Predator or other Low Deflection shaft questions

[Kevin Lindstrom]

1. What is the advantage to going to a Predator or other LD shaft?

2. Will I be able to get more english on the cue ball in turn getting more movement on the cueball by using a LD shaft?

3. Does a standard shaft or a LD shaft provide more life or feel?

4. How long does it take to adjust to a LD shaft?

5. Are LD shafts just a gimmick in order to sell new product or is there a legitimate difference that will improve a players game?

 

[TXsouthpaw]

I dont know about everyone else but I get a ton more english on the cueball with my predator shaft. Not that thats always a good thing but the good thing is that it keeps me hitting center ball more often instead of going out to the edge. Which equals more consistency.

Yes it gives more lively feel. At least for me. I have to go 4 rails more than i used to but i adjust by leaving myself straighter shots.

Adjustments just depends on you. How fast do you adjust to new things? The more time you put in with it the faster youll adapt.

Its not a gimmick. Mike massey swears by his predator 314 2 and hes not being sponsored, so does Oscar dominguez. and John schimdt loves his OB. The list goes on and on those are just the ones I can name off the top of my head.

 

[deep]

I think it's very much horse for courses, for me personally......

1) I think that the only advantage is cheap replacement/extra shafts.

2) I think how much spin you can get on the cb is all down to stroke and i can spin the cb more than enough with my one piece shaft.

3) Too me they provide less feel, they seem to hit a bit hollow.

4) I can't answer this one, I've tried a few and given them all a reasonable chance but i always go back to a one piece shaft.

5) I don't think they are a gimmick, i believe the genuinely work for a lot of people and i know a lot of people who swear by them. Like i said it's horses for courses, some people love them and some don't.

 

[$TAKE HOR$E]

4. How long does it take to adjust to a LD shaft?

5. Are LD shafts just a gimmick in order to sell new product or is there a legitimate difference that will improve a players game?

I know several people who swear by the low deflection shaft and others who said they could not get used to it and will never use one again. Imo when several top pros are using a low deflection shaft it must mean something and is probably not jsut a gimmick. I have had about 8 or 10 Predator shafts, some were Predator cues and others were just shafts on other cues. From my own experience, I had a 1st Edition Predator with the long ferrule and before the shafts were numbered and it was the best playing one of the bunch. I also had an older Predaotr sneaky pete that was almost equally as good. I have had OB shafts as well as other brands of LD shafts and they seem to be about the same. After trying all the different ones, I will not switch from my regular shaft.

 

[CreeDo]

1. Mostly aiming a shot with sidespin will be easier, you can aim it like a center ball shot. If any adjustment is needed it's pretty small. It almost takes one factor out of the equation when aiming. You only adjust for throw.

Playing devil's advocate, if you have spent 20 or 30 years aiming certain shots to account for deflection, you will have to unlearn that and learn the new aiming lines.

2. Some swear yes including one pro I've overheard. My own experience is... maybe? But it's hard to say. Did I really just see the ball spin 20% more, or was it my imagination? Did I just hit it particularly well? I don't know. But, think of it this way. If you get less deflection then you can comfortably cue a bit further out on the ball than usual. Adding extra spin is no problem for the times you really need it.

3. Only you can answer this. It depends on what you're used to already. Mine feels fine, nothing weird about it.

4. At least, say, 3 weeks. Probably a month or more.

5. There's for real, you will realize it after you miss your third or fourth routine sidespin shot =P But honestly I wouldn't expect your game to improve. I don't know that anyone's game truly improves just from equipment unless they were using something with major flaws before, like a fiberglass stick that chafed or a cheap tip that always miscued during draw.

The theory is, for the first few weeks you'll be adjusting and probably miss more and mess up shape. After you learn the adjustment you can aim the tough shots a little more easily (But you must still have the skill and focus to make them). After many months of use, you might be ... I dunno, 5% better at shotmaking with shots that involve sidespin? And if the theory on increased english is true, you can get more action with less force/aiming effort/tip offset, allowing you to play position more effectively.

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Overall I'd say... go for it if you're definitely thinking of buying a new shaft, and your current shaft is nothing special and didn't really cost you anything. If you're gonna spend 100 bucks anyway on a new shaft, why not just spend 200 and know you've got one of the best? I doubt you'll buy it and be like "man, this is so different, I hate it."

 

[MitchAlsup]

1. What is the advantage to going to a Predator or other LD shaft? Low deflection shafts deflect the cue ball less than non low deflection shafts. Thus, your CB will depart from the intended line less.

2. Will I be able to get more english on the cue ball in turn getting more movement on the cueball by using a LD shaft? I have heard arguments both ways. I don't belieee that you get more spin, nor do I belive that you get less spin. I do believe that how much spin you get has much more to do with which tip you use and what chalk you use than what shaft you use (by at least 5X)

3. Does a standard shaft or a LD shaft provide more life or feel? Once again, I have heard arguments both ways. My own belief is that you can get used to any shaft if you play with it long enough. Most of the feel is in the tip anyways (80%-ish).

4. How long does it take to adjust to a LD shaft? In my case about 6 hours. That is, for the first (abut) 6 hours, the shaft was giving me a tutorial on humility; as I missed shot after shot. During hour 5 I finally started to get that touchy feely relationship back. And after 6 hours, It became a friend after I got a new 'eye' on where to aim with this new shaft.

5. Are LD shafts just a gimmick in order to sell new product or is there a legitimate difference that will improve a players game? You can get used to either shaft. And switchinig back and forth is a recipie for "bad things happening" to your game. To a certain extent, though, if you give yourself a week to get used to a shaft, it really does not mater either way and you can switch back and forth.

 

[TATE]

1. What is the advantage to going to a Predator or other LD shaft?

Once you adjust to an LD shaft, there's a smaller margin of error for shots hit with side spin. So, in effect, you should be more accurate on these shots and get more consistent, predictable results.

2. Will I be able to get more english on the cue ball in turn getting more movement on the cueball by using a LD shaft?

No, in fact, you could get less. But consider this - any time you increase your accuracy, you will get more predictable position play. It's easier to get the angle you want when your aim is precise.

3. Does a standard shaft or a LD shaft provide more life or feel?

The knock on LD shafts is most of them feel "light" or even "dead" or too flexible. The new OB Classic I reviewed is a solid LD shaft and it feels fine. No, it actually feels great.

4. How long does it take to adjust to a LD shaft?

It depends on how much squirt your current shaft has. If it's already pretty low, you'll adjust quickly. If you are playing with a high squirt cue, it could take a few weeks.

5. Are LD shafts just a gimmick in order to sell new product or is there a legitimate difference that will improve a players game?

There is a difference all right, but not all players experience an improvement. The loss of feel and shaft density can affect the way some players move the cue ball. If you don't experience an increase in accuracy on side spin shots, then IMO it's not worth the sacrifice in other areas.

I think it's something a player has to try out for themselves to see if it suits them.

Chris

 

[ArizonaPete]

There is no magic bullet (or shaft) that will suddenly improve your game. There's some advantage to lower deflection shafts, but honestly, very slight in my opinion. I shoot with one because I like a 11.75 mm tip diameter and smaller ferrule. Does it improve my game? I think it does but not a whole lot. You'd probably see more improvement in your game if you take the money you'd spend on an LD shaft and get together with a professional instructor.

 

[dr_dave]

1. What is the advantage to going to a Predator or other LD shaft?

I have lists of both advantages and disadvantages of low-squirt shafts here:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/cue.html#low_squirt​

2. Will I be able to get more english on the cue ball in turn getting more movement on the cueball by using a LD shaft?

Short answer: NO. For more info, see:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/cue.html#spin​

3. Does a standard shaft or a LD shaft provide more life or feel?

Since this is a qualitative thing, some people would say "definitely yes" and some people would say "definitely not."

4. How long does it take to adjust to a LD shaft?

If you understand how to adjust, and use pivot-length-based aim compensation methods, no time at all. For more info, see:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/English.html#BHE​

5. Are LD shafts just a gimmick in order to sell new product or is there a legitimate difference that will improve a players game?

There is a legitimate difference, but not all people will like the difference.

Regards,
Dave

 

[lms9t]

I think if you're fairly serious about pool and are an intermediate player looking to become more consistent then its a great investment to make. Over time, I noticed a far faster progression and returns on my practice that I wasn't getting before I bought an LD shaft. It's not going to magically make you a great player, but I think once you get past the initial learning stages, that you'll notice a much easier learning curve as you improve as a player. It takes out a lot of the guesswork, not only in your shooting, but also in terms of always having to ask whether this brand or this cuemaker provides suchandsuch hit or feel or whatever. You know you're always going to get the same thing and if you switch cues you can just pop that thing on there and it's like nothing changed.