Pool Cue News and Review

Dammit! Well, I might have to go to the stupid Super Billiards Expo after all. It seems that Predator has signed up ultra-hottie Shanelle Loraine to be their player rep for their line of Poison Cues and she’ll be at the expo. Apparently those guys at Predator are pretty smart after all. I’m guessing that Charlie Williams had something to do with the sponsorship since Shanelle hasn’t really done all that much in the way of winning championships, but who cares!Personally, I think the Poison cues are pretty stupid. Why would I pay Predator prices for a cue that doesn’t have a 314 shaft on it? The “Double D” technology doesn’t sound like much and their Sarin tip is nothing new either, as it was done first by 5280 with their Red Line Tip.

When you hit the expo to ogle Shanelle, make sure you take a whiff of one of those Poison cues with the funky wrap. They smell like an impossible combination of rubber and ass. Oh, and leave a comment if you try one out. I haven’t had a chance to play with one yet, but I doubt its anything special. After all, if they were Predator quality, why wouldn’t the company slap a Slazenger …err… Predator logo on it?

The Elite “Heavy” Break Cue

It seems to be a matter of great contention when the discussion comes up about whether or not you should be breaking with a heavy cue. Some people feel that the extra weight means extra power, but the reality is that it depends on both the weight of the cue and the speed you’re hitting the cue ball with your breaker.

For those of you that feel like you really “need” a heavy cue, there is now a ridiculously heavy break cue from Elite. The one I tried out weighed in at a little more than 28oz. Honestly, it felt a bit silly hitting with this break cue, but it did seem like my break was quite a bit stronger with this cue than with my normal break cue. I then watched a couple of my buddies break with it and one ended up flying the cue ball off the table.

For me, I’m quite happy with my Predator BK2, however if you feel like you need to pack a little something extra, you might as well give the Elite breaker a try. You won’t have much control over your break, but you’re bound to hit the crap out of the ball.

Elite “Heavy” Break Cue at PoolDawg

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

In the continuing saga of Ronnie Alcano, a Quezon City judge has ordered disgraced billiards champ Alcano to stay at least 1,000 meters (1 kilometer) away from his daughter at all times. In addition, it has come to light that Alcano was issued a temporary restraining order on March 27th, barring him from any form of communication with his daughter. The full article can be found here.

Elsewhere, in a move that is simply beyond comprehension, Predator Cues has splashed Alcano on the front page of their website, congratulating Alcano on winning the recent 9 Ball World Championships. Why a quality company like Predator would want to associate with a man accused of sexually abusing his daughter is beyond me, but I guess in the eyes of Predator, a champ is a champ, regardless of what he does away from the table.