Ups & Downs
Ups and downs and ups and downs… Isn’t that what this game is all about? The emotional highs are so high but our emotional lows and make us quit.
Well, I have good news and some not-so-good news to report.
Good News:
Mike & I split the scotch doubles tournament on Friday night. We really had a lot of fun playing together and I think/hope we’re gonna do well in Vegas next year. I’m really looking forward to it. We lost to a worthy team on the final 4 of the winner’s side but came back around to beat them and the team in the driver’s seat wanted to split. It was only a $10 difference and Vegas had been home alone for 8 hours so we said okay.
Bad News:
Didn’t do as hot yesterday at the Six Arrows Grand Casino tournament. Well, as usual it seems, I had moments of greatness where I made absolutely mind-blowing runs but then I would just do something really screwy. Haven’t quite figured it out yet. Don’t feel my stroke is completely under control yet, because I’m still thinking about it at times. I’m not perfectly comfortable with it yet.
Pros about the tournament: It was played on Diamond Smart Tables. They used the BCA tokens and they were only a buck a game (which is pretty rare at this part of town - it’s usually $1.50 per game). The venue was ideal. The tables were set up nicely and well-spaced with plenty of room for walking and seating.
Cons about the tournament: No table lights. The payouts were super top heavy for first and second. There was almost $1,000 swing between second place and third place money. After a player’s meeting to decide what the players wanted, they reshuffled the payout for the masters divisions and didn’t even get new envelopes for the prize money. My friend won the men’s masters and it had $1,370 on the enveloped crossed out and $1,000 written in. Ouch! There were open tables all around us but for whatever reason, it would take up to 45 minutes to schedule the table assignments for each round of matches. So, my supposed to be back-to-back matches on the loser’s side left me waiting over an hour between matches.
I’m not complaining too much though. I still enjoyed the venue and the tournament and will probably go back to another Six Arrows event.
I’m return home on Tuesday after being gone for a month (minus less than a week). It’s nice here but starting to get too cold. I’m really looking forward to being back in Colorado. Mike’s driving out with Vegas after next weekend. I will miss them. It sucks being at my house with Vegas there. I keep expecting him to be right at my feet when I’m working on the couch.
On a side note… Mike has really been encouraging me to switch to a Predator shaft. I told him I would try it out and since I don’t have any major events coming up for a while, I guess now is the time.
What sort of shaft do you shoot with? What are your thoughts on the Predator shaft? I’d like to hear more from some other players about this.
He’s promised that I can take out all my anger and frustration towards him though as I go through this adjustment period with the new shaft. We’ll see what happens.
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Comments
Samm - I won a meucci 9721 with the red dot shaft on an auction, and loved it. Then I bought a Meucci MTC-25 with the black dot shaft, but it took them over 4 months to make the cue. In the mean time, I with a predator, and wouldn’t you know it, when I got the Meucci Black Dot shafts I absolutely HATED them, but LOVED the predator I’d been using so much that I bought the shaft from the owner - used - for $125. I love the predators that much. Just so solid. As for the Meucci shafts, they seem to ‘jiggle’, or ‘flex’ WAY too much, regardless of what their website says about their’s having the least deflection. I use the plain Jane, regular predator shaft in 13mm. The Predator ‘Z’ is a bit thinner, closer to and maybe just a hair above or below 12mm, but I don’t like all the ‘zip’ the thinner shaft seems to impart to the cue ball. Me thinks Predator has a new shaft out, too; Mike would know, for sure, and I agree that I think you’ll LOVE using a predator, know matter which model you choose. Definitely a SOLID hit. Just my 2C. L8r Gator - Kyril
P.S. Didja ever bump in2 Kirk or Jesse? He-he 
I have 2 Predator Z2 shafts (11.75mm) which I now use instead of my 2 Predator 314 shafts (12.75mm). The stories they give at http://predatorcues.com are very convincing. I still need to fix my stroke and hit along the center axis more accurately to avoid deflection, but the deflection is less when I goof up. The smaller diameter helps me shoot over a ball/rail without miscuing. I use a cheap Predator Sneaky Pete butt with the Z2.
Also consider the Predator BK2 or Stinger for breaking.
I just got the Predator Air Jump Cue and I’ve heard mixed reviews about it, but it jumps fine for me. It looks REAL pretty (unlike my cheap Bunjee). The main joint could be higher quality.
Low deflection shafts are definitely superior. However, is annoying when you pick up a normal cue and you have to can’t make a shot with english =]
Samm,
I have a custom cue with two shafts (one predator,~12mm) which should fit on your CB if you want to try it out. I also have a predator shaft that fits the standard meucci size pin (in case you have a butt that fits that.) I am off from the hospital wed thru mon and will be playing at either TS west or south. Trying to get in stroke for DCC. If interested, let me know and I will bring them along. I have been playing with my sneaky petes, so I usually don’t bring the nice cue along. I hate leaving it in my car with this cold weather, plus I don’t want to bring it to kentucky, so trying to get use to the others for the tourney. As far as preference, as long as it has a good tip, I wouldn’t know the difference between a broom handle and a tim scruggs. But, the little panther is COOL!!! 
‘jiggle’, or ‘flex’ on shaft doesn’t have anything to do with deflection. You can read about deflection and squirt from various web pages.
Predator.
Period.
Ok, here’s more: I tried the Z shaft first, then moved to cut down 314 shafts, then settled on the full-diameter 314 shaft, then moved to the 314 series 2 at 30″ size. (you short people may want that extra inch
Predator is a quality product.
Consistent hits = consistent results.
Go for it.
Hugs ‘n stuff,
Mikie
I have always thought that people with predator or meucci cues are fanatic. They don’t consider anything else (and they haven’t usually tested anything else). Just a side note, no need to take in to the discussion.
I shoot with OB-1. I really do like it. I had Universal smart shaft before that, and before USS I had bear BC-01 shaft. OB-1 is a pretty “loose” shaft compared to predator shafts but I like the feel of the shaft. You really feel the shots you make. Little vibration after the shot is the thing for me. It’s not as loose as meucci shafts are. It’s between predator and meucci.