I got my Predator Air Jump Cue in today from Omega Billiards in Texas. Michael Hoang there is a real pleasure to deal with. The cue was about $127 including free shipping.
The Predator Air is a patented three piece design. It has a phenolic tip with a backing pad and a short phenolic linen ferrule. The similarity to other jump cues stops right there. The ferrule is 13.75mm with a thick tapered shaft. The shaft and center section look to be made from an 1/8th inch thick hollow composite shell, possibly graphite, with a cored wood insert. The back butt is solid wood. I'll explain why that matters in a moment. The front shaft is connected to the center section with a very short radial pin. The back butt section is connected with a standard uni-loc. The finish is a flat black and very nicely done. The cue looks great with the Predator graphics.
The shaft only weighs 2.9 ounces, the center section 2.6 ounces, and the butt 3.5 ounces. Add them up to a total cue of 9 ounces. The shaft is 29 1/4". With the middle section only, the cue is a total of 40 1/4", and with the butt, the full length cue is 47 1/2".
Performance:
I took off the butt and tried to make a standard jump shot with just the first two sections. Nothing doing. The shaft and center section are too light to jump the cue ball with a conventional jump stroke. I was pretty distressed, then I put the heavier wooden butt section on and viola, big air! At full length, this cue is relatively easy to get the ball up and it's length makes it easier to aim than typical short jump cues. It's maybe a little less accurate than shooting a jacked up non-jump shot.
I quickly figured the shaft and middle section together are for dart-style jump shots, and it works very well for that. Together they only weigh 5.5 ounces, just a little more than a conventional shaft, but are plenty long to make the dart stroke. The cue ball pops right up in the air. I don't usually use a dart stroke, but with this cue, I'm going to learn it. It's great for very short jump shots. In case you haven't done a dart stroke, you hold the cue like a masse shot and hit down into the cueball, popping it up in the air.
Basically, the Predator Air is a winner. It's by far the best jump cue I've used. At full length, it's the easiest aiming jump cue I've ever used and it gets the ball up without too much effort - just what I was looking for.
Chris
PS. A leather tip is an option for these cues. There is no way I would recommend a leather tip on a jump cue.
The Predator Air is a patented three piece design. It has a phenolic tip with a backing pad and a short phenolic linen ferrule. The similarity to other jump cues stops right there. The ferrule is 13.75mm with a thick tapered shaft. The shaft and center section look to be made from an 1/8th inch thick hollow composite shell, possibly graphite, with a cored wood insert. The back butt is solid wood. I'll explain why that matters in a moment. The front shaft is connected to the center section with a very short radial pin. The back butt section is connected with a standard uni-loc. The finish is a flat black and very nicely done. The cue looks great with the Predator graphics.
The shaft only weighs 2.9 ounces, the center section 2.6 ounces, and the butt 3.5 ounces. Add them up to a total cue of 9 ounces. The shaft is 29 1/4". With the middle section only, the cue is a total of 40 1/4", and with the butt, the full length cue is 47 1/2".
Performance:
I took off the butt and tried to make a standard jump shot with just the first two sections. Nothing doing. The shaft and center section are too light to jump the cue ball with a conventional jump stroke. I was pretty distressed, then I put the heavier wooden butt section on and viola, big air! At full length, this cue is relatively easy to get the ball up and it's length makes it easier to aim than typical short jump cues. It's maybe a little less accurate than shooting a jacked up non-jump shot.
I quickly figured the shaft and middle section together are for dart-style jump shots, and it works very well for that. Together they only weigh 5.5 ounces, just a little more than a conventional shaft, but are plenty long to make the dart stroke. The cue ball pops right up in the air. I don't usually use a dart stroke, but with this cue, I'm going to learn it. It's great for very short jump shots. In case you haven't done a dart stroke, you hold the cue like a masse shot and hit down into the cueball, popping it up in the air.
Basically, the Predator Air is a winner. It's by far the best jump cue I've used. At full length, it's the easiest aiming jump cue I've ever used and it gets the ball up without too much effort - just what I was looking for.
Chris
PS. A leather tip is an option for these cues. There is no way I would recommend a leather tip on a jump cue.
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