I use a Viking Crush. It works for me better than anything I have tried. I like the phenolic tip. I believe technique is more important than the break cue you use. No break cue works magic.
Everybody gets to have their own opinion and I respect everyone's. But I have a contrary view of the Viking extension -- I think it's the very best. Beautifully machined out of aluminum and goes on in a few twists. I have a Mezz extension and a McDermott (which screws in through a normal MCD...
I love Vikore shafts; they are my favorite. I played with a Viking Siege and went back to Vikore. I think they are pretty low deflection but play like traditional shafts.
I've mentioned this before but at Grand-Olive Billiards circa 1966 a local character named Rottenmouth Johnson was upbraiding someone and said, "You don't know if a basketball is round, square or diagonal; you're a f*cking idiot."
I want one of these! On their website they offer a McDermott cue that has their gold elephant logo and “A.E. Schmidt” embossed on the leather wrap. $675.00 and it looks cool. Please buy 'em up so they run out of them before I spend $675.00 on another cue.
I like the Viking Vikore shafts so I have several Viking cues. One is a Kayano. It is simple and beautiful. Maple is curly and pretty. Highly recommend.