Gloves are considered to be an optional accessory in the game of pool. Most players find that a glove helps them to drastically improve their game. Others prefer to feel the cue stick directly on their skin and opt for the use of chalk to reduce friction when necessary.
There is no right or wrong side to this debate. It purely depends on personal preference. Today’s product review is mainly for those who prefer to enhance their game with a pool glove. I will be focusing on the Predator Second Skin Glove and will share my thoughts based mainly on my personal usage of the product.
The product description describes the glove as a premium quality product with an extremely smooth and low-friction surface for increased accuracy and consistency – regardless of the conditions or the shot. Let’s see if this holds true.
The glove is available for both left and right bridge handplayers. There are various color options inclusive of black-yellow, black-grey, red, yellow, blue, etc. I opted for the black-yellow option. The available sizes are small/medium and large/extra large. It is a little pricey at around $40 but if the quality is as described, it will be worth it.
My first impression from visual inspection was that the glove looks great. It has a cool and sleek design so hats off for visuals. The material does seem to be of premium quality. The back of the glove is a smooth, thin, low-friction fabric. The palm of the glove is also smooth and low-friction but it is a more breathable mesh-type material. There is a pad that supports the heel of your hand. There is also an adjustable touch fastener on the glove so you can tighten the wrist section to your preference. The glove is also tip-less supposedly for more intimacy between the table and your hands.
The gloves are really comfortable. This can be felt from your first time putting them on. They feel very light and fit the contours of your hands and fingers snugly. They are very encouraging of the movement of your hand and fingers because they actually reduce the amount of friction between your fingers. The non-slip hand heel pad is soft and comfortable, but of course this can only be properly judged after playing for a prolonged period.
The cue stick glides over the gloves seamlessly for both opened and closed bridge positions. There is no detectable resistance between the movement of the cue stick and the glove. I even tried with a fiberglass cue stick which are known to drag. It was still smooth and seamless.
There seems to be no learning curve required before playing effectively with this glove. It becomes second nature the moment it is put on.
The glove is of very good quality overall. It is comfortable and does positively impact your game which is most important. The price could be lower in my opinion but it is still affordable.I give this product a 4 out of 5 stars rating and I do recommend that you try this product.
Established in 2008, CueWorld have become Australia's No.1 supplier of premium pool tables, cues and accessories for the 2 1/4 inch ball game (commonly known as American Pool) and we also offer a select range of snooker and pool cues for the English game.