Not the Cheat'in Kind

Miss Spico

Miss Spico

Registered
I’ve been playing for oh about 6-7 years. The only cue I’ve ever owned is a Predator, with a 314 shaft. I love it, it’s my best friend. I know everything about him, how he steers, drives, puts, spins, how to float him around, how to drag the ball where I want – we’re comfortable with each other. My game has been improving a lot over the last couple of years. But, you know how you’re always looking for that inspiration, that thing that will take you to the next level. So… I bought a Z2. Played with it for a couple of weeks, hated it, put it away. Months later go to Vegas, a pro working at the Diamond booth, tells me he loves his Z2, give it another try. Okay, he obviously knows what he’s doing so I decide to try again.

So my best friend/teacher tells me to give him a month, no changing it up. I think this is good advice. So I played with him for about 2 weeks now, mostly every day for a bit. I feel like I can’t control him, he seems very fast and powerful, long straight shots are awesome, dead on. Cut shot’s just hit a bit more of the ball than I did with the 314 I think, but can’t decide for sure; but always I feel like he’s a bit wild and I’m fighting for control with him and when it comes to the fine tuning, and needing to finesse I just get frustrated. Don’t know what to expect. We just don’t have that communication.

I go to Hard Times to play a line tournament. I’ve won 3 in a row. We’ve been quarreling, but getting by. Then in my fourth game he pretty much bucks me off, I get frustrated and tell him “that’s it, I’ve had it with you, I’m tired of the fight!” and I break down and put him away and take out my best friend who is waiting in the shadows, my 314. I kind of grinned and looked up at my opponent who looks somewhat amused, and I say “guess that’s kind of weird to change shafts in the middle of the game huh?’ He laughs and says, “Kinda reminds me of my ex-wife!” Bah ha ha, cracks me up. Now I’m comfortable again and know what to expect, feel relaxed, get back to playing pool and not trying to second guess my partner. But now, it’s in my head that I’ve been cheating on my best friend. Lol.

Really though, I didn’t really give him a fair chance (also didn’t heed my teachers advice sorry :( ) I only gave him 2 weeks and I buckled as soon as I got stressed with his performance. My question is: Is it worth it to invest time into something that is irritating and uncomfortable? There are a couple of things that I really like about the Z2 and a couple of things that I really hate. Am I being lazy if I quit and keep that same game I have with the 314? My fear is that it will be a missed opportunity that could be very exciting but bottom line …. I’m just not the cheat’in kind.

Thanks for listening 
 
Miss Spico said:
I’ve been playing for oh about 6-7 years. The only cue I’ve ever owned is a Predator, with a 314 shaft. I love it, it’s my best friend. I know everything about him, how he steers, drives, puts, spins, how to float him around, how to drag the ball where I want – we’re comfortable with each other. My game has been improving a lot over the last couple of years. But, you know how you’re always looking for that inspiration, that thing that will take you to the next level. So… I bought a Z2. Played with it for a couple of weeks, hated it, put it away. Months later go to Vegas, a pro working at the Diamond booth, tells me he loves his Z2, give it another try. Okay, he obviously knows what he’s doing so I decide to try again.

So my best friend/teacher tells me to give him a month, no changing it up. I think this is good advice. So I played with him for about 2 weeks now, mostly every day for a bit. I feel like I can’t control him, he seems very fast and powerful, long straight shots are awesome, dead on. Cut shot’s just hit a bit more of the ball than I did with the 314 I think, but can’t decide for sure; but always I feel like he’s a bit wild and I’m fighting for control with him and when it comes to the fine tuning, and needing to finesse I just get frustrated. Don’t know what to expect. We just don’t have that communication.

I go to Hard Times to play a line tournament. I’ve won 3 in a row. We’ve been quarreling, but getting by. Then in my fourth game he pretty much bucks me off, I get frustrated and tell him “that’s it, I’ve had it with you, I’m tired of the fight!” and I break down and put him away and take out my best friend who is waiting in the shadows, my 314. I kind of grinned and looked up at my opponent who looks somewhat amused, and I say “guess that’s kind of weird to change shafts in the middle of the game huh?’ He laughs and says, “Kinda reminds me of my ex-wife!” Bah ha ha, cracks me up. Now I’m comfortable again and know what to expect, feel relaxed, get back to playing pool and not trying to second guess my partner. But now, it’s in my head that I’ve been cheating on my best friend. Lol.

Really though, I didn’t really give him a fair chance (also didn’t heed my teachers advice sorry :( ) I only gave him 2 weeks and I buckled as soon as I got stressed with his performance. My question is: Is it worth it to invest time into something that is irritating and uncomfortable? There are a couple of things that I really like about the Z2 and a couple of things that I really hate. Am I being lazy if I quit and keep that same game I have with the 314? My fear is that it will be a missed opportunity that could be very exciting but bottom line …. I’m just not the cheat’in kind.

Thanks for listening 
Click to expand...

Even if you can get more spin with the Z2, which I doubt, you aren't going to need any more spin than you can get with a 314.
 
1. I love that you refer to your shafts as people... it made this a very entertaining post to read. Thank you!

2. What do you think you can gain, in the long run, from the Z2? If you believe that the Z2 could help you realize an improvement in your game, how much do you think it could help you improve? Once you figure out what you might be able to gain from the switch, then ask yourself if that is worth putting up with the initial adjustment period, and you will have your answer.
 
After a few years, I swapped my Z2 out for a bar cue. I like em short, light and a bit dirty. :thumbup:

Play with what you like, not with what someone else likes.
 
If you already have a cue you are on a first name basis with you don't need to switch, that will only mess you up. Stay with what works, you won't find another like it. ever I think. Even when you have bad days or longer, month or two in my case, a different cue can't help. I have used the same cue over 25 yrs., I have two shafts but can only use one of them, the other doesn't do what I say. I am ok with that.
steven
ps. I have it on high authority only being able to play with only one cue is a weakness. Because of this truth you might want to step out sometimes with a stranger. change is good, I don't like it but that is what they say.
 
Thank you, for all of the input. I like every answer and I feel pretty comfortable now that it is good advice to dance with the one that brought me. While change can be good and usually difficult, it isn't always necessary. Maybe I'll just learn some new steps haha
 
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Miss Spico said:
My question is: Is it worth it to invest time into something that is irritating and uncomfortable?
Am I being lazy if I quit and keep that same game I have with the 314?
Click to expand...

New shafts or cues aren't always irritating and uncomfortable when we first start using them- and certainly not after two weeks of playing. You gave the new one more than a good shot- put it away and stay with your friend.

(some cues will sing to you when you first try them, so do keep an open mind)
 
Miss Spico said:
I go to Hard Times to play a line tournament. I’ve won 3 in a row. We’ve been quarreling, but getting by. Then in my fourth game he pretty much bucks me off, I get frustrated and tell him “that’s it, I’ve had it with you, I’m tired of the fight!” and I break down and put him away and take out my best friend who is waiting in the shadows, my 314. I kind of grinned and looked up at my opponent who looks somewhat amused, and I say “guess that’s kind of weird to change shafts in the middle of the game huh?’ He laughs and says, “Kinda reminds me of my ex-wife!” Bah ha ha, cracks me up. Now I’m comfortable again and know what to expect, feel relaxed, get back to playing pool and not trying to second guess my partner. But now, it’s in my head that I’ve been cheating on my best friend. Lol.

Thanks for listening 
Click to expand...

Did you win the match or the tournament?
 
If you begin a pattern of walking away from someone (or something) you care so deeply about; your actions may haunt you for the rest of your days. My God, woman, give the guy (or thing) a chance.
Hasn't he (it) always been there for you to use, and dare I say, abuse?
Have a care Miss Spico, some day you may cry out in the night (in a tavern somewhere) and he (it) won't be there to hear your call. :)
 
Allen Brown said:
Did you win the match or the tournament?
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LOL - The real point right? We played a total of 7 games. I switched out in the middle of my 4th game. I won 5 in a row, than lost the last 2. Not my bf's fault though. The biggest thing I need to overcome is my short attention span. By game 5 was having a beer and chatting with the opponents. I like to talk. Talking takes away from my get down to business and scare them tactics. It's really hard for me to stay totally focused for that long. Like that post on Strickland and the million dollar nine ball - I would definitely have miscued. lol
 
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Tramp Steamer said:
If you begin a pattern of walking away from someone (or something) you care so deeply about; your actions may haunt you for the rest of your days. My God, woman, give the guy (or thing) a chance.
Hasn't he (it) always been there for you to use, and dare I say, abuse?
Have a care Miss Spico, some day you may cry out in the night (in a tavern somewhere) and he (it) won't be there to hear your call. :)
Click to expand...

lmao - oh that would be so sad. Duely reprimanded.
 
Wow
JoeyA said:
No & NO!
JoeyA
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wow 12 years later …. Thanks for all the great advice i got here. Just to close this out - about 3 years ago i Bought a predator p3 - gorgeous cue with a revo 12.4 because i had to put my 314 away he got damaged. Oddly enough though i recently pulled out that Z-2 that i danced with for a short while and then returned to the 314. You know - it took me at least 6 months to get adjusted to the difference between the 314 and the revo. Guess it was hard for me to let go of him. But the minute I picked up the z-2 - i was hitting them good. It felt so easy. I guess you really can go home. Current situation looking for a radial Z-2 for my p3 butt. I will swith back and forth. Been wanting to play more 1 hole and think the z-2 will be perfect. Cheers!
 
Miss Spico said:
So my best friend/teacher tells me to give him a month, no changing it up. I think this is good advice. So I played with him for about 2 weeks now, mostly every day for a bit. I feel like I can’t control him, he seems very fast and powerful, long straight shots are awesome, dead on. Cut shot’s just hit a bit more of the ball than I did with the 314 I think, but can’t decide for sure; but always I feel like he’s a bit wild and I’m fighting for control with him and when it comes to the fine tuning, and needing to finesse I just get frustrated. Don’t know what to expect. We just don’t have that communication.
Click to expand...
This is the lower deflection of the Z2 being different than the 314.

For the record, it took me 6 fully months to fully adjust to the Z2 from the 314.
And it took me 3+ months to adjust from the Z2 to a Z2-S-tuned.
 
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