Yes! Yes! Yes! Finally! Sorry, I'm super excited because I finally get to talk about my favorite tip! I LOVE these tips, and am not sure why they are never talked about here.
I think they have a really nice feel, and are EXTREMELY grippy. I started off using a Med and I literally could not get it to miss-cue. I was hitting the edge of the cue ball and it would still stick.
I was using Kamui Blacks but found, like others, that they seemed to glaze too easily.
Then I tried the Predator, and really liked it.
Decided to give an Ultraskin a try on a different shaft. Liked it, but not as much as the Predator.
Then tried a Milkdud from a fellow here on the forum, and again liked it, but still found myself going back to the Predator.
I just ordered a tip from the Outsville folks and will give it an honest shake. But if I don't love it, I will probably just quit looking and accept that the Predator is the tip for me. (I say probably because I'm a gadget geek and like trying out different stuff.)
PROS:
-SUPER Grip - I have moved to the Hard tip as I like the hit better, but still almost never miss-cue
- Great Chalk retention - Once I'm in a rhythm at the table I hate to stop, and will go 6-7 shots without chalking.
- I haven't had one glaze yet.
- Easy to shape and maintain.
- I haven't had one mushroom on me yet.
CONS:
- Expensive (as far as tips go) - Cheapest I've found is $21.50 with free shipping
- Maintenance - More so with the mediums, but after a night of 15-20 racks of 8-ball I do find the tips flattened out a bit. But I do occasionally break with my tip and don't find this unreasonable to re-shape it on my trusty Willard's
- I have tried all three, soft - med - hard and don't find a whole lot of difference in softness through the three. I personally like the hard best. I like a solid "hit" when I shoot, but don't like feeling like there's no tip at all.
---- Disclaimer ---
I have no idea about the history of these tips, where they're made, how they're made, materials, density, buoyancy, or anything else like that. I just know that I've tried some of the major players out there and keep coming back to these.
The only Predator products I've ever used are the tips and their chalk. I use an old "Original" Meucci stick with a non-dot solid maple shaft, and perform all tests using the seat of my pants, and gut feel.
Bottom line, I like them, and if a $20 experiment won't break your bank and prevent you from getting that life-saving operation you need, I'd suggest anyone try them.
