Which is lower deflection? A schon with predator shaft or a complete predator cue?

M&GColtharp

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I was going to buy a schon with my choice of 314 or Z shaft but I saw a predator Icon 2...which has the least deflection? The schon with pred shaft or the pred butt and pred shaft?

Thanks
Madison
 
im curious to see the replies
i would think the deflection would be equal with the same shaft
 
I was going to buy a schon with my choice of 314 or Z shaft but I saw a predator Icon 2...which has the least deflection? The schon with pred shaft or the pred butt and pred shaft?

Thanks
Madison

You'll shoot better with the one you like better - the difference in squirt is going to be negligible, and unless one plays on new cloth, hard to tell. The material properties, weight, balance, taper and joint design (e.g. heavy steel joints, or lighter wood-to-wood constructions) all do have a minor influence, although primarily on the feel rather than measurable LD-characteristics - especially because no two 314- or Z-shaft are quite the same. Hardly worth obsessing over - go with what you fancy the most!

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
 
Thanks for the info, I have a Schon STL1 Tulipwood and it looks awesome, I was looking at the Predator Icon2-2. I really like the looks of them, they aren't flashy at all. The price is better too.

You'll shoot better with the one you like better - the difference in squirt is going to be negligible, and unless one plays on new cloth, hard to tell. The material properties, weight, balance, taper and joint design (e.g. heavy steel joints, or lighter wood-to-wood constructions) all do have a minor influence, although primarily on the feel rather than measurable LD-characteristics - especially because no two 314- or Z-shaft are quite the same. Hardly worth obsessing over - go with what you fancy the most!

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
 
im curious to see the replies
i would think the deflection would be equal with the same shaft

I thought the same too but I've heard that some cues have a stiffer butt construction than others and I thought that would have something to do with it
 
Who cares which one is lower deflection? The difference will be so small.

Get the schon, the hit will be better.
 
I thought the same too but I've heard that some cues have a stiffer butt construction than others and I thought that would have something to do with it

And you're correct in your assumption (forgot to mention diameter in my earlier reply - always referring to the different butts used), it's just that it's not the difference in deflection/resulting cue ball squirt that you'll notice most.

A number of my students use Predator and other aftermarket shafts on their cues, only a few are Predator cues, some other production, some custom. The same shaft will feel different on another butt, and if I had to guess, heavy joint materials may add a tiny bit to a cue's overall deflection, but in general the reality is that, due to the tip end being light in LD-shafts, and tip-to-cue contact being equal almost regardless of e.g. tip hardness etc., the cue ball is gone before the material properties of the cue as a whole could have an effect on the outcome. But: never underestimate the "hit and feel" of a cue - that is, what it does to a player's confidence! To me, personally, butts that are cheaply laminated (i.e. have a lot of glue in them) tend to feel "dead", for example. The point is to find a cue you like, that's all there is to it.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
 
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I've 'said' this a few times & it has not gone anywhere. Check out the Muecci shaft comparison video on the Muecci site & note the Adam Balabushka. When it hit so well with the stock shaft Mr' Muecci made a comment about how it must be a well made butt. Check the chart of the stock shaft to the Black Dot shaft. I think the butt can signicantly affect cue ball squirt. The problem is getting a difinitive measurement from butt to butt.

Anyway, with the LD shaft being lighter, the whole balance of a cue is different when adding a LD to a non-like butt. The balance of the Predator cue is made for the shaft. I had to remove the butt weight on my cue to get the balance more back to normal.

Just my nickel.
 
I've 'said' this a few times & it has not gone anywhere. Check out the Muecci shaft comparison video on the Muecci site & note the Adam Balabushka. When it hit so well with the stock shaft Mr' Muecci made a comment about how it must be a well made butt. Check the chart of the stock shaft to the Black Dot shaft. I think the butt can signicantly affect cue ball squirt. The problem is getting a difinitive measurement from butt to butt.

Anyway, with the LD shaft being lighter, the whole balance of a cue is different when adding a LD to a non-like butt. The balance of the Predator cue is made for the shaft. I had to remove the butt weight on my cue to get the balance more back to normal.

Just my nickel.

my experience
ive tried the same ob1 shaft on several makers butts and the playability
was more similar than dissimilar
 
I would imagine the deflection would be about the same. I can tell you this. I have a Schon STL 9 w/314-2 and a basic Predator sneaky with the wood joint, no wrap, w/314-2.

After taking a lesson with Scott Lee I was doing the three speed mother drills. I had a hard time dialing back the Schon. I was shooting a high 5 but a steady 3 was tough. I then tried the Predator sneaky and 3's were an easy task. I am now into a six month training program with only the Predator. This sneaky is a third the price of my Schon, but damn I like the feel. (control ?)

So a question, what is hit? If one cue gives you a easy controlling hit. And the other smacks the daylight out of the ball, which is better.

BTW both cues are right at 19 oz. I also tried a 18 oz. Arnot that was a natural 5.
 
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