Predator cues are:

[risky biz]

Quote:
Originally Posted by risky biz
You're ignoring important parts of the poll questions:

[ ] overpriced; you can get just as good a cue for less

[ ] worth it; you can't get the same capabilities for less

I definitely think that someone can get just as good a cue, if not better, for much less. And, I'm talking about LD cues/shafts. OB, for example. I don't think OB's are overpriced. You get your money's worth.

I think I've answered those plenty.

Not really. An OB cue is priced much lower than a Predator. Why is the OB not as good or better than the Predator? I've played with both and found the OB just as good or better. I've played with several OB's, too. Not just one that happened to be just right for me. I've played with a Predator P3 with both the 314 and Z shafts and also a 314 shaft on a Joss butt.

 

[poolplayer2093]

the old ones were worth the cash. the new ones aren't worth the price. they would be if the price hadn't shot through the roof though. you knock 100 off the shafts and 150 off the whole cue price and you're getting your moneys worth

 

[Safety Patrol]

The Less-Skilled Player won't notice the difference....

The Less-Skilled Player won't notice the difference, and the advantage, a predator cue gives you.

At least not as much as a very skilled player.

I played with a Meucci for 15 years, then put a predator 314 shaft on it. It changed the way I could play the game. I could hits shots with extreme spin and velocity (only when needed) like I never could before. I was a good APA league player, but got better with new shaft.

For about a year and half, I've been playing with: Predator Sneaky Pete, no wrap, steal joint and Z2 shaft. It is absolutely the most accurate cue I have found.

If you go to the Superbilliards expo in March each year,(if you don't, you should) you will see the #1 Shaft used by the money players, is by far the Predator.

 

[CreeDo]

Pricing polls are kind of pointless because "Worth it" always depends on your money situation. If you can't pay your rent, spending money on pool isn't worth it. If you're making six or seven figures, sure... go buy one.

Some people argue low deflection cues are just a different way of shooting, no better or worse than high deflection cues. If you believe that, then it's like asking "what's better, a red car or a blue car?".

I like them, and it seems like all low deflection cues are in a similar price bracket. I don't know of any bargain LD cue that works like a predator or OB shaft, but costs 50 or 100 bucks less. I think if you don't care much about looks, you can just throw a predator shaft on any cheap player and you basically have a predator cue for less money.

 

[TheThaiger]

Pricing polls are kind of pointless because "Worth it" always depends on your money situation. If you can't pay your rent, spending money on pool isn't worth it. If you're making six or seven figures, sure... go buy one.

Some people argue low deflection cues are just a different way of shooting, no better or worse than high deflection cues. If you believe that, then it's like asking "what's better, a red car or a blue car?".

I like them, and it seems like all low deflection cues are in a similar price bracket. I don't know of any bargain LD cue that works like a predator or OB shaft, but costs 50 or 100 bucks less. I think if you don't care much about looks, you can just throw a predator shaft on any cheap player and you basically have a predator cue for less money.

Every Predator cue I've either owned or played with has played significantly better than the cues I've played with with an aftermarket Predator shaft.

 

[TheThaiger]

The Less-Skilled Player won't notice the difference, and the advantage, a predator cue gives you.

At least not as much as a very skilled player.

I played with a Meucci for 15 years, then put a predator 314 shaft on it. It changed the way I could play the game. I could hits shots with extreme spin and velocity (only when needed) like I never could before. I was a good APA league player, but got better with new shaft.

For about a year and half, I've been playing with: Predator Sneaky Pete, no wrap, steal joint and Z2 shaft. It is absolutely the most accurate cue I have found.

If you go to the Superbilliards expo in March each year,(if you don't, you should) you will see the #1 Shaft used by the money players, is by far the Predator.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[quadrary]

A few things;

1. People always say you can learn to adjust for deflection, but they never say you can learn to like the hit of a Predator, which you can, obviously. It is much quicker to learn to like a predator than it is to learn to adjust for deflection.

2. NOBODY around here (the UK) EVER flips Predators - once you've adjusted to them, you'll never change. No constantly searching for the holy grail. No endless buying and selling. As you say, the spin is so easy to achieve, yet nobody mentions it as a selling point.

3. Most people on here will have never played with a Predator, at least not as a main player. They are merely following the herd. There is a strong American bias on this site (naturally), which is why they poo-poo anything that is not American made, hence the jealousy comment. I bet attitudes would be different if Preds were still made in America...

4. I disagree about Lucasi being 99% of a Predator. I like how they play, but there's a difference in performance, especially the shafts - I had a Lucasi Hybrid and it played markedly different to a 314-2, with a lot more deflection.

5. I see no point in LD cues/shafts that still deflect. Only Predators have virtually zero deflection AND high performance.

I play exclusively with predator shafts but they are not zero squirt althiugh a lot less than mostnon ld shafts.

 

[CreeDo]

Every Predator cue I've either owned or played with has played significantly better than the cues I've played with with an aftermarket Predator shaft.

Hrm, to me it feels the same... did you give the one with the predator shaft a lot of time vs. your full predator cue? Or maybe you just kind of subconsciously felt like it was gonna be not as good, and that affected how you played?

I'd be surprised if many people could pass a "pepsi challenge" and tell the difference between the two if they couldn't see the logos/designs... assuming both cues are the same weight.

 

[samiun]

At first I want to say that I was Predator minded for about 2 years. The LD shaft take my game further more advanced, like they said "Take your game to the next level". That was the time when then predator is in my line up, somehow my so called "teacher" give me the custom cue he had. As my playing style evolve, I found something missing on the predator cue and that's just IMO, everyone will have the time when he/she feels something missing with this or that cue as long as he/she is open minded person. That is the time when some player will have the most liked cue on his mind. Predator selling the technology like Laminated Shaft, C4, etc, not the view of the cue, and the price maybe overpriced because the advertising for sponsoring many tournament. I switched back to my custom cue with LD corked shaft from my local custom cue maker and leave the laminated shaft. The predator butt doesn't feel like one piece cue to me, and it's just my opinion which somehow maybe different from one to another person. I think it's to overpriced for the design.

 

[TheThaiger]

Hrm, to me it feels the same... did you give the one with the predator shaft a lot of time vs. your full predator cue? Or maybe you just kind of subconsciously felt like it was gonna be not as good, and that affected how you played?

I'd be surprised if many people could pass a "pepsi challenge" and tell the difference between the two if they couldn't see the logos/designs... assuming both cues are the same weight.

Yes. I had a basic Pechauer with a custom fitted 314-2 (ie not off the shelf, matched by Pech themselves) for over a year, and couldn't move the ball anywhere near as easily as i can with either my SP or Blak. Don't get me wrong, it was a lovely cue, but in terms of sheer effortlessness at moving the CB, Predators cues are better in my experience. I've found the same with friend's Joss and, especially, a $3k Wayne Holmes, but a Meucci I tried was comparable. Weight/power distribution will have a lot to do with it.

It would make an interesting Pepsi challenge.

 

[Slh]

Yes. I had a basic Pechauer with a custom fitted 314-2 (ie not off the shelf, matched by Pech themselves) for over a year, and couldn't move the ball anywhere near as easily as i can with either my SP or Blak. Don't get me wrong, it was a lovely cue, but in terms of sheer effortlessness at moving the CB, Predators cues are better in my experience. I've found the same with friend's Joss and, especially, a $3k Wayne Holmes, but a Meucci I tried was comparable. Weight/power distribution will have a lot to do with it.

It would make an interesting Pepsi challenge.

have you tried the mezz wd700? I tried it and I think the performance are comparable with the 314... It has a very stiff hit and the deflection is very comparable ( actually a little higher than the 314 but not by much). The feel of the mezz shaft is much better for sure, the 314 has a hollow feeling when you hit the cueball. I didn't try the ob1 shaft yet, I read here it is very comparable with the 314 in terms of deflection but it has a much better feel. Have you tried the mezz shaft or the ob1? Obviously if you like thinner shafts ( i remember you play with a z2, right?) you could try the OB2.

 

[TheThaiger]

have you tried the mezz wd700? I tried it and I think the performance are comparable with the 314... It has a very stiff hit and the deflection is very comparable ( actually a little higher than the 314 but not by much). The feel of the mezz shaft is much better for sure, the 314 has a hollow feeling when you hit the cueball. I didn't try the ob1 shaft yet, I read here it is very comparable with the 314 in terms of deflection but it has a much better feel. Have you tried the mezz shaft or the ob1? Obviously if you like thinner shafts ( i remember you play with a z2, right?) you could try the OB2.

Actually, I don't play with a Predator, but own a couple, including the SP, which has a first gen Z shaft.

Anyway, yes, I've played with both a OB1 and a WD700. Didn't like the OB1 (stiff and lifeless), the WD700 was ok, but didn't move the ball as easily as the 314-2. I would need to play more with both to objectively judge.

You've GOT to get rid of that tip, dude. An Everest and a Pred is not a good combination IMO. You can't judge how good a cue or shaft is if the tip is not up to scratch. It'll do a lot to get rid of that hollow feeling. Either of the Kamui mediums will give you a more solid hit. Change the tip, change the cue.

 

[quadrary]

Yes. I had a basic Pechauer with a custom fitted 314-2 (ie not off the shelf, matched by Pech themselves) for over a year, and couldn't move the ball anywhere near as easily as i can with either my SP or Blak. Don't get me wrong, it was a lovely cue, but in terms of sheer effortlessness at moving the CB, Predators cues are better in my experience. I've found the same with friend's Joss and, especially, a $3k Wayne Holmes, but a Meucci I tried was comparable. Weight/power distribution will have a lot to do with it.

It would make an interesting Pepsi challenge.

Ive hit with full predator cues and dont find any difference in my ability to move the cue ball as opposed to the predator shaft on my jacoby what i do know is that the standard cue built to general preferred weights and balance points is not the best combination for me. I had this one built to my specs and the only way i ever hit with another cue again is if i have have Brandon and Dave build the same one all over again. I have found what is cue nirvana for me. Jacoby cue with predator shaft and just went back to sniper tip and im in heaven.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

ThThaiger:
It is much quicker to learn to like a predator than it is to learn to adjust for deflection.

A true, interesting and surprisingly new observation.

Predators have virtually zero deflection

Followed by a false and way too common one.

pj
chgo

 

[jhanso18]

Food for thought, Predator is a good brand and produce decent stuff. However I would say there are equally good brands, or better, for less money. I won't get into a pissing match about which.

One could argue (and i will) that it doesn't matter how much something costs if it feels and shoots EXACTLY like what you want. When you have that PERFECT cue in your hands, it DOES make a difference. (this is different for everyone)

best,

Justin

 

[TheThaiger]

A true, interesting and surprisingly new observation.


Followed by a false and way too common one.

pj
chgo

1. Surprising? Where have you been, man?

2. Not false at all. If it weren't for the self-appointed deflection nazis on here, I'd have said they don't deflect at all. I bowed to their pressure when I wrote that, shamefully. I don't adjust my aim AT ALL when shooting with a Predator. To all practical purposes, they are ZERO deflection. Frankly, you can stick whatever measuring device you care to mention up your backside. :wink:

 

[Patrick Johnson]

...you can stick whatever measuring device you care to mention up your backside.

Speak for yourself. None of my business what you measure in the privacy of your own home (please), but neither Predator nor any other stick we know of is zero-deflection.

pj
chgo

 

[JAlan]

I know of one guy that ran 526 balls!

If he had a Predator he would have ran 626!!!


To each their own on Predator. I do respect the fact they make a very nice quality cue, and yeah it is made in China. So is the keyboard I am typing this on, the monitor I'm reading this on, the shoes on my feet, the iPhone in my pocket, etc etc. China is capable of making good quality goods, the USA is capable of making good quality goods. China is also capable of making crap stuff, and there are some things made in the USA that are crap.

I love made in the USA as much as the next guy, but when it comes to my hard earned dollar, I'll spend it where I can get the most for it. I play with a Predator P3, I love the cue, I've owned hundreds of cues in my life. Fifteen years ago I would have scoffed at a made in China cue, not anymore. As far as the retail price of them? No, I wouldn't have bought this cue for the $830 street price, but yeah, I did buy it used for significantly less, and I couldn't be happier (for now).

 

[scsuxci]

I find for my style of play Predator is the most consistent cue
I've ever played with.I've always said that playing inside English
is the most feared shot in pool from amateurs to pros.Predator
is the only shaft that I can comfortably play that shot with,with
no fear.I've played with tons and feel alot of cues I tried were really
good but not like the Predator.I currently play with a older 4k-6
Rosewood Predator which has such a pure harmonic tone when
striking the cue-ball which I believe contributes to the rosewood
used in the forearm.Do I think Predator is worth the money?
Putting designs aside and speaking purely on playability it would
depend on how serious you want to take your game.For my game
there worth every penny and more.

 

[Safety Patrol]

Money Players play with predators

I mentioned in a previous response, my observations at the super billiards expo in march each year.

If you don't already know about check out the web site superbilliardsexpo.com.

It's four days of tournaments, hundreds of vendor booths, and money games 24/7.

More of the Money players play with Predator shafts than any other shaft.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Has anyone attended another large gathering of money players and found a majority of players using a specific cue?