Turning a Thunderbolt into a Break Cue

[Diesel]

I have a thunderbolt that I've been using for 6 months. As my game gets better, I'm thinking of getting a predator. I'm planning on turning this cue into a break cue.
Since it has an extension, i think i want to use it for stretched shots as well. So i plan on putting on a hard tip, but not a phenolic.

What do you guys think? Should I change the ferrule as well? What kind of tip would you guys suggest me to use on it?


Thanks.

[DZ314]

Talisman WB Hard.

I play and break with the my Thunderbolt!!! There is not need to do anything to it. The Thunderbolts break very well as is, I don't think that changing to a harder tip will do much for you. Save your money and change it when the tips has lived out its life span.

I perfer the Thunderbolt to the predator P2's. The Thunderbolt gives me must more feedback and control over the CB.

If I were you I would get a hard talisman pro tip for breaking and playing with the thunderbolt. The thunderbolt is a very good cue with a very stiff shaft IMO. Don't buy into the hype of predator cues. I have try over 10 different predators from the people in my PH and I have yet to find one that gives me the good feedback that thunderbolt has.

Predator = over priced Hype!

just my 2 cents....

[sonnic]

everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think you are at least partly right about predator being overpriced. Do they really have something none of the other billiard companies don't? I find it unlikely. Although i like the spliced shaft idea don't get me wrong... I just dont think it will improve your game to any signifigance. and you all have to admit 200+ for a shaft??????? gezzz (although i must say i do own one too) I would like to know who are mystery guest is???

[audiopro]

Yeah, someone sick those pesky kids and that silly dog after him to take off his mask!!

Go get'em Scooby!!!!

[skor]

Having a few shots here and there with the predator shaft is not enough to understand the predator shaft, It took me over a month to control it and just when I thought I new it all, a freind who was a pro showed me stuff that amazed me, shots and cue ball movment and control that are impossible with a regular shaft.
when you take a cue that revolutionized pool cues you can not use it the way you use any other cue and say if it's any good after a few shots

[Diesel]

yeah, i agree that predator is quite overpriced.

talking about hype, i got my thunderbolt because of the publicity too. but i got what i paid for. i've had some good memories with this cue. I improved a lot since i first got it. I went to my first tournament with this cue. But I just dont feel like it's the right cue for me. I dont really like the hit. I need more consistance. Yes, a cue can't make you more consistant. But I believe it's your mental relationship with your cue that does it.
one more thing, IMO a thunderbolt shaft isn't that stiff.

I think, if predator is an overpriced hype, then cuetec is a low priced hype. they both might make the same kind of profit.

[Diesel]

Having a few shots here and there with the predator shaft is not enough to understand the predator shaft, It took me over a month to control it and just when I thought I new it all, a freind who was a pro showed me stuff that amazed me, shots and cue ball movment and control that are impossible with a regular shaft.
when you take a cue that revolutionized pool cues you can not use it the way you use any other cue and say if it's any good after a few shots


show me the shot.

[skor]

here is one (out of many)
1. place the CB on the head spot
2. place an OB frozen to the long rail, one diamond from one of the far corner pocket.
3. make the OB in the corner pocket and make the CB hit the foot rail anywhere between half a diamond to one diamond from the same pocket that you got the OB in.

this is a very hard shot, even with the 314 shaft but it is impossible to do with any other shaft. this shot (or a similar shot) can come up a lot in a game, hitting the rail with the CB as described for shape can win the game or leaving yourself with a hard shot or no shot at all.

tip: stroke the ball, don't hit it, this shot require a lot of running english and a very good follow through.
it will take some practice to be able to make this shot

[skor]

BTW it is impossible to make that shot on a 7ft. table, try it on a 9ball table, you will also need heavy balls like brunswick centennial or Aramith Super Pro.

[sonnic]

I dont really get it... is it an extreme cut shot?

[audiopro]

If it is what I am thinking it is. Then indeed he is describing an extreme cut shot.

If the shot is what I believe you are describing Skor, it is not immpossible with a regular shaft.. But you definitely have to make some hella accurate adjustments for compensating for the english used to spin the cue off the rail towards the ob to pocket it. Difficult, but I have seen it done and done it myself... I love extreme cut shots though....

[skor]

this not an extreme cut shot, the cue ball is on the spot on the string that you break from, the OB is down the table frozen to the side rail, one diamond from the corner pocket, this is a long shot, if you hit it with no english the cue ball will hit the top rail closer to the opposite pocket, the trick is to hit it around the first diamond on the top rail.
sorry if it's too much, but it is very hard to explain a shot without being able to draw it :)

[audiopro]

Draw it?? Just hit the bottom of the CB... :twisted:

Kidding.. Open up PhotoShop and start drawing. Cause I am curious now.. lol

[skor]

here you go
http://picserver.org/view_image.php/21J18759SW11

[audiopro]

Wow Skor, not bad at all...

I promise to try this when I get home... But I'm willing to bet it's not impossible.. However I have been wrong before, will know for sure in about 10 hours from now... :)

Very nice drawing by the way....

[skor]

thanx,
this shot should be made with a lot of top-left and a lot of follow-through, with a regular shaft it is impossible to control the deflection and the added throw due to the distance and spin, you will also need heavy balls so the cue ball will stay longer on the side rail and not bounce of the rail fast as light balls do.
good luck
even if you won't make it, at least you got a good practice on stroke.
BTW you can try it from the second diamond ( along the string) and work your way to the center of the string ( the spot )

[CJK]

Funny, I never really thought about this shot, but I've done it (or at least very, very close to it) in league many times using my Predator (on a bar box, to boot) because it does make it possible to get shape on shots on the short rail, or, if hit a little more firm, to come up that long rail.

As for the "overpriced hype" comment, I don't think it's overpriced at all. I paid around $400 for a 3K-1, and to have the same cue made for me locally would have cost me at least $300, and probably closer to $350 (with a standard shaft). I'll pay the extra for the warranty and shaft.

[Diesel]

skor, why dont you use this tool to sketch your shots in the future, it's quite useful

http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/~wei/pool/pooltable2.html

[skor]

thanx, very nice tool :)

[audiopro]

Skor... Buddy.. Just got home and gave it a try...

After a couple tries I got it.. And I just picked up one of my el cheapo house cues, didn't feel like putting something else together..

But anyways, I hit the rail a good bit before the OB, with lots of left on the CB, and I took darn close the path you outlined, on about the third shot..

[skor]

do it again, this time hit the ball first :)

[audiopro]

Actually I did it again a few more times, probably like 20 times..

I played with different methods and different positioning. I did go with hitting the ball a couple times too, and after adjusting it can definitely be done.

I will say though you have to stroke smoothly, and you have to know how to compensate and apply a small amount of masse to the ball. Not one of the stroke down on the CB and curve around the table masse shots, but a bit of curve does help. At least I was able to make this method work.

[skor]

well, very nice, it shows that you have a very good stroke.
shooting this with a predator, all you have to do is keep the cue parallel to the line of the shot and stroke the ball with top left, no masse, no curves and no need to compensate - making the shot a lot more easy

[skor]

remember that shot, it will be very handy, just think while playing 9ball, the OB is the 7ball and on that point on the top rail the 8 and the 9 are frozen with an angle, you have to make the 7 and break the 8,9 cluster - a sure win, while missing that point will leave you with no shot and after hitting the 8 and breaking the cluster you will lose

[audiopro]

Yeah, it would absolutely be easier if you didn't have to compensate for so many things. It is a great shot that I would have never remotely thought to try. But definitely a good one to have in the arsenal.

Skor, what is your APA SL anyway?

As for the "overpriced hype" comment, I don't think it's overpriced at all. I paid around $400 for a 3K-1, and to have the same cue made for me locally would have cost me at least $300, and probably closer to $350 (with a standard shaft). I'll pay the extra for the warranty and shaft.


CJK....
What makes you think the a custom cue won't play better then your 3k1 within the same price range? A lot of custom cue makers only use one standard shaft, which plays a hell of a lot better then a 3K1.

All I'm saying is that a good custom cue maker will be able to make you a good cue that is design for your playing style and needs for your budget. Must custome cue makers will give a very good warranty and sometimes for the lifetime of the cue.

[audiopro]

Guest, That point is debatable. Few custom cue makers have the resources to invest as much R&D in shaft design as a company like Predator does.

[dags_lax]

Southwest. Josswest. Cognoscenti. Runde. I don't imagine these cue makers spend a lot of money on R&D but many would say that these cues are among the finest playing cues in the world.

[skor]

Mr. guest,
a lot of the top cue makers offer the option of adding a predator shaft, they all know that their shafts will not be as good as predator.
custom cues are usualy bought for the art work anyway

[skor]

Yeah, it would absolutely be easier if you didn't have to compensate for so many things. It is a great shot that I would have never remotely thought to try. But definitely a good one to have in the arsenal.

Skor, what is your APA SL anyway?

I don't play APA, I was until 5 years ago but I wasn't that good back then.
I have a freind who is an APA 6 and we are the same level on a 7ft. table, but I'm much better then him on the 9ft. tables.
I'm sure if I was playing in an APA league I would become a 7 in no time :)

[CJK]

<duplicate post removed>

[CJK]

CJK....
What makes you think the a custom cue won't play better then your 3k1 within the same price range? A lot of custom cue makers only use one standard shaft, which plays a hell of a lot better then a 3K1.

All I'm saying is that a good custom cue maker will be able to make you a good cue that is design for your playing style and needs for your budget. Must custome cue makers will give a very good warranty and sometimes for the lifetime of the cue.

What makes me think that? I've shot with a Schon (like the feel, but it's not better than my 3K-1 for me, and a lot more money), a Dzuricky (nice looking cue, but the balance was off for me), a Rauenzahn (again, nice looking cue, but the feel wasn't right), a Richard Black (great cue, a lot more money), and just about every commercial cue you can think of (Joss, Meucci, Viking, Mali, McDermott, Lucasi, Cuetec, etc.). None of them had the same feel. My average in VNEA used to be a 3, maybe a 4. After shooting with the Predator, I'm a 7, and had the third-most wins in my league last season. No cue plays better for me. Why would I want to go to a custom cue maker, pay more money, and get something that may or may not be as good as what I have? My cue fits my playing style, and I don't see any need to change. If I were to change, it would be another Predator, or perhaps a custom butt with similar weight distribution with a Predator shaft.

[audiopro]

Let's not forget that in the end, it's what feels best to you. Feel, balance, compensation, stroke, expertise, are all subjective. If there was one product that was truly perfect for everyone, then everyone would likely use it.

While the Preds may work absolutely wonderful for some people, there are those who are just more comfortable with something else. For whatever reason. I think Predator makes a great product, and the technology behind it is in fact superior to other shafts. But after many years of playing with a conventional shaft, I have become well acustomed to it. It serves me well and I feel 100% comfortable with it.

Pardon the pun but: Different strokes for different folks.

[sonnic]

I think as long as a player gets use to a cue that cue is best at that time. So if i play with a cutec cue and have been for the last 2 years, If i had a match today i would be better off with the cuetec than with a new predator or schon.

Although i will admit in the long run a player would be better off getting use to a predator or Equivalent rather than a lower quality. I have had my viking for about 2 years now. I wouldn't mind taking the time to learn the feel of a new schon or predator. Its all a question on $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[G u e s t]

I've turned my Thunderbolt into a break cue using a Talisman WB Extra Hard Tip. I can tell you that for the second time I'm using it in a match at Corner Billiards, I love it. I has a certain feedback and sound to it that I like. It gives me an EXTRA boost of confidence on top of the confidence that I already have. I achieve this extra boost from the sound it makes when the CB collides and hits another ball into a pocket.

It just FEELS and SOUNDS EXTRAORDINARY!!! Give it a try and you won't be sorry. But the time, work, and effort in putting the tip on is a lot of hard labor but WELL WORTH IT in my opinion. Luckily enough my best friend had the tools for changing a tip otherwise I think I would've just krazy glued the tip on and left it like that. I do have to thank my friend for helping me as well. He did most of the hard work at the end of it...Thanks ShitDRINK!
LoL

Sincerely,

aka: The Cutter