I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do I've been keeping track of my brakes and I would say I'm at 25 to 33%. They're nice breaks as far as the spread but that doesn't help me when nothing goes down.
How Important Is it to Own/Use a Break Cue
- Thread starter Constantine
- Start date
If they were easy shots no one would EVER miss them......
Every missed shot is caused by human error, either by physically missing the target or improperly acquiring the target.
I have a cheap Amazon resale that had a loose joint. Glue fixed it. I used it a couple times to see if it actually worked. Works awesome. Jumper too. Just having it is a great inspiration.
So own, most definitely.
Use, not so much.
So own, most definitely.
Use, not so much.
IMO, it really depends on how serious you are. You can definitely play with just one cue, but almost no one does. The fact that all pros have a separate break cue (and pretty much have for decades) is probably an indicator.
In the "old days," I think having a dedicated cue was primarily so you didn't have to change shafts to break because you wanted a different tip (super hard leather or phenolic). [see Dr. Dave's advice: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/break/cue/ "It is best to use a dedicated break cue, which is beefier and has a hard tip (usually phenolic)"]. Folks also believed that a separate cue kept your playing tip from flattening out.
Technology has changed and we now have CF shafts, improved plastics, and also layered tips. I personally believe CF shafts improve breaking speed and consistency, although I haven't seen any empirical data on this. But, at least from a deflection standpoint they should help you break better. Layered tips mushroom less, so maybe that counsels against a separate shaft. Although breaking with an 11.8 might not be optimal.
**edit: Dr. Dave calculated phenolic tips provide ~17% increase in breaking power. So, just that change might justify a different shaft/cue for breaking. https://drdavepoolinfo.com//technical_proofs/new/TP_A-30.pdf
All that said, if you are breaking 15-18MPH, there may not be a big difference between cues as your breaking speed/technique might be the limiting factor. But, when you start to break the balls at 23-25MPH, the increase in performance is more noticeable. And having a larger sweet spot for breaking can also improve the result at higher speeds.
-td (my $0.02; probably worth less though).
-td
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I've seen monster breaks with a regular or house cue. I've seen terrible breaks with expensive break cues. It matters a little I think, but probably not much. If you look at stats at the pro level, it favors slightly whomever shoots first, so maybe 60% max at the pro tournament level to whomever shoots first. So if you make a ball on the break, you get to shoot first (most games), so you have a slight advantage. So if your break cue helps you to make a ball on the break, at the pro level, you have an advantage.
At the non-pro level, I don't think it matters much at all. There used to be some tours I'd follow with decent non-pro players. Several years the tour winners were just terrible breakers, but they made up for it in other areas.
Personally, I own a jump/break, but almost never use it. Maybe if I did, I'd win a few more matches. Personally though, I don't think it has mattered much.
At the non-pro level, I don't think it matters much at all. There used to be some tours I'd follow with decent non-pro players. Several years the tour winners were just terrible breakers, but they made up for it in other areas.
Personally, I own a jump/break, but almost never use it. Maybe if I did, I'd win a few more matches. Personally though, I don't think it has mattered much.
If you are only breaking at 15 to 18 mph I would argue that the better transfer of energy a CF shaft provides would help a weak break speed, I know this well....... my break speed sucks
Besides the tip, the main contributor to a big break is the ability to move the cue faster.
Understanding the break mechanics and our body mechanics suggests that a light cue with a forward balance will allow healthy players to move the cue faster.
(Players with orthopedic issues might need a different solution)
Add lower deflection shaft for more accuracy and you get a big break easier and more consistent.
If you prefer for a playing cue a heavier cue with a more rear balance for instance, then your break will benefit from a dedicated break cue.
As I get older, I experimented with different weights which also changed the balance point and still went back to how I preferred my break cue 20 years ago… still with 17.5oz and forward balance.
While for playing, I used to prefer 18.5oz and today it seems that 19oz work better for me yet still preferring a balance point of 18.5 to 19 inches from the bumper.
Understanding the break mechanics and our body mechanics suggests that a light cue with a forward balance will allow healthy players to move the cue faster.
(Players with orthopedic issues might need a different solution)
Add lower deflection shaft for more accuracy and you get a big break easier and more consistent.
If you prefer for a playing cue a heavier cue with a more rear balance for instance, then your break will benefit from a dedicated break cue.
As I get older, I experimented with different weights which also changed the balance point and still went back to how I preferred my break cue 20 years ago… still with 17.5oz and forward balance.
While for playing, I used to prefer 18.5oz and today it seems that 19oz work better for me yet still preferring a balance point of 18.5 to 19 inches from the bumper.