Break Cue Questions

[SirBanksALot]

I've never owned or even used a real break cue (other than a cheap $69 dollar chinese job which vibrated and "tinged" horribly).

Obviously there's lot of them to buy but is any one standing out above another and is considered The Latest & The Greatest?

Do they all have a phenolic tip and do you need a phenolic tip?

What's the thought on whether a break cue should be heavy or light?

Can a person purchase just a "break shaft" and put on an existing butt?

Thanks

Keith

 

[Irish634]

I've never owned or even used a real break cue (other than a cheap $69 dollar chinese job which vibrated and "tinged" horribly).

Obviously theres lot of them to buy but is any one standing out above another and is considered The Latest & The Greatest?

Do they all have a phenolic tip and do you need a phenolic tip?

What the thought on whether a break cue should be heavy or light?

Can a person purchase just a "break shaft" and put on an existing butt?

Thanks

Keith

Well, there are going to be a lot of responses as to which is considered the Latest and Greatest. If you do a search of the forum, you'll find this question is asked often. There are many answers and polls.

To answer the first question, I like my J/B from Varney Cues. If you PM Kevin here, I am sure he can set you up an answer your questions.

Not all break cues have a phenolic tip and no you don't necessarily need a phenolic tip.

Break cue weight is a matter of preference, but I like mine lighter than my playing cue. My J/B is less than 19 oz, around 18.5 I think.

I would presume you can purchase just a shaft to put on an existing butt. In the J/B though you would lose the ability to shorten the cue for jumping. Another aspect I like about my J/B, is Kevin makes the jump handle a bit longer than normal and this helps improve my accuracy.

I hope this helps. Good luck in your search.
Craig

 

[Jeff]

I use a straight break cue. I don't jump so why have a break/jump.

I also use one with a leather tip. I tried phenolic's (including the white diamond), and went back to a hard leather. The phenolic tips break hard of course but if you don't hit the ball right the chance of miscueing goes way up.

I use an old sneaky butt with an old thick shaft, Varney put a break tip/ferrule on it for me and that thing hits a ton. The thing I like about it is the tip goes down into the ferrule so no popping off.

 

[Drawman623]

I like Omen

I prefer phenolic tips and I can't recall the last time I miscued on a break stroke. The reason I like phenolic is for jumping balls though. My opinion about breaking is that control is much better than power. The added force from a phenolic tip is useless if you cannot control the rock. When I break, I tend to shoot center ball.

I jump with my break cue and that is where the Omen has stood alone as the best performer I've owned. I had a Paul Drexler that was scary for making 9-balls on the break but I didn't jump well with it. I own two Gilbert jump breaks that do everything well. Andy's cues are stiff and provide plenty of power on the break while using a leather tip that allows me to spin the ball when jumping.

Omen's forearm is long and I find it fits me best when jumping balls. It is largely subjective and I came upon my opinions by playing with many break cues first. I would point you toward Gilbert or Omen if you crave a great breaker.

My next move will be a purple heart break shaft. I hope some opinions get expressed on this subject as your thread builds responses.

 

[SirBanksALot]

Thanks Craig

Well, there are going to be a lot of responses as to which is considered the Latest and Greatest. If you do a search of the forum, you'll find this question is asked often. There are many answers and polls.

I hope this helps. Good luck in your search.
Craig

Craig-Thanks for the response.

I'll do a search and see what a potential hot set up is.

As much as I like the standard cue I was using as a break cue before-that cheap chinese breaker definitely does spread the balls better.

It feels and sounds so bad-I'm going to invest or trade for a good set up.

Keith-

 

[SirBanksALot]

I'll Work On Breaking Better & Worry About Jumping Later!

I use a straight break cue. I don't jump so why have a break/jump.

I also use one with a leather tip. I tried phenolic's (including the white diamond), and went back to a hard leather. The phenolic tips break hard of course but if you don't hit the ball right the chance of miscueing goes way up.

I use an old sneaky butt with an old thick shaft, Varney put a break tip/ferrule on it for me and that thing hits a ton. The thing I like about it is the tip goes down into the ferrule so no popping off.

Hey Jeff-

Thanks for the input. I haven't necessarily miscued with the phenolic, its just that it feels like doo doo when contact is made. That could be a function of the rest of the cue, but if I can find the right hard leather tip, thats the way I'll go.

I've got a few butts (cue butts that is)around and I'd love to find a break shaft to hook onto one of them.

Keith-

 

[SirBanksALot]

Omen!

I prefer phenolic tips and I can't recall the last time I miscued on a break stroke. The reason I like phenolic is for jumping balls though. My opinion about breaking is that control is much better than power. The added force from a phenolic tip is useless if you cannot control the rock. When I break, I tend to shoot center ball.

I jump with my break cue and that is where the Omen has stood alone as the best performer I've owned. I had a Paul Drexler that was scary for making 9-balls on the break but I didn't jump well with it. I own two Gilbert jump breaks that do everything well. Andy's cues are stiff and provide plenty of power on the break while using a leather tip that allows me to spin the ball when jumping.

Omen's forearm is long and I find it fits me best when jumping balls. It is largely subjective and I came upon my opinions by playing with many break cues first. I would point you toward Gilbert or Omen if you crave a great breaker.

My next move will be a purple heart break shaft. I hope some opinions get expressed on this subject as your thread builds responses.

My playing cue is an Omen. I can't say enough nice things about Pete and the way he builds cues and the way he takes care of his customers.

I talked to him a couple of times last week. I'm trying to move some things around in my schedule to hook up with him at Derby City.

Thanks

Keith-

 

[1pRoscoe]

Definitely check out Pete's break cues, Keith... If you're wanting something readily available, I've used the Predator BK2 and was shocked at how good it is....

Hope all is well!

 

[SirBanksALot]

HELLO ROSS1d

Definitely check out Pete's break cues, Keith... If you're wanting something readily available, I've used the Predator BK2 and was shocked at how good it is....

Hope all is well!

I had a little freeway crash about two months ago and had both air bags go off. Between my shoulder and my neck, the doc says no golf for a long while and I really should quit playing golf period.

If I'm going to be forced into playing 9 Ball with you young guns, I better get a weapon that'll spread the balls a bit.

If I can just stay close to you in the 9 Ball - I can take your cash when the Uno Pockecto rolls around

Hope the family is doing well and you guys didn't get rained out.

 

[1pRoscoe]

I had a little freeway crash about two months ago and had both air bags go off. Between my shoulder and my neck, the doc says no golf for a long while and I really should quit playing golf period.

If I'm going to be forced into playing 9 Ball with you young guns, I better get a weapon that'll spread the balls a bit.

If I can just stay close to you in the 9 Ball - I can take your cash when the Uno Pockecto rolls around

Hope the family is doing well and you guys didn't get rained out.

No way!! I hope you are a feeling better soon... I cannot believe you'd been advised not to play golf... That's like telling a man he can't have sex anymore, or at least in your case.....

Give me a shout when you're back up this way...

 

[SirBanksALot]

My Main Man Ross

No way!! I hope you are a feeling better soon... I cannot believe you'd been advised not to play golf... That's like telling a man he can't have sex anymore, or at least in your case.....

Give me a shout when you're back up this way...

I just sent you an email.........

No golf for at least six months-thats the plan. However, the upside is that I haven't played for about a month now and lot of the usual aches and pains are gone.

If I can get that vision issue worked out-maybe I won't need so much weight from you

Pete Ohman has a Hoppe Howitzer with my name on it. It'll be here by mid week.

 

[berlowmj]

Derby City

I've never owned or even used a real break cue (other than a cheap $69 dollar chinese job which vibrated and "tinged" horribly).

Obviously there's lot of them to buy but is any one standing out above another and is considered The Latest & The Greatest?

Do they all have a phenolic tip and do you need a phenolic tip?

What's the thought on whether a break cue should be heavy or light?

Can a person purchase just a "break shaft" and put on an existing butt?

Thanks

Keith

Most stores do not stock break cues so you can't try them, however DC will provide such opportunities. As for the contol issue wth phenolic, those issues disappear once your stroke improves. Miscues, scratches etc have disappeared even at my primitive developmental level.