Break Cue queries
- Thread starter kleinm3351f
- Start date
lol... I resemble that remark.
I paid over a grand for my Mezz PB-G and honestly don't regret it. Now keep in mind, I had been using the same breaker for literal decades so it owed me nothing and probably earned me a few times more than the 300 I paid for it. That said, my break had always been the weakest part of my game. That's not my old cue's fault, but a reality none the less. The energy transfer on a correctly hit ball when using CF is greater. "Far greater"...?..., no, but greater for sure. The upgrade over the solid wood shaft of my old breaker was very evident. No difference in weight or tip between the two. Just the shaft material for the most part.
What it allowed me to do was back off on swing spd just a hair and focus more attention on accuracy. Both on tip placement and shot path. So the end result was a break that was just as hard but with far more control. It made a significant difference in my success rate.
I don't necessarily disagree with your importance break down. However in my particular case reaching the top end of that 5% you attribute to the shaft/tip resulted an exponential increase in successful technique.
I'm not suggesting that everyone run out and invest in a CF breaker. Far from that actually. However there is more to be gained then just that 5% imo
I'll add that l do also use my player to break when the situation calls for it. Usually 9 ball, 1 on the spot.
It was a very difficult move for myself as well.... Took a lot of CF demo'ing before I felt comfortable enough to confirm the purchase online. Still stressed about it until I had a few days to adjust. Haven't looked back since. I would not have replaced my old breaker with another wood counterpart.
If you're digging for a competitive increase in performance. It's well worth hard consideration. I will say that imo, the bulk of the CF break users I see don't have the game to warrant such a purchase. To each their own though.
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Correct. heavier break cues used to be the fashion, now it's lighter ones. I recently watched SVB in the November Predator tourny in Puerto Rico using his shooter (with mid cue extension in place) to break. So for a player that is not sure which way to, try both if you can to figure out which works best.
Rusty in Montana
Well-known member
For many years I broke the balls with my playing cue , the only time I had a problem was the one bar during pool leagues had the large cue ball still I hit the cue ball and not only did I break up the rack but snapped the shaft at the joint !
Later that night I glued it back together and wrapped it with rubber bands until the glue set up ( this was my sneaky Pete cue ha ha )
I'm thankful the large cue ball is a thing of the past !
Later that night I glued it back together and wrapped it with rubber bands until the glue set up ( this was my sneaky Pete cue ha ha )
I'm thankful the large cue ball is a thing of the past !
fattirewilly
Member
I have a Purple Heart Schmelke 23 with a hard tip and second maple shaft Phenolic tip. The hard tip/purple heart feels good for maybe 5-10% over my house 21. The Phenolic tip definitely adds another couple %.
I'm not a fast twitcher muscle type, never great at sprints. So I went heavy instead of light.
I'm not a fast twitcher muscle type, never great at sprints. So I went heavy instead of light.
Meticulous G
Member
I've been away from playing for a long time & have been working at finding my way back
Aand yes, looking at new equipment with the heavy break cues surprised me, 'cause I learned the lighter cue = more cue speed thing early on...so I came to investigate what I was possibly missing
Tbh, I never really put much thought into other aspects of the break cue, beyond just not wanting to slam my nice (and 1, quite old) playing cues full force
...so the cheap $50 - $60 solid color butt Players (I think it was, before I left it a bar drunk, so as to not keep the hottie young blonde that just picked me up, waiting) that I grabbed from a crappy chain sporting goods store & pulled the weight out of, was instantly good enough & never left me wanting
I suppose if I grab another & ever make it out to play, I could experiment around a little...but light, with a big, cheap tip got me fine results
Growing up, watching the color of money as an early teen, I tended to emulate Cruise's goofy "sledgehammer break", 'cause it just looked so cool to me
Oh yeah, I pretty much had full time access & free reign over the nearby bar table & did nothing but play, from open/after school, to however late I wanted when I was 14 - 18+, so...not incredibly weird that some childish behaviors & habits influenced my early pool life
Aand yes, looking at new equipment with the heavy break cues surprised me, 'cause I learned the lighter cue = more cue speed thing early on...so I came to investigate what I was possibly missing
Tbh, I never really put much thought into other aspects of the break cue, beyond just not wanting to slam my nice (and 1, quite old) playing cues full force
...so the cheap $50 - $60 solid color butt Players (I think it was, before I left it a bar drunk, so as to not keep the hottie young blonde that just picked me up, waiting) that I grabbed from a crappy chain sporting goods store & pulled the weight out of, was instantly good enough & never left me wanting
I suppose if I grab another & ever make it out to play, I could experiment around a little...but light, with a big, cheap tip got me fine results
Growing up, watching the color of money as an early teen, I tended to emulate Cruise's goofy "sledgehammer break", 'cause it just looked so cool to me
Oh yeah, I pretty much had full time access & free reign over the nearby bar table & did nothing but play, from open/after school, to however late I wanted when I was 14 - 18+, so...not incredibly weird that some childish behaviors & habits influenced my early pool life
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In one of his books, Byrne addresses this very question and his conclusion is that the weight of the break stick doesn't matter much, if at all. So one can break as well with a 25 oz cue as an 18 oz cue and it might come down to personal preference.
Personally I've had occasions where I've broken lightly and made 2 or more and there were times where I broke as hard as I could with a near full face hit on the object ball and nothing dropped. So I don't think the power of the break is as important as the technique.
Meticulous G
Member
Byrne's response was in regard to cue ball speed specifically
...or did he say that any kind of swing/stroke can produce any result ?
Yes, it was about the speed imparted to the cue ball. The results, as he said, were "suggestive but not conclusive."
No, he didn't say that any kind of swing/stroke can produce any result (not that I know of, at least); and I'm not sure where that came from or why you ask that.
No, he didn't say that any kind of swing/stroke can produce any result (not that I know of, at least); and I'm not sure where that came from or why you ask that.
I use a bacote schmelke playing model cue, 19oz, 13mm shaft with a samsara break tip. Multiple people ask to borrow it when playing in a group.
Ghost of OBC
Well-known member
Another vote for Schmelke. I run a 13.25mm shaft, 17 oz. I think of it more as saving me from changing the tip on my player. Cracks em open great, and I think it was less than $150, manufactured to my specs.
Me too, I'm breaking with my player. I'm practicing 10 ball these days mostly on a 9' diamond. I've focued on technique and after a layoff, I'm now breaking better than I ever had before, so I'm pleased with the effort. Tip is just normal...ultraskin medium, cuz that's what's on there. I'm trying to pop the rock and squat it center table. Good results so far after some days experimenting and getting some outside perspectives to assist.
SVB played and broke with his cuetec for years and years...beat the world that way. Who am I to argue? I'd try a break cue, sure, but why spend the bux?
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
I'm using a PBKai and Ignite G shaft - just switched from the DI-pro shaft. Took some while adjusting to the stiffer shaft, but I am glad I did. It weighs 19, and is a gun.
I think weight is more a preference thing. Have a go with lighter/heavier, and see what works for you.
I find this weight is light enough to get through the ball with accuracy and speed for 8/10-ball. Heavy enough to play a reduced speed break accommodating the MR break format in 9-ball.
Pretty happy with this set-up.
I think weight is more a preference thing. Have a go with lighter/heavier, and see what works for you.
I find this weight is light enough to get through the ball with accuracy and speed for 8/10-ball. Heavy enough to play a reduced speed break accommodating the MR break format in 9-ball.
Pretty happy with this set-up.
A standerd j&j break or a Schmelke cue. Will do
find a nice weight you like, and then find the right break tip for you.
find a nice weight you like, and then find the right break tip for you.
Meticulous G
Member
In response to this, in other words...I'm hearing, breaking with strategy and precision is more important/valid than "blindly" slamming the crap out of 'em as hard as ya can
...so there are more relevant things to focus on, other than how fast you can get the cb rolling on the break
Control is more important to me than just smashing balls.
With a good controlled beak, and decent position on the one ball, well, then the challenge begins.
Have to connect the dots.
Wonder how many playing shafts SVB carried with him on the chance that he popped off his playing tip..? ...or how many shafts with varying tips he'd carry for how the balls were breaking that day..? Do you also do the same...?
During the USopen, Gorst was carrying two fully assembled breakers with different weight/tip.
I'll also break with my player, IF the break on that day requires light power and some CB movement.