For the first 6 or 7 years that I played, I always broke with my player. My philosophy was a good cue should be able to hold up. A lot of pros switch back and forth between cues as breakers or as players...probably due to the current condition of the tips on those cues at the time. I quit using my player to break with due to keeping my tip dressed--too much mushrooming and glazing. Now with the variety of layered tips, I don't think there's any reason not to use your player to break with, if you want. I wouldn't do it if I used LD shafts, though. My break cue has a fairly flat (quarter sized bevel) Samsara extra hard break tip and works best for me. I need control, but not a lot of spin...If you use your player to break with, you could put WAY more much juice on the cue ball than you want.