OB-1 vs. Predator 314-2

OB-1 vs 314-2

I own both OB-1 & Predator 314-2 shafts and I think they play very close. I have 2 OB-1 shafts and I like the way 1 of them plays better than the other 1. I have a number of Predator shafts and I like the 314-2 shafts better than the older 314 model. The Predator shafts vary slightly from shaft to shaft also like the OB-1 shafts.

The bottom line IMO is the OB-1 hits a little softer than the Predator and it's probably due to the foam core and the wooden ferrule on the OB-1 that makes the hit softer, again this is my opinion.

I switch back and forth between the Predator and OB-1 shafts and I'm currently playing with an OB-1 on my cue. I just like the way it plays and feels.

James
 
I switched to a Predator because I liked the taper. Not because of deflection characterisitics. You can adjust to anything with enough practice/play...it just happens automatically.

I have an OB1, and it hits/feels great.....but I just don't have time to get used to it so I stick with my Predator. So....I have a brand new OB1 shaft with matching ringwork for my custom cue that will go unused....but it does feel/hit great.

Again, with enough practice a player will get used to anything. I would say learn how to play with a normall shaft though (drawing/following/etc) before you switch.
 
If you see someone witha pred or ob, ask if they will let you hit a couple.
It may not be teh same as the shaft on your cue. But will give you an idea of what ech shaft with their respective tips hits like.
Changeing the tip on either shaft and with different handles can make quite a difference.
I don't own either, but have hit with both.
For me , I like the ob shaft.
I like the way that it is made, and as a bonus, I am supporting American workers, not just a retailer.
I am not sure if the pred shafts are USA made or not. But the ob shafts are definately USA made.
 
conetip said:
If you see someone witha pred or ob, ask if they will let you hit a couple.
It may not be teh same as the shaft on your cue. But will give you an idea of what ech shaft with their respective tips hits like.
Changeing the tip on either shaft and with different handles can make quite a difference.
I don't own either, but have hit with both.
For me , I like the ob shaft.
I like the way that it is made, and as a bonus, I am supporting American workers, not just a retailer.
I am not sure if the pred shafts are USA made or not. But the ob shafts are definately USA made.
Click to expand...

Not sure either but-GO USA!
 
Never hit any other shafts, only the ones that come with the cues, picked me up a new OB 1 yesterday. Played all nite with it. Hits great !
 
What about tip replacement on OB-1?

ArizonaPete said:
Can't decide which one would help my game the most. I really like to shoot the long tough cut shots. I've been reading where the new Predators have a problem with the ferrule cracking because they've reduced the mass and thinned them out too much. I have also seen the deflection data indicating the Predator has less deflection. Another bit of information from the Predator website shows quite a few professionals using the 314-2 shaft and information from OB-1 lists only a few.
Any thought, opinions, or input would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

I've been using 314's since about 1996. Today I have two 314's that both play nearly identical. My very first 314 had the 1" long ferrule and it cracked. At the time Shane Sinnot was still working for them and he replaced it with a demo from the Valley Forge Expo. I was pleased with his resolution.

Last March I tried the OB-1 shaft at Valley Forge and found it to be just as good as the 314. I actually liked the hit better than the 314 and was on the fence as to buying one. What concerned me most was the wooden ferrule. I replace my own tips and felt that I couldn't replace my own because of the wooden ferrule. I'd be interested in hearing about tip replacement on OB-1's.

Paul Mon......Merry Christmas to all
 
I recently switched to a 314-2 after playing with stock shafts exclusively. I must say that I have been in love with the hit ever since!

I also got an I-2 and a Universal SS TX-8 (fantasy sports winnings, anyone? :grin-square: ). I like the I-2 on my older butt, which has a composite collar vs. the 314-2 on my newer butt, which has a stainless steel collar. As previous posters suggested, this has to do with the shaft's relationship with the butt in producing an overall feel for the cue.

Test hits only on the Universal, so I don't really know about it yet (except that I like it enough to keep it :) ). I have also heard great things about the Tiger shafts as people have mentioned.

All in all, I'd echo the advice that you should try to hit a few balls with someone else's cue/LD shaft just to make sure that you don't absolutely hate it before you commit to one. After that, I'd say it's really all subjective and has a lot to do with the butt you plan to place the shaft on.

Either way you go, good luck! :thumbup:

-Alan
 
Awww forget both and buy a Black Dot meucci! LOL just kidding:rotflmao1:
 
All in all, I'd echo the advice that you should try to hit a few balls with someone else's cue/LD shaft just to make sure that you don't absolutely hate it before you commit to one. After that, I'd say it's really all subjective and has a lot to do with the butt you plan to place the shaft on.
Click to expand...

Taking things for test drive on another person's nickel is always good advice; however, a few balls may not be enough to help in the decision factor. People (pool peeps especially) resist change -- we have that certain comfort zone working for us when lining up/pulling the trigger and don't like getting out of it. In other words, when faced with ambiguous or uncertain situations such as this pondering, we will resist by nature and not give "the other thing" a fair testing -- we get antsy, and resistive.

When changing something pool-wise, I wait until I am alone (so as not to let my male ego get in the way) and test the crap out of it. Also, I never make changes if I have a match coming up in order to stay within the aforementioned comfort zone. IMHO testing equipment is like shooting the game itself -- don't pull the trigger until you are ready both physically and mentally. Until you test things completely it becomes nothing more than a coin toss.
 

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hmmmmm........

ArizonaPete said:
Can't decide which one would help my game the most. I really like to shoot the long tough cut shots. I've been reading where the new Predators have a problem with the ferrule cracking because they've reduced the mass and thinned them out too much. I have also seen the deflection data indicating the Predator has less deflection. Another bit of information from the Predator website shows quite a few professionals using the 314-2 shaft and information from OB-1 lists only a few.
Any thought, opinions, or input would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...


Predator, been around a while and sold tons of shafts. OB1, fairly recent to market with less market share. Top flight players get endorsements.,....

hmmmm..... maybe more top players have predators, because predator pays more players to use them????

R u willing to buy a cuetec because Earl played with them for many years?

Go by what works best for you.... forget about who plays with what.

Just learn the advantages and disadvantages of both and figure out what playing styles works best for what type of shaft and go from there.

Personally, more of the better players that I know that like LD shaft technology prefer the OB1
 
Paul Mon

Go to our website www.obcues.com and look under care and repairs. There is complete information about how to replace the tips. It is virtually the same as on a conventional cue except for the carbon fiber pad.

Call me if you have any questions!

Thanks

Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
 
Yeah, I have both shafts (Predator-314 and a "Custom" OB-1 Shaft with Earl's Taper! Wow!!! You Talkin about spin? This shaft is fun to play around with but I do not trust it in a game situation. Yes, It hits to soft for me ( I like the ping of old Joss's, Schon's, etc. See some of my old posts about this subject). The Predator 3142 has won me over!!! I have played with this for about three years and I cannot go back! ( I have tried, even with a regular playing shaft!). It works for me. I did have some problems with cracked ferrules from Predator but they always made it it right for me... I think it is just what you get use to playin with.
 
maybe i'm up too early in the morning but i saw the title of this thread and immediately thought "wow that would be a great name for a sci-fi movie".

ah maybe i should get some more sleep.

brian
 
Fast Davie NC


Just so you know, we don't recommend the Earl Taper. Earl played pretty good with it, but we never recommended it.

Our cue shafts are designed to be more flexible than most, but to play like a stiff cue. The secret is that you can spin the ball without having to go way out on the edge of the cue ball. Even though our shafts are flexible, when you hit closer to the center, they hit like a stiffer shaft hits, but you still get plenty of spin to move the cue ball.

If you are playing with an OB-1 and it feels too whippy or flexible, then move a little closer to the center of the cue ball and you will be pleasantly surprised.

If you still want a stiffer shaft, then try the OB-2. The OB-2 has a smaller vibration dampening core and a stiffer taper. Not only is it a little stiffer, it also hits a little harder, not as soft as the OB-1. You still get all the control and consistency, but even less cue ball deflection.


Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
 
RBC said:
Fast Davie NC


Just so you know, we don't recommend the Earl Taper. Earl played pretty good with it, but we never recommended it.

Our cue shafts are designed to be more flexible than most, but to play like
a stiff cue. The secret is that you can spin the ball without having to go
way out on the edge of the cue ball. Even though our shafts are flexible,
when you hit closer to the center, they hit like a stiffer shaft hits, but you
still get plenty of spin to move the cue ball.

If you are playing with an OB-1 and it feels too whippy or flexible, then move a little closer to the center of the cue ball and you will be pleasantly surprised.

If you still want a stiffer shaft, then try the OB-2. The OB-2 has a smaller vibration dampening core and a stiffer taper. Not only is it a little stiffer, it also hits a little harder, not as soft as the OB-1. You still get all the control and consistency, but even less cue ball deflection.


Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
Click to expand...

Royce:

Like I've mentioned I absolutely love the way the OB-1 plays
on my hard hitting Josswest......it's my main gamer and I always
end up going back to it.

I've tried the OB-2 and its a great shaft but, as with the Z shaft or any
11.75 it seems on long shots I seem to start the cue ball off line or it
seems to push off line so to speak for some reason-Any suggestions? It
especially happens on a 9 foot table long shot? I just seem to feel
more comfortable or secure on the table with a 12.75 and start out the
line better. It also seems to hold that line better as well. I'd love to have
a second OB shaft and shoot the OB-2 on a 8 footer and love the way it
sets up. I seem also to shoot better with lite hits with my OB-1.
Also-If I hit really to hard I seem to loose some line as well but the OB-1
also slows me down in a good way and gives me more touch.

Maybe I need a OB-3 (?) at 12.25-It would be perfect for me-lol !
 
Last edited:
I think it's all in the joint

For me it's the joint the tells me what shaft to use.

For ivory jointed cues i have to play with the pred 314^2 shafts. Those shafts make a ivory joint hit nice to me. The ob1 shafts feel to soft, even with a Kamui hard tip on it.

Now for every other joint i like the ob1 shafts with a kamui med tip on them.

Enjoy!
 
MCD PRESTIGE IV said:
Royce:

Like I've mentioned I absolutely love the way the OB-1 plays
on my hard hitting Josswest......it's my main gamer and I always
end up going back to it.

I've tried the OB-2 and its a great shaft but, as with the Z shaft or any
11.75 it seems on long shots I seem to start the cue ball off line or it
seems to push off line so to speak for some reason-Any suggestions? It
especially happens on a 9 foot table long shot? I just seem to feel
more comfortable or secure on the table with a 12.75 and start out the
line better. It also seems to hold that line better as well. I'd love to have
a second OB shaft and shoot the OB-2 on a 8 footer and love the way it
sets up. I seem also to shoot better with lite hits with my OB-1.
Also-If I hit really to hard I seem to loose some line as well but the OB-1
also slows me down in a good way and gives me more touch.

Maybe I need a OB-3 (?) at 12.25-It would be perfect for me-lol !
Click to expand...

sounds like your slightly off center hit is being exaggerated by the small tip.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
sounds like your slightly off center hit is being exaggerated by the small tip.
Click to expand...

Yes-That's what I think also. I think the 12.75 offers a bit more room for error than the 11.75. What the pros use is not always best for us amatuers. I played pro golf for a number of years and I always saw folks using shafts that were to stiff for their club head speed just because one pro or another was using them.
 
Hello,

I owned both a OB-1 and a 314-2 and I prefer the Predator. I like the way the OB-1 is constructed and think it's a good shaft, however a little to flexible for me. I find the 314-2 to be a stiffer shaft with low deflection. I'm thinking of getting a 314 Fat Shaft and turning it down just a touch over 13mm. I have been told it's still low deflection ( that of a 314 1st gen ) at 13.20mm and stiffer then a 314-2.

J.W.
 
MCD PRESTIGE IV said:
Royce:

Like I've mentioned I absolutely love the way the OB-1 plays
on my hard hitting Josswest......it's my main gamer and I always
end up going back to it.

I've tried the OB-2 and its a great shaft but, as with the Z shaft or any
11.75 it seems on long shots I seem to start the cue ball off line or it
seems to push off line so to speak for some reason-Any suggestions? It
especially happens on a 9 foot table long shot? I just seem to feel
more comfortable or secure on the table with a 12.75 and start out the
line better. It also seems to hold that line better as well. I'd love to have
a second OB shaft and shoot the OB-2 on a 8 footer and love the way it
sets up. I seem also to shoot better with lite hits with my OB-1.
Also-If I hit really to hard I seem to loose some line as well but the OB-1
also slows me down in a good way and gives me more touch.

Maybe I need a OB-3 (?) at 12.25-It would be perfect for me-lol !
Click to expand...

Maybe you will benefit from having a larger radius on the cue tip.
I play with mainly 10 mm tips, but I have a selection of tip types and different radius. I find that if I am missing long shots, then I try a larger rad tip. On a smaller bar type 7ft table I like a dime. On a 9 ft I prefer a nickle .I hope this helps you.
Neil
 
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