Predator vs. OB-1

basketcase

basketcase

Registered
I don't know how much truth there is to this, but I bought a OB-1 back in Nov. shot with it for about 2 months. I hated it. couldn't control the cue ball, played like S**T. went back to original shaft for 3 months then got a Z shaft, I have been playing absolutely lights out since. I hear people say that the predator shafts can ruin you and give you a false sense of control if you go back to a original shaft. But, after shooting with the Z and shooting so much better it seems to me like I shouldn't see that dramatic of a change unless there is some real truth to this theory. Anybody else really see that much of a difference or is it just in my head?
 
the z shaft is a completely different style of shaft to the ob-1. assuming you gave the ob-1 enough time, then you obviously just prefer the z shaft personally. simple as.
 
basketcase said:
I hear people say that the predator shafts can ruin you and give you a false sense of control if you go back to a original shaft. But, after shooting with the Z and shooting so much better it seems to me like I shouldn't see that dramatic of a change unless there is some real truth to this theory.
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I'm no world beater, but what a lot of people say about going back and forth between one shaft or another is pure BS, IMO. You just gotta make an adjustment and make it fairly quick, much like a good bowler would do under changing lane conditions. Hell, my favorite plaing cue uses a 314-2 shaft, but tonight I broke and run my last game in an 8-ball tournament to win it with a frikkin' twenty-sump'n dollar Viper cue. My next-to-favorite playing cue uses a Z shaft. I love the Z shaft too. I can shoot equally well (or bad, whichever it is on any given night :o ) with any size or make of any cue availiable. Heck, I've had some pretty impressive nights shooting with house cues with major dings in the shaft and utilizing slip-on tips. I've run racks with $28 Rage cues.I think the cue/shaft preference excuse is just another way for people to justify their night of poor shooting.

Now, I must tell you that I've had more than a few Crown & Cokes tonight and I am probably shootin' off my mouth a little more than I should (Gee, I type fairly eloquently when I'm drunk sorta like I am the best drunk-driver in the whole world).

FWIW, I do hand over the keys whenever I feel like I am too inebriated to drive. Don't worry, I ain't NEVER gonna hurt nobody with my drinkin'.

I love all you AZ'ers out there and I'm only speakin' my opinion here and DO NOT mean to offend anyone.

Maniac
 
I have been testing the waters with my new OB-1 and I can say I CANNOT just switch back n forth and play equally well. I realized my Schon has TONS of deflection, but playing with Schons for 10 years has got me a little used to that :D

The OB-1 ha a softer hit, and will spin the livin dooky outta the ball, and I need to tell myself not to compensate every shot. I think it would take me a few months of use to get it grooved.

I can switch around with MOST standard cues, but throw in a tech shaft and I need some time.
 
basketcase said:
I don't know how much truth there is to this, but I bought a OB-1 back in Nov. shot with it for about 2 months. I hated it. couldn't control the cue ball, played like S**T. went back to original shaft for 3 months then got a Z shaft, I have been playing absolutely lights out since. I hear people say that the predator shafts can ruin you and give you a false sense of control if you go back to a original shaft. But, after shooting with the Z and shooting so much better it seems to me like I shouldn't see that dramatic of a change unless there is some real truth to this theory. Anybody else really see that much of a difference or is it just in my head?
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I am the same way.

The OB-1 is wild and almost impossible to control. The Z is super consistent which makes tough shots alot easier to control
 
The OB-1 is wild and almost impossible to control.
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What does that mean? Does the cue ball go places you didn't point it? Does the pivot point change from shot to shot?

I think the only difference between shafts is "feel" and squirt. The rest is urban legends and old wives' tales.

pj
chgo
 
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hi

i think the ob1 is easier to control because it takes a little less effort to move the ball around.ive adopted a new rule with the ob1.its to only use 1 tip of sidespin or less.that way i get little or no deflection while at the sametime i get enough spin to get around the table.john and royce from ob1 told me that long ago but i was stubborn and kept trying to use 2-3 tips of sidespin while at the sametime hoping for no deflection. anyway try using only 1 or less tips of sidespin and you will be amazed how easy the cue plays.
 
john schmidt said:
i think the ob1 is easier to control because it takes a little less effort to move the ball around.ive adopted a new rule with the ob1.its to only use 1 tip of sidespin or less.that way i get little or no deflection while at the sametime i get enough spin to get around the table.john and royce from ob1 told me that long ago but i was stubborn and kept trying to use 2-3 tips of sidespin while at the sametime hoping for no deflection. anyway try using only 1 or less tips of sidespin and you will be amazed how easy the cue plays.
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That is exactly what Janet Atwell told me when I bought my ob-1 shaft at her place in Bristol. I've practiced using this method and it works well.
 
haven't you heard -shafts will no longer be wood-pred.

Its in your head super shafts are a little more accurate. You get 3-6 inches follow or draw with the same effort. Put a kamui on your regular shaft! it become more accurate and play with the shaft made and balanced for the cue. I played on a 5-10 snooker yesterday score 90's to 5. with my Ernie martinez, couple more games just like that. And the story was you should maybe try one of those other cues you ran over because playing with it would tell forsure. took a little to adjust crushed them with the andy gilbert. All pool cues used to play snooker. My pred z-2 has sat in the case about 1 yr. just my experience. Its like joint types stainless,linen, ivory,wood, flat-faced,piloted- Tell Gus Samboti- his personal playing cue-rosewood with the famous bar bells,that he needs to put a different shaft on it! Or George Balabuska. mark It is just getting used to what you have. 1tip of english or2tips of english from centerball.
 
john schmidt said:
i think the ob1 is easier to control because it takes a little less effort to move the ball around.ive adopted a new rule with the ob1.its to only use 1 tip of sidespin or less.that way i get little or no deflection while at the sametime i get enough spin to get around the table.john and royce from ob1 told me that long ago but i was stubborn and kept trying to use 2-3 tips of sidespin while at the sametime hoping for no deflection. anyway try using only 1 or less tips of sidespin and you will be amazed how easy the cue plays.
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I bet you would have got more spin than expected with less tip offset using your previous shaft too.

pj
chgo
 
I rack balls said:
imagine how many balls Schmidt could run witha Z2!~

Eric.
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Probably over 400, since straight pool players probably don't care about what shaft they are using. :p
 
john schmidt said:
i think the ob1 is easier to control because it takes a little less effort to move the ball around.ive adopted a new rule with the ob1.its to only use 1 tip of sidespin or less.that way i get little or no deflection while at the sametime i get enough spin to get around the table.john and royce from ob1 told me that long ago but i was stubborn and kept trying to use 2-3 tips of sidespin while at the sametime hoping for no deflection. anyway try using only 1 or less tips of sidespin and you will be amazed how easy the cue plays.
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I heard this before also, and I agree. It seems so easy to put spin on the ball with an OB-1, so stay closer to the center of the cueball and it deflects so little yet gives you plenty of spin.
 
I bought the OB1 shaft to use it on my hustling road cue. At first I did not like it.More I played with it more I am liking it.Ofcourse the emblem of OB1 on the shaft will be covered with a silver metalic colored duck tape.
 
vagabond said:
I bought the OB1 shaft to use it on my hustling road cue. At first I did not like it.More I played with it more I am liking it.Ofcourse the emblem of OB1 on the shaft will be covered with a silver metalic colored duck tape.
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errr...don't you think the wooden ferrule would give it away?
 
I dropped them all and went back to my Tiger with a Milkdud tip. Lights out baby!
 
I've had my first OB1 for about 5 months now. I have no problems with it at all. For a 2 week stretch, I had to go back to my original shaft b/c I sent the OB1 in for some work to be done. I was able to immediately go to the original shaft with no adjustment time needed.

But now that I've got my second OB1, and the other one has come back from OBcues. I'm set on kill.
 
Maniac said:
I'm no world beater, but what a lot of people say about going back and forth between one shaft or another is pure BS, IMO. You just gotta make an adjustment and make it fairly quick, much like a good bowler would do under changing lane conditions. Hell, my favorite plaing cue uses a 314-2 shaft, but tonight I broke and run my last game in an 8-ball tournament to win it with a frikkin' twenty-sump'n dollar Viper cue. My next-to-favorite playing cue uses a Z shaft. I love the Z shaft too. I can shoot equally well (or bad, whichever it is on any given night :o ) with any size or make of any cue availiable. Heck, I've had some pretty impressive nights shooting with house cues with major dings in the shaft and utilizing slip-on tips. I've run racks with $28 Rage cues.I think the cue/shaft preference excuse is just another way for people to justify their night of poor shooting.

Now, I must tell you that I've had more than a few Crown & Cokes tonight and I am probably shootin' off my mouth a little more than I should (Gee, I type fairly eloquently when I'm drunk sorta like I am the best drunk-driver in the whole world).

FWIW, I do hand over the keys whenever I feel like I am too inebriated to drive. Don't worry, I ain't NEVER gonna hurt nobody with my drinkin'.

I love all you AZ'ers out there and I'm only speakin' my opinion here and DO NOT mean to offend anyone.

Maniac
Click to expand...


Wow! Would I be right in thinking that booze helped the blind hog find the acorn?:D Crown & coke huh? I might have to try that!
 
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