Break Pads & Piece Of Paper

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DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Joe T said:
Neil I actually use the hole reinforcements to save on cloth wear when I practice the break? Done without them the cloth wears fairly fast breaking from the same spot but by putting one down it stops the wear. OR do you mean the lines they can cause between the spots??

Also to those that have to use cloth break pads at their home clubs and don't like to, I suggest you just use a small piece of paper under the cb, does the trick just fine.
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So, what exactly is a Break Pad? or is it just a piece of cloth that you place the CB on? And does a small piece of white writing paper get the job done here too?

I assume both of these are done to try and curtail the white burn spots where people break from?

Mike
 
Appropriate Assumption.

We have been using break pads for the last 4 years and have seen the benifits. No Christmas tree spots on the table. And the table still look and play great.

DrCue'sProtege said:
I assume both of these are done to try and curtail the white burn spots where people break from?

Mike
Click to expand...
 
At the place I play regularly, Harvey's Billiards in Renton, WA, break pad use is mandatory. I'm sure they help reduce the amount of friction at the point of take off, but in all honesty, the ball is still going to slide a bit even after launching off the break pad. There are white marks that have appeared over the last 6 months, although not as pronounced as before using the pads (been playing on Harvey's tables for years).

Harvey's also imposes a NO JUMP/NO MASSE' rule for all players unless in a tournament match. The idea is to not tempt beginning or recreational players to attempt such shots.

---Almost forgot! A break pad is just a piece of left over cloth or a piece of cloth cut into an 8" square. Harvey's uses left over pieces. I also received 2 break cloths when I ordered my Aramith Tournament balls.
 
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Tom In Cincy said:
Appropriate Assumption.

We have been using break pads for the last 4 years and have seen the benifits. No Christmas tree spots on the table. And the table still look and play great.
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i realize this can get hazy.... but if a guy is breaking OBVIOUSLY very soft, do you enforce this rule? point: break pads seem to be game dependent. if im getting 12 to 2 from efren playing one hole, maybe i want to smash the balls and make one on the break in my hole.... do i need a break pad according to room rules? so point.... if a guy is breaking super soft in 9 ball, i think he should get the leeway (dont know if that is enforceable though)?
 
i just wanted to add.... i know there are benefits to these pads, but on all the shots you could pick to use a pad, i would think the break would be the worst one. if youre off by the width of a hair on a break and the cb goes flying in the side vs squatting. i think the break pad logic would be like trying to save the grass at the tee area on golf courses by putting astroturf matts there. sure you have solved the problem, BUT........ i just think its just the natural wear and tear of the table. the REALLY ironic thing is, everyone seems to try and discourage soft breaking, haha, think about that one. i do REALLY like the no jump masses unless a tournament or gambling rule.... that has some logic behind it.
 
Break cloths

We have been using them daily for many years, if you have guys playing a lot of 9 ball every day holes do appear in the cloth after a while, especially when someone just practicing, breaks every rack instead of just throwing the balls up on the table.

it does help save the cloth, I know I have to watch a couple guys or they will put the cloth in front of the cueball and not on it.

NO ONE Soft breaks in my room, I think they try to move the tables LOL

highrun55
 
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Obviously One Pocket and 14.1 are exempt from the Break Pad.

'Leeway' why open that box?
Break pads serve a purpose. Cloth plays better, longer. We still replace cloth every 10 months or so. More often with more play.

Not one player has complained about the use of a break pad. Those that didn't know about why they were being used, asked, but didn't complain.

Most players think it gives them a better line on the rack and not near as much 'bouncing' down the table. You know, the bounce that sends the cue ball off the table after hitting the One ball just a HAIR off center?

enzo said:
i realize this can get hazy.... but if a guy is breaking OBVIOUSLY very soft, do you enforce this rule? point: break pads seem to be game dependent. if im getting 12 to 2 from efren playing one hole, maybe i want to smash the balls and make one on the break in my hole.... do i need a break pad according to room rules? so point.... if a guy is breaking super soft in 9 ball, i think he should get the leeway (dont know if that is enforceable though)?
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Lets start using break pads with the magic rack to make sure that nothing starts on the actual playing surface lol.
 
I use one for jump practice, but not for breaking--bbut I'm one of those who thinks the break is more about precision than power.
 
I have used a break pad for a long time on my home table. It eliminated that spot from being burned in but doesn't eliminate those burn marks from the ball hopping on the way to the rack.

No matter how you protect the cloth it will eventually need to be replaced. You will over time gets track marks along the rail, and in the rack area.
:frown:It doesn't hurt to try to prevent or eliminate as much as possible.
 
TheBook said:
I have used a break pad for a long time on my home table. It eliminated that spot from being burned in but doesn't eliminate those burn marks from the ball hopping on the way to the rack.

No matter how you protect the cloth it will eventually need to be replaced. You will over time gets track marks along the rail, and in the rack area.
:frown:It doesn't hurt to try to prevent or eliminate as much as possible.
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It prolly helps them marks on the way to the rack.

The thickness of the cloth pad will have the CB more airborne. Therefore making more marks as it bounces its way to the rack !

I used to use a dollar bill but I seen the ink marks on the CB from the money, lol.
So I tried not to use them at all , but some places insist you do. Get the dollar bill out is what I would do. No thick cloth pad for me tyvm !
 
At a club I used to play at they also put a piece of cloth under the rack. It's kind of hard to explain but they would attach it on the back of the rack when you would rack it would be under it. after the balls were in the rack you would slide the rack forward into place and the felt would just slide out. You didn't get the marks on the table from the constant racking that way. Like I said it's kind of hard to explain.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
So, what exactly is a Break Pad? or is it just a piece of cloth that you place the CB on? And does a small piece of white writing paper get the job done here too?

I assume both of these are done to try and curtail the white burn spots where people break from?

Mike
Click to expand...

Yup, just a plain old piece of paper does the trick.
 
oldzilla said:
It prolly helps them marks on the way to the rack.

The thickness of the cloth pad will have the CB more airborne. Therefore making more marks as it bounces its way to the rack !

I used to use a dollar bill but I seen the ink marks on the CB from the money, lol.
So I tried not to use them at all , but some places insist you do. Get the dollar bill out is what I would do. No thick cloth pad for me tyvm !
Click to expand...

The thickness of the cloth doesn't really matter. Try this experiment. Take a 50 cent piece and put it about a inch if front of the CB when breaking without using a cloth. The CB will not hit the coin. It gets airborne as soon as you hit it. This is the reason that the CB will jump in the air when it hits a rack. The CB is hitting above the horizontal center line of the head ball.

This is also another reason that you may miss a cut shot when you shoot real hard. The CB is hitting above the center line and in effect changes the angle. Don Feeney demonstrates all of this in his videos.
 
I've never used one on my table or anywhere for that matter. You could use it with your Micheal Jackson pool glove.
 
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