Question of balance

krychekrowe

krychekrowe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey there!
I am currently using a first gen Predator Z shaft. I enjoy how it plays. I also carry a first gen 314 shaft. With the 314 I feel a better balance playing with cue. I am now having an old Buffalo cue converted, adding a uni-loc collar and pin. What I want to know is if it is possible to get the same feeling of balance with the Z shaft. I guess there is more weight to the 314, but can that weight be added at the front of the cue to make the balance feel the same when using the Z shaft? Is it the balance point I'm liking when I play with the 314? Best regards Bob from Sweden.
 
Yes, it's possible to make one cue feel just like another, but it's not an easy task. A cue's feel is determined by every single piece used to make it. Furthermore, two identically built cues, using the exact same materials could feel differently due to subtle differences in the densities of the woods.

Balance is also a big factor in feel. I would say it's far easier to make two cues weigh and balance the same, but that's not necessarily going to make them feel the same.

So, to your question about the differences between the 314 and the Z: Can a cue be made with a Z shaft so it will feel just like your other cue with a 314 shaft? Yes, a cue maker can make it so the two cues weigh the same and have the same balance. But, because the cues will be constructed differently (I'm assuming your current cue is not also a converted Buffalo), it's impossible to say with certainty that the two cues will feel the same.

Finally, is it the balance that you like? Hard to say. You like what you like.
 
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Think I'll start off trying to get the balance point right. See how that works out! Thanks for the input!
 
krychekrowe said:
Hey there!
I am currently using a first gen Predator Z shaft. I enjoy how it plays. I also carry a first gen 314 shaft. With the 314 I feel a better balance playing with cue. I am now having an old Buffalo cue converted, adding a uni-loc collar and pin. What I want to know is if it is possible to get the same feeling of balance with the Z shaft. I guess there is more weight to the 314, but can that weight be added at the front of the cue to make the balance feel the same when using the Z shaft? Is it the balance point I'm liking when I play with the 314? Best regards Bob from Sweden.
Click to expand...

The feel of a cue also has to do with the taper of the shaft. The Z is more conical than the 314. It may be difficult or even impossible to compensate this difference of feel coming from the different tapers.
 
way different

314-shaped shafts ounce for ounce are rather more forward-weighted than Z shafts. A 4oz Z shaft will balance the cue somewhat to the rear of the same cue with a 4oz 314. I've seen plenty of both that were rather lighter than this but very many seem to be 4oz on the button to it was an easy experiment to perform.
Plus, the shafts just plain perform differently. I would expect quite a lot of difference.

Robin Snyder

Edit: I just noticed you said first generation Predator. In my experience the Z's ran much lighter in general than 314's, so I think the difference would be fairly large. Perhaps a real Predator expert could comment. I'm not one, but I've worked on them a while now.
 
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Can apples be made to taste like oranges?

Can a '67 Mustang be made to drive like a '67 Camaro if you put a 327 in it?
NO.

Robin Snyder
 
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