Opinions: use a Predator shaft or original?

W

wambamcam

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Okay, I know that everyone will say it is all preference, but hear me out. Just bought a Josey cue here off AZ and it comes with an original Josey shaft and a Predator shaft. I'm eager to play with the Josey as I've been looking for one at a reasonable price for quite some time.

Which of the two shafts should I use? I've never used a LD shaft before, and I've shot with Scruggs, Meuccis, Coker, and most recently Bob Griffin. Now I don't consider myself an outstanding player, but I am a APA SL 7, so I do know how to consistently run a few balls.

Should I give the Predator a try or just stick with the original shaft? I don't want to change shafts and feel that if I start using one I should just stick with it.
 
You should give both shafts a try to see the differences.
Nevertheless, I think that much of the "soul" of a Josey cue, like many other custom cues, lies in his shafts. He uses a very particular taper and their characteristics are chosen with great care.
Even more so in your case, if you have always played with regular shafts, I see no reason to force yourself to play with a LD shaft.
 
Nice

PocketPoint said:
If you have an APA rating then you can't use a Predator shaft.
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wambamcam said:
Okay, I know that everyone will say it is all preference, but hear me out. Just bought a Josey cue here off AZ and it comes with an original Josey shaft and a Predator shaft. I'm eager to play with the Josey as I've been looking for one at a reasonable price for quite some time.

Which of the two shafts should I use? I've never used a LD shaft before, and I've shot with Scruggs, Meuccis, Coker, and most recently Bob Griffin. Now I don't consider myself an outstanding player, but I am a APA SL 7, so I do know how to consistently run a few balls.

Should I give the Predator a try or just stick with the original shaft? I don't want to change shafts and feel that if I start using one I should just stick with it.
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The reason why I went to an LD shaft is because on power shots with side spin, especially power follow shots with inside, right away I had a lot more control over the pocketing and cue ball direction of the shot.

What you ought to do is try some difficult power spin shots with the Predator and see how you do. If you do better and feel confident with it, then that's the right shaft for you. Your game might jump with it. If it doesn't feel right, then I woiuld just stay with the regular shafts.

I am very happy I went with an LD shaft, but not all players benefit from them. Now I use a Tiger Pro X and feel like my game has gone up another notch with it.

Chris
 
TATE said:
The reason why I went to an LD shaft is because on power shots with side spin, especially power follow shots with inside, right away I had a lot more control over the pocketing and cue ball direction of the shot.

What you ought to do is try some difficult power spin shots with the Predator and see how you do. If you do better and feel confident with it, then that's the right shaft for you. Your game might jump with it. If it doesn't feel right, then I woiuld just stay with the regular shafts.

I am very happy I went with an LD shaft, but not all players benefit from them. Now I use a Tiger Pro X and feel like my game has gone up another notch with it.

Chris
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pretty much bang advice here. there are shots that require cueball swerve that you can't play with a predator shaft though. i remember getting a predator for the first time, and trying to cheat and force follow straight in shots with high english...........i was like.....wtf:confused:
 
I say poop on the Predator:grin-square:. I have a Josie with 2 shafts. I've shot with Predators before. I prefer the Josie shafts. As others have said though, give them both a spin and use what you feel best with. I feel with you're experiences the Josie shaft will feel better to you.

Mark Shuman
 
phread59 said:
I say poop on the Predator:grin-square:. I have a Josie with 2 shafts. I've shot with Predators before. I prefer the Josie shafts. As others have said though, give them both a spin and use what you feel best with. I feel with you're experiences the Josie shaft will feel better to you.

Mark Shuman
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I was playing exclusively with a Predator before I received my Josey ~ one month or so ago. Absolutely love the feel of his cue and shaft. Had virtually no "break-in" period. Probably a little easier completing a power draw with the LD, but I attribute that mostly to technique.
 
edd said:
I was playing exclusively with a Predator before I received my Josey ~ one month or so ago. Absolutely love the feel of his cue and shaft. Had virtually no "break-in" period. Probably a little easier completing a power draw with the LD, but I attribute that mostly to technique.
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You attribute your power draw prowess to technique and not the LD shaft. What's happening differently, with your technique, when you're power drawing with your conventional shaft?

Yukon Ed
 
wambamcam said:
Okay, I know that everyone will say it is all preference, but hear me out. Just bought a Josey cue here off AZ and it comes with an original Josey shaft and a Predator shaft. I'm eager to play with the Josey as I've been looking for one at a reasonable price for quite some time.

Which of the two shafts should I use? I've never used a LD shaft before, and I've shot with Scruggs, Meuccis, Coker, and most recently Bob Griffin. Now I don't consider myself an outstanding player, but I am a APA SL 7, so I do know how to consistently run a few balls.

Should I give the Predator a try or just stick with the original shaft? I don't want to change shafts and feel that if I start using one I should just stick with it.
Click to expand...

If you are an APA SL-7 you should know how to run a few balls and a lot more about the game.

I played with regular shafts for many years and I always thought that LD shafts were just a gimmick until a friend of mine convinced me to try a Predator and give it enough time to really get the feel of how it plays. I tried it for a while and gave up on it because I didn't put enought effort into learning how to aim with it. After a few months and my game was stuck at the same level I decided to go back to the Predator and this time work on using it. One thing that convinced me to try it again was the number of pro players who use Predator shafts. This time I worked on playing with my 314-2 shaft (Sniper tip) and now i'm sold on how it plays. If you decide to use the Predator shaft stick with it and you'll be glad that you did.

James
 
wambamcam said:
Okay, I know that everyone will say it is all preference, but hear me out. Just bought a Josey cue here off AZ and it comes with an original Josey shaft and a Predator shaft. I'm eager to play with the Josey as I've been looking for one at a reasonable price for quite some time.

Which of the two shafts should I use? I've never used a LD shaft before, and I've shot with Scruggs, Meuccis, Coker, and most recently Bob Griffin. Now I don't consider myself an outstanding player, but I am a APA SL 7, so I do know how to consistently run a few balls.

Should I give the Predator a try or just stick with the original shaft? I don't want to change shafts and feel that if I start using one I should just stick with it.
Click to expand...


You are at a critcal moment in your pool life. Which ever way you go don't keep the other shaft. If you go predator get a second predator shaft. If you stay Josey get a second Josey shaft. IMO having a choice will drive you nuts over time and you will be switching back and forth and making yourself crazy. I know I did it.
 
I switched to LD years ago before I got into collecting custom cues. Its a shame that I cant use the original maker's shafts and have to stick an LD shaft on them to be able to use them. If I could do it all over again, I never would have switched to LD.
 
wambamcam said:
Okay, I know that everyone will say it is all preference, but hear me out. Just bought a Josey cue here off AZ and it comes with an original Josey shaft and a Predator shaft. I'm eager to play with the Josey as I've been looking for one at a reasonable price for quite some time.

Which of the two shafts should I use? I've never used a LD shaft before, and I've shot with Scruggs, Meuccis, Coker, and most recently Bob Griffin. Now I don't consider myself an outstanding player, but I am a APA SL 7, so I do know how to consistently run a few balls.

Should I give the Predator a try or just stick with the original shaft? I don't want to change shafts and feel that if I start using one I should just stick with it.
Click to expand...

Stick with the Josey. In my opinion it is superior to that cheap plywood piece of crap. I played with a predator 4k4/314 combo, and I loved it. Until I got my Josey. The feel and performance was amazing. I can't go back to my predator it feels dead, and it vibrates too much after the hit. Again, just my opinion.
 
Heck my power draw has gotten much better with the Josie. I had a rail in shot with the CB on the same rail. I hammered it with some serious draw. It was on a new Valley with that horrible felt they put on them at the factory. I drew the CB 2/3rds of a table. Problem was it drew right into the corner on the same rail. My teammates all commented "You got all of that one!" And I did. I have been able to get some sick english and draw with the stock shafts. Glad I got them. This cue is worth every penny I spent on it.

Mark Shuman
 
uSE THE jOSEY TO BREAK WITH/CHANGE WITHSOME SHOTS!

If ya want a pred super shaft snap the ferrule apart put REAL TENON IN AND REGULAR TIP FERRULE. I HAVE A SEARING PRED REDONE!! WITH kAMUI AND IVORY FERRULE. i USE 2-3 CUES SOMETIMES. MARK
 
I'm sure it will play good either way but personally, if I don't like the original shafts, then I don't like the cue.
Keith Josey builds a great playing cue so I would give the original shaft a try and go from there.
 
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