If you are looking to invest in a high-quality and high-performance piece of billiard equipment aimed at giving you more power, more control and more feel; then maybe you should look into investing in a McDermott G-Series Pool Cue, or simply upgrading to an Intimidator i-Shaft.

 McDermott researched the most important variables that a pool player may define as an essential necessity required to amplify their pool game, and came up with one of the highest performance grade advancements in shaft technology. There are three different Intimidator i-Shafts that have been created to accommodate a plethora of shot scenarios a pool player may encounter in the billiard ring; well-suited for any style of shooting. Let’s take a sneak peek at McDermott’s Intimidator Shaft lineup:

• The Intimidator i-2 Shafts (i-2) come standard on most McDermott G-Series Pool Cues; featuring a 10”-12” Professionally Tapered Shaft crowned by a 12.75mm Kamui™ Black Soft Tip.

• The Intimidator i-3 Shaft (i-3) is performance at its highest level. Designed for incredible spin and finesse; boasting a 11.75mm Kamui™ Black Super Soft Pool Cue Tip and a European Tapered Shaft, the i-3 is engineered for highly- skilled players who have great control of their stroke mechanics and are looking for more cue ball action.

• Last but not least, McDermott’s Intimidator i-1 Big Boy Shaft (iB), the most powerful shaft in the Intimidator series; featuring a 13.25mm Samsara Ultra-Hard Leather Tip that allows it to hold contact with the cue ball longer. More contact equals more control and accuracy. This shaft is mostly ideal for breaking and jumping with extreme control.

 What sets these shafts apart from the other hundreds of shafts claiming to be the most advanced and best high performance technology out there? Let’s take a look under the hood shall we…

 McDermott incorporated its Tenon Tip Technology into a triple-layer carbon fiber core— which begins at the tip and through the ferrule where it continues throughout the entire shaft— to comprise the most radial consistent shaft on the market.

 What is radial consistency and why do you want it? Radial Consistency is the ability to reproduce the same results regardless of the shaft’s orientation. This means the shaft will perform the same way on every shot. You want radial consistency because you want to win the game…duh!

 What does all this mean you may ask? The grain of wood that comprises most pool cue shafts— commonly found in all-maple wood shafts— requires the player to learn specific and precise angles, or English to apply onto the cue ball in order to make their shots; causing cue ball deflection more likely to occur.

 Ok, big deal you say?  Not quite.

This means that not only are you more likely to not pocket your ball, but that your cue ball will travel to a very undesirable position on the pool table, if not scratch; thus, making your next shot selection also very unfruitful. Basically, you are least likely to run out the table. Ten bucks says you have also been experiencing difficulty with making or at least making consistent bank shots.

 McDermott’s high-performance shafts consistently provide a straighter cue ball path, minimizing the need to compensate for spin and throw. This type of carbon fiber core’s stability construction minimizes these aforementioned inconsistencies that one may experience with an all-maple shaft— better known as a high-deflection shaft— combined with McDermott’s tri-core butt construction, gives every pool cue a solid, consistent feel known throughout the industry as the “McDermott Hit.”

 Another component that I had mentioned earlier contributing to the Intimidator i-Shaft being such a high-performance billiard instrument is McDermott’s Tenon Tip Technology. This is responsible for relaying the most optimum transfer of energy the moment it makes contact with the i-Shaft’s tip, sending it throughout its carbon fiber core; resulting in a solid hit that maximizes the speed and accuracy of your shot.

 Let’s not forget McDermott’s patented Quick Release Joint provides a consistent surface contact throughout the cue, and also plays a part in the delivery of that maximum feel that comprises the most solid hit in the industry. They also offer a large variety of different joint types and sizes that are aimed to cater to the needs and wants of the player.

 Two of the crowning jewels that can be seen to mount a McDermott Intimidator i-Shaft are the infamous Kamui™ Black Soft or Kamui Black Super Soft Pool Cue Tips. The method to McDermott’s madness lays in the Kamui™ Black Pool Cue Tip’s ability to deliver more control and accuracy with the use of less billiard chalk, and its capability to resist the tendency to mushroom; as well as, other forms of shape distortion. These tips are made from 10 layers of the highest quality of Japanese pigskin leather that is further tanned, treated and stabilized in order to resist the effects of climate— or more specifically humidity— ensuring they remain consistent in performance, quality and playability. Possessing higher levels of porosity and elasticity enable these pool cue tips to:

• Create more spin on the cue ball with less force, translating into increased control of your shots.
• Increase retention of chalk adhesion, and deliver enhanced cue ball grip— reducing the chance of miscues.
• Limit squirt and deflection with an enhanced ability to grip the cue ball on a larger surface area for longer contact time.
• Mushroom less and retain density and shape better for longer bouts of time.
• Offer excellent balance of cue ball control and spin.

 All in all, allowing you to use English to make the most accurate shot; making your next shot sitting and looking pretty. Could you imagine the outcome of placing a deflection reducing pool cue tip on a low-deflection pool cue shaft?

 Add the fact that McDermott slaps five coats of Ultraviolet Electrostatic High-Luster Urethane— to protect the cue and enhance its color— and a European “Organic Pigment” Stain to offer the most uniform saturation of the wood and color consistency, and you’ve got gold!

 Needless to say, McDermott not only talks the talk but they have been walking the great walk for a little over 35 years. So you know they have performance and quality nailed down to a “T”. These Intimidator shafts are known for their incredible control and consistency, overall making them one of the most well rounded performance shafts engineered to give players maximum control without sacrificing power or finesse; as well as, the ultimate “say-so” to change the power or spin-rate that you want to deliver with your stroke, in order to maximize the speed and accuracy of your shot; giving way to “the perfect shot.”

 So what’s the take-home message?  More power, more control, maximum feel, unprecedented accuracy with less squirt and deflection, consistent playability and the most solid hit in the industry…blah…blah…blah…

 Check out the Intimidator i-Shafts, or our McDermott G-Series Pool Cue Lineup in our online store from our vast selection of McDermott Cues. Go ahead…Get intimidating…I dare you!

 *Intimidator-2 Shafts come standard on all McDermott Pool Cues over $700. You can always order an Intimidator i-shaft separately that is customized to the exact specifications and dimensions of your pre-existing pool cue butt and joint type. Call one of our store locations nearest to you to check for compatibility or availability; or you can call the Billiard Factory Online Sales Department for further information.*