MAKE PROGRESS FASTER WITH LOW CUE BALL DEFLECTION
Winning games and playing at a high level requires the ability to control where the cue ball goes, setting yourself up in a good position to make a series of shots and run out the rack. Getting a good position, or “shape” in pool terms, often requires applying English (side spin) to control where the cue ball is going. Most shots are missed when English is used because the cue ball doesn’t go where it’s aimed. Instead, it’s pushed to the opposite side of where the cue tip hit it, a phenomenon known as cue ball deflection or squirt. The typical player takes years to learn to compensate for this error factor.
The amount of cue ball deflection depends on the cue used, tip placement, and the speed of the stroke. The farther the strike from center, the more the cue ball is deflected off-line. Cue ball deflection will also increase with a faster stroke.
Lower-deflecting pool cues require less compensation, making the game easier to play. Predator first pioneered low-deflection cue shafts with spliced maple over 25 years ago. Recently, they evolved the process with REVO carbon fiber shafts. Predator cue shafts are designed to reduce cue ball deflection and are the lowest-deflecting shafts on the market. They significantly increase your chances of making your shot when you use English.
Put simply, a low-deflection shaft is more accurate and will help you progress faster.
Adjusting to Predator Low-Deflection Shafts
With Predator’s minimal deflection, you don’t have to adjust for English as you would with a conventional pool cue. The less you have to adjust your aim, the better the chance of making the ball.
If you are an intermediate or beginner and haven't learned to compensate for cue ball deflection yet, you will make progress almost instantly.
For those accustomed to standard wood shafts, Predator shafts deflect significantly less, and you do not have to adjust your aim as much. For example, if you were used to aiming an inch to the right of your object ball target with your previous shaft, you may only need to aim a half inch to the right with a Predator low-deflection shaft.
Mastering the Art of Spin with a Predator Shaft
The key to playing with a Predator shaft is experimenting with different hitting speeds. With either the REVO carbon fiber shafts or the 314-3 or Z-3 wood shafts, you’re going to feel and see a difference in how the cue ball and object balls react.
Test How Deflection Works with these Drills
To practice deflection, use the illustrations below to set up your shot. Each depicts the aiming point and the paths the object ball will take with a Z-3 shaft, a 314-3 shaft, and a conventional shaft. Note, the Desired Cue Ball Path shown is approximate and will vary slightly depending on the shaft you’re playing with.
As you improve, practice these shots with different distances between the cue ball and the object ball. Once you reach a five- to six-foot range, you will need to make an adjustment and aim the object ball closer to the rail at the point of the pocket.
Deflection Drill 1: Aim high left on the cue ball for left English and right deflection.
Deflection Drill 2: Aim high right on the cue ball for right English and left deflection.
Repeat with the opposite English: Do the same drills with the opposite English to get familiar with adjusting for inside and outside English and see how much you have to adjust.
With these drills, you will quickly learn how little you have to compensate with your Predator product. You will soon realize how Predator will take your game to the next level.
ABOUT PIVOT POINTS
With any shaft, there is an optimal spot called the pivot point where you need to bridge to maximize your accuracy. In simple terms, if you bridge at the correct pivot point for your shaft and your initial setup alignment is on target, you can hit the cue ball off-center and still hit the 1-ball dead center.
At that bridge length, the deflection, or squirt, produced by the shaft will compensate for a stroke that deviated from its original setup or alignment.
Our Revo playing shafts have a pivot point that is around 19", allowing accuracy with a long bridge.
The optimal pivot point on the break is the bridge length that allows you to maximize your speed and gain maximum forgiveness at the same time.
The BK-Rush’s pivot point is around 19″ from the tip end.
The BK3’s pivot point has been tuned between 13″ and 14″ from the tip end.
Most strong breakers use a long bridge because it allows them greater acceleration and more powerful breaks. Most break cues have pivot points between 9″ and 11″ and require an extremely accurate stroke when using a longer bridge to generate speed. With pivot points longer than most other break cues, Predator Break cues give you greater speed, increased accuracy, and a more powerful break.
SHAPING YOUR TIP
Predator research has shown that a dime radius (or the shape of a dime) will produce five to 10 percent less cue ball deflection than the more commonly used nickel shape. Cue ball deflection is reduced because the dime radius centralizes the hit to the center, or strong part, of the shaft.
