Putting a Predator or OB-1 Shaft on custom?

[sharpq]

Lisa,
In regards to your first point, if ANY custom cuemaker thought that his shaft was superior in deflection to either one of the shafts in question, he would certainly advertise that fact, (what a great marketing tool that would be). You don't see them counterdicting any of the test, so I would be lead to believe that the ob-1 and pred must be superior.

To your second point, again, the original poster wanted to know about shafts only, that is why I said what I said. SHARPQ

 

[IA8baller]

Was wondering how much you paid for your 314-2. Your custom cue maker can usually purchase blanks cheaper. You may end up paying the same price though it gives him a little extra for the job. I myself wouldn't want a blank from the customer in case something goes bad or the shaft was already warped. Yes those blanks can warp.

jimbo.

I paid under $150 for the shaft and the cuemaker requested I get it and bring it to him. I checked the shaft for straightness as soon as I recieved it of course.

 

[Mc2]

I paid under $150 for the shaft and the cuemaker requested I get it and bring it to him. I checked the shaft for straightness as soon as I recieved it of course.

Sounds like you purchased the shaft for a good price. If the shaft warps will the cuemaker send it in for warranty or will you deal with it? That imho is the grey area. I would do it for a friend but not for a customer unless I supplied the shaft. There is a certain amount of responsability a repair/cue maker takes on when working on customer's cue. How much did it cost you to get it fitted to your cue? Could the cue maker have supplied the shaft and fit it for the same total cost?


thanks jim.

 

[IA8baller]

Sounds like you purchased the shaft for a good price. If the shaft warps will the cuemaker send it in for warranty or will you deal with it? That imho is the grey area. I would do it for a friend but not for a customer unless I supplied the shaft. There is a certain amount of responsability a repair/cue maker takes on when working on customer's cue. How much did it cost you to get it fitted to your cue? Could the cue maker have supplied the shaft and fit it for the same total cost?


thanks jim.

If the shaft has issues at a later date I guess I'll deal with it. Not sure about the cost issues.

I've always accepted the fact that there are very few real guarantees in life, let alone in products/services. I'll just go with the flow.

 

[icem3n]

Who needs to improve their stroke?

If you have ever played with a dead stiff cue, you will know that you neeed to improve your stroke. I have played with 314 exclusively for 7 years and I know the flaws it has.

 

[BPG24]

If you have ever played with a dead stiff cue, you will know that you neeed to improve your stroke. I have played with 314 exclusively for 7 years and I know the flaws it has.

I like very stiff hitting cues, but that guy was saying that people that use Predators need to improve their stroke. Which is a joke all in itself, considering I seriously doubt that he "strokes" the ball better than all of the pros that use Predator or any other brand of laminated shafts

Most people that I know who don't like laminated, never put the time in to see the benefits. Some of them decided that they wouldn't change before they ever even hit a ball with it.

As for the feel argument, if you have the Predator ferrule replaced with the type of ferrule that you like, they play jam up

 

[icem3n]

Lisa,
In regards to your first point, if ANY custom cuemaker thought that his shaft was superior in deflection to either one of the shafts in question, he would certainly advertise that fact, (what a great marketing tool that would be). You don't see them counterdicting any of the test, so I would be lead to believe that the ob-1 and pred must be superior.

To your second point, again, the original poster wanted to know about shafts only, that is why I said what I said. SHARPQ

Custom cuemaker shafts are no superior in deflection. You got that right.

But not forget, Human are not robots, knowledgable player will make adjustment before shooting. Calculation will be made before shooting. There are several ways of shooting english and traditional solid maple wood is more accurate and superior compare to low deflection shaft.

Do you think low delection shaft are technology of today? Are you sure they haven't tried or experiment with it before 1980? I would say older days player prefer standard shafts then low deflection shafts. Why? It is because they know something which newer generation player do not.

About a decade ago or more, I saw this pool instruction video, If I'm not wrong, I think it was by Robert Byrne. In one of the scene, he exhibit one shot, that was playing a stop shot with the cueball spinning dead on the spot.

I do not know whether you do know what this mean. If you haven't tried it please do so with low deflection shaft. You may get it if you know the secret. But with a standard shaft it is alot easier no matter what the distance i.e. 6 feet or more you still can do it easy. It all knowledge.

 

[dave sutton]

ive played exclusivly with a predator since 1997.
thats when i started playing pool.
most didnt know what a predator was back then.
i had a friend that played with a predator and did repairs himself.
i was thrown into it fast. never went back until last year. i played with a -R- and i made 6 shafts for that cue. all ivory ferrules. took some adjusting but i did it.
since i sold that cue in oct 2007 i played again with a 314 2. i do not like it as much. maybe its the 314 2. maybe i like the original 314 better. i dont have any feel at all. plays well but hits dead to me now.

 

[BPG24]

Dave
there is no doubt about Predators quality control going down... And you are 100% correct that the older shafts play better...

..............................................................................

BTW I do not dislike standard shafts, I am currently playing with a very stiff taperd standard maple shaft... I do prefer the original Z shaft to anything I have ever played with. It is simply more consistant than anything else IMO and i do feel that it is not for everyone... Especially your average league player...

 

[masonh]

sharpq,i was making 2 points.i guess we disagree on both:

"All testing has proved that the pred 314-2 is superior, but only marginally to the ob-1. Both shafts are superior to any "custom maker" shaft. This is why no "custom" cue maker will argue this fact about shafts."

this statement is opionion not fact,and i disagree.Predators are not superior to any other shaft made.you are making an incredibly broad generalization.

and if you think that all butts feel and perform the same as long as you put a Predator shaft on,then there is really no point in talking about it anymore b/c that is ridiculous and i could prove it to you if you lived close.you are Predators ideal customer and marketing target and you buy into the hype too much.

i also really don't think custom cuemakers are too worried about thousandths of an inch in deflection(b/c that is the distance we are talking about over a few feet) or having a contest with Predator about who can make the lowest deflecting shaft.on top of that there is such a thing as a low deflection shaft that doesn't play well.

 

[icem3n]

you are Predators ideal customer and marketing target and you buy into the hype too much.

....on top of that there is such a thing as a low deflection shaft that doesn't play well.

Tap tap tap... Mason, I 100% have to agree with you.

 

[Arnot Wadsworth]

Dave
there is no doubt about Predators quality control going down... And you are 100% correct that the older shafts play better...

Like everything else made in China. When they were made in the United States they were much better.

 

[IA8baller]

Dave
there is no doubt about Predators quality control going down... And you are 100% correct that the older shafts play better...

Like everything else made in China. When they were made in the United States they were much better.

I'm inclined to say that there is probably a good amount of truth to that statement, but hopefully the quality control issues are being resolved. I'm currently part of the Predator family but am definitely open to trying other products. I'm sure I'll own an OB-1 in the near future and try it just to see what I think about it.

 

[Mase]

The blanks were always made in China. They were then sent to Falcon in Toronto and turned into the finished shafts. All Predator ever did was put the ferrule and tip on the shaft.

 

[nipper]

if the ferrules are the only part done in us then where are the ferrules coming from that there are so many of them cracking

 

[Mase]

if the ferrules are the only part done in us then where are the ferrules coming from that there are so many of them cracking

I get the impression now that even the ferrule and tip is done in China.

 

[dave sutton]

i dont think its cracking. i think they are comming out. from what i hear they were using titan and it wasnt holding the glue. they since went to another material.

i know i deff like the old ones better.

im gonna put an ivory ferrule on mine and see. if not i will just scrap it. i dont care

 

[rookie]

Wow this was a great question.I have read everyones comments there are alot of good points made on both sides. Everyone has there own opinion on what is best and here is mine i think way to much is put into this low deflection if you buy a good quality cue from a reputable builder you are getting a quality product capable of performing better than most of us realize. Its in my opnion more a matter of basic fundementals stroke, followthrough,and so on. But that being said this game is 80% mental so if these shafts give you an edge in that area great.

 

[rocky]

Actually the Product quality has improved greatly since we moved the manufacturing overseas. There are many times more people dedicated to quality control, wood quality is much better and the over all manufacturing process has greatly improved. Not only that but there are still quite a few of our shafts that are still manufactured right here in the USA. Much like the automotive industry and electronic industry, all of the high end consumer products that are high quality are manufactured overseas. While all of the research and development is done here in the states. We did have several issues with the ferrules but it has all since been worked out after a long and drawn out recall that had us all working almost around the clock to get shafts referruled and returned. As a pool player myself, I can tell you the over all performance and quality of our shafts has great increased over the past year.

If any one would like to discuss it they can contact me directly here at the factory at 888-314-4111.

Darrin Brown

 

[dave sutton]

Wow this was a great question.I have read everyones comments there are alot of good points made on both sides. Everyone has there own opinion on what is best and here is mine i think way to much is put into this low deflection if you buy a good quality cue from a reputable builder you are getting a quality product capable of performing better than most of us realize. Its in my opnion more a matter of basic fundementals stroke, followthrough,and so on. But that being said this game is 80% mental so if these shafts give you an edge in that area great.

agreed however...

if you take 3 top cuemakers cues and you dont play with a predator

put the qball on the spot and the object ball on the siderail inline with the other spot. hit the qball high inside and follow 3 rails around.
that pred will not go where you think it will

there is deff an adjustment to be made. no question