OB vs Predator shafts

m79a

m79a

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ok for those of you who have played with both. Which do you prefer and why? Thanks in advance, I'm gonna buy one of these 2 brands, but I don't know which.
 
We've had a few threads on AZB making this same comparison. If you search my username with OB1 and predator as the search terms you will find lots of information.
 
I have had a few Predators, I liked the shafts as I did Tiger X. I do not have enough table time with an OB shaft although I hit a few balls with one and it seemed nice. :smile:
 
m79a said:
Ok for those of you who have played with both. Which do you prefer and why? Thanks in advance, I'm gonna buy one of these 2 brands, but I don't know which.
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i have hit an played with just about every shaft u can think about an i like OB1 they hit the best thats my opinion
 
I never hit the Tiger X, but the OB's hit solid, and the Preds hit like a loose stack of legos.

I don't play with either, just a GOMS, 1" ferrule....

how I ever make a ball, I'll never know.
 
I've played with just about every shaft available. To be honest I feel some cues play one way with one shaft and a different way with another. For the most part I live the ob shafts better then predator. But sometimes, not very often I like the predator one a cue more then the ob.

I HATE predator ferrules. The ob wood ones are much better!

Cbi
 
The deflection of z & OB-2 is about the same. And 314 & OB-1 are the same too plus they have pro-taper. I have or had all 4 shafts.
The main difference is the sound of the hit with predator being a lot louder. All of those shafts are good.
 
ob vs predator

I have played with nothing but Predator for 15years and now use the OB2.
 
I have both, I like the predator better.
The OB-1 is too flexible for me and I'm not crazy about the wooden ferrule.
I've been playing with a Predator shaft since 1998 so I guess I'm too used to it...
 
Depends on what you like.........

I'm not crazy about the Preds that are being made today but if you come across a first gen or pre cat, those are money. They do have a louder sounding hit compared to the OB-1 due to the ferrule material but IMHO the OB-1 or 2 are the best there is out there. If you can, find a local cue shop that carries both brand shafts and test em out and see which one feels better to you.
 
Based on craftsmanship alone, OB beats Predator hands down. I broke 2 z2 shafts and then went to OB and never looked back.
 
I actually like the tiger ultra x 13mm. But the predator fat shaft hits nice. Reg 314 2 feels dead to me. I wen from 10+ years with predator back to a reg maple shaft.
 
both are great shafts, with nearly identical deflection properties....i heavily prefer the OB-2 over the Z2 (better taper). The OB-1 and 314-2 are pretty close, I'd mayble lean a tiny bit towards the OB-1
 
its a personal feel. Everyone is different. Just see if you have a vendor for either of them and try it before you buy it. I don't know if you have an OB shaft distributor near you, so you might want to see if anyone you know has a OB to try out. Just my .02, good luck.
 
I have played with both brands. I play with the ob-2, which I believe is the best shaft ever made.

I don't think you could improve much on the OB construction. Perfectly radially symmetrical.
 
My 2 cent

I think sometimes we get hung up on the Cue stick and not our game. What ever works for you is the best stick. I know a good shooter who uses a K Mart $ 29.95 special and does OK with it. I have Several what I think are good sticks in the over $ 500 range. Joss and 314-2 etc. But I also have a $ 40.00 Players that I am now shooting with because I found I am more comfortable with it. I B&R with it several times a night so you can't tell me the $ 40.00 player is a bad stick. You might not like it, but I do and to each their own.

When I raced Motorcycles we said it was the Cubic Dollars and not the Cubic Inches that counted. I don't think having a $ 5K cue stick is going to make you a better shooter. I think staying with one playing Cue will help the consistency of your game.
 
I use both. On the particular cue I'm using now, the 314 seems to balance the cue where I like it. On another cue the OB works better. I guess you have to try both and see what your preference is. They both do their job great as far as I'm concerned.
 
OB--made in USA
Predator--made in China?(please correct me if i'm wrong)

I used a 314-2 for a couple years and really liked it. I then tried an OB-1 and loved it. i'll never go back. You don't hear about OB shafts exploding, at least I haven't.
 
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