Predator, OB, McDermott

Snake Plisken

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Do you play or have you played with any of these ld shafts and what are your brief likes/dislikes.

I have used the search engine and don't mean to start a redundant topic, but I would like to see what most players are currently playing with and why.

The replies here will help me decide on a purchase since I am unable to test these shafts first.

I would do this as a poll but I honestly don't know how.

I started this thread earlier but I don't know wtf happened to it.

Your opinions are very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance...
 
Do you play or have you played with any of these ld shafts and what are your brief likes/dislikes.

I have used the search engine and don't mean to start a redundant topic, but I would like to see what most players are currently playing with and why.

The replies here will help me decide on a purchase since I am unable to test these shafts first.

I would do this as a poll but I honestly don't know how.

I started this thread earlier but I don't know wtf happened to it.

Your opinions are very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance...
i have the predator 314/2 and the mcdermott g core. i cant tell any notable difference between them .i play with both cues every week and sometimes i swap cues in the middle of a match just for the hell of it and it doesnt disturb my game at all.
just replaced my tip on my predator last month with a tiger emerald and i can move the cue ball around alot better. the mcdermott is only 3 months old and when the tip needs replacing im gonna try a kamui on it.
i have had the predator for 2 years and the mcdermott was a christmas gift from my gf.
some people swear by one brand or another saying they like the feel or sound of the hit better than others. im not into all that low deflection stuff,as long as the shaft is straight im happy.
guess im different than most players, either im not good enough of a player to tell the difference between shafts or im good enough player to play the same level with a house stick or a high end production lol.
bottom line is pick which cue you like the design of , thats what i do or are you just buying a shaft to go on your existing cue ?
 
i have the predator 314/2 and the mcdermott g core. i cant tell any notable difference between them .i play with both cues every week and sometimes i swap cues in the middle of a match just for the hell of it and it doesnt disturb my game at all.
just replaced my tip on my predator last month with a tiger emerald and i can move the cue ball around alot better. the mcdermott is only 3 months old and when the tip needs replacing im gonna try a kamui on it.
i have had the predator for 2 years and the mcdermott was a christmas gift from my gf.
some people swear by one brand or another saying they like the feel or sound of the hit better than others. im not into all that low deflection stuff,as long as the shaft is straight im happy.
guess im different than most players, either im not good enough of a player to tell the difference between shafts or im good enough player to play the same level with a house stick or a high end production lol.
bottom line is pick which cue you like the design of , thats what i do or are you just buying a shaft to go on your existing cue ?

The shaft is going on a cue that I am currently having built. I have not played pool consistently for many years. I played my best at around 19yo (not the greatest at getting shape but I could get out from almost anywhere).

I'm now 42 and feel like I am starting over. When I was good I can't remember aiming let alone compensating for squirt and deflection, I would subconsciously just know where to hit the cue ball and ob.

Now I can't run more than 4 balls and I am always second guessing myself on where to strike the ob and I feel like I am learning to compensate for deflection all over again.

Hence, this is why I feel it is a great time to go to and ld shaft. I just don't know which to get and all the brick and mortar billiards supply stores by me have long disappeared.
 
I play with a Dale Perry butt and a McDermott I-3 shaft. For me, the combination is a perfect balance and the 11.75mm cue tip gives me a sense of geometric precision where I strike the cue ball. I've played with the I-2 shaft (12.5mm tip) but prefer the smaller tip of the I-3. I've also played with the OB-2 shaft and don't see any difference in erformance. The OB-2 ferrule is distracting to me (probably mental) so I prefer the I-3. I also own a Schon CX-06 and have both the Schon shaft and a McDermott I-3 (again I prefer the I-3).
I've never playd with a Predator shaft but several threads on this forum discuss problems like splinters, etc.
The McDermott I series shafts are covered by a maintenace agreement. I've sent my shafts in to MDermott and they will clean them, reseal, and put a new Moori tip on them at no charge. The only thing you pay is a $21 shipping and handling fee. The shaft is also covered by a warranty against warping.
So for me, for various reason, the Mcdermott I-3 is the perfect shaft. Good luck in you quest for a shaft.
 
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The shaft is going on a cue that I am currently having built. I have not played pool consistently for many years. I played my best at around 19yo (not the greatest at getting shape but I could get out from almost anywhere).

I'm now 42 and feel like I am starting over. When I was good I can't remember aiming let alone compensating for squirt and deflection, I would subconsciously just know where to hit the cue ball and ob.

Now I can't run more than 4 balls and I am always second guessing myself on where to strike the ob and I feel like I am learning to compensate for deflection all over again.

Hence, this is why I feel it is a great time to go to and ld shaft. I just don't know which to get and all the brick and mortar billiards supply stores by me have long disappeared.

based on my experience with i would go with mcdermott due to the warranty they have. i know predator has a warranty also but i have heard more negative complaint about their handling issues than mcdermott.
another plus with mcdermott ,if you do have a problem you dont have to ship it back oversea. i dont have any experience with ob and cant recall hearing anything negative about them. im not bashing predator because i love my black 4 that i have had 4 2 years. havent had any problems with it .
 
based on my experience with i would go with mcdermott due to the warranty they have. i know predator has a warranty also but i have heard more negative complaint about their handling issues than mcdermott.
another plus with mcdermott ,if you do have a problem you dont have to ship it back oversea. i dont have any experience with ob and cant recall hearing anything negative about them. im not bashing predator because i love my black 4 that i have had 4 2 years. havent had any problems with it .

brain fart ! havent finished my 1st cup of coffee yet. predator does not have a warranty. like i said i cant tell any difference in playability. i would go with mcdermott due to the warranty, have heard issues with predator shafts but have had no problem with mine after 2 years. hopefully someone will give you feed back on ob . glad you back playing pool.
 
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