Predator always felt that the cue was more than something pretty that you impressed people with. Predator felt that it was a piece of sports equipment. Just like a tennis racquet or a golf club. Predator knew how differently some pool cues played than others and also knew there were 100 different opinions as to why. They wondered why nobody had ever done any serious scientific research into the performance dynamics of the cue. All other sports equipment manufacturers spend millions trying to improve the performance of their products.
Pool is a game that requires extreme accuracy and the cue is an instrument of accuracy. Cue ball deflection is an inaccuracy, a variable. It was felt that if they could design and develop a more accurate cue, the game would be easier. If a player had a cue that made a difficult game a little easier, people would buy it.
In 1992 Predator teamed up with Steve Titus, a brilliant man with a background in engineering and physics. Together they designed and built a pool cue-stroking robot, Iron Willie. Willie had an absolute repetitive stroke. They also had the flexibility to adjust his cue speed, cue elevation, grip tension and could adjust his bridge height, bridge tension and bridge length.
Next they designed a device to very accurately measure how far the cue ball was deflecting off line when side English was applied. Now they had the ability to test any cue on Willie and measure how much it deflected the cue ball. They were able to test different tapers, ferrules, ferrule designs, tips, tip shapes and different joints. Basically Iron Willie allowed them to gain a great deal of understanding about the very complicated transfer of energy from the cue to the cue ball.
The focus of their research was reducing cue ball deflection as much as possible. They literally shot thousands of shots, experimenting with everything that might affect the playability of the cue. Slowly they began to develop an understanding of the interaction between the cue and the cue ball. Many old theories on what made a cue play well were disproved. They found that in order for the tip to maintain contact with the cue ball, the cue has to move aside as the cue ball starts to rotate.
Eventually Predator were awarded two U.S. Patents on technology that allowed the cue ball to push the shaft aside, instead of the shaft pushing the cue ball aside or off line. Two by-products of reducing cue ball deflection are increased spin and reduced shaft vibration. At the same time they were were working on the performance of the cue and perfecting the production of a spliced shaft Steve had started in the early 80”s.
When they combined their technology and 10 piece spliced shaft, they knew they had made a very important break through in overall pool cue performance. They decreased cue ball deflection by up to 50%, increased spin, reduced shaft vibration and created flexural consistency and straightness tendencies unequaled by a one piece shaft.
They first introduced the Predator Cues and shafts in 1995 at a pro event in Toledo, Ohio. By the end of that tournament they had several professionals that wanted to play with the Predator. Professionals are very sensitive to the way a cue plays and very quickly understood how the Predator technology would help their game.
As of April 2003 50% of the top ranked 40 male professionals in the U.S. use Predator Cues or shafts without being paid (UPA RAnkings). They also have many European professionals playing with Predator technology including the number one players in England, Germany, Holland, France, Italy, Spain, Canada and Australia; 45% of the top 40 ranked women on the US WPBA tour and 9 of the top 10 ranked Filipino players.
All of these professionals are playing with Predator because of what it does for their game. This is the greatest testimonial there could be to performance technology being the future of Billiard equipment.
They are working on many exciting new products for the future. They officially launched the new Predator BK Break Cue at the 2001 BCA International Trade Show in Las Vegas July 19th-21st 2001. This is a cue that has been designed and engineered specifically for breaking. They also re-introduced the Predator2 in the spring of 2002 and next year will be introducing a carom cue.
They have sold almost 50,000 shafts since they were introduced. The demand grows every year.
Greater accuracy.
Predator shafts are engineered to allow the cue ball to push the shaft aside
instead of the shaft pushing the cue ball off line.
More spin.
Predator produces more spin than any conventional cue, which makes
it easier to draw, follow and move your cue ball around the table.
Solid feel.
The purer transfer of energy in a Predator produces less
vibration and leaves you with very solid, positive feedback from your cue.
Unequaled consistency.
Predator's unique 10-piece splicing eliminates grain
directionality and produces a consistency of flex and straightness unequaled by
any traditional one-piece shaft.
An edge for everybody.
More than half of today's male professionals ranking
among the top 40 have switched to Predator *. With that said, Predator isn't
just for pros -- the most dramatic improvements in performance are typically
reported by intermediate
Maintaining accuracy is difficult when it comes to putting English on the ball. The reason? Cue ball deflection, which pushes the cue ball off your line of aim. Predator has studied cue dynamics for more than a decade, and the latest result of our research is the Predator Z.