A good weight for a break cue

buffalofloyd

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello,
I am going to be having a break cue made for myself and I want to be sure to get the proper weight for myself. I hear some say a lighter cue is recommended because you can get faster follow through and then I hear some say a heavier break cue to crush the rack more. I really don't know which would be better suited for me and I don't have the cash to be experimenting with all different weights at the moment.

Right now I play with a cue that is about 19.3oz and I have a break cue around the same weight (although it was supposed to be made to 18.5oz... :eek: ugh!). Anyway, let me start by saying that I do not have a good break to begin with and I don't "crush" the rack. My break has always been the weakest part of my game and I want to improve upon that aspect of it.

I know this is not a simple question to answer and it is mostly preference but maybe some opinions based upon some facts might help. I'm 5'9" and weigh around 140lbs. I'm hoping maybe there are some people with these atributes that could lend some advice.

Thanks,
Jim
 
Stiff, Hard ass tip! 17.5 oz. Harder breeak for sure. Proven to get more velocicty on the cue ball the lighter the break cue. Like my new Avatar???
 
bish4201 said:
Stiff, Hard ass tip! 17.5 oz. Harder breeak for sure. Proven to get more velocicty on the cue ball the lighter the break cue. Like my new Avatar???
I did a little dairy farming when I was growing up. Disturbs me, seeing those just hanging there without a set of milkers on'em.
 
This is a personal preference as I see it. I use 20 1/2 oz cue, not because a heavier cue will crush a rack, but because I have better control of the cueball with a heavier cue.

My suggestion would be to go to your local pool hall and use different weight house cues to break with and see which one feels right to you.
 
i'm no where near your stature as i'm 6' 200 lbs, but i use a 17 oz. mainly cause thats what it ended up being whe i took the weight bolt out. but i like it. i think 18 oz is the avg. it has been proven that the faster the cue speed, the more energy is transfered. and the lighter the cue, the faster it can be stroked.
 
bish4201 said:
Stiff, Hard ass tip! 17.5 oz. Harder breeak for sure. Proven to get more velocicty on the cue ball the lighter the break cue. Like my new Avatar???
Try out some different weights and see which weight you like the best.

As for the new avatar - it is tasteless, rude and degrading.

BVal
 
socks said:
i'm no where near your stature as i'm 6' 200 lbs, but i use a 17 oz. mainly cause thats what it ended up being whe i took the weight bolt out. but i like it. i think 18 oz is the avg. it has been proven that the faster the cue speed, the more energy is transfered. and the lighter the cue, the faster it can be stroked.

That's really funny. I own a 20oz breakcue. I also took the weight bolt out of my cue, it weight like 3oz :eek: . So it's right now around 17oz and extreem forward balanced. It feels kinda weird, but after a few breaks, I started to like it! It's a really strange breakcue, it has a really whippy shaft. I can put extreem spin on my break. You shouldn't do that, but it quite funny :D .
 
hi i have an elite break cue,slightly used,that weights 27oz with the weight bolt in and 19oz with the bolt out.i'll sell for80.00 shipped.you can have whatever weight you want. george
 
yep

buffalofloyd said:
Hello,
I am going to be having a break cue made for myself and I want to be sure to get the proper weight for myself. I hear some say a lighter cue is recommended because you can get faster follow through and then I hear some say a heavier break cue to crush the rack more. I really don't know which would be better suited for me and I don't have the cash to be experimenting with all different weights at the moment.

Right now I play with a cue that is about 19.3oz and I have a break cue around the same weight (although it was supposed to be made to 18.5oz... :eek: ugh!). Anyway, let me start by saying that I do not have a good break to begin with and I don't "crush" the rack. My break has always been the weakest part of my game and I want to improve upon that aspect of it.

I know this is not a simple question to answer and it is mostly preference but maybe some opinions based upon some facts might help. I'm 5'9" and weigh around 140lbs. I'm hoping maybe there are some people with these atributes that could lend some advice.

Thanks,
Jim

Well Jim, I'm 5'11" (according to my drivers license anyways :rolleyes: ) and weigh around 170-174. I just bought a Gilbert j/b cue that weighs 18.8-18.9...The lighter the cue, the more speed you can attribute to the cueball, though I have always used right around a 19oz'er. Your break cue is right around the right weight, especially cause' you're a smaller guy like I am. I would definitely stay under a 19.5, closer to a 19 if possible. I can't wait til my Gilbert shows up!!!! It'll be nice to have a cue to go with my newest DZ in my signature (avatar pic also). Its SOOO ON then!!! Good luck in your search pal, Jeff
 
BVal said:
As for the new avatar - it is tasteless, rude and degrading.

BVal

I agree. Cows everywhere should be outraged. Fight for bovine rights!

All kidding aside, I think you need to get rid of that. A lot of us (me included) read these forums at work and it's definitely not appropriate. If you change it before a moderator sees it, you just might get out of this without getting banned.
-Rob
 
Last edited:
heck no!!

bish4201 said:
Stiff, Hard ass tip! 17.5 oz. Harder breeak for sure. Proven to get more velocicty on the cue ball the lighter the break cue. Like my new Avatar???

Uh, nope! Your avatar needs removed pal. Its not only wrong for a public forum, but its degrading to women...Not to mention SCARY!!!!
 
i'm about your height and weight and i have a pretty good break. it is more about technique and timing than brute strength or the right cue. a guy named colin colenso has a good video on youtube about breaking. for a break cue, i like 17.5oz., a very stiff taper, no wrap (gives a better grip), and a hard tip. i've used phenolic and very hard leather. both work well, but phenolic gives the most speed and i never felt like i didn't have control with phenolic.
 
Thanks!

Ok, thanks for the input from those of you that responded. I think I'm gonna shoot for a 18.5oz weight.
 
Im a little guy at 5' 2" and I cant break my hardest with a light cue because I always fly the cue ball off the table (well not always but more often) my current break cue weighs 22 oz it works perfect for me, but that took about a year and a half to discover. Before I was breaking with a 19 oz and I changed the weight bolt and it weighed like 20 oz and I was breaking better. different stroke for different folks. But as you were describing I think the lighter break cue would work out better for you. maybe shoot for an 18oz
 
avatar & break

buffalofloyd said:
Ok, thanks for the input from those of you that responded. I think I'm gonna shoot for a 18.5oz weight.

Let me first 3rd the motion that your avatar is tasteless & supports the unfortunate stereotype of pool players as being misogynist ignoramuses. Your technique would probably improve if you moved your focus from Allison Fischer's & Jeanette Lee's T&A to their mechanics.

I also agree with the comment that the phenolic would compensate for your small stature. You could beef up at the gym, if you could refrain from staring at the leotards. The G-10 tip yields even greater CB control even though it is harder than the phenolic.

I was watching Jennifer Chen & Gerda Hofstedter (sp?) on tivo today & their breaks are quite powerful & I suspect that they weigh in at less than 140. Again, focus on the mechanics, rather than the adipose.
 
Me personally, I break with the same weight cue as I play with. I have more controll with the cueball. Which is in my opion more important than hitting them harder. Just my opion only!!
 
Back
Top