Breaking - Carbon v’s Wood

deep

deep

OFF THE CHAIN
Silver Member
I know this subject has been talked about a lot but I’ve noticed somethings recently which have got me thinking.
Since returning to pool around a year ago I have tried a lot of break cues but I’m still looking for one I’m totally happy with.
When breaking with carbon shafts I feel there is definitely a power increase over wood shafts, but I’ve noticed when breaking with a maple shaft I always seem to get a better spread and actually make more balls consistently.
Has anyone else experienced something like this or am I just overthinking the whole process?
 
deep said:
I know this subject has been talked about a lot but I’ve noticed somethings recently which have got me thinking.
Since returning to pool around a year ago I have tried a lot of break cues but I’m still looking for one I’m totally happy with.
When breaking with carbon shafts I feel there is definitely a power increase over wood shafts, but I’ve noticed when breaking with a maple shaft I always seem to get a better spread and actually make more balls consistently.
Has anyone else experienced something like this or am I just overthinking the whole process?
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I can’t think of a reason other than more power (or maybe a more direct hit) for better spreads.

pj
chgo
 
What tips do you have on the maple and the CF?

I've noticed that sometimes I would get a beter spread and pocket balls using my playing cue.
I don't think that it's wood vs CF, but rather being more accurate while breaking a bit softer.
 
This is all VERY subjective stuff. There's no reason that one shaft would make for better spreads than another. As for accuracy? Same thing. Maple is not more accurate for breaking than cf. The stiffness of CF can/does provide a tad more ball speed when breaking but its not huge.
 
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deep said:
I know this subject has been talked about a lot but I’ve noticed somethings recently which have got me thinking.
Since returning to pool around a year ago I have tried a lot of break cues but I’m still looking for one I’m totally happy with.
When breaking with carbon shafts I feel there is definitely a power increase over wood shafts, but I’ve noticed when breaking with a maple shaft I always seem to get a better spread and actually make more balls consistently.
Has anyone else experienced something like this or am I just overthinking the whole process?
Click to expand...

Do we really need power or just more accuracy?

Sounds crazy I know, but I break with my player for every game and my player is equipped with a traditional maple wood shaft, 12.25.

Breaking hard sounds great though.
 
deep said:
I know this subject has been talked about a lot but I’ve noticed somethings recently which have got me thinking.
Since returning to pool around a year ago I have tried a lot of break cues but I’m still looking for one I’m totally happy with.
When breaking with carbon shafts I feel there is definitely a power increase over wood shafts, but I’ve noticed when breaking with a maple shaft I always seem to get a better spread and actually make more balls consistently.
Has anyone else experienced something like this or am I just overthinking the whole process?
Click to expand...

It is likely that you are hitting a sweeter spot with one cue than the other.
 

skor said:
What tips do you have on the maple and the CF?
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The cues I've used today -
Carbon - BK Rush, stock tip
Maple - 1st Gen OB Break, Kamui Sia hard

I'm starting to think the reason the carbon cue feels more powerful id just down to how stiff it is.
 
garczar said:
This is all VERY subjective stuff. There's no reason that one shaft would make for better spreads than another. As for accuracy? Same thing. Maple is not more accurate for breaking than cf. The stiffness of CF can/does provide a tad more ball speed when breaking but its not huge.
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Totally agree, but i'm coming to the conclusion that the extra stiffness of CF can make it feel powerful than it actually is.
 
If you feel using the wood break shafts give you the best results & most confidence mentally then by all means stick with em.

Try the Samsara break shaft if you haven't already. I have had quite a bit of good luck with one of them along with an OB.
 
When it comes to breaking meh.. I replaced my bk3 and air with bk rush and air rush. The air rush jump cue is amazing compared to the air. The bk rush I find is no batter at all then my bk3. Honestly it might be the biggest waste of money I’ve had in pool in 35 years of playing.
 
trob said:
The bk rush I find is no batter at all then my bk3. Honestly it might be the biggest waste of money I’ve had in pool in 35 years of playing.
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That's why I just bough a $200 CF break shaft for my BK2. $800 on a break cue with ugly decals is too stupid
 
deep said:
Totally agree, but i'm coming to the conclusion that the extra stiffness of CF can make it feel powerful than it actually is.
Click to expand...
No, its real. That extra stiffness makes for more ball speed. This varies a lot from shaft to shaft. Every cf shaft i've tried has shown more power as in easier to drive the cb forward. The dedicated cf break shafts even more so.
 
deep said:
I know this subject has been talked about a lot but I’ve noticed somethings recently which have got me thinking.
Since returning to pool around a year ago I have tried a lot of break cues but I’m still looking for one I’m totally happy with.
When breaking with carbon shafts I feel there is definitely a power increase over wood shafts, but I’ve noticed when breaking with a maple shaft I always seem to get a better spread and actually make more balls consistently.
Has anyone else experienced something like this or am I just overthinking the whole process?
Click to expand...
Which gives you a consistent break? Not consistently making a ball, but making the same ball.

Making the one, or making a wing ball, or a ball from the second rank in the side are what I see from the best. The second part is they are better at planting whitey. Leaving the spread as the third principle. Are you doing any of these things?

The choice of shafts comes down to which is doing any of the above. If one does one, and the other does another...keep practicing with both until you are accomplishing at least a couple.

We all know this. None of us has a short cut for you.
 
skor said:
That's why I just bough a $200 CF break shaft for my BK2. $800 on a break cue with ugly decals is too stupid
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I’m anal so if I didn’t buy it and it doesn’t match it would bother the hell out of me.. luckily $800 doesn’t mean much to me but I try to save anyone else from wasting their money. Sometimes I think all break cues are over rated. The tip came off my bk3 and I was breaking with a player sneaky Pete I have in my rack at home and it broke just as good lol
 
How hard do we really need to hit a rack these days?

Id argue of the 3 major disciplines requiring a break that some power... none of them NEED a break over 25mph, which is achievable with a wood shaft.

I feel you need to trade some of that speed for accuracy and knowledge.
 
trob said:
I’m anal so if I didn’t buy it and it doesn’t match it would bother the hell out of me.. luckily $800 doesn’t mean much to me but I try to save anyone else from wasting their money. Sometimes I think all break cues are over rated. The tip came off my bk3 and I was breaking with a player sneaky Pete I have in my rack at home and it broke just as good lol
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It matches perfectly :)
I'm anal about these things as well
 
Icon of Sin said:
How hard do we really need to hit a rack these days?

Id argue of the 3 major disciplines requiring a break that some power... none of them NEED a break over 25mph, which is achievable with a wood shaft.

I feel you need to trade some of that speed for accuracy and knowledge.
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Not everybody plays at world class events on perfect equipment with brand new cloth that is replace every week with brand new slicky balls.
Most places don't even have a good rack.
SO I would say, most of us need a big break, more than pros, while most of us don't have the stroke or accuracy of a pro to deliver that big break.
You need it more in 8 ball than then other games but still it's needed on other games as well, and again, not everybody plays on the WNT and racks the 9 on the spot.
So we do need the aid of a good breaking cue to give us a bit more power without loosing accuracy.
I wonder why would anybody pass on a tool that can give an edge in your game, your opponent has one.
The pros understand it and have one.
When you play / practice for 6-8 hours and your atm gets tires, you will be glad to have that tool in your bag.
If you just play a friendly game on the bar box, then you probably don't need it.
 
I've been breaking way better since switching to the Rhino carbon fiber break shaft. Must be the shaft. Or it could be the hours and hours I've spent practicing. Nah, it's the shaft.
 
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