break cue suggestions

Egg McDogit

street player
Silver Member
I was thinking about getting a break cue. I'd read a couple old threads about them....and I was hoping by now, more people would have more experience with them. Right now I break with my predator sneaky...it's ok, but nothing special. I tried out the predator bk, but I didn't notice much of a difference between that and my playing cue. I also tried a generic phenolic tipped break cue - and it broke only marginally harder.

I've heard good things about the sledgehammer, stinger, and fury jb. Does anyone think that these break harder? As in noticibly harder than the predator bk or a hard hitting playing cue? I'm not really concerned about control...if I want that I'll just break with my pred.

thanks
-egg
 
look on ebay. they have some j&j phonelic break jump cues for like $40.
 
Egg McDogit said:
I was thinking about getting a break cue. I'd read a couple old threads about them....and I was hoping by now, more people would have more experience with them. Right now I break with my predator sneaky...it's ok, but nothing special. I tried out the predator bk, but I didn't notice much of a difference between that and my playing cue. I also tried a generic phenolic tipped break cue - and it broke only marginally harder.

I've heard good things about the sledgehammer, stinger, and fury jb. Does anyone think that these break harder? As in noticibly harder than the predator bk or a hard hitting playing cue? I'm not really concerned about control...if I want that I'll just break with my pred.

thanks
-egg


Honestly Egg, there are very simple variables involved that cannot dramatically change with a different cue. Assuming that you're using a cue that abides by the BCA rules for equipment and you're using it in a fashion that is also consistent with the BCA rules, you can only make a cue-ball travel so fast. Every single study I've ever reviewed and every cue I've ever tried did not have an overwhelming advantage in terms of speed. In fact, I found the similiarities in all cues more telling than anything else. Then, perhaps speed isn't the overwhelming factor involved in creating the perfect break-cue?

The fact is, you can break the balls relatively soft and get a significant spread so long as you hit the rack accurately. Any deviation from a near-perfect hit will result in a loss of energy. Undoubtedly, you will lose more energy overall because of inaccurate hits than you will because a possibly inferior cue was somehow "slower".

If I were you, I would be looking for a cue that showed qualities that you look for in your playing cue. You want something that has an accurate hit even when struck hard. Beyond that, I don't think anything else really matters. I will say, until the phenolic tip is universally accepted as legal, I'm not certain I'd be willing to plunk down money to buy one.
 
actually ...

Those J&J break/jump cues were $25 with about $15 shipping. That's
almost a throw-a-way if you didn't like it, or sell off to lessor player cheap.

I don't know why, but I have this fascination with jump cues, and am always
looking for another jump cue .... I have 2 already ... lol
 
Snapshot9 said:
Those J&J break/jump cues were $25 with about $15 shipping. That's
almost a throw-a-way if you didn't like it, or sell off to lessor player cheap.

I don't know why, but I have this fascination with jump cues, and am always
looking for another jump cue .... I have 2 already ... lol


you better go back to the table and practice position if you need to use the jump cue alot. lol j/k.
 
That's the feeling I also got. Wasn't very impressed by any of the ones I tried. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so. Several people I know swear by them - and after trying some of them out, I think it's largely psychological.

But, if there is a harder hitting break cue out there, I'd give it a shot. It'd be nice to take some arm off the break and get better accuracy/control without giving up power.

I think a lot of the break cue hype has leveled out now and it'd be nice to hear some re-evaluations.

peace
-egg

Jude Rosenstock said:
Every single study I've ever reviewed and every cue I've ever tried did not have an overwhelming advantage in terms of speed. In fact, I found the similiarities in all cues more telling than anything else. Then, perhaps speed isn't the overwhelming factor involved in creating the perfect break-cue?
 
Snapshot9 said:
Those J&J break/jump cues were $25 with about $15 shipping. That's
almost a throw-a-way if you didn't like it, or sell off to lessor player cheap.

I don't know why, but I have this fascination with jump cues, and am always
looking for another jump cue .... I have 2 already ... lol


LOL i love my jump cues I have 2 myself try and find one that ways 5 or 6 oz AWW i love it only need a chalk away god the guys just hate me in the 9 ball tounaments lol I been knowen to make four or so in one rack....you better freezem to get me lol.... jump cues rule...
 
i have had both custom and production break cues. scorpion, cuetec, madison bob, etc, and what i have now works just as good. all i did was have Mueller's make a break shaft (13.5mm, 8"-10" taper, med hard tip) for a cuetec butt, and it breaks a rack quite nicely.

like most posters, if you hit the rack solidly, on center, with some stun, thats the #1 thing when it comes to being a good breaker.

DCP
 
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