Predator Air Jump Cue...nothing but net!

Well just got back. I was lucky enough to find an 8' table at Chris's way in the back. No one bothered me during the hour or so I spent jumping.

I was struggling a bit with the round tip. A lot more side spin than I'm used to and if you don't hit it just right, the ball can really take off in different directions once it comes back to the table. One thing was kind of cool though. I actually popped the ball up in the air and stopped it dead 3-4 diamonds away without contacting anything. That would be a handy shot to be consistent at.

I'm used to a flat tip and a jump cue with a little more weight, which is probably the point. I think my impression of the cue is completely based on what I have been currently using which is a cheap $55 Cuetech jump cue with the butt hollowed out and the metal ring on the joint removed to make it lighter so I am far from an expert on these matters. I wasn't blown away by the Predator's lightness. I think a balsawood butt on a shaft with a phenolic tip could probably pop the ball up as well if not better.

Interesting though. I'll keep at it for a while. With my current jump cue, I can at least hit an object ball successfully 5-6 diamonds away maybe 19out of 20 times conservatively. I was hitting the object ball probably only 50% from the same distance largely because of the extra side spin from not hitting it right.

I'm interested in what the OP was using before he tried the Predator Jump Cue.


Edit - lol didn't see you post Joey until I got done. Yeah, I'm not switching over just yet. :)
 
Last edited:
Da Poet said:
Well just got back. I was lucky enough to find an 8' table at Chris's way in the back. No one bothered me during the hour or so I spent jumping.

I was struggling a bit with the round tip. A lot more side spin than I'm used to and if you don't hit it just right, the ball can really take off in different directions once it comes back to the table. One thing was kind of cool though. I actually popped the ball up in the air and stopped it dead 3-4 diamonds away without contacting anything. That would be a handy shot to be consistent at.

I'm used to a flat tip and a jump cue with a little more weight, which is probably the point. I think my impression of the cue is completely based on what I have been currently using which is a cheap $55 Cuetech jump cue with the butt hollowed out and the metal ring on the joint removed to make it lighter so I am far from an expert on these matters. I wasn't blown away by the Predator's lightness. I think a balsawood butt on a shaft with a phenolic tip could probably pop the ball up as well if not better.

Interesting though. I'll keep at it for a while. With my current jump cue, I can at least hit an object ball successfully 5-6 diamonds away maybe 19out of 20 times conservatively. I was hitting the object ball probably only 50% from the same distance largely because of the extra side spin from not hitting it right.

I'm interested in what the OP was using before he tried the Predator Jump Cue.


Edit - lol didn't see you post Joey until I got done. Yeah, I'm not switching over just yet. :)
Click to expand...

I flattened my tip a little bit and it did improve control.

I found that you have to experiment with this cue because it has different characteristics than other jump cues I've used. I had a Bunjee, a Stealth, an x-breaker with a g-10 (my formerly favorite) and an X-jumper with a phenolic tip. I liked my x-breaker with the g-10 the best (by far) but I changed the tip out for hard leather, then the cue wouldn't jump very well.

Unlike other short jump cues, I found with the Predator Air you don't have to elevate as much. I was used to a 45 degree elevation or so on average shots but I've taken something off of it with this cue because the height is so easy to get. At a 30 - 35 (estimated) degree or so elevation I can make it over a full ball a foot away and get a lot more accuracy. I also find my hand on the back handle section of the longer cue. I have pretty long arms (35" shirt sleeve) so maybe the longer cue just fits me btter.

With the shortened cue, I've been working on a dart stroke with an elevated bridge like a masse(about a foot off the table) , about a 60 degree angle flicking it at the center of the ball. You get this little "pop fly" that isn't too ridiculous to control, but it's only good for very short shots.

Chris
 
crappoolguy said:
It looks like it is between this cue and the DR Poppers jump cue then...
Click to expand...

I view the Dr. Popper's as a trick shot/specialty shot cue. I do not know if it can be used with a traditional pendulum jump stroke, but I do know the Predator Air can be used effectively with either a dart stroke or a traditional stroke.

The usefulness of a jump shot lies the accuracy of the shot. If you can aim it on long shots too, it's a lot better. By its nature a dart stroke is inaccurate on longer shots. Most of us not only want to make the hit, but were trying to aim the ball as well, maybe even trying to get shape. There is no way you can do that with a Dr. Popper's jump cue.

Chris
 
TATE said:
I view the Dr. Popper's as a trick shot/specialty shot cue. I do not know if it can be used with a traditional pendulum jump stroke, but I do know the Predator Air can be used effectively with either a dart stroke or a traditional stroke.

The usefulness of a jump shot lies the accuracy of the shot. If you can aim it on long shots too, it's a lot better. By its nature a dart stroke is inaccurate on longer shots. Most of us not only want to make the hit, but were trying to aim the ball as well, maybe even trying to get shape. There is no way you can do that with a Dr. Popper's jump cue.

Chris
Click to expand...


Yeah, I'll probably get the predator and get the popper cue some time down the line for trickshots (which I am quite fond of).
 
TATE said:
I flattened my tip a little bit and it did improve control.

I found that you have to experiment with this cue because it has different characteristics than other jump cues I've used. I had a Bunjee, a Stealth, an x-breaker with a g-10 (my formerly favorite) and an X-jumper with a phenolic tip. I liked my x-breaker with the g-10 the best (by far) but I changed the tip out for hard leather, then the cue wouldn't jump very well.

Unlike other short jump cues, I found with the Predator Air you don't have to elevate as much. I was used to a 45 degree elevation or so on average shots but I've taken something off of it with this cue because the height is so easy to get. At a 30 - 35 (estimated) degree or so elevation I can make it over a full ball a foot away and get a lot more accuracy. I also find my hand on the back handle section of the longer cue. I have pretty long arms (35" shirt sleeve) so maybe the longer cue just fits me btter.

With the shortened cue, I've been working on a dart stroke with an elevated bridge like a masse(about a foot off the table) , about a 60 degree angle flicking it at the center of the ball. You get this little "pop fly" that isn't too ridiculous to control, but it's only good for very short shots.

Chris
Click to expand...


Just a question... how do you flatten a tip?
 
With the technology getting so that these jump cues really change the game, I see a future where they won't allow these at the bigger tournaments. This past week at the Florida tour event, Randy Epperson told me that he had heard they were banning them next year at the Seminole events.

That said, I will continue to arm myself with any better available weapons. I am currently using an Xbreaker B/J but I will be looking around at the pool hall for someone who has one of these to give it a spin. Thanks for the update on this new cue guys.
 
crappoolguy said:
Just a question... how do you flatten a tip?
Click to expand...

You just file the tip to a flatter shape. I don't know why it works, but it seems to me to be easier to control than a very rounded phenolic tip.

Chris
 
I ordered mine a few weeks back from Platinum billiards. I think they are shipping them today (or so I they said on the phone the other day). Has anyone heard anything else from them? I can't wait to try it out.
 
Predator Air Jump Cue

Thanks a lot for the write up and the pictures of the new Predator jump cue. I've been thinking about buying one and after reading your thread and seeing the pictures I think my minds made up to get one.......
 
TATE said:
I liked my x-breaker with the g-10 the best (by far) but I changed the tip out for hard leather, then the cue wouldn't jump very well.

Chris
Click to expand...

Do you think this one is better than the xbreaker before you changed the tip out?

I actually have a 16.8 oz full cue xbreaker I use for jumping and hardly have to break it down for jumps so just wondering what your thoughts are on that
 
cubc said:
Do you think this one is better than the xbreaker before you changed the tip out?

I actually have a 16.8 oz full cue xbreaker I use for jumping and hardly have to break it down for jumps so just wondering what your thoughts are on that
Click to expand...

I had the X-Breaker v2 from Samsura. It is by far the best jump cue I ever used. I couldn't justify keeping it for only jumping however. My Varney now is good 8/10. I'm going to try the Predator Air out tonight to see what I think. If I like it, I'll put it in my bag.
 
A-Jumper

Snorks said:
I had the X-Breaker v2 from Samsura. It is by far the best jump cue I ever used. I couldn't justify keeping it for only jumping however. My Varney now is good 8/10. I'm going to try the Predator Air out tonight to see what I think. If I like it, I'll put it in my bag.
Click to expand...

I was jumping fairly well with the PRedator Air (I've had it for a couple of days), not great but fairly well. One of the league players saw me working with it and came over and gave me a jump cue lesson and I am now deadly at long ranges because of the lesson. He also showed me how to jump at short distances using the dart stroke. I have never had good jumping skills but now think I may becoming an A-Jumper. :p

We even experimented with jump, masse, which isa whole new world for me. Watch out YOW! :-)

Like with any aspect of pool, get to know your equipment, get some lessons on how to use it or to play it and you won't have to be like me buying everything that comes down the pike. :)
JoeyA
 
cubc said:
Do you think this one is better than the xbreaker before you changed the tip out?

I actually have a 16.8 oz full cue xbreaker I use for jumping and hardly have to break it down for jumps so just wondering what your thoughts are on that
Click to expand...

That's a tough question. I could put the G-10 back on my x-breaker and be perfectly happy with it as a jump cue. It's hard to beat the X-Breaker by Samsara for jumping.

In my opinion, my first impression of the Predator Air was I liked the X-Breaker better. The Predator has to be worked with because the shots are different with the light weight. The Predator gets more spin (the G-10 pretty much fires a knuckleball). I found I could control the cue better on shorter and medium length jumps, especially where the cue ball has to land a short distance after the blocker and stop. For example, most side pocket straight in jump shots would be easier to control with the Predator than the X-Breaker.

It takes a little getting used to - and I'm still on that road, but I think the Predator Air ultimately will be more versatile with more "bags of tricks" shots do-able. I mean, I don't like gimmicked stuff, but to be able to shoot a short jumper - and pocket the ball, and possibly get position - with all three balls tight to the end rail is a blessing instead of having to kick the length of the table and just hope to hit it.

Chris
 
cubc said:
Do you think this one is better than the xbreaker before you changed the tip out?

I actually have a 16.8 oz full cue xbreaker I use for jumping and hardly have to break it down for jumps so just wondering what your thoughts are on that
Click to expand...

How in the world did you get your X Breaker that light? Mine is only 17.5 and that's as light as they come I thought.
 
no idea.. it was custom made.. its red and white and signed 26 nov 2006 in the joint. Weighed it and it's 16.8 oz total. I full break like a monster with it and full cue jump without any difficulties.
 
TATE said:
That's a tough question. I could put the G-10 back on my x-breaker and be perfectly happy with it as a jump cue. It's hard to beat the X-Breaker by Samsara for jumping.

In my opinion, my first impression of the Predator Air was I liked the X-Breaker better. The Predator has to be worked with because the shots are different with the light weight. The Predator gets more spin (the G-10 pretty much fires a knuckleball). I found I could control the cue better on shorter and medium length jumps, especially where the cue ball has to land a short distance after the blocker and stop. For example, most side pocket straight in jump shots would be easier to control with the Predator than the X-Breaker.

It takes a little getting used to - and I'm still on that road, but I think the Predator Air ultimately will be more versatile with more "bags of tricks" shots do-able. I mean, I don't like gimmicked stuff, but to be able to shoot a short jumper - and pocket the ball, and possibly get position - with all three balls tight to the end rail is a blessing instead of having to kick the length of the table and just hope to hit it.

Chris
Click to expand...

Chris,

Can you tape some jumps for youtube?
 
billiardpete said:
Chris,

Can you tape some jumps for youtube?
Click to expand...

OK I sure will. Check back tomorrow please - I have the day off and can work on it.

Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top