Question about Predator shafts

[Nineball-98]

I've read some threads dealing with Predator shafts. I know very little about deflection. Does a low deflection shaft make pocketing balls using english easier? I've developed a straight and repeatable stroke and don't miss many shots. On the shots that I do miss, almost always I feel it is a result of inaccuracy not a flaw in my stroke. Also, unless it is a shot that requires extreme english, using english in my opinion dosen't really effect my ability to make the shot. Any thoughts on Predator shafts and whether they would or wouldn't help my game.

 

[sjm]

Listen to Roger Long

I've read some threads dealing with Predator shafts. I know very little about deflection. Does a low deflection shaft make pocketing balls using english easier? I've developed a straight and repeatable stroke and don't miss many shots. On the shots that I do miss, almost always I feel it is a result of inaccuracy not a flaw in my stroke. Also, unless it is a shot that requires extreme english, using english in my opinion dosen't really effect my ability to make the shot. Any thoughts on Predator shafts and whether they would or wouldn't help my game.

Nineball-98, the only answer is that the stiff Predator shaft is good in some ways but has limitations in other ways. I loved the series of articles on this very site by certified instructor Roger Long called "Reflections on Deflection". In part IV of his superb series, he writes:

Cue deflection (or more precisely, shaft deflection) is something I touched on in Part II of this series when I made the statement "when the tip of the cue hits the cue ball either left or right of center - one or both of them will be deflected away from the original line of aim." I went on to say that it is usually the cue ball that is deflected the most. But herein lies a problem. The stiffer a shaft is, the less it will deflect, and the more it will cause the cue ball to deflect. But the more flexible a shaft is, the more it will deflect, and the less it will deflect the cue ball. Are you starting to see why I say that the subject of deflection is confusing?

What players have been taught for years is that they should use a cue with as stiff a shaft as possible. I'm not sure how or why that recommendation got started. If a stiff shaft causes more cue ball deflection, why should anyone want that? But many players have unknowingly accepted that advice, purchased cues with very stiff shafts, and then programmed their minds, through practice, to make subconscious compensations for the excessive cue ball deflection.

If the obviously scholarly certified instructor Roger Long finds this subject complicated, I guess it's OK for you and me to struggle with it, too.

In other threads, many have suggested trying a Predator to see if you like it, and that seems to make a lot of sense. A product that has found favor with so many is surely worth a try.

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

Nineball-98,
just in case you didnt know, Predator has a 30 day money back guarantee going right now. actually, its a 90% refund. whoever you buy the shaft from will charge you a 10% re-stocking fee if you decide to return it. all you have to do is basically dont damage it, dont re-tip it, etc, etc. routine wear and tear on the tip and ferrule is ok as far as the refund goes.

just my $.02.
DCP

 

[bill190]

The following paper explains all this, skip the math parts and read the text. The most important [text] parts are toward the back.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Cue Ball
Squirt, But Were Afraid to Ask...
http://www.sfbilliards.com/Shepard_squirt.pdf

 

[drivermaker]

I've read some threads dealing with Predator shafts. I know very little about deflection. Does a low deflection shaft make pocketing balls using english easier? I've developed a straight and repeatable stroke and don't miss many shots. On the shots that I do miss, almost always I feel it is a result of inaccuracy not a flaw in my stroke. Also, unless it is a shot that requires extreme english, using english in my opinion dosen't really effect my ability to make the shot. Any thoughts on Predator shafts and whether they would or wouldn't help my game.

In your case, I do not see where a Predator would help you at all. Here's my take on it and why I think that way. You said, "Using english in my opinion doesn't really effect my ability to make the shot". You also said, ".......and I don't miss many shots". You asked, "Does a low deflection shaft make pocketing balls using english easier"? Well, you answered your own question.
If you don't miss many shots, if english doesn't pose any problem for you in making shots currently, what do you expect a Predator to do for you over and above what's now happening? The answer is NOTHING.

You said "On shots that I do miss, almost always I feel it is a result of inaccuracy not a flaw in my stroke". I would probably have to agree with you. My guess is that your aim is off more than anything, especially if the misses are occuring on cut shots and it could have to do with your perspective of the shot. You don't ALWAYS want to have your head or chin directly over the center of the cue or center of the CB. You might want to try moving it in relationship to the cut angle so the eyes can see it better. When you have a cut to the left, move over slightly to sight it from the left. And on cuts to the right move over slightly to the right. That can be done also by moving your head and chin to either side of your cue at setup (left cut-chin left of shaft) (right cut-chin right of shaft) Try it and see what happens. Otherwise alignment from straight behind the ball and eyes/chin over center of shaft has to be right on the mark directly behind the CB contact point on the front of the CB, not the center of the CB.