Z Shaft ?? Is it Good

steveL75121

steveL75121

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi,

I just ordered the uni-lock Z shaft and would like to hear some opinions?
I ordered the 30 inch also not the 29 inch standard.


Thanks,
Steve
 
I mentioned this in another post, but I wonder how often people with predator products need to replace their light ferrule.
 
steveL75121 said:
Hi,

I just ordered the uni-lock Z shaft and would like to hear some opinions?
I ordered the 30 inch also not the 29 inch standard.


Thanks,
Steve
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I tried it out the moment it became available to the general public and found it to be a solid shaft that plays much like the 314. If you like the 314, you should like the Z-shaft. Have fun.
 
I have two and I love them both with the same amount of love even though one has a black ring around it and is a second. All snookers players should play with one imo.
 
masonh said:
way too skinny for nine ball.
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depends on how good your stroke is, many snooker players play 9 ball with a 8mm tip pretty well. The z shaft is huge by comparison. To me the 314 is like playing with a dinner plate! I think it depends on your background and ability?
 
Let me rephrase if you are used to 12.75 or 13mm you will think the Z is way too skinny.I doubt there are any champion players using them b/c of the shaft diameter and I am sure sure there are no champion players using an 8mm shaft.
 
masonh said:
Let me rephrase if you are used to 12.75 or 13mm you will think the Z is way too skinny.I doubt there are any champion players using them b/c of the shaft diameter and I am sure sure there are no champion players using an 8mm shaft.
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It really depends what kind of champions you are talking about here. I think you misunderstand, the 8mm tips are for snooker players, and some champions even file it down to 7mm. I don't believe any top pros use the 11.75mm Z shaft, but some pros definitely use the 12.75mm 314s, just log on to the predator website to take a look.

Choosing the Z is kinda like jumping into open water, it's not that popular a shaft and only if you are used to, or like / prefer that kind taper, will you then continue on with it. If you have been a 13mm player all your life, it might be a bit of a gamble. It will also take a steady hand cos your tip is smaller.

I have the Z and I love it, but I also started by playing snooker for 5 years, then switched to pool in the last 2 years.
 
Johl younger used his snooker cue in all of these events I believe, not too shabby :-)

http://www.azbilliards.com/thepros/2000showplayer2005.cfm?playernum=1150

Like I said for players coming from a snooker background the tip size and taper will be the best you can find in the "pool cue world". However I along with several other players who come from a snooker background though that even the z shaft is still too big when playing on super tight pcokets. I played better in the Reno event last year playing with my 9mm snoker tip than I did this year playing with a z shaft. I am still trying to get used to how "big" the tip is and the lack of accuracy compard to using a snooker cue. But I think it as a happy medium as it is easy to get unwanted side using a snooker tip. The only other thing I would say is that the lack of deflection is a huge drawback for snooker players, I am still missing shots because of it. I have always been used to swingning the cb to pot balls and this doesnt really happen much with a z shaft, hard to change a lifetimes habbit!
 
Good Discussion.

I grew up on a snooker table and don't think 11.75 is that skinny at all. 8 or 9 mm is better. One of the best 'pool' players from the hometown played with a 9 mm cue tip. Moved the ball like it was on a string.
 
Even Steve Davis has changed

I found it interesting that Steve Davis finally moved to a US-style Pool cue (At least that was what I saw him using at the Mosconi Cup in 2003) From a distance it looked like it must have been at least a 11mm tip if not larger and a maple shaft instead of ash. Still it had no wrap thought and even had butterfly splices in the butt so I guess it was not quite a standard Pool cue!

I also grew up playing Snooker and when I moved out to California started learning American Pool. My first Pool cue had a 12mm tip (Although I actually thought I had ordered a 13mm) and it felt just enormous and weird at first. After a year of playing I went back to my 8.5mm Snooker cue for a week and it was like shooting with a railroad spike. I could still shoot OK with it but was inclined to mis-cue a lot trying to get the same kind of side and spin action. I feel this is because of the size and weight difference of US Pool balls compared to Snooker balls that makes a larger tip feel more secure and less likely to mis-cue.
 
deadstroke7 said:
Good Discussion.

I grew up on a snooker table and don't think 11.75 is that skinny at all. 8 or 9 mm is better. One of the best 'pool' players from the hometown played with a 9 mm cue tip. Moved the ball like it was on a string.
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Wow, I've heard of some tough luck stories, but growing up on a snooker table?

Did your parents at least take you for a walk once in a while?
 
I've been using the Predator Z shaft (11.75mm) for about 18 months and really like the lack of deflection, but I feel the shaft is a shade too skinny so my plan is to get a 314 shaft (12.75mm) and have it shaved down to about 12.25 mm, as a compromise between the two.
 
masonh said:
I doubt there are any champion players using them b/c of the shaft diameter and I am sure sure there are no champion players using an 8mm shaft.
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There most certainly are champion players using very small diameter shafts.

Fastmikie, The ferrule of a 314 shaft is paper thin. In my opinion, there is no room to turn the shaft down.
 
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Hal said:
There most certainly are champion players using very small diameter shafts.

Fastmikie, The ferrule of a 314 shaft is paper thin. In my opinion, there is no room to turn the shaft down.
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a LOT of people I know have done 12.5 without a problem. mine is 12.5 and it's fine.
 
PoolBum said:
Wow, I've heard of some tough luck stories, but growing up on a snooker table?
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LOL! But I didn't resent being locked in the cellar all the time, the problem was when they threw the scraps down the rats had the advantage of greater numbers ;-)

Vote Calvin and Hobbes for President in 2008!
 
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