break cue weight

dave_k said:
What Do you use?

I cant break with light cues, my breaker is 26 oz.
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It can be debated but one thing is true. The break is only as good as the hit on the front ball. It is true that a lighter cue will develop more cue speed but in attempting to produce that speed you will miss hit the cue ball a certain percent of the time no matter who you are. A heaver cue seem to be easier to control and although it may not produce the cue ball speed may increase the number of good breaks. As in every aspect of the game it still comes down the the players skills. I would not go so much by what others think but experiment and decide what is right for you.

For a while I used a weighted 1 1/4 crutch bumper I had added a few washers to, that I just slipped on my playing cue to add about 2 ounces. I liked it. Now I just break with the same cue I play with as is. I am more interested in a good square hit on the front ball. I haven't kept any statistics but I have a feeling I make the same number of balls on average and control the cue ball better. All things being equal though I would prefer a little heavier cue if I had to make a choice.
 
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I use a 18 oz McDermott NG-01 stinger jump break. I put a lot of floppy wrist action on my break shot, generating max speed. I don't move much on my break (i.e. throwing my body into it), since my hand can move infinitely faster than my body, so I don't see what all the dancing around on a break shot does for anybody. I still crush it with a very quick, correct stroke. The key is hitting the front ball or second ball (name your game) where you want to, whether a cut break or not...i.e., control of the cue ball. I've used 21 oz break cues with some success, too, but prefer the quicker stroke I get with a lighter cue.
 
20oz Lomax
I think 20 is about as heavy as I want to go. It's heavy enough to feel solid in my hands, but not heavy enough for me to notice the weight.
 
15 oz, laminated BoisDarc shaft, Black Walnut handle, 3/8 16 brass pin, wood to wood joint, one piece Phenolic tip ferrule flared from 13 mm at the shaft to 14mm at tip. Turned on a wood lathe and pinned on a drill press. Well you asked LOL. Thought for years only sissies used light sticks. Play with a 18.3 oz and will never go back to the heavy weights.
 
I used to like a heavier cue for breaking, but now use an 18 oz. I get a lot more speed on the cue ball with a lighter cue.
 
I dont fully subscribe to the lighter is faster , its case by case, some would gain no cue ball speed with a lighter cue and some would



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I use a BK-2 with the bolt removed, I'd have to guess but I would think it is around 18 oz,
if I could get it lighter I would!
 
its odd for me, i get more speed with a heavier cue...it feels more solid so i can really let it rip. Ive broke 29.8 with my 26er, and cant top 25 with an average cue weight.
 
I break with the same weight I shoot with (19). And I agree with the poster who said it's more about accuracy than it is about speed.

Steve
 
one stroke said:
I dont fully subscribe to the lighter is faster , its case by case, some would gain no cue ball speed with a lighter cue and some would



1
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Seems logical to me that if I can throw a small stone faster than a :)brickbat I can, with very short stroke in relation, get more speed out of the lighter cue. The same force applied arm strength will result in faster speed to the lighter object or am I wrong and why.
 
I believe everyone is different. considerations:
1- length of your forearm
2- quickness of your muscles
3- grip
4- strength of your arm.
One size/weight cue will not fit all.
One more thing is TIMING, if you don't have your timing down you will never maximize your break.
I make 54inch break cues, it forces you choke up to eliminate hitting the CB before 90deg.
 
I break with a 20.3oz Schmelke with their brass joint. It breaks great with the forward balance from the heavy joint. I much rather break with control than speed. My shooter is only 17.8oz.
 
sawtex said:
Seems logical to me that if I can throw a small stone faster than a :)brickbat I can, with very short stroke in relation, get more speed out of the lighter cue. The same force applied arm strength will result in faster speed to the lighter object or am I wrong and why.
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In a PURELY theoretical world, a lighter cue results in more cue ball speed and energy.

If a compressed spring launched a heavy cue in space, the heavy cue would have greater mass, slower speed, and a kinetic energy of X, equal to the potential energy of the compressed spring.

If the same compressed spring launched a light cue in space, the light cue would have less mass, faster speed, but the SAME kinetic energy X, the potential energy of the compressed spring.

It can be shown mathematically that a light cue will transfer a higher percentage of its kinetic energy to a 6oz cue ball than the heavy cue will.

But as other posters have noted, we are playing in the real world. There could be limits to the speed your biceps could develop, regardless how light the cue is. Plus, when you consider the mass of your arm and the slight difference in weight between cues, I think the difference in CB speed will be small.

Ultimately, I agree that accuracy is the most important thing. Use whatever weight feels good and gives you the most control.
 
I break with either a converted cheapie McD Nitro cue of about 17 oz. Or an original Gulyassie Sledgehammer at 19 1/2. I prefer the Sledge simply because it is a purpose built breaker. It just feels better slamming the rack with it. BTW it has had a hard water buffalo tip put on the original phenolic ferrule/tip. I get much more control with it.

Mark Shuman
 
I break with a 15 oz schmelke right now. I actually lose the cue ball a lot more with a heavier (19oz) cue.
 
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