Tiger X shafts

[Dennis111]

Has anyone played much with the Tiger x shaft ? I can't seem to find much for reviews on them. I was thinking about getting one soon.

[Dennis111]

I am just looking for opinions because I have never played with one. I have tried the predators and the universal smartshafts. The OB-1 shaft i'm not to fond of because of the ferrule. It looks a little funky. But the Tiger shafts are somewhat less expensive.

[poohkiller]

I am just looking for opinions because I have never played with one. I have tried the predators and the universal smartshafts. The OB-1 shaft i'm not to fond of because of the ferrule. It looks a little funky. But the Tiger shafts are somewhat less expensive.

I haven't tried one but my advice is that you should buy the best shaft. You might save a hundred bucks buying the Tiger I do reckon (due to my personal experiences) that if I don't get the best I'll be only 99% happy with my new purchase because I'll always in my mind that I could have bought the better thing.. I'd save money for a little more time and then order a better shaft - but that's just me.

[skor]

I took a few shots with it but it was on a heavy McDermott cue so the whole thing didn't feel right...
it does have a nice hit and it does deflect more then a 314 shaft.
but to have a better thought about it I'll need to get a good session with it on a lighter cue

[Dennis111]

Yes,,,The Tiger shaft is about $60 less than the predator. I am just looking for something better than the standard shaft. I have a few cues but the one I use most is a meucci with a red dot shaft. For tips,,my favorite is moori medium originals. I don't much like the mooriII or III. I got a bunch of Moori originals before they stopped making them.

[poohkiller]

I got a bunch of Moori originals before they stopped making them.

Good for you, I only have a Med III - and I haven't applied it yet, the Everest will do the trick for a few months on my 314(2).

I'd go for that +60 bucks and get the better shaft :wink:

[Dennis111]

That is the question,,,Is the predator shaft or the OB-1 that much better? They all state lower deflection,,,the black dot claims to be the lowest deflection shaft made,, by a minimum of 100%. But low deflection isn't the only benefit of a laminated shaft.

[poohkiller]

That is the question,,,Is the predator shaft or the OB-1 that much better? They all state lower deflection,,,the black dot claims to be the lowest deflection shaft made,, by a minimum of 100%. But low deflection isn't the only benefit of a laminated shaft.

I think you should forget the BD asap. The low-def is only one advantage of the Predator shaft (I only say Pred and not Pred/Ob-1 because I have never ever tried an OB-1 as I can hardly imagine that there are more than 5 of them across Middle-Europe...). It gives you an astonishing feel also! The shorter ferrule, the special construction, I don't know exactly what, but the whole shaft is great!

Perhaps skor can tell you the exact difference between the OB-1 and the Predator shaft as he owns both of them!

[skor]

The OB-1 flex more then the 314 so I get more spin with it, when it comes to deflection reduction they are both very similar but I feel that the 314 reduce deflection a bit more.
the Black Dot is stiffer then the 314 and it generate more cue ball deflection then the 314 and the OB-1.
I haven't really got to use the Z shaft besides a few shots to be able to comment about it.
I would say that the X shaft is somewhere between the Black Dot and the 314 when it comes to stiffness and deflection reduction.
My only real problem with the OB-1 is the ferrule, I don't mind how it looks, it just that it gets dirty really fast and it's hard to clean and I think that it's too delicate, I don't like the fact that you loose the warenty if you remove the pad, I mean it will wear off after a few tip replacments... and then what?

[Dennis111]

Thanks for the info. The OB ferrule must get super dirty. The pads i'm sure can be replaced,,,gotta be the same kind as used on ivory ferrules. I still don't know what i'm gonna get for a shaft,,,,i'm even looking at the DP-R shafts.

[skor]

,,,,i'm even looking at the DP-R shafts.

no no no don't go there..... it a lame 314 copy.... only made from 8 pieces and doesn't reduce deflection as well as the 314..

if you're looking for a good deal on a shaft the check out the great prices on the first generation predator shafts.

[Dennis111]

Yeah,,everybody loves to bash Mr Perry :)

[skor]

and I guess there is a good reason.....

[Dennis111]

There may be,,,but I haven't seen it yet.
Oh,,,and its hard to find a 5/16-18 in the 314.

[Dennis111]

Acually,,,I should get a universal smartshaft and some inserts,,,then I could use it on multple cues. Wonder how durable the threads are on the inserts...

[jkregan]

I have played with the 314 (both generations), the Z-Shaft (first generation) and the Tiger shaft. I have played with all enough to have more than a passing knowledge of how they play. Better yet, I have played with all four on the same butt.

I have hit only about and hour with the Z^2 so I cannot say much except that the first impression is favorable.

The first generation 314 was, for me, too hollow feeling and my game improved tremendously when I went to a Z-Shaft. This is probably because the Z-Shaft has a straight taper that was more familiar to me as my old Brunswick cue from 30 years ago was a straight taper as well.

I recently have shot quite a bit with the second generation 314 and found it much more firm and solid feeling while deflecting less than the original. I like it very much more than the original but I still lean toward the Z-Shaft although it may be that I am not acclimated to the newer 314.

I had a Tiger X-Shaft for about a month some time ago and I can tell you that, although it feels very firm and solid, it does not shoot any better than most stock shafts I have played with (McDermott, Viking, etc). In every way, the Predator shafts play and perform very much better.

I have never even seen an OB-1 shaft other than the pictures on their website and here at Seybert's. According to the listing on the Platinum Billiards website (I research where the information is and buy from Seybert's), the OB-1 deflects right between the 314^2 and the original 314 and slightly better than the BK2. The ferrule is a bit funky looking but the design and physics make sense. The wood ferrule undoubtedly weighs less than a similar plastic or ivory ferrule and helps with reducing deflection. The design of the OB-1 is very interesting and it certainly is not going to be directional as the laminations are radial.

The OB-1 shaft is interesting and I may try one out when I have the disposable income to justify it. The X-Shaft is, for me, a dud. For my money the Predator shaft is superior in very respect. Their customer service is excellent and they, as well as Seybert's, are a joy to work with.

Just my two cents.

[poohkiller]

I was very interested about the construction of the OB-1 and I really like the idea of this kind of lamination. The ferrule is "interesting" but they should have found out something in order to guarantee a longer lifetime for the ferrule and to make it more resistant to retipping.. Maybe a 1 mm layer under the original tip could have sorted the problem out, I just don't want to talk more about it..

I haven't heard about that DP shaft.. Is that for Dale Perry? (sorry if that's a lame question, but I have no information about that shaft)

[skor]

yes, it is Dale Perry.
as for the ob-1, there is a fiber pad under the tip but the thing is that when you retip a shaft, before glueing the new tip the top part of the ferrule needs to be sanded a bit to remove leftovers from the old tip and glue, this sanding process will make the pad thinner and thinner every time the tip is replaced untill it wears off and then you loose the waranty...

[poohkiller]

yes, it is Dale Perry.
as for the ob-1, there is a fiber pad under the tip but the thing is that when you retip a shaft, before glueing the new tip the top part of the ferrule needs to be sanded a bit to remove leftovers from the old tip and glue, this sanding process will make the pad thinner and thinner every time the tip is replaced untill it wears off and then you loose the waranty...

Whoa.. Then they had the same idea as I have.

This is quite disappointing though.. if once in a blue moon I spend that 200 bucks on a shaft, I really don't want to replace it annually... But I'm really interested how it plays!

[DirtieWork]

Man that sounds really shady...im with PK on this one...why would anyone want to spend that kind of money on shaft if no matter what you do eventually you will lose the waranty

[Dennis111]

Why not just replace the pad along with the tip. The pad can't be any different than that used with an ivory ferrule.

[skor]

Let's drop it, it's going to a diraction that I didn't mean for it to go.
waranty or not, playbility or not I must say that the service I got from Royce (OB cues) was second to none, I had a problem with a shaft that was taken care of in a better way that I could imagin or deserved.
I guess all I was trying to say is that I would feel more comfortable with the OB-1 shaft if it had a"regular" ferrule even if it was only 1/4 inch long. I still think that it plays very well.

[poohkiller]

Alright, I understand that.. Anyway, I'm still very curious how the OB plays, hope once I'll be able to examine one and I still like the idea of the OB-1!

[CrownCityCorey]

I got a bunch of Moori originals before they stopped making them.

Good for you, I only have a Med III - and I haven't applied it yet, the Everest will do the trick for a few months on my 314(2).

I'd go for that +60 bucks and get the better shaft :wink:

"Better" is most certainly subjective to ones wants and desires.

We at Tiger believe that we make the highest quality laminated cue shaft on the market today!

Tiger "X" Laminated shafts are radially consistent and do minimize deflection vs. a conventional shaft.

If a customer's primary concern is deflection, and is expecting a reduction as dramatic as a 314 or Z, then perhaps they would not be completely satisfied.

However, if the customer is looking for a solidly built laminated shaft with all the latest tip and ferrule technology for a bargain of a price from an American manufacturer that you can trust and gives back to your sport, then I think that customer would be more than pleased with their X-Shaft purchase. :D

[audiopro]

How very politically correct! :D

Well said! 8)

[Dennis111]

I don't like the thin taper on the Z shaft. And with almost no deflection,, I'd have to learn how to play all over again. :)

[tsuguy]

It's true you do have to go through a learning curve when changing to a Predator product, but with the time and effort the results will speak for themselves.

[nathar]

"Better" is most certainly subjective to ones wants and desires.


If a customer's primary concern is deflection, and is expecting a reduction as dramatic as a 314 or Z, then perhaps they would not be completely satisfied.



This seems to be a fact that is often overlooked when the discussion of aftermarket shafts comes up. As Dennis said, if you have been shooting with conventional shafts for 20 years, then a switch to either Predator or Tiger may not be benificial to you.

I shoot with SL 7's in league that absolutely clobber everyone they go up against, and they have been using production cues with conventional shafts since they bought their first cue. It all comes down to preference and what you are comfortable with. Product loyalties make it hard to remain objective, but as they say, different strokes for different folks.
Pardon the pun. :roll:

[Dennis111]

I shoot with both regular and laminated shafts at different times,,I definately play better with laminated shafts. I play in a APA league 9-ball and 8-ball. I prefer 9-ball,,but I can't play often due to my high handicap.

[Rippeace]

Black Dot shafts SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.....there is nothing low deflection about them....TIGER X owns the black dot. Predator is not even on the same page as the black dot. I personally consider the black dot a scam.

Tiger or predator is fine. stay away from Meucci.....

[tsuguy]

Fortunately for them the red and black dot shafts were created before a lot of the new "spliced" shaft technology was so common... of course Predator was around( they've always been on the cutting edge ) but that was pretty much it, so back in the day a red or black dot was liked by many, but unfortunately as Mucci tends to do; they've fallen behind times, but are still well liked by many and will be a big figure in the pool industry for MANY years to come.

I personally agree that they are junk (nowadays), but it could be worse... you could be stuck with a Cuetec :twisted:

[Rippeace]

lmao..ye cuetec is shi*

[Calvers72]

Black Dot shafts SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.....there is nothing low deflection about them....TIGER X owns the black dot. Predator is not even on the same page as the black dot. I personally consider the black dot a scam.

Tiger or predator is fine. stay away from Meucci.....
You guys have been going over the merits of shooting with these particular shafts but i was wondering what your thoughts are about using them for breaking with. I am toying with the idea of buying a dedicated break cue or getting a tiger x shaft for one of my old playing cues. Suggestions please.