Break Cues ... Two approaches

Break Cue Shaft: Stiff or Flexy

  • Stiff

    Votes: 44 78.6%

  • Whippy

    Votes: 3 5.4%

  • Don't know ... Don't care.

    Votes: 9 16.1%
  • Total voters
    56
  • Poll closed .
8Ball48043

8Ball48043

Addicted to the Sport
Silver Member
Okay, I have heard two approaches with regard to break cues: One position is that you want a thick, stiff, rigid shaft on the break cue. Supposedly transfers all of the players effort into the cue ball.

The second position is that you want a more flexible, springy shaft (Sorta like the pole vaulters pole that is bendy and whippy and 'whips' the vaulter over the bar) so that the shaft will 'spring' or 'whip' the cue ball into the rack.

Thoughts ?????
 
I break with my playing cue.
I did use a break cue a long time ago and ended up giving it to a friend.

IMO the breaks that need some power (8,9 and 10 ball) usually require accuracy as well as power, and IMO accuracy is more important than power.

If you strike the cue ball accurately with consistency IMO, power can come easily with either whippy or stiff shafts.
 
I didn't click on the poll. I don't know, but would like to learn more...
 
Tom In Cincy said:
I break with my playing cue.
I did use a break cue a long time ago and ended up giving it to a friend.

IMO the breaks that need some power (8,9 and 10 ball) usually require accuracy as well as power, and IMO accuracy is more important than power.

If you strike the cue ball accurately with consistency IMO, power can come easily with either whippy or stiff shafts.
Click to expand...

I went the opposite direction. I had a couple of good players and then bought a used Gilbert J/B cue that had a medium tip on it. Liked the way the J/B played so I used it as my player for over a year (and also broke with it -- but couldn't learn to jump well with the med. tip).

Then I came across a used Gilbert player with similar specs and looks as my J/B and bought it. And, I then put a harder leather tip on the J/B stick.

Like Tom said above accuracy is more important. As such, I like having my break stick feel the same as my player because I get more accuracy on the break. And, I have a lot of conficence in my break stick knowing I could use it as my player again if need be.
 
Since hitting with my BK2, I will forever appreciate a nice, stiff hit. It feels so solid coming off, and you don't have to hit the ball hard for it to create a lot of velocity.
 
Stiff taper with low deflection. You want as much power as you can control, with a good square hit.
 
break sticks

whether you use a whippy shaft or a stiffer shaft, there are pros and cons and it all comes down to feel and opinion of experience. If you like to really crack the balls on the break, get a whippy shaft, or a stiff shaft. If you break with much control and lower stroke speed, then get a stiff shaft, let the cues low deflection and ferrule/tip material do its thing. we can make this subject as complex as you want it. Just try things out and see what you like. Everything is preference and Good Luck.

By the way, I use a very stiff shaft with a phenolic or buffalo tip. I don't hit hard, and I concentrate my focus on position of the cue ball on the break, the end result to me is how the balls are on the table.

IMO
 
As a Break Cue designer, I choose the STIFF shaft option. The column strength doesn't allow any cushioning of the blow (cue tip to cue ball) & gives a good feel to the player.
 
8Ball48043 said:
Sorry to dissapoint. <--- Doesn't look right. Maybe AZ should add a spell check!
Click to expand...

*Disappoint* ;) And I don't know why mine is special, but when I reply to a thread, I do get the red squiggly spell check line. Maybe it's because I'm using Firefox instead of Internet Explorer?
 
I picked whippy for the hell of it, I like a light stick and don't like rigid shafts.

This whippy theory doesn't quite sound right. How can the whippy shaft can generate more MPH? I can't imagine the stick literally bending (almost like a coiled spring) and then straightening, and somehow that straightening action shoves the ball forward with the normal break force somehow added onto it.

The ball comes into contact with the stick for only a millesecond. Yeah, the stick might flex a bit on contact. But by the time it has started to straighten out, the ball has left the tip and is far away. Watch slo mo footage of a jump cue in action, it whips like crazy and can actually bend out of the way of the ball on a close-up jump. Then by the time the stick flexes back to where it belongs, the cue ball is airborne and out of the way.
 
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