P314 or i2? Which shaft to buy?

cbi1000

cbi1000

It is what it is...
Silver Member
Will someone tell me the differences between the Predator 314 and the i2 shaft? I’ve been playing with Predator 314 shafts for the past few years and I’ve been happy with them (play wise). Construction wise I’m not 100% happy. I have received a couple with weight issues (too light) and ferrules don’t hold up very well.

I have never played with a i2 so i have a couple questions.

How does the i2 stack up? Are they better made? Do they come in blanks like the 314? Do they play the same (stiffness, spin, deflection)?

Thanks
 
I could go on and on about standard shaft wood but i don't want to. I play with a 314 and it works for me. I'm just asking about how the i2 compares.
Thanks,
 
They both use innovative design. The I2 has a carbon graphite core in a cored out "solid" wood shaft. Play is supposed to be very similar. I didn't think the I2 was available with an unfinished joint but Hawleys has them unfinished for $144.

T
 
cbi1000 said:
Will someone tell me the differences between the Predator 314 and the i2 shaft? I’ve been playing with Predator 314 shafts for the past few years and I’ve been happy with them (play wise). Construction wise I’m not 100% happy. I have received a couple with weight issues (too light) and ferrules don’t hold up very well.

I have never played with a i2 so i have a couple questions.

How does the i2 stack up? Are they better made? Do they come in blanks like the 314? Do they play the same (stiffness, spin, deflection)?

Thanks
Click to expand...


The i2 is also very light...about 3.5 oz. But it's not front light from being bored out like the Predator. I don't have an i2, I have an i1 and a Predator.
Predator-(ca-ca) i1-(much better) I would assume an i2 to go along the lines of the i1, but not sure. But, I still can't find any fault with a good maple shaft.
 
Check my answer HERE. It is the 7th one down.

As far as quality, I'd say they both have faults. The last few Predators I've seen people in my room get have all had their grain raised quite a bit.

When the McDermott's first came out, there was one person on the board who got one and swore he saw what looked like a splice of some kind on the shaft. Most others chimed in that he was crazy. I'm sure Drivermaker will remember one of those threads. Anyway, I bought one, and my room owner bought 3 other ones for himself and for customers. I think in total we had two I-3's and two I-4's. I saw what this poster was talking about on every one of the shafts. They definitely weren't splices, but looked more like some kind of sanding scratch that spiraled around the cue. The width of the spirals was something like a stacked leather wrap. This blemish was usually contained in the area close to the joint of the cue and maybe up to 10 inches down from there. It is probably still on my cue because I'm pretty sure it was also under the finish so it would be preserved. I haven't seen any other of these shafts since then, so I don't know if the new ones are better or the same. Remember, the shaft I got were first production.

Straightness: I leave all my playing cues in my car year long on my passenger's seat. My Predators and the McDermott have stayed fairly straight. I never really check them, cause it is meaningless to me if they are a bit crooked. I can roll them later this week if you like, but a sample size of a few isn't great.
 
I've been playing with a 314 since 1997. Then I decided that I wanted to try out the I-2 shaft. My I-2 has the longer ferrule too. I have a moori med on both shafts. I played with the I-2 for a couple days and I really couldn't tell the difference between the two of them. Then I ran into one of the local cue repair guys that had a tiger-X shaft that with the same joint as my cue. I tried that one too but only for maybe 30-45 minutes playing around. I like the way all three of the shafts played and couldn't tell much of a difference if any in the way they played. It could just be me but I would feel comfortable playing with any of them. Now I play with the 314 and keep the I-2 as a spare. I think it all depends on what you are used to. As far has how the I-2 resists chalk and scrathes on the ferrule, I haven't had mine long enough to say.
 
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