The new Predator Z-2 shaft.

Snapshot9

Snapshot9

son of 3 leg 1 eye dog ..
Silver Member
A friend of mine last night told me he is ordering the new Z-2 shaft. he tried one out and said he could do things with it that he couldn't do with any other shaft.

He also mentioned that it is pretty flexible.

Just how is it put together? Is it cored and filled foam like the 314 or by some newer construction process. What are suppose to be the improvements over the original Z shaft?

What is the size of tip on it?

Anyone have one of these, and what is your opinion of them?
 
Hey Scott,

To my knowledge and I've been shooting with Predator shafts for five years now none of them are filled with any foam material.

Now with that being said the difference between the Z, and Z-2.

1. The shaft comes standard with a Tiger Everest Tip.
2. The ferrule is shorter, lighter and harder than the original.
3. Due to the new construction of the ferrule it also allowed the shaft to be bored a little further. Which further reduced front end mass.

The combination of all these factors allows the shaft to deflect 15% less than the original.

I got mine as soon as they were avaliable, and I've shooting been shooting like I've never shot before. Over the years I've made improvement each time I've upgraded with Predator the 314 got me to one level, the Z got me a little higher, and the Z 2 has improved performance once again.

Black Cat :cool:
 
Snapshot9 said:
...
What is the size of tip on it?

Anyone have one of these, and what is your opinion of them?
Click to expand...
I think it's under 12mm, like the original, and with a carom-like taper.

A student of mine got one. It seems to squirt less than my Z1, and I liked the "hit" which might be mostly due to the tip. The original tips on my Z1 were really irritating.
 
Black Cat 5791 said:
Hey Scott,

To my knowledge and I've been shooting with Predator shafts for five years now none of them are filled with any foam material.
Click to expand...
I think someone cut one apart a few years ago and found some pink stuff in there.

Fred <~~~ might have been dreaming
 
They have a comparison of the shafts on predators web-site.

http://predatorcues.com/predator_cues_shaft_retired.html

The change that Black Cat 5791 forgot to mention is that the new shaft inserts are in a solid phenolic core rather than in wood like the old ones.
The new 314^2 has the same changes as well. I just got my Z2 last week (after waiting 2 months for the 30" that were back ordered) and I like it. I think the everest tip is a big step up, but I still prefer it's big brother- the sniper. My new Z2 does have less deflection, but I don't really like the feeling of the phenolic in the joint. I got a new SP butt with my shaft 'cause it was only a few extra bucks to get the whole cue, and the new SP butts also have a phenolic core that the pin is set into. I will be selling the new butt shortly because I don't like the feel of the hit with the phenolic in there. I think I might buy an unfinished Z2 and have a cuemaker put the insert into the wood.

Anybody want a brand new predator SP butt with the red veneers? I can throw on an older 30" Z shaft with a sniper tip if you want.
 
desert1pocket said:
Anybody want a brand new predator SP butt with the red veneers? I can throw on an older 30" Z shaft with a sniper tip if you want.
Click to expand...

Check your pm's! :D
 
I have this Z2, but honestly cannot tell what the difference is besides 1mm shorter ferrule. Maybe I'll be able to tell once I wear down the original Everest tip and put Moori quick which I usually do.
As for deflection, yes...it could be true that it deflects less than the original...but let's be realistic...there's no way on Earth anyone can conciously feel the difference. Maybe the robot can...

I just happen to like 12mm shafts with slight cone shaped taper. That's why either Z or Z2 are ideal for me. McDermott I-3 also feels great for me, but it is a little weird...closer to being pro tapered than coned.

Simply put, if thinner 12mm shafts with stronger taper are not for you, this one will be no different. You won't like it.
 
Hi All, just to pick up on something.......whoever said they were dreaming about the little bit of pink foam is wrong.....i had a z shaft from very early in the first issue and the ferrule came of and yes the core at the top which is only a very small recess did contain a foam type material....my guess is at vibration dampening?

As for the new generation shafts.......i've been shooting with custom made z's with sniper tips for the last few months ( i have a masterpiece joint mcdermott so i can't buy off the shelf) i'm currently awaiting deliverly of 2 x 314-2 custom made shafts i had to buy the 30" shafts and then get a cuemaker to cut them down fit the collars and make me the joints....hopefully i should have them in the next day or 2. People might think its strange going from a z to a 314-2 as like most i made the move from 314 to z years ago......but the deflection on the 314-2 is very similar to the z and i feel that i play my favourite game 1 hole a lot better with the fractionally larger tip (who knows why).......i'll put up a verdict as and when i get to shoot.

All i can say is mega thanks to a friend of azbilliards Joe Nielsen of Nielsens Billiards, top top guy
 
desert1pocket said:
The change that Black Cat 5791 forgot to mention is that the new shaft inserts are in a solid phenolic core rather than in wood like the old ones.
Click to expand...

Your right I did forget that about the joint. Oops my Bad.....:cool:
All in all though it is an improvement over the original.

Black Cat:cool:
 
I got the Z2 recently after using a 314 for 6 years. It is quite a difference. I think that the Z2 is flexible, but it vibrates LESS than the 314 - so people feel/see that as being a "stiffer" or more "solid" hit.


As for the skinny taper. The significantly skinny portion is in the front end where virtually no one bridges. It tapers out quickly from the tip to where most people bridge, and then it is more gradual. I'd say, if you bridge anywhere in the middle of the shaft, to even a couple inches forward of the middle - it is pretty close to a 314. The only exception is that as you follow through, you will notice the shaft getting thicker in your closed bridge. That's just the nature of the euro-taper.


It is by far the lowest squirt shaft I've ever used. You can pretty much shoot straight (almost) at anything with a ton of english. Of course, there is always swerve and throw to deal with...but there's less compensation to be made than there is with the 314.


The Everest tip isn't bad. I like the hardness level. It feels decent. It grips the ball well. I haven't had any miscues with it. I don't think it is better than a Moori though. The laminated sections aren't put together as well.


As far as getting used to it, it only took me about 4 hours and I am 99% with it. Another week to work out that final 1% of touch on certain shots and my familiarity with this shaft will be equal to the 314 I've used for years. I can't see how some people complain that it is a difficult transition from the 314. Unless the taper just gets in their head...


Going from a high squirt shaft like a Schon to a 314 is a much larger leap than going from the 314 to a Z. If you went from a Schon to a Z, then I could understand how a person's game would need a little time to adjust.


Overall, I am totally pleased with this. I got used to it quickly. It felt good from the start. I feel that it performs well. I can preform very well with it. And I prefer the Z2's "feel" over the 314. My play so far has been very positive with it and I can't think of a negative yet. But I'll post about one if it comes up.
 
314-2

I just got a 314-2 with my new cue, and I really think that the original plays better. I know the shaft is supposed to be stiffer with the 2nd gens, but I don’t know if I believe it.
 
nyjoe14.1 said:
I just got a 314-2 with my new cue, and I really think that the original plays better. I know the shaft is supposed to be stiffer with the 2nd gens, but I don’t know if I believe it.
Click to expand...

Could be the new cue, or could be that like me, you don't like the feel of the new phenolic inserts. Is the new cue a predator?
 
Bola Ocho said:
It is by far the lowest squirt shaft I've ever used. You can pretty much shoot straight (almost) at anything with a ton of english. Of course, there is always swerve and throw to deal with...but there's less compensation to be made than there is with the 314.

The Everest tip isn't bad. I like the hardness level. It feels decent. It grips the ball well. I haven't had any miscues with it. I don't think it is better than a Moori though. The laminated sections aren't put together as well.

As far as getting used to it, it only took me about 4 hours and I am 99% with it. Another week to work out that final 1% of touch on certain shots and my familiarity with this shaft will be equal to the 314 I've used for years. I can't see how some people complain that it is a difficult transition from the 314. Unless the taper just gets in their head...
Click to expand...

I tried the 1st gen Z, and even then the squirt was very, very low. Too low, in fact, for my taste since I've grown accustomed to the 314 (and now 314-2). I was practicing trying a table length kick safe with the Z trying to get behind the ball with spin to get a fuller hit, and instead ended up cutting the damn ball in from about the middle diamond about a ball's width off the short rail. Scary.

I love the Everest tip. I think I might try a Sniper next, but I actually am really liking the Everest, and you know what they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Holds chalk well, doesn't glaze quickly, which means less miscues for me (all problems I'd been having with my original 314 w/Moori).

Well, you may be one of the lucky ones who has no problems with the Z. I, unfortunately, had quite a few. I actually only tried it because I needed a loaner shaft while I was having my 314 retipped. So I tried it the first day, and hey, not so bad. Days 2, 3, 4, and thereafter? Godforsaken awful. I couldn't make simple shots with any kind of spin, and sometimes with no spin at all. Of course, that reflects more on my ability, aim, and tip placement than on the shaft. But there are even good players I know who claim that if they play with a Z, and it's going alright, then fine. But if they're playing bad, they're playing REALLY bad, which mirrored my experience with the shaft.
 
Black Cat 5791 said:
Hey Scott,

To my knowledge and I've been shooting with Predator shafts for five years now none of them are filled with any foam material.

Now with that being said the difference between the Z, and Z-2.

1. The shaft comes standard with a Tiger Everest Tip.
2. The ferrule is shorter, lighter and harder than the original.
3. Due to the new construction of the ferrule it also allowed the shaft to be bored a little further. Which further reduced front end mass.

The combination of all these factors allows the shaft to deflect 15% less than the original.

I got mine as soon as they were avaliable, and I've shooting been shooting like I've never shot before. Over the years I've made improvement each time I've upgraded with Predator the 314 got me to one level, the Z got me a little higher, and the Z 2 has improved performance once again.

Black Cat :cool:
Click to expand...

O yes foam is in that shaft .find a one that is broken and look in it .the old one had a rod in it ..
 
deadstroke32 said:
O yes foam is in that shaft .find a one that is broken and look in it .the old one had a rod in it ..
Click to expand...

They have been using the foam for a long time now. The plastic rod was used way back in the old days when instead of 10 piece splice shafts, you had a choice of 6 or 12 piece. You're dating yourself bringing up the rod-;) lol.
 
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