Hmmm...I wonder why the professional players don't make "at least 1 ball per break"...whether they use a leather or phenolic tip? The myth of "if you don't make a ball on the break, your break sucks, or you need to break harder"...is just that...a myth.
i made a very long break without playin any pool for about 10-11 years. now came back, went into a pool-room from a club in my near-town. 6 tables..........and wondered about the *funny* sounds while some guys were breakin and jumpin-lol. then i asked someone if perhaps his tip is installed *badly*? u can imagine what he looked like at me......- thx god someone came over and told me- that *now* most of the guys playin with that kind of phenolic tips, g-10 or what ever.
after i bought a new break cue (installed with such a *funny* non-leather-tip*) i drove crazy from that horrible sound. Okay- for jumping it s a great advantage- but in my opinion there is still nothin better than a break cue, which has the same weight like your playin cue- with a very hard leather tip- i m know going to buy again a pure break-cue and will keep that *non-leather-innovation* as a pure jump cue.