Unleashing the Tiger X Pro, Tiger's answer to the "Z"

TATE

TATE

AzB Gold Mensch
Silver Member
The Tiger X Pro

Tiger's newest shaft is directly aimed at the Predator Z and OB 2 user. Up until now, Tiger has been slow to jump on the "LD" bandwagon. The original X and Ultra were not labeled as low squirt shafts, but as shafts that offered superior feel. The X Pro is an 11.75 mm Euro taper shaft with the low squirt characteristics of the Predator Z but with superior feel and feedback. In short, the feel is like a conventional shaft, but the performance is like a low deflection shaft.

Weight on the X Pro averages 3.7 ounces with the weight carried more on the joint side. The shaft feels light in the hands and lively, but holds up extremely well to shots struck firmly with english. It was developed to do this, hence the "Pro" description. Unlike the Predator Z, the X Pro has no hollow areas. The shaft is constructed to reduce weight in the tip end while maintaining feel.

The 1/4" ferrule is a material called "juma" which is a medium in hardness ferrule material mated to a fiber pad and Tiger's new Onyx tip. Similar to Tiger's Sinper tip, the Onyx is layered boar hide, but cured (for a month) in a fashion that gives the leather superior resilience and a natural black appearance. So far in testing, the Onyx has maintained it's medium consistency and has proved to be durable.

I've noticed that other tips start off as medium hard and get as hard as a rock over time. Although the Onyx is new, the ones I've tested have been used for months and the medium feel and grip is still maintained. It's a great tip and I'm switching over to it.

In terms of performance, I think Tiger absolutely nailed it with the X-Pro. Anyone who currently uses a Predator "Z" should give the X Pro a test.

New X-Ultra LD

The X-Ultra LD is a 12.75mm shaft similar to the current Ultra but with lower squirt performance. It has a 15" pro taper and weighs in at an average of 3.7 ounces. In my opinion, this is one of the next generation of LD shafts, no longer sacrificing feel for performance.

The big question is, is the Ultra X LD as low squirt as the 314-2?

I think it's close, but not quite as low. But close is good and the feel is like a conventional shaft. Tiger's mated the Sniper tip with the 1/4" Saber-T medium hard ferrule material. Honestly, I would like to see this shaft get an Everest or an Onyx. The broken in Sniper is a little too firm for this shaft in my opinion.

This shaft moves Tiger closer to the 314/ OB1 crowd and I predict it will create it's own following because it is a competent shaft that also happens to be LD.

Chris
 

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Chris,
Great review.
I really like both shafts as well and they are available for anybody that might want one.
 
BENFICA said:
Chris,
Great review.
I really like both shafts as well and they are available for anybody that might want one.
Click to expand...

I'm curious about your impression of the shafts and also the Onyx tip.

I just met with Frank the Barber who wanted to try out the X Pro and he really liked it - we're going to try to get him one fitted next week. He liked it just the way it was and he usually has a special taper put on his shafts.

Chris
 
Thanks Tate!

Hey Tate, thanks so much for the review it means a lot. I figured I was right about the X Pro. Couldn't call the LD though. If I can shoot with the smaller tip, I'll be getting the X Pro. If not, I'll get the OB-1 shaft. Either way, I plan to put an Onyx tip on 'em. Hey, does the Onyx only come in medium?
 
shoutout33 said:
I plan to put an Onyx tip on 'em. Hey, does the Onyx only come in medium?
Click to expand...

Yes, they call it medium-firm. It feels firm but has the grip of a medium. The main thing is the grip stays consistent (so far).

If you prefer a hard tip, after break-in the Sniper is probably better.

Chris
 
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Chris,
The Onyx LTD is my favorite thus far. Even surpassing Kamuis.
Since I got back from Vegas I also got a few samples of the new Kamui Medium Black...
Have not installed one yet.
I have been plays with an ONYX LTD and to me it is the best true medium tip available out there, period - I do not care what everybody else says.
I also have them available already. Picked up a few boxes in Vegas.
Interesting enough I like both shafts...
Love the feel of the XPRO and as well the same thing with the Ultra LD. with the Onyx LTD tip.
 
Great shaft with a very nice taper, the tips hit great also and picked up some at the Trade Show last week. Both are very nice products!!
 
Fuji-whopper said:
Great shaft with a very nice taper, the tips hit great also and picked up some at the Trade Show last week. Both are very nice products!!
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Well, here is some excitement - a totally unsolicited response from a pro player! For those who may not know, Fuji-whopper is Neil Fujiwara.

I'm trying to get this thread going, but Tiger has only made about 30 of the X Pro shafts so far, so there are very few available to test.

Chris
 
I was excited to hear that Tate had an x-pro shaft from Tiger products. I made an appointment to meet with Tate last week specifically to give the Tiger x-pro a test spin because I favor shafts slightly smaller.

I have tried just about all of the modern shafts available including the Z shaft and the Ob2 and the Ob Classic. I was excited to hear that Tate had the x-pro and would let me give it a test spin. After the test spin I liked everything about it, including the Onyx tip. The shaft being lighter is very much to my liking and I loved the taper.

After trying most of the other shafts on the market the last few years I settled on the Tiger X-shaft and have been using it for the last couple of years. I modified the taper on that shaft and It pretty much satisfied my needs but it seemed to break down on shots that needed extreme spin and power but I mostly worked around that by selecting different options. But now the x-pro seems to have solved that problem. If so, then that would make my game more complete allowing me to utilize things that I have been reluctant to try because of the thinner shafts not holding up.

I was extremely impressed with the x-pro and I'm looking forward to have one fitted to my Schrager cue so that I can give it a full two weeks test drive. With over 50 years of playing experience there's no denying when I find something that I like.

One of the most satisfying things about a shaft to me is when I can have the confidence to play with a shaft on the big table where larger strokes are used and then to be able to play on the bar box where a more subtle game is needed. This shaft appears to be that shaft.

If it continues to perform in the extended two week test drive like it did during the test spin I took with it I will let everyone know. I anticipate that I would like it even more when I have one fitted to my personal cue.
 
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TATE said:
Well, here is some excitement - a totally unsolicited response from a pro player! For those who may not know, Fuji-whopper is Neil Fujiwara.

I'm trying to get this thread going, but Tiger has only made about 30 of the X Pro shafts so far, so there are very few available to test.

Chris
Click to expand...

Well...not completely true as the "Fujster" is on the Tiger Sponsored Player Roster :grin-square:

But, nonetheless, Fuj certainly is a pool expert!
 
X Pro vs. OB-2

TATE said:
I'm trying to get this thread going, but Tiger has only made about 30 of the X Pro shafts so far, so there are very few available to test.

Chris
Click to expand...

Tate's absolutely correct about this. In order for me to get the shaft now, I have to have it "special ordered" from the company I plan to get it from. Doesn't cost extra, but just goes to show you how new these shafts are.

Tate, wanted to know if you could compare the X Pros shaft to the OB-2 shaft. The only thing that's keeping me from being completely sold the the X Pro now is the OB-2 shaft. Leaning to the X Pro because they already come with the Onyx tips. Again Tate, thanks for the review.
 
shoutout33 said:
Tate, wanted to know if you could compare the X Pros shaft to the OB-2 shaft. The only thing that's keeping me from being completely sold the the X Pro now is the OB-2 shaft. Leaning to the X Pro because they already come with the Onyx tips. Again Tate, thanks for the review.
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Sorry, I haven't tried the OB-2, so I can't compare them directly. I usually use a 12.75 mm shaft and now use the OB Classic, which is OB's version of the OB-1 but with a solid core and a short plastic ferrule. OB also has a Classic Pro, which is their version of the OB-2 but with a solid core (and a short plastic ferrule). I like the "Classic" OB shaft series because they are a very solid playing shaft with LD qualities.

I used a "Z" for awhile and can compare that to the Tiger X Pro. The Tiger has the feel and looks of a conventional shaft, with LD qualities similar to a Predator Z, but with a tremendous feel and feedback. It holds up very well to firmly struck English shots with minimal vibration and provides a sense of confidence when you're trying to do something extreme.

The match up of short juma ferrule and Onyx tip is a great combination. I don't know if you've tried a short ferruled shaft before, but with me the very hard tips aren't so great with a short hard ferrule. With a short ferrule you can really feel the tip, so the really firm ones feel rock hard.

Tiger is right around the corner from me. I volunteered to help Tony with feedback on the shafts as they were being developed, so we've been working on this for several months now. They had a bunch of X-Pro prototypes I tested with some of my friends to get different opinions. Out of a dozen or so different combinations, internal design and tapers, we chose this one. They took that design and improved upon it. The ferrule material and tip were tiger's sole idea and it's worked out very well on this shaft.

Since so few players have tried this shaft, I am hoping to get some in the hands of expert players who use the "Z" type of shaft now, to try them out and get some additional feedback.

Chris
 
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Chris;


Have you, or anyone compared the X Pro to the Z2? The Z is notorious for its lack of feel while the Z2 is pretty good.
 
Deadon said:
Chris;


Have you, or anyone compared the X Pro to the Z2? The Z is notorious for its lack of feel while the Z2 is pretty good.
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Yes, actually the shaft I was comparing to was the Z2 - I don't have the original Z. The X Pro feels more solid to me on the extreme shots.

Chris
 
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