Predator shaft help

[Greywolf46]

Trying to decide between the 312-2 and the Z-2. I'm an APA skill level 4 (borderline 5). Shoot with a Peschauer cue. Using more cue to position cue ball. Wondering if the deflection difference in the two shafts is enough to pick the Z over the 312. Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, I've heard the adjustment time is longer (more difficult?) using the Z.

 

[greyghost]

Which ever one plays stiffer is the one i would go with, I haven't played with either but if i remember correctly the original z was the stiffer shaft.

On a second note I've heard from quite a few people, and from a few close friends that they are having problems with the ferrules cracking on multiple occasions on the new predator shafts, one person had it happen 3times.

Every time the shaft was sent back to them and they fixed it, the 3rd time it was sent in they told him that they would not warrant it since the tennon was turned down too much. Now i would understand it if my buddy did the work himself or he got a repair man to do it....but not so.

So basically we have an issue with predator not standing by their own work.
Don't want to scare you away from what your looking for just want you to know some facts and issues.

If you decide not to go with the predator PM me and I'll give you more info as to where and how to get a shaft made that is going to deliver what you are looking for and for cheaper than your going to pay for the predator, or any other production LD shaft.

hope that helps,
Grey Ghost

 

[mair23]

In my opinion the stiffness difference between the 314 and the Z is not that big.
The deflection difference is bigger - the Z shaft, i would say, has app 20 to 25 percent lesser deflection.
But as i played pool for app. a decade before changing to 314 shafts, the Z shaft would be terrible for me.
The Z has a "European Taper" - i think that´s the way you call it in the US
It´s like a Snooker or Carambol Cue, it´s CONICAL from start to end, so starting at the ferrule, i mean.
I hate that feeling when i swing the cue and when i stroke.
The wood is going fater that early

That in my eyes is the biggest difference between the two shafts from a player standpoint.
Yes, the Z is a little bit "stiffer", and has "lesser" deflection then the 314, but that´s not the point.
It´s not that big of a difference in my eyes, but the big difference for me is that conical taper - Weah !!

Hope i could help with my opinion,
Erich

 

[mdavis228]

My advice would be to get an OB1. They also make the OB2, which is the 11.75mm equivalent (same as the Z2 tip diameter). The OB's are more consistent from a quality standpoint.
As for choosing a 12.75mm or 11.75 mm...
If you are a SL4 -5 player, give yourself a break & stick with the 12.75mm. There is just too much extra accuracy required to control a smaller tip. You'll pick up modestly less deflection, perhaps, but the loss of accuracy trying to make consistent tip contact - coupled with inconsistent spin generation due to the tip contact inconsistency - may be a bad trade.

 

[kasparovII]

314 or Z

I'm playing a Pechauer with a 314/2 shaft and it's a very good combination. The 2nd generation 314 has a deflection rating of the original Z. Just like another poster on this thread, I like the 314's pro taper much better than the Z"s conical or "European" taper and I like the tip diameter (12.75mm) as well. The 314/2 offers a little more forgiveness and I agree that the deflection difference isn't that noticable to me. The 314/2 is really the best LD shaft I've played. And they work very well with a Pechauer butt. In fact, the newest Predator Special Editions are a Pechauer/Predator project. In the past they also put together a couple of SE cues that received good ratings. The only ting I did was put a Moori III medium tip on the 314/2 as I really didn't warm up to the standard Everest tip.

 

[TATE]

Trying to decide between the 312-2 and the Z-2. I'm an APA skill level 4 (borderline 5). Shoot with a Peschauer cue. Using more cue to position cue ball. Wondering if the deflection difference in the two shafts is enough to pick the Z over the 312. Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, I've heard the adjustment time is longer (more difficult?) using the Z.

If you're used to a wider tip, like 12.50 to 13mm, do yourself a favor and go with the 314-2. The tip size will be more what you're used to and the deflection difference is miniscule. Stiffness is similar although the feel is different due to the taper.

I'm an "A" player and I've used a 314 for many years now. I bought a Z and gave it a try. My game dropped about 10% - 20% and I had a hard time adjusting. After a few weeks practicing with it, I played a friend I give the 7 and 8 to (we play very even this way) and he beat up on me. The small tip and shaft size are pretty extreme and not at all forgiving. Small cueing errors seem to be magnified by the narrow tip.

The 314 is a better all around shaft in my opinion and offers no drawbacks compared to the Z. I would use the Z if I were playing snooker, that's about it.

Chris

 

[jblaze2201]

Definitely the 314 instead of the z shaft for your skill level. I have owned both. You need to be extremely accurate with the z shaft. Also at your level you probably arent using a lot of english I hope so the difference in deflection wont be as much of a benefit to you.

 

[cannon9313]

I have used both the predator 314 and 314 2, and also the ob1. My personal choice is the 314 2 (after a month of forcing myself to use it because my trusted original 314's brass insert went to hell). The 314 2 is a good shaft, the only problems i have heard of was the ferrules would sometimes begin to melt when changing tips on a lathe. I do believe this was a known problem and was fixed shortly after they came out 3+ years ago. The ob1 played great too. I imagine either would be nice as long as it was a good fit for your cue and didn't change the balance too greatly. I would stay with the 12.75mm though. :smile:

 

[HollyWood]

try kJ

I'd have a great cue maker put a better ferrule on the pred prouducts. I bought a 1st generation 314 ,that Mr Searing put an ivory ferrule on. I think that is one of KJ's favorite's here on az. reworking pred. There's the other side of the coin-- try Koinnkid- hit him up for the demo shaft,if that option is still available.He is ob-1,2 dealer. mark

 

[whoaaaa]

Just don't switch for the wrong reasons. You won't be playing better the next day or even the next month. I went from a 314 to a Z2 and it took me about a month and a half to get back to the same level I was at with the 314.

The only improvement I noticed after a few months is that I don't need to hit hard to get where I want the cue ball to go. My accuracy has improved due to the lighter strength I'm hitting the ball with.

Good luck!