Thunderbolt VS. 314 Shaft

[sonnic]

I have a VM34 good cue just wish i had a little more. I was thinking of upgrading to something else and/or possibly get a new shaft for my viking. I haven't heard too many good things about cuetec other than they have spend boat loads of money on sponsoring proffessionals to pedal there cue's.

Is Thunderbolt equivalent to the 314 does it make any difference anyway? Put yourself in my place, I could go out and get a new good looking cuetec with a thunderbolt shaft or i can buy a 314 and put it on my rather plain looking viking. Even though design isn't the most important factor in winning i still would like to have a great looking cue. that being said QUALITY is of the highest importance. thanks for your opinions.

Thanks again,
Sonnic

[dags_lax]

The Cuetec designs are not inlays and most shooters will realize this and know that you are shooting with an inexpensive cue. If you have experience with the 314 shaft and you do like it I would say go with that shaft on your plain Viking. I am not overly impressed with the quality of Cuetec although I know some good shooters that use them.

If I were your opponent my first impression would be to take you a little more seriously with a Viking/314 combo than with a Cuetec. The equipment that you use can project an image about you approach the game. For example, a young guy with a very expensive cue, well that tells me he has money to spend on the game. When an older gentleman walks into the room and take out a worn, 20 year old Huebler or Schon that says to me that this is someone to be taken seriously. Of course initial impressions are just that, initial impressions. The game still needs to be played.

[DZ314]

That is right, because the young guy with the expensive cue could be the one who should be taken seriously, especially after he has taken your money!

[parrothead]

I would have to agree with Dags, chances are the old guy is the one to fear and the young guy would be paying for my drinks for the next few days. :D

[Tanar]

You'd be amazed at the young players as we have two world ranked players in our area and they are 17 and 18 years old. You just never can tell.

[skor]

If any of you got the chance to see a real hustler in action then you would know that he will kick your ass with a house cue, no old schon or new samsara for that matter, if somebody wants your money or just to have a few drinks on you you will not see any fancy leather case in his hand either, and although the big hustlers days are over, there's a few of them still working they way around the local pool halls

[dags_lax]

No you can't always tell. This old fart has been whooped by those young whippersnappers more than once. What is this world coming to? You think they could show some respect to their elders but nooo! They just love to pick on an old man with a bad heart & back. If I were their age I would show them a thing or two.

Just kidding, If I were their age I would be out chasing the girls.

[Tanar]

I couldn't agree more, Dags. I got a chance to play with one of the guys in a blind 3 man tournament and surprisingly, just talking to him about the game improved my mental game. The thing that helped me most was that he told me, when the other guy is up at the table, there is nothing you can do but wait for your turn. So you might as well sit back and relax until you get your chance. I used to become all tense trying to do some Jedi mind trick to make the guy miss or scratch.

As most of us on here, I may never be a world class player, but I damn sure intend to try!!! :lol: :lol:

[dags_lax]

For me it's not the Jedi Mind Trick but rather the old Booga Booga. Unfortunatley the old Booga Booga probably doesn't work any better than the Jedi Mind Trick.

When I shoot pool I have three things to overcome. The table, myself, and my opponent. The least of my concerns is my opponent. The only thing I can control is what happens when I am at the table. I will respect the table most of all. I (usually) know when to pull up and play safe and when to go for the out. This relates to my ability. I need to play smart and understand my abilities and more so my limitations. This is what I mean by overcoming myself. As for overcoming my opponent occasionally I will get a little more aggressive with a stronger opponent but not always. I still need to play within my abilities but sometimes a so so safety that will work against a weaker player just doesn't pan out against a more skillful shooter. I've had the table turned on too many times when my opponent makes a great kick or pulls out a fantastic jump shot.

I guess the point that I am trying to make is that 60% of my game is played against the table, 25% is dictated by my abilities (or more so, lack of) and 15% out of respect for the player I am shooting against. As I am fond of saying: “There is not a player alive that I can’t beat in a race to one!” Whether I do it or not is another story.

[Cardinal_Syn]

Is Thunderbolt equivalent to the 314 does it make any difference anyway? Put yourself in my place, I could go out and get a new good looking cuetec with a thunderbolt shaft or i can buy a 314 and put it on my rather plain looking viking. Even though design isn't the most important factor in winning i still would like to have a great looking cue. that being said QUALITY is of the highest importance. thanks for your opinions.

Thanks again,
Sonnic
Since when did cuetec have a nice design :D
I like the hit on the 314 shaft although for some reason it made but cue butt butt heavy. I myself don't like the hit on a viking. But IMO the viking looks better than the cuetec even if it was just plain.

[FuzzyMemory]

The Thunderbolt shaft is very good. A good friend of mine has a large collection (100s of cues) and used the Thunderbolt with much success over the past year. After playing with my Predator 314 for 10 minutes, he ordered one and loves it. He says the Predator 314 is the best hit he has found in over 50 years of playing pool. I know many who use the 314, and don't know any personally who don't like it. It's not a traditional hit, but neither is the Thunderbolt.
As the others have stated, a good cue will only get you so far - the better player usually wins.

Nicely put Fuzzy.

[BeanDiesel]

i have a thunderbolt. i think it's just ok. but i dont like the hit. i dont think it's as solid as i want it. it's not stiff enough for me too. i dont like the quality. my thunderbolt shaft warped already. come on, even my friend's $25 cue is straighter.
since i got my z shaft, i dont play with my thunderbolt anymore. i changed the tip to a phenolic. it's ok. but, lately, it seems like something is wrong with the joints. if i tap the cue, i can hear some weird noise. i donno how good a 314 is. i havent tried one yet. but since i like my predator, i think u should go for 314.

[BeanDiesel]

"For example, a young guy with a very expensive cue, well that tells me he has money to spend on the game."

or maybe he's so commited to the sport.

[audiopro]

I have kinda an expensive cue.. But I am also a very old guy.. Wonder what that means??? :)

[skor]

trying to gain youth, like when a 40 years old is buying a porsche...

j/k :)

[MBelknap]

i have a thunderbolt. i think it's just ok. but i dont like the hit. i dont think it's as solid as i want it. it's not stiff enough for me too. i dont like the quality. my thunderbolt shaft warped already. come on, even my friend's $25 cue is straighter.
since i got my z shaft, i dont play with my thunderbolt anymore. i changed the tip to a phenolic. it's ok. but, lately, it seems like something is wrong with the joints. if i tap the cue, i can hear some weird noise. i donno how good a 314 is. i havent tried one yet. but since i like my predator, i think u should go for 314.

Yeah I don't care for the Tunderbolt much either and I myself own one. I just don't care for Cuetec much in general after owning one. I hate the way the shaft hangs in my bridge (yes, I do clean the thing religously, but isn't having to keep a cloth in your pocket to wipe down after every shot a little excessive?) so I've had to get a glove. I know a lot of players like gloves but it takes away the "one-on-one" feeling of the cue. To that extent, I am looking into getting a Viking which I like very much. The 314 I'm sceptical of for the simple fact that it's hollow near the ferral. I'm looking into other options such as a laminate or a custom loaded shaft from Showcase Billiards.

any suggestions?

[DZ314]

Maybe look at the new McDermott Intimidator shafts. http://www.seyberts.com/cues/mcdermott_cues/mcdermott_shafts/index.htm

[MBelknap]

Nice options and all but isn't that basically a hard rock maple shaft, different diameters, with different tips? Is it even a wood shaft? The thing I want to stay away from very much so is the CueTec feel. That does nothing but break down and stick in my (closed) bridge. I hate this damn thing...

[ThePoolHustler]

If any of you got the chance to see a real hustler in action then you would know that he will kick your ass with a house cue, no old schon or new samsara for that matter, if somebody wants your money or just to have a few drinks on you you will not see any fancy leather case in his hand either, and although the big hustlers days are over, there's a few of them still working they way around the local pool halls

This is exactly right Skor.

Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't ever underestimate your opponent.

[MBelknap]

Truer words were never spoken, but it's not the oppenent I'm judging. I haven't played to win for a while, I play to better myself and the winning just falls in line behind it. What I'm judging is my bank accounts ability to absorb a 300.00 shaft plus cue and I may not even get the chance to test-drive either before I get them... that's my only concern.

[LWW]

Predator offers a 30 day return...but you won't want to.

LWW

[ThePoolHustler]

I just ordered a very plain looking Viking (F97) and made some custom modifications to it. I also added a 314 shaft for it. I think this is going to be a very good combination.

Here are the modifications I made to the Viking F97:

Weight: 20oz - I like heavier cues.
Wrap: #5 Solid Black
Stain: #5 Maroon
Joint: #1 - I want a nice firm hit. I will also be using the 314 shaft.

As for the 314 shaft, I am having a Talisman M tip put on it.

I did not want to spend more money just to have inlays, points, rings, etc. I just wanted something more basic this time around. At this point, performance is more important than looks to me. I think I got a really nice cue/package at a good price.

Anyway, I would recommend getting the 314 shaft for your plain Viking cue.

[skor]

Good luck with your new cue :)

Post some pictures of it once you get it

[ThePoolHustler]

Good luck with your new cue :)

Post some pictures of it once you get it

Thanks Skor!

I will definitely try to post some pictures up on my Web site and put a link to it on here. It will probably be 2-6 weeks before I get it since I customized it.

I just finished reconditioning my uni-loc 314 shaft for my Lucasi. I gave it a good light sanding to smooth everything back out. After that, I cleaned it up and put three coats of UV polyurethane on it. It already had a coating on it (most likely urethane), but that came off when I did my sanding. Once this urethane dries (24 hours from now), I will lightly smooth it out with some really fine steel wool or cue papers. After that, I will put a nice coat of wax on it to make it nice and slippery...hehehe. Of course, I already replaced the LePro tip with a Talisman M tip a couple of weeks ago. Overall, it turned out really good considering I didn't have any tip replacement tools to do the work. My "eye" for detail is really good. If you saw it, you'd think I used tip replacement tools.

[DZ314]

I have seen some hustlers in action and none of them used anything but a house cue.

[LWW]

Ain't that the truth.

LWW

[DZ314]

Most people are not fooled by skeaky petes anymore, so if you truly want to have your best chance at hooking that game then just use a house cue.

[monster]

i have shot with alot of cues and i do know a couple of guys whos predator 314 has warped so i dont think that the thunderbolt is all that bad i like the 314 but i also like the thunder bolt. i just prefer the 13. mm as oppsed to 12.75 mm 314. i dont have anything bad to say about neither shaft. its just a matter of preference.allison fisher uses a cuetec need i say more.
:) [/quote]

[DEATHTRON]

So im assuming youre on the same level as Allison Fischer?........She makes any cue she plays with.....even a cutec.

Zach

[ra[g]e]

i do know a couple of guys whos predator 314 has warped
Wow this is the first I've heard of 314s warping...

[DEATHTRON]

Not me...then again, Ive heard of ALOT of shafts being warped....something about weather conditions and wood....I dont know....

Zach

[nathar]

Not to mention how people care for their cues. I can't count the people I know that leave their cues in their cars year round. And then they wonder why they have to buy a new cue or shaft every year. :roll: