Will A Heavy Break Cue Help an old man?

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
I have always used a break cue that was the same as my playing cue or one OZ. more wieght as my playing cue. (19OZ.). In fact most of the time I used my playing cue. My problem now is when I break hard enough to get a good spread in 10-ball and 8-ball and a few more triangle shape racked games just about every bone and muscel lays me up for a day. I love playing the 10-ball ghost and three other games I have to break very hard in.

My question is will going to a 22 OZ. or more break-cue let me slow my stroke down and still get a good spread. I've always used the playing cue because I could get the speed and snap faster with it. Now when I get a good snap everything else in my body wants to snap too. Thank you in advance for your feedback. Johnnyt
 
If more power is what your after than yes, to some degree. I like to think that speed and accuracy is more important than raw power in a break, but, if generating that speed is causing you pain I think its worth a try to use a heavier break cue and see what happens. Good luck to you.
 
Johnnyt said:
I have always used a break cue that was the same as my playing cue or one OZ. more wieght as my playing cue. (19OZ.). In fact most of the time I used my playing cue. My problem now is when I break hard enough to get a good spread in 10-ball and 8-ball and a few more triangle shape racked games just about every bone and muscel lays me up for a day. I love playing the 10-ball ghost and three other games I have to break very hard in.

My question is will going to a 22 OZ. or more break-cue let me slow my stroke down and still get a good spread. I've always used the playing cue because I could get the speed and snap faster with it. Now when I get a good snap everything else in my body wants to snap too. Thank you in advance for your feedback. Johnnyt
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breaking has nothing to do with how heavy your cue is has too do with the speed of your swing an break i mean you could have a decent heavy cue but i break fine with a 18-19 ounce

btw you don.t need too put your whole body in your break u can just use the speed of your arm
 
I'm an old guy also. I have a break cue that was 19 oz and I took a 3 oz weight bolt out and now I generate more speed with less effort so it is easier on the arm.
 
measureman said:
I'm an old guy also. I have a break cue that was 19 oz and I took a 3 oz weight bolt out and now I generate more speed with less effort so it is easier on the arm.
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yes speed is everything an also you want too push thru your CB
 
robleyf7 said:
yes speed is everything an also you want too push thru your CB
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Funny you should mention that. I always broke that way with a long follow thru. Recently I have changed to more of a shorter quick pop stroke and am having better luck breaking.
Maybe the shorter stroke makes up for the arm strength I have lost thru the years.
 
measureman said:
Funny you should mention that. I always broke that way with a long follow thru. Recently I have changed to more of a shorter quick pop stroke and am having better luck breaking.
Maybe the shorter stroke makes up for the arm strength I have lost thru the years.
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it does believe it or not i also use a short poke kinda stroke i use speed an push thru my cb a lil
 
measureman said:
Funny you should mention that. I always broke that way with a long follow thru. Recently I have changed to more of a shorter quick pop stroke and am having better luck breaking.
Maybe the shorter stroke makes up for the arm strength I have lost thru the years.
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It's the water!!
 
Johnnyt said:
I have always used a break cue that was the same as my playing cue or one OZ. more wieght as my playing cue. (19OZ.). In fact most of the time I used my playing cue. My problem now is when I break hard enough to get a good spread in 10-ball and 8-ball and a few more triangle shape racked games just about every bone and muscel lays me up for a day. I love playing the 10-ball ghost and three other games I have to break very hard in.

My question is will going to a 22 OZ. or more break-cue let me slow my stroke down and still get a good spread. I've always used the playing cue because I could get the speed and snap faster with it. Now when I get a good snap everything else in my body wants to snap too. Thank you in advance for your feedback. Johnnyt
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You might want to look at changing ferules and tips instead of changing weight. I had a goal of improving my break this year and in the process have sold my BK2 and have tried various tips and ferule combinations on regular shafts. You won't believe what I am breaking with now and I think it's the nutz. I am breaking with a 50 inch Stealth AT-1 jump cue. It has a phenolic linen ferule and a hard WB tip and is very light weight. I don't need a lot of speed but I generate enough to smack a full rack solidly and move the balls all over the table while parking the rock in the middle of the table. Just another suggestion Johnnyt.
 
Johnnyt said:
My question is will going to a 22 OZ. or more break-cue let me slow my stroke down and still get a good spread. I've always used the playing cue because I could get the speed and snap faster with it. Now when I get a good snap everything else in my body wants to snap too. Thank you in advance for your feedback. Johnnyt
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The formula is mass times acceleration equals force. A lighter object moving at greater speed can produce the same force as a heavier object moving at a slower speed. What it works out to in practice is a bell curve. The top of the bell curve is the optimum weight for the speed you are comfortable with. If you are not moving the cue as fast as you used to, adding more weight can help up to a point. Too much weight can slow you down and you will get less return.

That being said, there is no replacement for quality of contact. If you are hitting the head ball with a glancing blow, you will loose more energy than changing the weight of the cue will give you.

Here's a reminder if you have trouble remembering formulas. :D

masstimesaccel_f_fullpic_1.jpg
 
Thanks for all the feedback. Not sure which way i'm going to go yet but am leaning to a bit more weight and hard stone like tips. Thanks all. Johnnyt
 
robleyf7 said:
breaking has nothing to do with how heavy your cue is has too do with the speed of your swing an break i mean you could have a decent heavy cue but i break fine with a 18-19 ounce

btw you don.t need too put your whole body in your break u can just use the speed of your arm
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That's not exactly true. A heavier cue moving at the same speed as a lighter one will transfer more kinetic energy to the cue ball at the point of contact assuming the same grip by the same person. Kinetic energy is what makes the cue ball accelerate off of the cue tip. Even on a break shot the cue tip is only in contact with the cue ball for milliseconds and off it goes at a speed faster than the cue was moving due to the weight difference between the cue and the ball. The heavier the cue you move at your personal maximum speed the faster the cue ball will move down table. That is assuming all else is equal. If the heavier cue causes you to swing it slower then it becomes a balancing act to find the best weight.
 
skierlawyer said:
I gotta get over to Hank's for the water I've been hearing so much about ;) Maybe we can plan a day and bring a bunch of cues.
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Of course it's the water. Come to Hanks and I'll buy you a bottle.
We are almost always there on a Saturday unless there is a bar box tournament,then we go to Felt.
 
Johnny, it gets a damn site heavier a damn site faster;)

Edit: I bought an Orange Crusher, 18.5 oz. from Mike Gullassy last year and like it better than any heavier cues I've used, including my 24 oz.
Joss Boss.
 
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Mr.Munson told me my break was weak. He said I was hitting at around 17 mph at best. He's a great teacher BTW. His way of explaining how to add more power was among other ways, use a karate chop like movement. It works for me. Flick it but with follow thru, no push. Hai Ya. Flick isn't the right term but the best I could come up with. Maybe stab? Ya, stab the cue ball deep. I'm using my McDermott D 10, 18 ounce to break.
 
I bought a 20 oz J&J J/B cue with a phenolic tip from the pawn shop for $25. The guy said it was a 3-piece cue made in Japan. He said they don't have much room for pool table there and need a short cue a lot :rolleyes:. He was not Pawn Stars material. Seems to break them better than my regular cues with less power. I'll know more in the morning when I try to get out of bed. Thanks all. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
I bought a 20 oz J&J J/B cue with a phenolic tip from the pawn shop for $25. The guy said it was a 3-piece cue made in Japan. He said they don't have much room for pool table there and need a short cue a lot :rolleyes:. He was not Pawn Stars material. Seems to break them better than my regular cues with less power. I'll know more in the morning when I try to get out of bed. Thanks all. Johnnyt
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It's made in china not japan but none the less a good jump break cue. enjoy
 
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