Pool Cue News and Review

So here’s the deal. Yes, Predator makes a good cue. Yes, Predator shafts reduce deflection. Its been proven. Its a fact. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, the real question is whether or not it actually matters. For the average D Player, getting a Predator cue or adding a 314 shaft to your existing cue isn’t going to do much to improve your handicap. You’ll tell everyone that it made a difference and you’ll convince yourself that you made a great purchase, but the reality is that the average player won’t be able to tell the difference.

So, have I played with a Predator shaft? You know I have. I drank the Kool-Aid a while back, but that shaft didn’t help my game until I learned proper cue ball control. The whole reason the Predator shaft exists is to reduce the amount you have to correct when you shoot with English. Because there is less cueball deflection, the ball will go straighter even when you’re hitting with English.

If you don’t know how to hit with English, don’t bother buying a 314 shaft. Save your money, spend 30 bucks and get yourself a Rempe Training Ball. Then, once you’ve got the basics of English down, if you have a couple hundred bucks burning a hole in your pocket, go get yourself a 314. Personally, I wouldn’t bother with any of the cues from the 5K series. To me, they’re overpriced. I’d much rather get myself a Joss or Schon and put a 314 on it instead of dropping $700+ on something like the Predator 5K5. Once you get your ball control down, I absolutely recommend getting a 314 shaft. You will notice a difference, but not until you really know how to play.

Buy the Predator 314 Shaft

 There are a ton of training tools available to pool players.  Some of them are a complete waste of money, however the Jim Rempe Training Ball is not one of them.  In my opinion, this is the best training tool on the market, especially for those new to the game of pool.  One of the more difficult aspects of the game of pool is learning and controlling English.  The Jim Rempe Training Ball teaches you just that.

The ball is essentially split into two sides.  On each side, the ball is broken into four quadrants.  On the beginner side, the quadrants are basic, as seen in the picture above.  On the advanced side, each quadrant is further broken out with more detail in order to give you enhanced training.   In addition, the ball comes with a 56 page training manual to guide you through the learning process.

The Pros:

Easy to use with a simple learning curve.  Quality ball made by Aramith.  Detailed 56 page training manual that will hold your hand through the learning process.

The Cons:

The book is terse to say  the least.  The writing style is not the most user friendly and can feel like you’re being talked down to.  To get the most use out of it, you really do need a pool table at home.

The Bottom Line:

The best training tool on the market, especially given the price.  Expect to pay anywhere from $20-30 for this tool.  You’ll get your money’s worth and then some.

Where to Buy:

www.pooldawg.com