Predator Review from a novice

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Saturated Fats

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After a 7 year break from pool, I decided to take it up again. After dusting off my cue case from the closet, I inspected my Huebler break/jump cue and my Huebler play cue I realized they didn't take the storage very well....

Long story short...I needed a new set of cues! Now I was an above average player many moons ago, but I realized that I would have to put in much effort to get my lost skills back after such a long time away from the tables. So I look into what the cue-du-jour is these days, and I hear alot about the Predator....

I figure "what the heck". Considering how relatively inexpensive they are (relative to custom cues) and the fact that I don't have to worry about my stroke being screwed up by a new type of shaft I bought into the hype.....

I had been playing the past couple of weeks (before I picked up the Predators today) with my Hueblers, and have been doing very poorly. My break was about 50% of my past glory, I couldn't draw, follow or stop the cue with any consistency.

Today I picked up the Predators (the BK and the 3K1) and immediately went to my favorite pool hall. I broke a couple dozen 8 ball racks and couldn't believe the increase in power I got. I would say that I honestly never broke as hard as I did today at the top of my game many years ago. I did notice my cue was drawing and following way too much at the break, but I tweaked my stroke and got it to stop.

As for the 3K1 playing cue, I did notice that I could control the cue much better than with the Huebler but that was only for center vertical shots. As for english cut shots, I noticed I missed quite a few easy cut shots that I didn't think were that tough. I worked on those shots for the rest of the day and I can see it will take a bit more time to get used to the fact that when I put 2 tips worth of english on the CB that it will actually go straight...

Is it making me a better player? I would say so. Is it all that the hype makes it out as...I doubt it...

I am writing this because during my research into these cues I noticed a lot of technical garbage on why this shaft or that shaft is better/worse and so-and-so makes a better this/that/the other etc....All sounding very technical, and I wanted to relate to the beginner/average player who is considering this cue. Take everything you read about these cues with a grain of salt...these words included. Find a dealer who will let you try them out or a player in the pool hall who will let you take one for a spin. I can only speak for one days worth of playing with these cues, but I can say that I am much more confident in my playing than yesterday, and I am no longer doubting that I will get as good (and dare I dream...better) than before.

Then again......it COULD all be in my head......


Dave
 
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What's this? Another first time poster who is touting the Preditor. Who says charlie doesn't read these boards?

As far as I am concerned the 314 is no better than the regular shaft that came with my McDermott. I miss shots easily well with either one.

A novice has no business buying one.

And anyone who would put one on a southwest is a stone idiot, in my opinion. I suppose next people will be putting them on the balabuska's (sp) and cognisenti's (SP). That would really be sacrilegious.

When my bud gets back from the trade show in Vegas I am going to have him make me a butt for my 314 out of old stock. At least that way the joint will be matched and I won't keep catching it when I stroke.

That is one point to keep in mind if you do buy a 314. Make sure you get it matched up to your stick. Try it on your butt before you pay the money. It is extremely annoying when you are stroking and the joint catches on the table.

Jake
 
jjinfla said:

A novice has no business buying one.
Click to expand...

I guess that I would agree with this statement, but not for the reason you might expect. I think that a novice, a true beginner, shouldn't buy one because most people starting out will abuse their cue way more than a someone who has played for a while. So as a first cue, I would say look elsewhere.

But this IS a nice cue, and a reasonable priced one to boot. I cannot speak for adding this shaft to the cues you mentioned above because I have never played with any of them. I have played with a great deal of production cues (Cuetec, McDermott, Meucci, Viking etc...) and I would say that these cues are exceptional when compared to those.

At the risk of being flamed, I will say that I am most unimpressed with the price and so called "playability" with most custom cues. There is no doubt that many custom cues are worth every penny they cost for their beauty and craftsmanship, but I cannot see how inlays, exotic woods, or scrimshaw make a custom cue any better than a production cue from a playability standpoint. The exception to this would be if a custom cue would last longer than a high end production cue. But any cue over 2 grand wouldn't hold up to that argument. I could purchase 5 Predator 3K1s and if I get 5 years out of each...well you get the point....

I have seen many extremely talented custom cue makers out there, and I am not knocking their work or the worth of the cues. I am simply saying that as a novice or average player, I feel that the Predator is a reasonable cue, and in my opinion a quality production cue....

Dave
 
I have been playing pool since 1988 and 3 years ago I bought a Predator. It is the best cue on the market, period. It can help anybody at any playing level. Players who say they are no different than a regular shaft are either in denial of have never taken the proper amount of time to get used to it. A middle of the road player would be the type of player to benefit the most from a Predator. My advice is to buy one and give yourself a proper amount of time to get used to it. You won't regret it. I'll never own any other cue.
 
jjinfla said:
What's this? Another first time poster who is touting the Preditor. Who says charlie doesn't read these boards?
Click to expand...

Dude, can you take a break from bashing CW? You don't like Charlie, we get it.

jjinfla said:
As far as I am concerned the 314 is no better than the regular shaft that came with my McDermott. I miss shots easily well with either one.

A novice has no business buying one.
Click to expand...

I agree with your first point. I'm a firm believer that technology is just another gimmick used to sell cues and shafts. Meucci did it with their Red Dot, saying that knowing the spine alignment of a shaft will make your game better. Right. Can any player on the planet strike a cue ball with the spine aligned and tell the difference between that and when the spine is not aligned? Please, give me a break. As far as the shafts like the 314 and the Meucci Black Dot, they claim to reduce deflection. Hey that's fine, they probably do. The problem I have with that is that there is always going to be SOME deflection. Whether it's a little or a lot, the shooter has to get used to the shaft's characteristics. So companies use their so-called technological advances to artifically create a market, making it seem that the new technology makes the game easier, when it reality, it makes the player make yet another adjustment to equipment. By the time the player is fully adjusted, the next latest and greatest thing is out, so on and so forth. Players will say their game is getting better, but is it because of the equipment, or because of the table time they put in getting used to the equipment?

That being said, I disagree with your second statement. If you shoot just as well with your McDermott and a 314, and you say that a novice shouldn't shoot with a 314, then logic dictates novices shouldn't shoot with a McDermott either. Extend that statement to say that most shafts are the same, and novices shouldn't shoot with any cue! I don't think it matters what a beginner buys, as long as he takes the time to get used to the characteristics of it. If he chooses a 314, so be it. Whether a player is a beginner or a pro, he still has to get used to the characteristics of the equipment. It doesn't matter what brand the actual equipment is.

jjinfla said:
And anyone who would put one on a southwest is a stone idiot, in my opinion. I suppose next people will be putting them on the balabuska's (sp) and cognisenti's (SP). That would really be sacrilegious.
Click to expand...

If they're actually playing with those cues, they should use whatever shaft they want. Playability, which is entirely subjective, is what matters in that case, not the legend behind the name of the cue. If a player determines the stock shaft doesn't meet their needs, there's absolutely nothing wrong with finding something that does. I'd venture to say that makes the owner of the cue a discerning consumer, not a "stone idiot."

jjinfla said:
When my bud gets back from the trade show in Vegas I am going to have him make me a butt for my 314 out of old stock. At least that way the joint will be matched and I won't keep catching it when I stroke.

That is one point to keep in mind if you do buy a 314. Make sure you get it matched up to your stick. Try it on your butt before you pay the money. It is extremely annoying when you are stroking and the joint catches on the table.

Jake
Click to expand...

Totally agree with you. I have a custom cue, and I actually thought about getting a 314 for it (before I shot with one and before I came to my senses!). I contacted Predator about what I would need to do, which was buy a blank shaft, send it back to the maker of my cue, and have them match it up. Well, that process would take minimum 6 weeks, and there's no way I could do without my cue for that long. But yeah, Jake, if anybody does buy a 314, or any shaft for that matter, they should definitely get it matched up. Not only will it avoid your catching on the table problem, but if there's any ringwork on the shaft, that can be matched up, too.

djb
 
Adanac67 said:
I have been playing pool since 1988 and 3 years ago I bought a Predator. It is the best cue on the market, period. It can help anybody at any playing level. Players who say they are no different than a regular shaft are either in denial of have never taken the proper amount of time to get used to it. A middle of the road player would be the type of player to benefit the most from a Predator. My advice is to buy one and give yourself a proper amount of time to get used to it. You won't regret it. I'll never own any other cue.
Click to expand...

Choice of cues, shafts, and tips are all subjective, there is no such thing as "the best cue on the market, period." There can be a best cue for you, but something you feel to be the best may not be suited for someone else. Hence the term subjective. I've bolded what I feel is the most important sentence in your statement above. No matter what the equipment, your bolded statement applies. The player has to get used to it. Obviously, you feel you've gotten used to your Predator. Does that mean that it's absolutely the best cue on the market? Nope. Means it's the right cue for you, that's all. Any cue can be the right cue for you, as long as you "give yourself a proper amount of time to get used to it."

djb
 
I've been using a PIE-LAM Shaft for several years (5). It was made by Joe Sanko of Florida, a great Custom Cue maker. In fact, that shaft has had 2 or 3 different collars on it, so that it would match a different cue when I changed. I really do love that shaft.

Predator Cues has given the BreakRAK Co, a Predator BK Break cue, for folks to use in trying out their Break Shot STROKE. This cue is used by hundreds of people when we attend Pool Tournaments & display the BreakRAK. 6 out 10 OR MORE will always have something grand to say about that Cue. IT is DIFFERENT in FEEL & PERFORMANCE.... It ain't for sale..... Charley:cool:
 
I play with a Predator 2 & love it.I did change the tip to a moori though.As far as matching blanks on custom cues I saw one done in Cincinnati,took the guy about 1 hour & it was perfect.
 
I have personally played with a Viking, Meucci, McDermott, Predator, Bill Schick, Action, Players, Viscotti, Richard Chudy; I own an Espiritu, Prather and Dominiak. I have tried many different shafts by different cue makers and manufacturers, the Predator 314 shaft definataly stands out in a crowd of shafts. It's a top notch shaft, number 1 in my books and prefered by a majority of my customers. The Dominiak Dominator shaft is a very good shaft as well, my 2nd choice for my cues. I have had 4 314 shafts custom made to match the joint collar for 4 different customers of mine.
Predator 314....HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by Zim's Rack!! If someone is interested in a 314 shaft, contact me, I'll make you a deal you can't refuse!

...Zim
 
How much for a 314

I looking for a 314 shaft in a 13mm .I just snaped mine and need a new one ..it good for now till i get my Webb cue .
 
cues are like women ...

Cues are like women, some you like better over time the more you get to know them, and some you like less over time .... <grin>

Personally, I liked 'Sara', my cue for 18 years, better than 2 of my wives, and Sara lasted longer, made me money instead of spending it on women......
<big chuckle>
 
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