Prather
- Thread starter Runnintable
- Start date
Jeff Prther 2008
Hello,
I would like to review a cue that I picked up from the Valley Forge days of the Billiards expo in 2008.
Cue is made by Jeff Prather.
It is a full splice cue construction with veneers. The wood is a beautifully figured Kingswood into Maple.
This cue has excellent fit and finish. The hit has excellent resonating harmonics that translate into a thorough feel of the energy translation to the cue ball.
It came with a well age maple shaft that compliments the cue superbly.
Jeff at the time of purchase gave me an extra set of collars with the matching veneers, just in case I wanted an extra LD shaft.
At Jeff's booth I met Mike Stacey and Mike Miller, the later being a cue maker from where I am from. I eventually picked up a Predator Z shaft blank and had Mike Miller do the work.
Hello,
I would like to review a cue that I picked up from the Valley Forge days of the Billiards expo in 2008.
Cue is made by Jeff Prather.
It is a full splice cue construction with veneers. The wood is a beautifully figured Kingswood into Maple.
This cue has excellent fit and finish. The hit has excellent resonating harmonics that translate into a thorough feel of the energy translation to the cue ball.
It came with a well age maple shaft that compliments the cue superbly.
Jeff at the time of purchase gave me an extra set of collars with the matching veneers, just in case I wanted an extra LD shaft.
At Jeff's booth I met Mike Stacey and Mike Miller, the later being a cue maker from where I am from. I eventually picked up a Predator Z shaft blank and had Mike Miller do the work.
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great cue
Flicks the balls in with effortless ease. The cue ball dances to it's every whim.
This cue is a magical wand. The pictures suck. I just reread my thread. HAHA:grin:
Flicks the balls in with effortless ease. The cue ball dances to it's every whim.
This cue is a magical wand. The pictures suck. I just reread my thread. HAHA:grin:
Are you reviewing the cue's feel with the original maple shaft, or the Predator shaft?
We see so many reviews that were posted the same day the person got the cue (come to think of it, I might have done it too), but it's impressive to see that almost six years, later, you're still happy with the cue.
We see so many reviews that were posted the same day the person got the cue (come to think of it, I might have done it too), but it's impressive to see that almost six years, later, you're still happy with the cue.
I have two cues made from Prather full splice blanks, and both are great players with a lot of feedback.
Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk
Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk
Original Shaft
The cue actually plays sweeter with the original shaft, if that helps. It just feels right.
I was playing a lot of pool and my game was progressing to higher levels when I decided to purchase this cue new.
Predators were a buzz back then for a few years already, I don't know maybe it was that Jeff Prather gave me the extra collar and veneers, but it pushed me over the edge to purchase the Z shaft blank.
I played with original for a while, then once the Z shaft was ready I stuck with that primarily. I play a lot of Bar Box 8-ball and was switching to the original shaft when I played that and using the Z for the larger tables and tournaments. I eventually stuck with the Z, Never played with a LD before so I wanted to give it a fair shake.
So, fast forward I get the handle of the LD characteristics and learn to take advantage of them. Especially on the big table, long shots with english...etc...etc. The original stayed in the case mostly. I was playing more and more bar box and found myself not comfortable bringing my nice case and cues to the bars I was playing in. I guess it felt like overkill to bring my nice equipment into a joint with a pool table that was not worthy of it. That and a few dings on the Z shaft and the typical hazards of a bar environment.
While I had Mike Miller clean up the Z shaft, I busted out the original and started playing matches with it again. I liked it, but I did not feel comfortable bringing out my good cue to Bar league anymore. At this point I really wanted to keep that shaft in near mint condition. Even though it was my main player. I decided to put together a bar league setup, which consisted of old school box case (1x1) and a Bob Frey sneaky pete.
I put the Prather down for awhile and played a few seasons with the Frey. It was perfect for the lower echelon places with subpar equipment and clientele. I would break and shoot with this cue. Time passes and I find myself only playing weekly league night bar box. I would leave my good case and cues leaning up against the wall. I also needed to get use to the Frey, which I did and with no LD shaft.
Note: I do not always play in dives and over time I eventually get a nice table for the house (Diamond Bar Box)
Come full circle, I put the Prather together with the shaft it came with. Mind you, when I bought this cue I test hit every cue I fancied at the 2008 Expo and I kept going back to this one until I bought it from Jeff. I then played with it and a great big smile came across my face. It felt so right like and old friend.
To answer your question. The Jeff Prather full splice cue with original maple shaft plays well. Compared to the Bob Frey sneaky it gives it the 7 and breaks, and to me that's saying a lot because the Frey plays extremely well. The Z shaft is the Z shaft there are plenty of reviews on them, I did not want to make this another. The cue in it's entirety is excellent, and it pairs well with aftermarket shafts.
The cue actually plays sweeter with the original shaft, if that helps. It just feels right.
I was playing a lot of pool and my game was progressing to higher levels when I decided to purchase this cue new.
Predators were a buzz back then for a few years already, I don't know maybe it was that Jeff Prather gave me the extra collar and veneers, but it pushed me over the edge to purchase the Z shaft blank.
I played with original for a while, then once the Z shaft was ready I stuck with that primarily. I play a lot of Bar Box 8-ball and was switching to the original shaft when I played that and using the Z for the larger tables and tournaments. I eventually stuck with the Z, Never played with a LD before so I wanted to give it a fair shake.
So, fast forward I get the handle of the LD characteristics and learn to take advantage of them. Especially on the big table, long shots with english...etc...etc. The original stayed in the case mostly. I was playing more and more bar box and found myself not comfortable bringing my nice case and cues to the bars I was playing in. I guess it felt like overkill to bring my nice equipment into a joint with a pool table that was not worthy of it. That and a few dings on the Z shaft and the typical hazards of a bar environment.
While I had Mike Miller clean up the Z shaft, I busted out the original and started playing matches with it again. I liked it, but I did not feel comfortable bringing out my good cue to Bar league anymore. At this point I really wanted to keep that shaft in near mint condition. Even though it was my main player. I decided to put together a bar league setup, which consisted of old school box case (1x1) and a Bob Frey sneaky pete.
I put the Prather down for awhile and played a few seasons with the Frey. It was perfect for the lower echelon places with subpar equipment and clientele. I would break and shoot with this cue. Time passes and I find myself only playing weekly league night bar box. I would leave my good case and cues leaning up against the wall. I also needed to get use to the Frey, which I did and with no LD shaft.
Note: I do not always play in dives and over time I eventually get a nice table for the house (Diamond Bar Box)
Come full circle, I put the Prather together with the shaft it came with. Mind you, when I bought this cue I test hit every cue I fancied at the 2008 Expo and I kept going back to this one until I bought it from Jeff. I then played with it and a great big smile came across my face. It felt so right like and old friend.
To answer your question. The Jeff Prather full splice cue with original maple shaft plays well. Compared to the Bob Frey sneaky it gives it the 7 and breaks, and to me that's saying a lot because the Frey plays extremely well. The Z shaft is the Z shaft there are plenty of reviews on them, I did not want to make this another. The cue in it's entirety is excellent, and it pairs well with aftermarket shafts.
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