OB-1 vs. Predator 314-2

ArizonaPete

ArizonaPete

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
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.
 
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.
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i wouldnt let that influence your decision. predator are a huge company who've been around for years and brought the low deflection idea to the masses. they're a bigger name. (although the OB name is starting to become really well known now).

i think the OB-1 is a slightly better shaft, but ultimately they are both more than good enough. it just comes down to personal preference and feel/sound, being as they both play very similar as far as the low deflection is concerned.

the ob-1 is a really very soft quiet hit, whereas the 314's tend to make an artifical pinging/crack sound to me.
 
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.
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More professionals use Predator because they've been around for 10 years. OB1s are fairly new by comparison. The "reduced-mass" in the ferrule is the key to Predator's low deflection. One is directly related to the other. In order to get a ball to deflect minimally, the cue must be as light as possible around its ferrule area.

I don't know much about wood overall to tell you which might work best for low deflection but I will tell you this, I've played with plenty of cues that I could easily transition to and I currently use a Predator. It's a fine cue but I wouldn't dismiss anything else out there. I think there's something to be said for the cue that was carefully crafted by hand with wood that was selected with the most particular taste.
 
Opinions will vary.

Having played with the OB1 and all of the Predator shafts, I choose to play with the Z2 then the 314-2. I have not had any issues with ferrules cracking or any other quality issues with the Predator shafts. I did get a splinter in my finger from the OB1. I told Royce of OB1 about that, but he didn't offer to send me another shaft, so I just washed my hands of the OB1 and never looked back.
 
i have both they both play great the only problem I have is I keep breaking predator shafts. I have not broken any OB-1 shafts.I think they play very similar though, the OB seems to have a softer hit. You will be more than happy with either one.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
until predator gets their act together with quality control.
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I agree with the second part. I've been a long standing customer with Predator. I have nothing but good things to say about their customer service. They've always been helpful with me. I just think that as I get older, my demands are higher and I don't think Predator can reach those demands.

However, I'm not sure OB1 is the solution.
 
Over 10 years using Predator shafts, pre cat 314, regular 314, 314-2, and Z-2, no problems. Maybe I'm just lucky.

I did have an ob-1, was too soft for my tastes, but friends of mine love theirs.
 
i love predators too don't get me wrong but i keep hearing stories about people having the shafts split or ferruels crack or come off. i don't want to have to deal with any of that
 
I don't believe any shaft spins balls more than others. I believe that it's easy to start to believe that and then prove it by noticing it more and more and not noticing when the ball spins a lot with other shafts.

I use a Z2 because it causes less deflection that a normal shaft. This means to me that if my aim is just a little off, and/or I don't stroke the cb perfectly, I still have a chance of making the shot.
 
JimS said:
I don't believe any shaft spins balls more than others. I believe that it's easy to start to believe that and then prove it by noticing it more and more and not noticing when the ball spins a lot with other shafts.

I use a Z2 because it causes less deflection that a normal shaft. This means to me that if my aim is just a little off, and/or I don't stroke the cb perfectly, I still have a chance of making the shot.
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i won't say that predators make it easier to spin the ball or that they spin the ball more. i'll say that they make it easier to spin the ball and pocket the object ball. does that make sence? i can spin the cueball about the same with most shafts but pocketing the object ball, that's a whole different story
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i'd go with the ob1 until predator gets their act together with quality control.
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I have played with both a Predator and OB-1. I am fortunate enough to have had partials and have one of my favorite cue makers make them lighter in gram weight (96 grams) and match the collar rings. Unfortunately the Predator 314 2nd gen. shaft made for me warped in 2 months. I take excellent care of my equipment and it was distressing to say the least. Predator warrants just about everything except warpage. That experience had switched me over to trying an OB-1. I have nothing but good play from it. The 'spin' is a bit more than the Predator and takes a bit to get used to but once reined in, nothing but a great performance. I like both but will always be sceptical about the quality of Predator shaft production.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I agree with the second part. I've been a long standing customer with Predator. I have nothing but good things to say about their customer service. They've always been helpful with me. I just think that as I get older, my demands are higher and I don't think Predator can reach those demands.

However, I'm not sure OB1 is the solution.
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Jude, I had seen you play once at Amsterdam and you could make a broom stick look like a Szamboti. You have a 'sweet' stroke. Aside from my man Tony Robles, I am a fan of both yourself and Steve Lipsky. You are a 'terrifc' player.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
More professionals use Predator because they've been around for 10 years. OB1s are fairly new by comparison. The "reduced-mass" in the ferrule is the key to Predator's low deflection. One is directly related to the other. In order to get a ball to deflect minimally, the cue must be as light as possible around its ferrule area.

I don't know much about wood overall to tell you which might work best for low deflection but I will tell you this, I've played with plenty of cues that I could easily transition to and I currently use a Predator. It's a fine cue but I wouldn't dismiss anything else out there. I think there's something to be said for the cue that was carefully crafted by hand with wood that was selected with the most particular taste.
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Along with the dime radius tips that ship with all Pred cues which...according to them, contributes 10-15% of the deflection reduction.

I assume their test data on that point is conclusive because there is no way that any company in their right mind would ADMIT to a performance enhancement of that magnitude that has NOTHING to do with their own technology if it wasn't true.

Since the dime also allows CB contact more near the outer limit of the CB, it's hard to imagine why anyone would use the nickle....except possibly for feel...or the even BETTER reason that they don't need or want the more extreme hits anyway.

Regards,
Jim
 
I have owned both OB1 and 314, Z2. Never had problems with Predator as others here.
The Predators have a hit you can feel, the OB1 has no feeling to the hit, I've even tried the hardest tips on the OB1 but the deading foam they insert into the shaft is suppose to remove unwanted vibrations. This causes a really soft feel. So I decided to stick with the Predators. Earl even went back to the standard shafts. I wonder how Schmidt is doing with OB1?

Has anyone actually removed the foam insert in the OB1 shafts? I also imagine the wood ferulle has allot to do the soft hit as well...

best of luck with your choice...
 
I've tried both on my hard hitting JW.
For me the OB-1 is best for my
hard hitting cue to soften the blow
and getting some feel. It also helps
me to have a better touch on delicate
shots and I love the wood to wood.
 
Don't overlook the Tiger X Ultra... this is what I have on my player. Its a LD that still gives you decent response. I wouldn't say they are for everybody but I feel like mine is better than a 314 and more responsive than a OB-1
 
Texas Prez said:
Don't overlook the Tiger X Ultra... this is what I have on my player. Its a LD that still gives you decent response. I wouldn't say they are for everybody but I feel like mine is better than a 314 and more responsive than a OB-1
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Again my favorite on my JW is the OB-1. I have a Tiger X too that I tried on my JW (shaft is currently for sale here). I do prefer the Tiger X over the 314-2 to be honest, but because the cue hits so hard the OB-1 works best for me on my JW gaming cue.

I think it all depends on the cue you play on how any low deflection shaft will perform. I've tried the 314-2, TigerX, I2, I3, and I keep going back to my OB-1. Obviously the tip you play comes into the equation as well.
 
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I have been a die hard Predator shaft player for the last 8 years and thought I would never change but now I'm playing with the OB-1 shaft and it has been great. No horror stories about a long adjustment period after one session at the table I was ready to go and have put my three Predator shafts away.
 
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