find a darker one with this grain...JACKPOT!!! These always play quite a bit better than the white, cleaner ones. I've had several...each was stellar. In fact I have one on my personal cue now...I've turned down multiple high offers for my cue...I haven't tried to find one of these select shafts from the new China 314's yet.

 

[Solartje]

interesting varney. i dont exactly get what u mean though.. maybe u could add pictures to explain me what u mean? i dont know *** about different grains, but eager to learn.

 

[Varney Cues]

interesting varney. i dont exactly get what u mean though.. maybe u could add pictures to explain me what u mean? i dont know *** about different grains, but eager to learn.

Just look at any 1pc maple shaft. You will see two 1/8in. wide boxlike grain patterns running down opposite sides of your shaft. Sweet when each small Predator section is from this piece of maple. Makes the 314 shafts look almost "spotted" looking.
I think they intentionally use these pieces all in one shaft...just like they must also intentionally alternate one dark, one white, one dark, one white...like AZE was mentioning.
I can post pics later if needed.

 

[Solartje]

yeah some pics would be cool. do you mean i can see this on any shaft? or only the multiple wood parts shafts like the OB,predator, etc?

im going to buy a Z² soon, and if there really is a difference then ill surely be handpicking the shaft instead of letting it ship.

thx for the info m8

 

[duke@neo.rr.com]

deleted by me

 

[Varney Cues]

do you mean i can see this on any shaft?

thx for the info m8

Yes. Any regular, non-spliced maple shaft.

 

[Varney Cues]

I have one, but nothing good to say about them...so I'll just keep my thoughts to myself for now, but good luck finding the one you want.

Thats why I'm hanging on to my old one.

 

[rackem]

Sline or Ladder.

Thats why I'm hanging on to my old one.

Mr. Varney is talking about the spline or what I refer to as the ladder. 7 0f the 10 pieces of my predator are from the ladder section. I have also thought that made it better than the norm. From what I understand old timers would turn the ladder of a standard shaft a certain way to reduce deflection when using a specific english.

 

[weeseng]

314-2

i've been hitting with the new 314-2 for a while.. it certainly has less deflection than the 1st gen 314.. however the lesser deflection needs some time to get used to.. i seem to need to "under compensate".. it also has a more distinct hollow hit..