​3 Reasons To Consider Buying a Predator Cue

In a world dominated by questionable marketing messages and unadulterated hype, it's hard to know exactly who and what to believe anymore. But when the claims come out of a passion for excellence and are backed by science and undeniable results, you know you're on solid ground.

That's why we at FCI Billiards think you'll agree that Predator just may be your best choice.

A Passion for Excellence

Jacksonville, Florida's, Predator Cues is a center of innovation where the founders display a marked passion for excellence and all things pool-cue related. Just ask co-founder Allan McCarty about the moisture-holding properties of various kinds of wood and the nuances of wood coloration, and you'll see.

"When he talks about soil acidity and maple trees, Allan McCarty sounds more like a botanist than a pool-cue guru. 'Michigan has sandy soil, and when it rains it doesn't hold the moisture.'" According to McCarty, then, "Michigan hard maple never becomes too waterlogged, so the wood retains a whitish hue rather than turning a mushy gray" (TheNew York Times, "The Z Factor in the Pool Hall," Brendan L.Koerner, 2005).

And that's exactly why Predator uses only "unblemished Michigan maple" for the Z-3 Shafts and 314 Shafts. They employ a unique bonding of pie-shaped wedges and a specified grain directionality to achieve reduced end mass and mitigated cue-ball deflection.

But that was then. Now it's all about the carbon-fiber revolution.

It took almost a decade of unflagging research and striving after excellence, but the founders of Predator finally did it. They brought the future of cue sports into the present with the carbon-fiber REVO shafts.

The Science

It all began in the early 1990s when Predator, partnering with the Engineering Department at the University of North Florida, set out to solve the problem of cue-ball deflection. With the help of a 70-pound pool-playing robot called "Iron Willie," they finally discovered the exact amount of shaft-end taper that would "virtually eliminate cue-ball deflection without making the shaft susceptible to fracturing" (TheNew York Times, "The Z Factor in the Pool Hall," Brendan L.Koerner, 2005).

Today, at their Boston R&D facility, Predator continues to improve their game as well. In their own words, "Predator REVO shafts stand at the apex of accuracy and performance." It all revolves around "a composite carbon fiber build and ferrule-less construction," which allows for an ever smooth shaft that will never warp. But there's more to it than that.

These shafts, owing to advances in carbon-fiber technology and recent developments in construction techniques, have moved beyond the standard woven-fiber construction. Utilizing "new aerospace grade carbon fiber tow construction methods" and incorporating "new fiber placement theories," Predator has been able to implement a revolutionary design approach. This new approach allows them to "tune the shaft by orienting the carbon fiber tow in the directions most suitable for a particular location in the shaft."

When asked about his switch to the REVO shaft tour Pro Darren Appleton said this: “Swapping from 314-2 to REVO was a mental challenge because of the difference in material and color, but once I made the adjustment, the benefits of playing with REVO massively outweigh playing with a wood shaft. It’s so accurate, reliable and powerful, and coupled with the durability, playing with REVO is a no brainer. That is what we all look for - something we can trust because we know it is going to deliver.”

The Results

The results are, well, little short of amazing really . . .

• More than 200,000 players worldwide use Predator products.
• Over 90% of Predator users have said that playing with Predator cues improved their game.
• Over 60% of top-ranking pros use Predator cues.

Although things have now moved beyond the Z and 314 Shafts, the conclusion of Koerner's NYT article pretty well says it all about Predator cues: "[I]f a pool-hall habitué ever challenges you to a money game, and you notice a 'Predator logo' embossed on his cue, run away as fast as you can."

Wouldn't you want to use a cue that has its origins in excellence and research-backed innovations – one that has also proven itself in the trenches? If you really want to improve your game, then, check out our full line of Predator cues. And feel free to give us a call at (800) 666-9190 or just fill out the easy online form.