Predator Shafts

D

DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
was wondering what everyone thought of Predator shafts? i've never shot with one, but they seem somewhat expensive.

any thoughts posters?

DCP

p.s. this has probably been discussed before, so i apologize for any possibly duplication
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
was wondering what everyone thought of Predator shafts? i've never shot with one, but they seem somewhat expensive.

any thoughts posters?

DCP

p.s. this has probably been discussed before, so i apologize for any possibly duplication
Click to expand...

Protege,
How could you do this? Now we can prepare ourselves for more bickering between the pro-technology folks (hereafter referred to as geeks by the anti-technology folks), and the anti-technology folks (hereafter referred to as uneducated goobers by the pro-technology folks). I can't wait for the cascade of thinly veiled innuendo, followed by useless attempts at reasoning, ending in vicious personal attacks (oh wait, sometimes the vicious personal attacks come first). Yes, this issue has been discussed before on multiple threads - I guess we'll see if anything new turns up.

P.S. - I'll fire the first salvo. I think the Silencer and Drivermaker would be much better players if they used a Predator shaft.
 
It is a choice that should be made only after having tested the product out for yourself. That is the only true way you will know whether or not it is going to work for you and if you think that it is worth the price. My .02.
 
Cue of Fury said:
It is a choice that should be made only after having tested the product out for yourself.


Having just bought a Predator Z shaft myself (without prior testing that is – not many cue stores here in Greece) I’d stress the exact same point. Personally I like it (in terms of playability, not scientific jargon, given I am a poor journalist with very bad school grades in Physics) and I am getting used it on a day-by-day basis. There is, without doubt, a grave difference between predators and all other cues I have played with, but then again its maybe the Z shaft –the 314 might be less of a challenge.

Hope it helps –and always caveat emptor.
Click to expand...
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
was wondering what everyone thought of Predator shafts? i've never shot with one, but they seem somewhat expensive.

any thoughts posters?

DCP

p.s. this has probably been discussed before, so i apologize for any possibly duplication
Click to expand...


I'm going to try to give an unbiased summary....

They are different from other shafts. They squirt less, which may or may not be a good thing.

You can learn to play with any shaft. If you have learned with a Predator, you may want to stick with it. If you havn't, you might not like it. The most important thing in pool is being comfortable with the equipment that you have, so unless you are not comfortable you shouldn't change just because something new comes along.

I learned with a Predator 314 because when a friend got me into playing seriously he let me use his old Predator until he sold it. When I got my own cue made (60" long for comfort) I elected to stick with the 314 because it was what I learned with. I also have a theory that because of their construction there will be less deviation across a selection of Predator shafts than across a selection of non-laminated shafts because the material properties of the maple will average out in the Predators (or any laminated shaft). I really don't know if it's true, and I'll freely admit that.

So there you go. If you have a straight cue with a good tip and it feels comfortable in your hands, there probably isn't any concrete reason to change.
 
I agree with COF, it's based on preference. Try it, you might like it...you might not. For all of those who think the technology is crap, I suggest you do some research on it, and test it yourself as well. If you can't tell a difference in the hit...WOW, you aren't much of a pool player!
 
Williebetmore said:
Protege,
How could you do this? Now we can prepare ourselves for more bickering between the pro-technology folks (hereafter referred to as geeks by the anti-technology folks), and the anti-technology folks (hereafter referred to as uneducated goobers by the pro-technology folks).
P.S. - I'll fire the first salvo. I think the Silencer and Drivermaker would be much better players if they used a Predator shaft.
Click to expand...


First off, I'll address Dr. Cues Protege regarding a Predator. Ask Dr. Cue for the answer. Secondly, play with your new Joss and enjoy the piss out of it because it won't get much better than that...custom, Predator, or otherwise.
Third, I think you started this thread just to cause trouble.

Now for Williesciencegeek...how do you have all of this insight as to whether I'm anti-technology and am uneducated or would be a better player with a Predator? Do you know my speed and background? I'm actually a professional in another sport and have a company that is constantly dealing with the cutting edge of new technology every day. I read constantly about new designs and materials, experiment with new products, spend a whole bunch of money on R&D to see what works best for different skill levels and much of it carries over into the technology of pool, although pool is about 50 light years away. I played with a Predator for over a year uninterrupted and saw my game deteriorate and become very erratic. Why? Because anytime you alter technology or equipment to provide something different, even if it's for the better in a certain area, there's always a trade-off in another area. I guess whatever they did in making the Predator shaft was directly opposed to my style of game. First off, I use backhand english. With the decrease in deflection, and a Predator does have that, it threw me completely off. I should have put it aside after one week but like an asshole, I kept plugging on for another 53. I also like a very forward weighted cue, with the hollowed out front end of a Predator this didn't provide me with the feel that I was used to and it threw my tempo off. I also prefer an heavier shaft, somewhere around 4.2 - 4.3 oz. and am quite the stickler regarding that factor. A Predator comes in fairly light, sometimes even under 3.5 which is out of the question for me. Mine was 3.95, but still not enough and that threw off my feel and timing. I also want my tips at 13mm or 13 1/8, the Predator is 12.75 and the shaft felt too thin in my bridge. The Predator did seem to get more spin due to the smaller tip and technology, in my case unwanted spin, and my position play wasn't as sharp. I really don't like to use a lot of spin, preferring to get position more from speed and angles and when I do need to zing it, I've never had problems with a regular shaft anyway. Plus, the hit just didn't FEEL as good and give me the feedback from shaft-to fingers-to arm-to brain that I want. I'm glad that I finally wrote all the reasons out one after another because it absolutely solidifies and reinforces everything that I know about why I wouldn't put one of those things on a butt ever again. I'll ALWAYS be looking for new technology in pool just like I do in my profession, but you MUST be aware of the trade-offs when they're just not right for you. Unfortunately, I took too long to come to that conclusion.
Does that answer all of your geekdom questions?
 
To answer the predator resale value question: yes, they hold their value relatively well. I bought one...didn't like it...and sold it for about what I paid. Years later, I bought another one...liked it...and wouldn't sell it for anything. :) What changed? My game got better, and I was able to adapt to a different cue.

cheers,
jer9ball
 
The feel on them is frickin terrible. They are not able to perform alot of shots a normal shaft can.

They do cut down on the squirt when putting siding on shots and allow the player to aim more true then accounting for the squirt of a normal cue.

I have found people with very rigid strokes that dont work the cueball alot tend to love predator shafts. Those that like to move the cueball and have a more, how to put it, fillipino style of stroke, you know the loose ease they tend to have, usually these types hate the predator shafts.

If I were to totally generalize a Steve Davis type of game is the type a predator was made for. A Bustamante type of game is the kind that the predator is going to be avoided. This is kind of an idea that if you look at the players that play with predator and who don't tends to hold true.

For breaks though, the predator break cues are awesome.
 
<<Predator shafts are an interesting solution to a non-existing problem.
Colonel Cooper>>

Right on, babycakes!
 
there are a couple of reasons why i hate predator, overpriced, over promising ads, and 12.5 mm is too small!
 
The feel of a predator shaft is about the same as a meucci black dot shaft, they both feel weird in the hands. The shafts are always too small. And how can you tell me that 10/12/28 different pieces of wood spliced together can hit better that one solid peice of wood???

But that's just how I feel about that.
 
Iron Willie's

I put a 314 on my older McDermott about a year ago and love it, tho it took a while to get used to, no doubt. And the Predator Break cues are great, too. When i let people try it, they usually want one for themselves.
 
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