Break Cue Weight

D

drivermaker

Banned
I just received my Sept. issue of Inside Pool (I have never been shafted on one issue yet), and they highlight Chris Szuter in the "What's In The Case" segment and based on his comments it looks like the pendulum is swinging back in favor of heavier break cues. He said, "Lately, people are going for more control and accuracy with a heavier break cue. I'm able to hit a more controlled break and get good action". Chris is using a 22 oz. break cue.

Personally, I think far too much has been made of the light break weight to increase speed. I never had much success over a long period of time with it in either breaking the rack better and especially in control. I find it even more important to get them heavy with the phenolic tips for control.

I just raised my Sledgehammer back up to 20.85, a Fury to 20.5, and a Cue-Tec to 21.35. This is where they're going to stay. I won't be going back to a light break cue.
 
DM i agree i use a 20 ounce sledgehammer as well. i think i get more control with it. jeremy jones uses a 20 ounce break cue and im pretty sure johnny archer uses a heavy one as well. i like them.
 
drivermaker said:
I just received my Sept. issue of Inside Pool (I have never been shafted on one issue yet), and they highlight Chris Szuter in the "What's In The Case" segment and based on his comments it looks like the pendulum is swinging back in favor of heavier break cues. He said, "Lately, people are going for more control and accuracy with a heavier break cue. I'm able to hit a more controlled break and get good action". Chris is using a 22 oz. break cue.

Personally, I think far too much has been made of the light break weight to increase speed. I never had much success over a long period of time with it in either breaking the rack better and especially in control. I find it even more important to get them heavy with the phenolic tips for control.

I just raised my Sledgehammer back up to 20.85, a Fury to 20.5, and a Cue-Tec to 21.35. This is where they're going to stay. I won't be going back to a light break cue.
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I used a 18.5oz break cue for years, but recently switched to 20.5oz. I always heard lighter was better. But for me, the heavier stick is doing the job a lot better with less effort.
 
A couple years ago I switched to a lighter break cue and could actually feel the extra speed I was getting. However, especially lately I'm considering changing back to a heavier one because of the occasional flying cue ball. I figure I could get the same impact with a little less speed and thus more control.

Only one thing that I'm concerned about. I don't know why cause I used a heavy break stick before.

If I went back to a heavy stick and had a phenolic tip on it I'm a little afraid of having the cue ball go airborne off the table. I would guess that if you hit the head ball square it shouldn't matter. In 8 ball though I have to really slow down my break speed cause I've been breaking on the second ball and with too much power it flies off the table.

Don't know, just some of the things I'm thinking about while deciding to make the change or not.
 
any of you ever try that ~14oz break stick? I think it was called the lightning bolt. lol what a joke
 
Especially considering the phenolic tips, that makes a lot of sense. What weights do you usually play with? Personally, I have always found it comfortable to break with the same weight that I play with (19.5oz) and just play with tips and tapers.
 
Mungtor said:
Especially considering the phenolic tips, that makes a lot of sense. What weights do you usually play with? Personally, I have always found it comfortable to break with the same weight that I play with (19.5oz) and just play with tips and tapers.
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19.3 - 19.7 playing weights. I had my break cue at that and lighter...it didn't work as well as heavy.
 
I do know this....I broke with Arm's 20 ounce Sledgehammer and it was far better for breaking than my old 19 ounce Sledgehammer. However, I now break with a 18 ounce Colt with a Phenolic tip.

I think you almost need different break cues depending on what game you are playing...or how you feel most comfortable breaking the balls.

If you are a head on breaker that likes to squat the rock, I would recommend a 20 ounce cue with a hard leather tip. Most control and best chance with a slow stroke to make a ball and stop whitey.

If you are a high flyer that likes to slam the pack, a phenolic tip with a light cue may provide more action and balls flying in the pocket.

Again...just depending upon the breaking style of the player.

I have always been told, stronger the fella, lighter the cue; weaker the fella, heavier the cue.

JMO, FWIW
Shorty
 
Being a baseball fan, I've always related break cue weight, the same way as bat weight. If you can maintain the same speed with the heavier cue, your break will be harder due to the mass/momentum. I stole this excerpt:

To see the effects of bat weight and bat speed, here is a summary of an experiment[6] in which the ball mass, pitch speed, and bat swing speed were all kept constant. Only the bat mass was changed. The data shows that a heavier bat produces a faster batted ball speed. This makes intuitive sense since a heavier bat brings more momentum into the collision. Doubling the mass of the bat results in an increase of almost 12mph. So, using a heavier bat should result in faster hit balls, which means the hit ball will travel farther. If a player can maintain the same bat swing speed with a heavier bat, the heavier bat will produce higher batted ball velocity and an increase in distance.

I would think the same logic would apply to pool.

BTW, my break cue is 20 oz.

FWIW,

Jim
 
Agreeing With Shorty

I would have to agree with Shorty's last statement, I'm a bigger guy play with a 19.25 oz cue, break with a 18.5 oz. Stinger. I hit the balls hard but still can control the rock. My wife is a small gal in which she plays with a 19.25 oz. cue but breaks with a 20.5 oz. Sledgehammer. She can't get much power behind it so the weight helps her out.

Biz
 
Personally

I have never agreed with the lighter breaking cue equals
more speed equals better break theory. I shot with a 21 oz.
for years (5'7", conditioned well), and now shoot with a
20.2 oz.. I break with the same weight. I also learned
many years ago how to put my body weight behind my
break to get more power. As I get older, I still get power
into my break, but concentrate more towards the overall
stroke with good cue ball control and follow through.
It's like trying out new cars, one will just have the right
feel to it with the driving results you want.
 
I knew this one girl who broke with a 25 oz cue with a brass ferrule on it. She could smash an 8-ball rack to pieces.

Barbara
 
I've always liked a heavier cue to break with.
I remember a guy in the service had a break cue he made that he fitted a metal rod through the butt and forearm. The thing broke like you wouldn't believe.
 
drivermaker said:
I think this is who you must be talking about: :eek:


http://www.coletteguimond.net
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Aaaaa!! My eyes!! My eyes!!

No, she was just a skinny thing. Unfortunately she doesn't play anymore. She once beat Karen Corr on the hill in the first round of NEWT's NY State Championships. Karen, however, came back to win the event.

Barbara
 
I have a Predator 20 oz BK Break Cue, which Predator has given us for demostration use at the tournaments & shows. 99% of the players that have used that cue, to try out their break shot, has said they really like that cue.

I also have a 21 0z BreakRAK Cue, made Auerbach Custom Cues, which has a marvelous feel & the players like it real well too.

Neither Cue has a phenolic tip.

When I play with these cues, I just let the cues do the work. A 20-21oz object hitting a 6oz object, at 22-24 mph, creates a lot of energy for spreading the rack. Allowing the cue to do the work, actually aids in my accuracy.

All of my life, I have heard that heavier cues are more accurate for shot making & lighter cues are great for position play. Hence, the "middle of the road" scenario.

However, the optimal break shot is accurate & with good cue ball control, to the part of the table you want the cue ball to come to rest.

I like a good solid cue to break with... 20-21oz is great for me.
 
My break cue weight is 20 oz, but the shaft is 14mm. It's a Bob Frey break cue.

Barbara
 
Barbara said:
My break cue weight is 20 oz, but the shaft is 14mm. It's a Bob Frey break cue.

Barbara
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"Bob Frey"??? Isn't that the guy off the food network. sorry, no that's Bobby Flay.

I like heavier sticks for breaking,... also with a bigger furrel. My playing cue is 12.75mm and break cue is 14mm.
 
heavy break cues do a good job because they deliver a haevier cb. i think the women should all use heavy cues because they can't generate enough cue speed to break well with a lighter cue.

however, i have to say, it's also all in the elements of the cue. this one gal i know has an awesome light break cue with a MASSIVE brass joint. and that's where it gets all of its power.
 
I think a lighter break cue may be superior, but it sure feels like crap. The heavy cue (19 oz and up) just feels more solid. This may give the illusion that you're actually breaking better. Especially if you're a "feel" player. I break with a 19 oz.
 
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