A couple of years ago someone was auctioning off one of Corey Duel's cues. One that he had been using. It was a 5280 I think. It came with the oringinal shaft and the shaft that he used, a Predator 314. What does that tell you? Look how many pros are getting discounts,but not free shafts are using Predator shafts. Some are getting sponsored by big cue makers, but are still using Predator shafts. This is not hype. There are many great cues and shafts. For some reason many pro gravitate towards Predator. I use one and find less deflection, especially compared to my original shaft with an ivory ferrule. I have also tried and like the feel and control of the ob-1.