Best break cue

i have used 2 different omens by 2 different people and they hit great. i also had a bk2 then sold it and ended up buying another bk2. the 2nd bk2 was different than the first. i liked the first ones better. they seemed to be weighted differently or something. i know the newer ones have a brass ring where u take the butt cap off of. i dont think the first one did. but i would rather have my bk1 i guess u could call it.....its all personal preference.
 
For bang for the buck on a dedicated break cue (non J/B) I'd say it's the J&J Spark Break. I picked mine up for around $70 and play with it at 19oz (comes with 4 weight bolts and is around 18oz with none in it). It hits a ton!

My only debate with it is I'm thinking about replacing the phenolic tip with a leather tip (another reason I liked the Spark Break, it doesn't have a tip/ferrule combo so you can replace the tip) as I have a hard time not scratching/jumping off the table when I attempt the "2nd ball" break in 8Ball due to trying to get the proper english on it with the phenolic tip (if anyone can give me any advice on that I'd appreciate it). But that said, my standard break does hit a ton with it, so much so that I used to have a fairly average break, and now I have people in awe of the spread I get...

But, like everything else, YMMV... And this is just my $0.02 worth :)

Brian
 
Cuaba said:
I break with my playing cue.

I still don't understand why I would need another cue to break with?
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Need and want... Two completely different things :)

I personally went to a break cue as I like to have a nice dime radius on a medium hardness tip, breaking with that tip doesn't let that nice dime radius stay long... I used to use house cues but I hate the overly lacquered feel of the shafts, would feel almost "sticky" to me. I've also found since switching, after getting used to it, that I like the straight taper of the shaft on my break cue when breaking then the pro-taper on my shooter (was really annoying at first, but once I got the hang of it was great).

But, to each his/her own. I don't look down on people who break with their normal stick nor do I look up to people who break with a break cue or wonder why someone is breaking with a house cue. If it works for you it works for you no questions asked...

Brian
 
Cuaba said:
I break with my playing cue.

I still don't understand why I would need another cue to break with?
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Different tips. I have a harder tip on my break cue. I wouldn't want to play with it as I wouldn't be able to control the CB (like I can now lol). Likewise, the softer tip on my playing cue might mushroom if I continually broke with it.

Also, say you're breaking with your playing cue and the tip on that breaks. You're screwed.
 
Best Break Cue

I like my Kevin Varney Break/Jump cue. It breaks very well and is solid as a rock. I have broke with a Predator Bk2 and it seemed whimpy to me. I'm surprised the Varney Break/Jump cue it wasn't included in the ratings.
 
Sweet Marissa said:
[...]
Also, say you're breaking with your playing cue and the tip on that breaks. You're screwed.
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"But Marissa, what if you're *using* screw tips to begin with? Just unscrew, and rescrew. You've now officially rescrewed." :thumbup:

J/K, of course. :D
 
Don't bother with the production models. I highly recommend a BHQ, Brent Hartman custom cues who's also a forum member. I bought mine from another forum member (The King) and it is the absolute bomb. It's got a thick shaft and a white diamond tip. In jump cue form I can actually put draw on the cueball, where others I've owned would miscue with the same stroke. Even if you get a cheaper brand, have a white diamond installed, preferrably by a professional, they're hard to keep glued on.

Good luck!!

Eric
 
Got It Covered

Sweet Marissa said:
Also, say you're breaking with your playing cue and the tip on that breaks. You're screwed.
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That's what the extra shaft is for.
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
Yeah, I would guess that's relative to cost. J&J is what $50-60 where a BK2 is $250+ and can't imagine a BK2 is 5-6x better but it 5-6x more expensive, nothing is 5-6x better. So yeah, no brainer in the bang for the buck category... without money being a large factor in the decision, there's no question. It's the BK2.
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The J&J j/b cue is probably one of the best break cues i've ever used. i have a Gilbert that ran me 400. It does break and jump better than a j&j but like beware_of_dawg said it's not 6 times better

if you have solid enough fundamentals to have a strong break, this cue is going to break just as well as just about everything else
 
Cuaba said:
I break with my playing cue.

I still don't understand why I would need another cue to break with?
Click to expand...

helps preserve your tip. if you run into a good lepro who wants to cut the amount of time you can use it.

moori's get too hard if you break with them (over and over that is)

one of my cues has an ivory joint that's why i prefer to use a different cue to break with.
 
Omen is superb

Voodoodaddy said it first. Pete Ohman (Omen Cues) makes a superb break jump cue. He can match it to your playing cue with flawless precision (weight and inlay pattern) or offer something simple and affordable. True custom...not off the shelf mass production.

The dimensions of the Omen front are much different from most B/J cues. The design lends itself to accurate jumping. Next time you watch the best pros play, study the shots they actually make rather than the balls they simply hit. Many jump cues can make an average player able to hop a full ball...but only a few facilitate that kind of performance with great accuracy.

Try an Omen before you lay down the cash.

Check out last year's US Open final and ask yourself if you would have done any better with the same equipment. I know I'll never have the grace and mastry of Mika, but his jumps were disappointing. High loft but not his typical success rate potting balls. No disrespect, just one man's opinion.
 
This is by far the best jump/break I have ever owned. It is a classic rosewood 4 pointer with veneers by Mike Johnson of Jensen cues. The cue hits real hard and solid and I jump balls pretty easy. It didn't take too long for Mike to complete the order either.

John
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I've used a J&J jump break cue for 9 years, mind you that this is with a standard Aegis ferrule and not the short phelonic ferrule that is used now. I continue to have solid consistent breaks with this cue, great shooting cue too when you have that great feeling after the break and just want to continue the rush to run the rack, and jumps have been decent too. Not the best for jumpping, IMHO, but its been decent. Overall, I think its worth the time, effort, and money to use a J&J jump break cue. Definitely, won't need to feel worried about getting it stolen nor having to worry about the harshness of abuse on the cue. Definitely don't need to get attached to it emotionally since its so easy to replace...
 
Cuaba said:
I break with my playing cue.

I still don't understand why I would need another cue to break with?
Click to expand...

Couldn't help but notice that SVB agrees with you. He does all his playing with the same cue.
 
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