What Do Cuemakers Think of Predator Shafts?

BrooklynJay

BrooklynJay

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know that every cuemaker thinks that the cue they make hits the best, which is why I suppose you build them the way you do, so what your opinions when a customer wants a Predator shaft on one of your custom cues?

As a cuemaker do you think it changes the 'hit' that you've work so hard to perfect?

Reading this board the opinion seems to be that a lot of the 'hit' is determined by the shaft.

The reason I ask is that I always see a demand for certain cuemakers cues (Scruggs, SouthWest, etc.) and I always thought it was the cuemakers reputation for making a good hitting cue...but then I see everyone talking about Predator shafts and low deflection...I'm just thinking that one day I'm going to see a guy with a Southwest butt and a Z shaft (if he's not out there already). So I wanted to know, as cuemakers, your opinion on the subject.
 
BrooklynJay said:
I know that every cuemaker thinks that the cue they make hits the best, which is why I suppose you build them the way you do, so what your opinions when a customer wants a Predator shaft on one of your custom cues?

As a cuemaker do you think it changes the 'hit' that you've work so hard to perfect?

Reading this board the opinion seems to be that a lot of the 'hit' is determined by the shaft.

The reason I ask is that I always see a demand for certain cuemakers cues (Scruggs, SouthWest, etc.) and I always thought it was the cuemakers reputation for making a good hitting cue...but then I see everyone talking about Predator shafts and low deflection...I'm just thinking that one day I'm going to see a guy with a Southwest butt and a Z shaft (if he's not out there already). So I wanted to know, as cuemakers, your opinion on the subject.
Click to expand...

The short answer is that I believe you either like um or hate um. I hate um. I personally think that there is a whole business thriving on the fact that they want a MAGIC cure, to make them play better. They don't want to take lessons or practice. Magic shafts, bumpers, ferrules & tips none of them will fix bad habits...JER
 
BrooklynJay said:
I know that every cuemaker thinks that the cue they make hits the best, which is why I suppose you build them the way you do, so what your opinions when a customer wants a Predator shaft on one of your custom cues?

As a cuemaker do you think it changes the 'hit' that you've work so hard to perfect?

Reading this board the opinion seems to be that a lot of the 'hit' is determined by the shaft.

The reason I ask is that I always see a demand for certain cuemakers cues (Scruggs, SouthWest, etc.) and I always thought it was the cuemakers reputation for making a good hitting cue...but then I see everyone talking about Predator shafts and low deflection...I'm just thinking that one day I'm going to see a guy with a Southwest butt and a Z shaft (if he's not out there already). So I wanted to know, as cuemakers, your opinion on the subject.
Click to expand...

I have found that about half of the people like Predator shafts and about half hate them. There are very few who don't have a strong opinion one way or the other. I, myself, very much like the way a Predator shaft hits and offer them as an option on the cues I build. I would use Predator shafts solely except for the extra cost of utilizing those shafts.

Many people seem to get confused with the meaning of a "cues hit" and "how a cue hits". A "cues hit" is the feel of the cue and it's feed back to the player after cue ball contact. This is very subjective to each player. What feels great to one may feel horrible to another. The butt of the cue is a very determining factor when discussing a cues hit. The butt however has little affect in the performance of a cue.

On the other hand, "how a cue hits" is mostly determined with the front of the cue. The tip, the ferrule and the shaft are the most determining factors on "how a cue hits". These 3 peices mainly affect what spin, slide and deflection or squirt are imparted to the cue ball. Hence the shaft greatly affects the cues performance.

Dick
 
I agree Jer

We are living in "instant cure" times, I mean we are bombarded with tv shows which solve major life issues in one hour max. And many think if you have not improved your stroke lately it is because you have not thrown enough money at the problem!
 
BrooklynJay said:
I know that every cuemaker thinks that the cue they make hits the best, which is why I suppose you build them the way you do, so what your opinions when a customer wants a Predator shaft on one of your custom cues?
Click to expand...
Not true! Best is very subjective, and if someone thinks they can corner the market on that, they might not be thinking clearly. :D I like my cues, but I'm not all that picky either... I can play with just about anything.
As a cuemaker do you think it changes the 'hit' that you've work so hard to perfect?
Click to expand...
Not all cuemakers are limited to one particular 'hit' or cue build. A true "custom" cuemaker will be flexible, and able to work with the customer to achieve the desired results.
Reading this board the opinion seems to be that a lot of the 'hit' is determined by the shaft.
Click to expand...
I think this is true. With other factors equal or close to it, the shaft is the biggest factor in cue performance. (In my opinion)
The reason I ask is that I always see a demand for certain cuemakers cues (Scruggs, SouthWest, etc.) and I always thought it was the cuemakers reputation for making a good hitting cue...but then I see everyone talking about Predator shafts and low deflection...I'm just thinking that one day I'm going to see a guy with a Southwest butt and a Z shaft (if he's not out there already). So I wanted to know, as cuemakers, your opinion on the subject.
Click to expand...
I like it when people order cues with predator or other (OB1!) shafts, it makes my job easier, and generally provides them with the 'hit' that they were after without much trouble.
 
I hate them...Chuck em in the fire for kindling

Koop - not a cuemaker but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night
 
BrooklynJay said:
I know that every cuemaker thinks that the cue they make hits the best

Not neccesarilly. I feel I make a GOOD Q. I like the hit very much, but there are those who like a very hard hitting Q, which is not what mine hit like. I make a Q that has a solid hit & easy to draw the ball with control. Not everyone feels that this is what a Q should feel like. 90% of the Qs I've made are still with the original owners. That's how I measure MY product. SATISFIED CUSTOMERS...JER
Click to expand...
 
I do not care for the construction of the predator shafts personally but I will put them on my cues if someone orders them. I grew up playing with plain maple shafts and that is what feels right to me. I build my cues to hit the way I like and that is my little niche. I will work with the customer to a point but I don't do radical changes because I want anyone that plays with my cues to be able to pick up any that I have built and like the hit.
If the trend continues the way it is now soon shafts will be made of particle board LOL. In the last year everyone and their brother has come out with a new shaft and each one has more laminates than the last. Just my 2. Chris.
 
My .02 cents

The hit is okay with them, but what I don't like is what they do to the balance of the cue, which noone ever talks about. You take a custom cue with the perfect balance for you, put a predator shaft on it, and all of a sudden it feels slightly butt heavy to you.

It is about like all these threads on aiming systems.... lol I have played 45 years and I just hit the contact point on the object ball, works for me ... lol
 
I don't care for the hit of a Predator, but that is me. Apparently, there are many that are ok with the hit. I also don't believe in the magical cue to replace practice. But I will do what the customer wants, within reason.

Barry C.
cameroncues.com
 
Predator shafts

My concept is that the cue maker should build as to what the customer wants. That is why it is custom. If not you are just buying a non-production cue.

My custom cue maker builds my sticks to my desired specs. If my specs ask for a matching predator(s) shafts it is done. My sticks have matching predators for various reasons. I prefer playing certain pool games with predators and others with natural shafts. Also, different tables and cloth vary my shaft choice. It is all a personal choice when it comes down to it.

I personally choice to have the predators made to match without the predator logos. This is done for potential future re-sell value. Knowing that the market has a desire for the predator shaft, would in my opinion, lead both cue makers and cue purchasers to have one built as a match whether played with or not.
 
I have matched Predator shafts to customers cues and to cues that I have built. Some people like the way they play, and I don't have a problem with that.
I have tried to play with them and just can't do it. I play with a lot of english and have played with traditional maple shafts for 26 years, and I have trouble making balls with a predator shaft. I am better off shooting with a wrapped house cue than a predator. More power to the ones that can use them.
I guess I fall in the 50% hate them group, but thats just for my own shooting, nothing against them personally.
Chris
 
Snapshot9 said:
The hit is okay with them, but what I don't like is what they do to the balance of the cue, which noone ever talks about. You take a custom cue with the perfect balance for you, put a predator shaft on it, and all of a sudden it feels slightly butt heavy to you.

It is about like all these threads on aiming systems.... lol I have played 45 years and I just hit the contact point on the object ball, works for me ... lol
Click to expand...

Interesting point that I agree with .. most custom cue shafts that I've seen are around 4oz range; whereas Predator or OB-1 shafts are 3.5 or below (for wood on wood screws).

This 0.5 oz difference is shaft weight does make the cue feel very different, IMHO.
 
I have built cue butts to match predator shafts and the hit was pretty good. But I prefer the feel of a really tight grain maple shaft. I usually use a harder ferrule like Melamine, but if I use a softer ferrule and stiff tight grain shaft it is hard to tell the difference in the hit. If anything the extra weight in the tight grain Michigan maple makes it a little nicer hit. I think Predator shafts make a stainless joint cue hit a little softer which is a plus IMO. I think that is why you see so many of them on Stainless jointed cues.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
 
hit

everyone so far has talked about the predators "hit".

i am a diehard fan of predators.

they dont hit that great.

but the playability is huge.

thats why i play with one.

i do agree however with a nice tight grained, ivory ferruled shaft HITTING great.

the day someone comes yup with that combo, is the day that person never works again. cha-ching!


my .02

chris G
 
bogey54311 said:
everyone so far has talked about the predators "hit".

i am a diehard fan of predators.

they dont hit that great.

but the playability is huge.

thats why i play with one.

i do agree however with a nice tight grained, ivory ferruled shaft HITTING great.

the day someone comes yup with that combo, is the day that person never works again. cha-ching!


my .02

chris G
Click to expand...

Maybe I'll make you one.
 
rhncue said:
Many people seem to get confused with the meaning of a "cues hit" and "how a cue hits". A "cues hit" is the feel of the cue and it's feed back to the player after cue ball contact. This is very subjective to each player. What feels great to one may feel horrible to another. The butt of the cue is a very determining factor when discussing a cues hit. The butt however has little affect in the performance of a cue.
Click to expand...

Would adding a Predator shaft change the "cues hit" i.e. the feed back to the player? It sounds like the Predator shafts are a little lighter which changes the balance but I'm wondering what other changes in that elusive 'feel' it affects.

As per my original example, if you slap a Predator on a SouthWest would it still have that SouthWest 'hit'?
 
BrooklynJay said:
Would adding a Predator shaft change the "cues hit" i.e. the feed back to the player? It sounds like the Predator shafts are a little lighter which changes the balance but I'm wondering what other changes in that elusive 'feel' it affects.

As per my original example, if you slap a Predator on a SouthWest would it still have that SouthWest 'hit'?
Click to expand...


Probably not...if you can get over the lack of feel and that annoying "TWONK" when you hit certain shots they're not too bad a shaft however IMO I just can't bring myself to liking them over a solid shaft...
________
 
Last edited:
BrooklynJay said:
Would adding a Predator shaft change the "cues hit" i.e. the feed back to the player? It sounds like the Predator shafts are a little lighter which changes the balance but I'm wondering what other changes in that elusive 'feel' it affects.

As per my original example, if you slap a Predator on a SouthWest would it still have that SouthWest 'hit'?
Click to expand...

Hit is subjective but it is DIFFERENT. And despite popular opinions on this forum, joint pins such as G10, Aluminum, Titanium, Brass and Stainless all have different properties and all hit differently, especially in terms of deflection.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top