Predator and Deflection

Thunder Thighs said:
Nice post Trevor. How's the little guy doing?
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Thanks! :smile:

The little guy is doing great! It's the best possible outcome we could have hoped for. We get test results back tomorrow on some blood tests he just had done yesterday with regards to his overall kidney functions and other things but all looks well as of right now and we're keeping our fingers crossed that there are not going to be any long-term issues. He started school this week (1 1/2 weeks late) and the teacher says he's doing fine there as well. Thanks for asking! :grin:

Trevor
 
I think the usefulness of aftermarket shafts comes down to the usefulness of the original shaft. Ray Schuler (who isn't included in the above study) made much to do about deflection. That's why so many billiard players used his cues, they deflected very little. The abundance of useless shafts made the niche market viable. If more cue makers knew how to make a useable shaft, aftermarket shafts would go away.
 
Predator is it real?

Bellhemen said:
Nobody has said they're no good. For $250 if it does improve my game or shave off years its a very good investment. If it doesn't improve anything I guess I'm stuck with a damn good shaft that most pros use.
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I don't know if you are a young guy just starting out but this is what I think. If I were a young person early in my learning process I would use a predator and nothing else. Anywhere on the table you can move the cueball for the next shot with ease because there is just more action with less mechanical effort.

Once you start though stick with it, grow your game with it and don't keep switching. Inside english is much easier because there is no ajustment you shoot what you see.

Top spin,side spin,draw takes a lot less effort and you will learn there are things you can do with this shaft that conventional shafts reqire more technique,power,and skill to accomplish.

I know all this to be true yet I keep coming back to a standard shaft why? Because I am old and developed back hand or what ever the gurus call it and do not play enough hours or have the descipline to unlearn my strokes that are embedded in my brain to accomplish banking and kicking at a proper level.

In my opinion adjusting to offensive shot making from a standard shaft is easy and frankly a lot of fun because its easier to make balls and get position.

But banking and kicking is a lot different because of backhand spin,elevating the cue etc. that some players developed over a long period of time trying to or achieving the same goal before these new inventions.

From my experience you develope your stroke to the cue not opposite. How many older players do you see using predator. I don't think too many and I believe it because of reasons stated above.

It sounds like you are just developing and if it were me I would play with a predator. Joe Tucker is a player and has lots of knowledge/experience.

I get tired of hearing low deflection, low deflection because there is a lot more to hundreds of pool shots than deflection its just one part.

There is also action which I believe to be equally important and the predator has that in abundance. We are talking pool cue here I'm not forgetting skill.

I don't know Joe or sell cues. I believe I am just expanding on what he is saying I hope. Above all have fun with whatever you choose, cause no matter the score you can't lose. JMO.:smile:
 
I played my best pool with a Z shaft but after 1 years of practicing. Switching from a conventional shaft to a Predator may be painful. There is a lot of difference in the way you make balls with a predator shaft.
There is a reason why the vast majority of the pro pool players choose Predator. it is more easy to pocket balls and to put spin on the cue ball.
It is easy to use parallel english.
But, it will take time to learn it, if you switch from a normal shaft I will say 6 months.
The feel is not they're strong point, so depends what you want.
One example : for a ball close but not frozen to a side rail, I was aiming it at half diamond before the pocket with right-low spin. 19 out of 20 times it went straight in to the pocket. That is consistency and you develop a lot of confidence.

After 2 years I sold it and tried other things : normal shafts, Intimidator, 314, OB2 but none got close to the performance and consistency of my game with Z. I recently bought a Dominiak and I was amazed by the feel and playability so I will stick with it. it is as low-deflection you can make a laminated shaft without any holes in it, but it plays rock solid and consistent.
 
Have you ever tried a solid maple shaft with an 11.75 mm dia tip with a short light ferrule? has great feel and the deflection is minimal.
 
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Preds

Eric Wynne said:
All this deflection BS might as well be a big fart ... No cue performs until somebody picks it up and hits with it , and the cue is only as good as the terd playing with it ...People will say and do anything for money ... Think about it ...Some people make products to sell and others make them for the love of the game ... There is no magic in any wood or construction technique , the secret is hard work , just like life ...:cool:
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Finally someone steps up and goes against the grain! Like I have always said it's the Indian not the arrow. I never was one to jump on any bandwagon so didn't fall into the predator wagon. I did voluntarily jump onto the OB1 wagon but only because I personally knew Don Owens and knew he was a very smart fellow. He is also an entrepreneur and that's fine. Nothing wrong with making money last time I checked. Huge learning curve with the OB1. Thing would masse so well I completely lost that shot in my arsenal. Just couldn't adjust for all that movement. More than a year later I finally gave up on LD shaft and returned to my standard shaft on my Shurtz, which by the way is an awesome player. Of course Gabe Owens uses a Shurtz but just found out recently that Mr. Frost uses a Shurtz! Not a bad testimonial huh? I know more people who gave up on their OB1 than play with it!!! Again it's the Indian.
 
Mr. Wiggles said:
Finally someone steps up and goes against the grain! Like I have always said it's the Indian not the arrow. I never was one to jump on any bandwagon so didn't fall into the predator wagon. I did voluntarily jump onto the OB1 wagon but only because I personally knew Don Owens and knew he was a very smart fellow. He is also an entrepreneur and that's fine. Nothing wrong with making money last time I checked. Huge learning curve with the OB1. Thing would masse so well I completely lost that shot in my arsenal. Just couldn't adjust for all that movement. More than a year later I finally gave up on LD shaft and returned to my standard shaft on my Shurtz, which by the way is an awesome player. Of course Gabe Owens uses a Shurtz but just found out recently that Mr. Frost uses a Shurtz! Not a bad testimonial huh? I know more people who gave up on their OB1 than play with it!!! Again it's the Indian.
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If it's the Indian, why does EVERY SINGLE ONE have their own arrow?
 
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