Break cue recommendations

L

lawful777

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
As I get better at my game, I am realizing the importance of a good break and not just hoping something falls. Lately, I have won and lost matches on breaks. I have been using a Viking jump break sneaky pete for many years and it just isn't hitting as well anymore. The shaft is more whippy and harder to control now. I have around 2-300.00 saved up and am looking for my best option. Please help me out with any thoughts you may have.

Option 1 - Buy a new break shaft for a Viking QR joint. Right now, the OB Break seems like a good buy, however, I have never tried one. Nor do I have the option nearby. I would be able to keep my cue and have a spare shaft. It hits real nice on regular shots and I really like the butt, just not breaking well as is.

Option 2 - A friend of mine is breaking well with an older wrapped graphite Eliminator cue/White diamond combo. I thought it sounded strange because they are often thought of as cheap cues but it is really working well. It crushes the rack. Not sure if things will move in that direction with alternate materials for break and jump cues. Any thoughts why it hasn't progressed far yet?

Option 3 - Buy a good new or used break cue like a Mezz, OB, Predator. Any recommendations? The trick is I only have up to around 300.00 to spend and most of the cues I am finding in that range are lower production cues. Plus, I wouldn't be able to test hit a used one and have no local shops to test a new one.

Thank you in advance for any comments you have. I am looking to get something real soon and am not sure if just getting a nice break shaft would be best. It would be the quickest fix but I want something that will last too. Any PM's would be greatly appreciated.
 
I used to think that the fancy break cues would be a big help. And they probably are. But I didn't have the funds for such a cue, so I opted to grab a J&J jump/break off ebay for $56.

I found that I'm getting a better spread and better action with this cue than breaking "off the wall", so I considered it a success, and was happy with my purchase. Then I had some friends break with it, with REALLY good success.

The moral of the story. The break cue might help some, but learning "how" to break is the real answer. Now if I could only accomplish that part... :p

(I still like my J&J, but now am in no hurry to spend the big bucks for one of the fancier ones.)
 
Break cue options

Any more thoughts on this. I really could use the help. Much appreciated. Thanks everyone.

John
 
J&J Spark Break Cue

lawful777 said:
Any more thoughts on this. I really could use the help. Much appreciated. Thanks everyone.

John
Click to expand...

Just purchased J&J Spark Break Cue from Joe Nielsen's store and I totally reccomend it. For 70usd you can not go wrong with it. Below the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Spark-Break-Cue...273?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335eaa4171

My previous break cue was a Fury J&B, which I could not get used to at all...I also broke with a friend's Predator BK quite a lot, which is a great break cue, but too expensive for me.
Going back to Spark - it has a 13.25mm phenolic tip, adjustable weight, and it breaks excellent. Last night I was destroying the rack with it, I'm really pleased with this purchase...
 
It doesn't matter. SVB uses his playing cue to break and has the best 10-Ball break in the world. I use my playing cue to break and I can pop it just like SVB does. When it comes to running racks, that's a different story :D
 
I use a Mcdermott Stinger. Works well for me and would save you some money. I think its like $160 on AZB marketplace.
 
lawful777 said:
As I get better at my game, I am realizing the importance of a good break and not just hoping something falls. Lately, I have won and lost matches on breaks. I have been using a Viking jump break sneaky pete for many years and it just isn't hitting as well anymore. The shaft is more whippy and harder to control now. I have around 2-300.00 saved up and am looking for my best option. Please help me out with any thoughts you may have.

Option 1 - Buy a new break shaft for a Viking QR joint. Right now, the OB Break seems like a good buy, however, I have never tried one. Nor do I have the option nearby. I would be able to keep my cue and have a spare shaft. It hits real nice on regular shots and I really like the butt, just not breaking well as is.

Option 2 - A friend of mine is breaking well with an older wrapped graphite Eliminator cue/White diamond combo. I thought it sounded strange because they are often thought of as cheap cues but it is really working well.

It crushes the rack. Not sure if things will move in that direction with alternate materials for break and jump cues. Any thoughts why it hasn't progressed far yet?

Option 3 - Buy a good new or used break cue like a Mezz, OB, Predator. Any recommendations? The trick is I only have up to around 300.00 to spend and most of the cues I am finding in that range are lower production cues. Plus, I wouldn't be able to test hit a used one and have no local shops to test a new one.

Thank you in advance for any comments you have. I am looking to get something real soon and am not sure if just getting a nice break shaft would be best. It would be the quickest fix but I want something that will last too. Any PM's would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...



It doesn't, he does.

Buy a nice OB or Stinger Break Cue.
randyg
 
I use a BK2 but remember they do not break down to a jump cue unless you have the Poison VX which I believe is discontinued. The J&J is a fantastic cue and you can't touch the price. But like a previous post controlling the break is more important than just playing smash the rack.
 
lawful777 said:
As I get better at my game, I am realizing the importance of a good break and not just hoping something falls. Lately, I have won and lost matches on breaks. I have been using a Viking jump break sneaky pete for many years and it just isn't hitting as well anymore. The shaft is more whippy and harder to control now. I have around 2-300.00 saved up and am looking for my best option. Please help me out with any thoughts you may have.

Option 1 - Buy a new break shaft for a Viking QR joint. Right now, the OB Break seems like a good buy, however, I have never tried one. Nor do I have the option nearby. I would be able to keep my cue and have a spare shaft. It hits real nice on regular shots and I really like the butt, just not breaking well as is.

Option 2 - A friend of mine is breaking well with an older wrapped graphite Eliminator cue/White diamond combo. I thought it sounded strange because they are often thought of as cheap cues but it is really working well. It crushes the rack. Not sure if things will move in that direction with alternate materials for break and jump cues. Any thoughts why it hasn't progressed far yet?

Option 3 - Buy a good new or used break cue like a Mezz, OB, Predator. Any recommendations? The trick is I only have up to around 300.00 to spend and most of the cues I am finding in that range are lower production cues. Plus, I wouldn't be able to test hit a used one and have no local shops to test a new one.

Thank you in advance for any comments you have. I am looking to get something real soon and am not sure if just getting a nice break shaft would be best. It would be the quickest fix but I want something that will last too. Any PM's would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Mike Gulyassy is renown for his break cues, beginning with the awesome Sledgehammer. You can get a good deal on his new Orange Crush.
 
I had an Action J/B cue for a while, and it did okay, but the phenolic tip quickly starting driving me up the wall. I just recently bought a BK2 with the OB Break shaft (with the Samsara tip) and I freaking love it! I don't have any sort of monster break or anything, but I'm getting decent CB control on the break more often than not... which is considerably more often than my old break cue. I still have a ways to go, but I'm pretty happy with my break at the moment. (and yeah, if only I could run out the spread... *sigh*)

10-ball breaks
http://vimeo.com/19609920
(the break at the 1:03 mark is something I could never have done with my original break cue; even though I didn't make anything)

9-ball breaks
http://vimeo.com/19609778

SVB uses a break cue at some tournaments, but not all of them. I dont think he breaks with his player in 10-ball, but he does in 9-ball (if i remember correctly). Honestly, it could just depend on the match.

Anyway, if you don't want to spring for a whole new pricey cue... I would definitely recommend at least the OB Break Shaft.

Oh and as for jump cues.... I would be surprised if the Poison cues were discontinued, since they just started that line. The Predator Air Jump cue is discontinued though.
 
Break cue options

Thanks for all the great replies. As some have mentioned it is the shooter that makes the break. I believe this 100% and continue to refine my break, aiming better, slowing down, getting good cue ball control. I can either squat the ball fairly well and break dry or pocket balls with the cue getting loose on me. My break has been decent in the past, until using my narrow shaft with a white diamond tip on it. I do believe that my 15 yr old shaft has something to do with it as well. I am just looking for something with a more solid hit for starters. I have tried a few break cues of friends and don't seem to have the same problems I am with my older shaft.

As for clarifying what I am looking for, I have a jump cue with a Samsara tip that does fine for me. I am really looking for a break only cue along the lines of a sneaky pete. The other option is getting a break shaft for my current Viking break/jump which has a great feel to it still when used with a shaft from an older shooter.

Lastly, not much was said about the graphite cues, so I will pass on that idea for now.

Thanks again for all the suggestions, I feel the answer is getting close.
 
I use my playing cue sometimes, a cue off the house rack sometimes, and a team mates Jump/break cue sometimes. His cue has a phenolic tip and weighs 22 ounces. I do best with my cue but I recently had a softer tip put on and breaking with it really was a bad idea. I now use a house cue about 19 or 20 ounces and it does fine. They are several people who recommend Arnot break cues but I don't think his prices are that low. Try a few if you can. I always thought heavier and harder was better, but control and finding the right line seem just as, if not, more effective. Accuracy on contact can not be over rated. I think if the jump/break cue was lighter I would like it more. Happy shooting, John
 
I bought a Mezz Power Break II from the buy/sell forum on this site for $280 (if I remember right). It completely destroys racks and I love it
 
YMMV, I went with option number 3. I did my research, and bought a USED original SledgeHammer. Saw Mike Gulyassy at SBE or US Open, and bought a new shaft from him. Saved myself some money and it performs great, when my teammates let me play of course.
 
brokenarrowjbe said:
I use my playing cue sometimes, a cue off the house rack sometimes, and a team mates Jump/break cue sometimes. His cue has a phenolic tip and weighs 22 ounces. I do best with my cue but I recently had a softer tip put on and breaking with it really was a bad idea. I now use a house cue about 19 or 20 ounces and it does fine. They are several people who recommend Arnot break cues but I don't think his prices are that low. Try a few if you can. I always thought heavier and harder was better, but control and finding the right line seem just as, if not, more effective. Accuracy on contact can not be over rated. I think if the jump/break cue was lighter I would like it more. Happy shooting, John
Click to expand...

22oz break jump? shouldn't that be more like 16oz?
 
Thanks again,

I think based on the answers given so far, my options narrow down to an OB Break shaft for my current cue or for a little more, purchase a Mezz Power Break 1 (like the more simple look without the graphics and don't think I would like the shorter butt/weight system anyway) or an OB Break cue.

I will look into these this weekend. Thanks to all who had their input. Helps me out since I kind of have to go in blind on this one. Any other thoughts, greatly appreciated.

John
 
I love my J&J Jump/Break. I recommend it to anyone. A lot of people I've let use it have ended up buying their own. Great break cue, unbeatable price.
 
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