Hey everyone, just wanted to give my thoughts on a new cue that I purchased recently.
Currently, Predator is having a Black Friday sale on a few cues, and I saw that the Sneaky Pete 4 point was down to $599 (normally $859). I was in the market for a new playing cue and seeing the lowered price made me think it was also a good opportunity to pick up the Revo 12.4 shaft so I could see what carbon fiber was like.
First impressions from the packaging was good. Large bubble wrap around everything and tightly sealed. Once I got it out of that, the butt of the cue was in a thin cloth sleeve inside of a cloth cue case. The shaft was inside a plastic sleeve inside the cloth case as well. Both the butt and shaft came with joint protectors, and a few alcohol wipes and some stickers were included as well.
This was the first cue that I had held which had the Uni-Loc quick release joint, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. It takes only one full turn to lock in place and is solid. I'm pretty much sold on that joint from now on. I had the tip replaced with a Kamui medium as well which was also something new for me, and I was surprised at how firm it feels. The cue is a 4 point black butt with linen wrap with the upper half being matte black and the section below the wrap being a gloss black. The joint is white micarta and with the white butt cap and the white vault plate under the tip I think it looks great.
First impressions - holy cow this thing is slick. Not slick looking, just slick feeling. The matte black section with the points slides easily through your hands. The carbon fiber shaft is amazingly slick. I have no idea how anyone uses a glove with carbon fiber. I don't use a glove and with a closed bridge it almost feels like the shaft isn't moving when you're taking practice strokes. There isn't any real friction and that surprised me. The linen wrap is what I prefer and is tightly wound and what I expected. The gloss section of the butt below the wrap was obviously made glossy so that you have something to stop your grip as you slide your hand back. If it was matte also, I'd be dropping this thing all the time.
How does it play? This is always the subjective part and why I left it for last. Obviously it's like a new pair of sneakers when you're a kid. You run faster, jump higher etc. When I started clearing balls off the table, I thought that maybe I was having that "new shoes" feeling. "It can't be this good, it's just in my head." I told myself. I came from a Shurtz cue with a maple shaft, and I have an older Joss West that I play with occasionally as well. This is such a different feel. The slickness of the carbon fiber left no friction in my stroke, and I was making balls that I was honestly kind of expecting to miss. That's when I realized how much deflection my older cues actually had and I hadn't been properly compensating for it on longer and firmer shots. I know the carbon fiber still has some deflection, but for the most part it took away the deflection that was causing me to miss often.
I don't know if it's the Kamui tip or the carbon fiber shaft, but I also wasn't expecting the english I'm now able to put on the ball. I've always had an OK draw stroke but it wasn't the greatest. Now? I can do that shot into the corner pocket with a bit of side and when the cue ball comes back to the rail it flings itself to the other end of the table. I was even able to do the off angle draw shot where you shoot an object ball at mid table into the corner and the cue balls curves over to the long rail and bounces back. When I did that my jaw dropped as I've tried that quite a bit and never really managed it.
If I had any complaint at all it would be that the wrap section feels like it should have extended forward another two or three inches. When choking up on a shot, and when carrying the cue at it's balance point my hand is forward of the wrap. I'm getting used to it and it's not a big deal in the long run. Also, this cue is 19oz but doesn't "feel" like it. I actually pulled out a scale because I was convinced it was too light and it was 19 on the dot. The other complaint I have? If I ever damage the shaft or lose it or anything like that, I'm going to be buying another one the same day. I love it that much.
Would I buy it again? You bet I would! The price is good right now and even though it's a sneaky pete cue I still think it looks great. Even the Predator logo between the points isn't as noticable as I thought it would be and the blue in the points is more muted than I thought as well. It shoots so amazingly great for me that I'm honestly concerned about having to adjust my mental thoughts about "It's the player, not the equipment". Anyways, hope that maybe I can help someone else in the future who's looking for opinions and information like I was before buying. Let me know if you have any questions!
Currently, Predator is having a Black Friday sale on a few cues, and I saw that the Sneaky Pete 4 point was down to $599 (normally $859). I was in the market for a new playing cue and seeing the lowered price made me think it was also a good opportunity to pick up the Revo 12.4 shaft so I could see what carbon fiber was like.
First impressions from the packaging was good. Large bubble wrap around everything and tightly sealed. Once I got it out of that, the butt of the cue was in a thin cloth sleeve inside of a cloth cue case. The shaft was inside a plastic sleeve inside the cloth case as well. Both the butt and shaft came with joint protectors, and a few alcohol wipes and some stickers were included as well.
This was the first cue that I had held which had the Uni-Loc quick release joint, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. It takes only one full turn to lock in place and is solid. I'm pretty much sold on that joint from now on. I had the tip replaced with a Kamui medium as well which was also something new for me, and I was surprised at how firm it feels. The cue is a 4 point black butt with linen wrap with the upper half being matte black and the section below the wrap being a gloss black. The joint is white micarta and with the white butt cap and the white vault plate under the tip I think it looks great.
First impressions - holy cow this thing is slick. Not slick looking, just slick feeling. The matte black section with the points slides easily through your hands. The carbon fiber shaft is amazingly slick. I have no idea how anyone uses a glove with carbon fiber. I don't use a glove and with a closed bridge it almost feels like the shaft isn't moving when you're taking practice strokes. There isn't any real friction and that surprised me. The linen wrap is what I prefer and is tightly wound and what I expected. The gloss section of the butt below the wrap was obviously made glossy so that you have something to stop your grip as you slide your hand back. If it was matte also, I'd be dropping this thing all the time.
How does it play? This is always the subjective part and why I left it for last. Obviously it's like a new pair of sneakers when you're a kid. You run faster, jump higher etc. When I started clearing balls off the table, I thought that maybe I was having that "new shoes" feeling. "It can't be this good, it's just in my head." I told myself. I came from a Shurtz cue with a maple shaft, and I have an older Joss West that I play with occasionally as well. This is such a different feel. The slickness of the carbon fiber left no friction in my stroke, and I was making balls that I was honestly kind of expecting to miss. That's when I realized how much deflection my older cues actually had and I hadn't been properly compensating for it on longer and firmer shots. I know the carbon fiber still has some deflection, but for the most part it took away the deflection that was causing me to miss often.
I don't know if it's the Kamui tip or the carbon fiber shaft, but I also wasn't expecting the english I'm now able to put on the ball. I've always had an OK draw stroke but it wasn't the greatest. Now? I can do that shot into the corner pocket with a bit of side and when the cue ball comes back to the rail it flings itself to the other end of the table. I was even able to do the off angle draw shot where you shoot an object ball at mid table into the corner and the cue balls curves over to the long rail and bounces back. When I did that my jaw dropped as I've tried that quite a bit and never really managed it.
If I had any complaint at all it would be that the wrap section feels like it should have extended forward another two or three inches. When choking up on a shot, and when carrying the cue at it's balance point my hand is forward of the wrap. I'm getting used to it and it's not a big deal in the long run. Also, this cue is 19oz but doesn't "feel" like it. I actually pulled out a scale because I was convinced it was too light and it was 19 on the dot. The other complaint I have? If I ever damage the shaft or lose it or anything like that, I'm going to be buying another one the same day. I love it that much.
Would I buy it again? You bet I would! The price is good right now and even though it's a sneaky pete cue I still think it looks great. Even the Predator logo between the points isn't as noticable as I thought it would be and the blue in the points is more muted than I thought as well. It shoots so amazingly great for me that I'm honestly concerned about having to adjust my mental thoughts about "It's the player, not the equipment". Anyways, hope that maybe I can help someone else in the future who's looking for opinions and information like I was before buying. Let me know if you have any questions!
