Predator coming out with another value line cue (Aspire)

shojingod

shojingod

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Predator is coming out with the Aspire line cue (369 to 409 US) and new shaft called the Predator One shaft. The shaft look like a variation of the venom shaft which does not have any laminations. I believe the new line will be radial pin. Poison line was not bad but the bullet pin is not the most desirable also the designs of many of the line was tacky as hell.
 
Appon research looks like its been out over seas already, that shat is 12.55, pretty cool! Also the cue design looks to be a simple " Jane look" That I enjoy. The pin I am reading is a " uni-loc mini radial joint!"

My curiosity is peaked on if the new mini joint " One shaft " will work on their other uni-loc radial pins... Or only tapped for the short pin... Either way I am interested in how the one shaft will hold up agains the other predator shafts.
 
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The 1-3 looks like a decent/clean sneaky to me. The one reservation I would have is the pin type. Looks like these will be a "mini radial". Def will limit shaft options for upgrades. Good price point though.
 
will be very dissapointing if they don't at least create their own higher end shafts with a matching joint,
at the moment seems like a great way for them to double dip
 
HueblerHustler7 said:
Appon research looks like its been out over seas already, that shat is 12.55, pretty cool! Also the cue design looks to be a simple " Jane look" That I enjoy. The pin I am reading is a " uni-loc mini radial joint!"

My curiosity is peaked on if the new mini joint " One shaft " will work on their other uni-loc radial pins... Or only tapped for the short pin... Either way I am interested in how the one shaft will hold up agains the other predator shafts.
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The mini radial joints work with a standard radial shaft. My son found this out by taking his jump cue butt from predator that uses that mini radial pin and sticking a Go Carbon radial shaft on it. Worked just fine.
 
RobitailleRE said:
Wouldn't the mini radial allow you to use the higher end shafts on the cheaper butt?
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And that is the key, as long as you have your shafts with a certain joint type, you can use any butt with them. My favorite combination is the McDermott Lucky/Star cues and any old 3/8 x10 shaft I play with well enough, makes a cheap and safe travel and bar/league banger setup for places shifty people frequent. Even at under $400 this is not what I would call a "bargain" price for a cheap setup.
 
I also asked predator about shaft upgrades such as a revo for the aspire line through their site... The answer was this is not an option, I believe this is bs, Would have been interested if you can upgrade to say a revo 11.8 instead of dropping 400 on the cue and another 500 for a revo to go with it... Very disappointing in my opinion. I think they will end up loosing some interest with this new line until that is changed maybe in the future based on feed back.
 
Poison-Predator-Shaft-.jpg

I'm not sure that these are new Predators shafts... I'm not sure they are even new - besides the logo.
 
ddg45 said:
Has anyone played with an Aspire yet?
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Yes, I was able to find a predator dealer and had him upgrade me to the revo 11.8, witch is what I wanted predator to do for me but wouldn't. The cue is dead straight and plays amazing, mine is more rear balanced making it feel lighter than it actually is. The aspire moves the cue ball effortlessly, I am in love with it to be honest, The black has very nice metallic flake in it and finish is spotless. One note is that the extension bumper does not go in all the way just a heads up, my cue was not tapped far enough, I had to grind down the bumper on my grinding wheel. I mentioned this to predator via messenger on FB.
 
HueblerHustler7 said:
Yes, I was able to find a predator dealer and had him upgrade me to the revo 11.8, witch is what I wanted predator to do for me but wouldn't. The cue is dead straight and plays amazing, mine is more rear balanced making it feel lighter than it actually is. The aspire moves the cue ball effortlessly, I am in love with it to be honest, The black has very nice metallic flake in it and finish is spotless. One note is that the extension bumper does not go in all the way just a heads up, my cue was not tapped far enough, I had to grind down the bumper on my grinding wheel. I mentioned this to predator via messenger on FB.
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Thanks for the response. Did you like the original shaft that came with the cue? When you say you upgraded to the Revo I don't know if you ever played with the Aspire shaft. How would you compare the Aspire cue as is to the higher priced Predators?
 
ddg45 said:
Thanks for the response. Did you like the original shaft that came with the cue? When you say you upgraded to the Revo I don't know if you ever played with the Aspire shaft. How would you compare the Aspire cue as is to the higher priced Predators?
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I " Upgraded " meaning I had the dealer exchange the One shaft for the revo, So I can't say how the one shaft plays. The only info I have for you is that it is a more simple construction than their laminates shafts, being its solid wood but drilled out for light weight end mass. Also the front ferrule designs seems more like the original 314 shafts. The shaft should have pretty good low deflection properties. As for what your not getting with the aspire line, it's plain simple, the construction of the cue butt has no phenolic construction in the front of the cue or rear, It is a solid wood dowel core construction. The Pin is directly taped into the front of the cue, and the weight bolt and bumper as well. These cues also do not have or except the predator uniloc weight bolt system! It is a normal Hex key weight bolt.
 
ddg45 said:
Thanks for the response. Did you like the original shaft that came with the cue? When you say you upgraded to the Revo I don't know if you ever played with the Aspire shaft. How would you compare the Aspire cue as is to the higher priced Predators?
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Buddy of mine bought one I played with it some doesn’t play bad but does deflect a bit more then say my vantage shaft or my revo but I’d say decent looking and playing cue for the value
 
Boggles the mind that they still haven’t produced a true sneaky pete.

Over the past 20-25 years they probably would have sold more of those than Viking and McDermott sold total cues combined.
 
HueblerHustler7 said:
Yes, I was able to find a predator dealer and had him upgrade me to the revo 11.8, witch is what I wanted predator to do for me but wouldn't. The cue is dead straight and plays amazing, mine is more rear balanced making it feel lighter than it actually is. The aspire moves the cue ball effortlessly, I am in love with it to be honest, The black has very nice metallic flake in it and finish is spotless. One note is that the extension bumper does not go in all the way just a heads up, my cue was not tapped far enough, I had to grind down the bumper on my grinding wheel. I mentioned this to predator via messenger on FB.
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You are talking about the shaft with moving the ball, the butt has 0 effect on cueball action or aiming. Balance and hit feel are in the butt and the shaft though. You'd have to try it out with the stock shaft for an actual full cue review without adding on a $500 shaft to it. The "moves the cue ball" part is all in the shaft.
 
Though you are correct.
hang-the-9 said:
You are talking about the shaft with moving the ball, the butt has 0 effect on cueball action or aiming. Balance and hit feel are in the butt and the shaft though. You'd have to try it out with the stock shaft for an actual full cue review without adding on a $500 shaft to it. The "moves the cue ball" part is all in the shaft.
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The cue is very stiff and has a great balance point, so " For me" I feel like with the revo shaft " I " move the cue ball with ease.
 
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