Breaking with your playing cue ?

iowa_player

iowa_player

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I would like to get others opinions on this subject .

This year at the Iowa State tourn. I was talking to Adam Behnke and I asked him about break cues . He told me that the best break cue he ever tried was his playing cue ( a Schon )

So I have been thinking about this SVB and Jesse Bowman both break with there playing cue also . All three of these players use an ss jointed cue and I can understand concerns about breaking with an ivory joint or ferrule but other than that why not ?

I have heard some say that they don't like to use there playing cue to break with as they feel it makes the tip flat and hard therefore increasing your odds of a miscue .

On the other side of the coin I have heard many say that they want a cue they are comfortable with for such an important shot . With a leather playing tip you can have better cue ball control and park the cue ball more often in the middle of the table correct ?

Thanks for your opinions :)

Larry
 
Depends on your tip. If you're playing with a triangle or superpro, or any hard tip like those, I guess it'd be fine. I would be leery of breaking with a Moori Slow or Sniper or Elkmaster, though.
 
Different strokes for different folks, I do not break with my playing cue, I shattered an ivory ferrule years ago and ruined a shaft.

I like a break cue with leather tip, I feel it gives me more control.
 
It basically depends on two things: a) how long do you want your play cue to last, b) how long do you want your tip to last.
 
Interesting...

In the past the general belief as to break without any english on the cueball at all producing a flat hit on the head ball and basically returning the cueball to center table in hopes of having an opening shot to start your run. In the present game though the "cut break" option has given rise to a true need in a leather top to apply the english to the cueball in an attempt to return it to center table. Therefore it's now just a question of personal preference I suppose. Decide which type of break you want to use and that will in turn lead to what type of tip you'll be needing on your break cue.

I break 9-ball/10-ball with my break cue and all other games with my playing cue.
 
sun526 said:
Won't own a cue that I can't break with.
Click to expand...

What this guy said. Although there are some exceptions (Ivory, etc), there's no reason you can't break with your playing cue if you have a harder tip. It's not gonna break.

If you "break" cues while breaking, it's not because you break hard--- it's because your technique is bad---- you prob bend the thing in half during your follow-through.
 
Lol

SpiderWebComm said:
If you "break" cues while breaking, it's not because you break hard--- it's because your technique is bad---- you prob bend the thing in half during your follow-through.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had a buddy of mine swear to God that he didn't "go into the table bed" on a break shot that he broke his cue on. All of us watching laughed our asses off 'cause we sat there and watched him do it time and time again until it snapped on him! Oh well, bad form = bad results! LOL :thumbup:
 
SpiderWebComm said:
there's no reason you can't break with your playing cue if you have a harder tip. It's not gonna break.

If you "break" cues while breaking, it's not because you break hard.
Click to expand...

Usta break with my playing cue, it's not breaking the cue or even killing the tip that was the problem. It's breaking/cracking the ferrule that sucked, I went through 2 or 3 ferrule breaking with my playing cue. Then i decided to play with my break cue, havent had a problem since.
 
iowa_player said:
I would like to get others opinions on this subject .

This year at the Iowa State tourn. I was talking to Adam Behnke and I asked him about break cues . He told me that the best break cue he ever tried was his playing cue ( a Schon )

So I have been thinking about this SVB and Jesse Bowman both break with there playing cue also . All three of these players use an ss jointed cue and I can understand concerns about breaking with an ivory joint or ferrule but other than that why not ?

I have heard some say that they don't like to use there playing cue to break with as they feel it makes the tip flat and hard therefore increasing your odds of a miscue .

On the other side of the coin I have heard many say that they want a cue they are comfortable with for such an important shot . With a leather playing tip you can have better cue ball control and park the cue ball more often in the middle of the table correct ?

Thanks for your opinions :)

Larry
Click to expand...

I break with my Southwest. I use a triangle and don't have an issue keeping the shape, which is roughly a nickel radius. I've used the same tip for over a year now and I'm sure I've got at least 6 months left on it. And, I had it taken down a bit when it was put on. I don't like the look of new thick tips for some reason.

In all the years I've been doing this I have broken one ferrule and I think that was because I let the tip get down too far. I think there was less than 1/16 of an inch left on the side of the tip.

Every now and again I try out a new break cue but so far I haven't found one that I feel comfortable with. The new break tips are so hard that I have a hard time keeping the ball on the table.

I have to admit that I only play anywhere from 2-6 hours a week anymore and half the time I play one pocket, at least for the past 4-5 years. Before that it was all 9 ball and I broke with the Southwest then too.
 
Argh.... I cringe every time my friend breaks with his cue. Given it's a DP.. he put a Z with moori medium on it. I think i hear it wail in pain every time the rack shatters. :(
 
it really does not make sense to have a break cue.. Why spend X amount of dollars on a cue for one shot when even thou I have heard it the most important.. I think if a player really learns to play then just a good stroke break works it's no more powerful than using a real hard force follow which you do with your playing cue. BUT I have and will only play with harder tips. RIght now I use a Kamui Black Med and do everything with it including billiards all with the same cue. I think the only real game you would really need a break cue for would be 8 ball but even then if you play any type of 14.1 then a soft break may be better for you and not who you are playing if you do miss. 9/10 ball it is nicer to be able to read a rack and use a fair amount of english to know which way to send the cue ball for a fair shot at the the next ball you need to make as long as you can see where and what ball will be made but every table is different.
 
Sam Waltz said:
Yeah, I had a buddy of mine swear to God that he didn't "go into the table bed" on a break shot that he broke his cue on. All of us watching laughed our asses off 'cause we sat there and watched him do it time and time again until it snapped on him! Oh well, bad form = bad results! LOL :thumbup:
Click to expand...

So making your shaft bend is not good in the sense of a shortened cue lifespan or in the sense of poor form? I was under the impression that the flex of the cue indicates a slight "jump" and massive draw which makes the cue ball pop off the table and stay in the center area. I still break off the rail and usually end up flexing the shaft some. I am still not comfortable breaking from the middle and accomplishing the same amount of power and control.
 
I always break with my playing cue. The only draw back to it for me is that once in a tourney my tip came loose and then it was SOL me (I had to finish with my break cue until I could get a tip back on and I hate new tips).
 
My player has an ivory joint and ferrule, so I'm a little wary of breaking with it. For a long time I played with my J/B though.
 
Bad for cue life!

Bencho,

Definately bad for cue lifespan! All physical objects have a breaking point and my friend found that out the hard way when his cue screamed "ENOUGH" and snapped on him! LOL It's all a personal preference and if bending the cue due to your finish position resulting in the tip being implanted into the table bed and that's what you get the best results with, more power to ya. Just realize that sooner or later you will break the cue somewhere near or at the joint and you will not be happy.

The most proficient breaker in the game today, Shane Van Boening, isn't in any way going to be bustin' his cue via a breakshot so I think I'll study him over just about any other player out there nowadays.
 
Break cue

1) Playing cue is meant for playing, not for power breaking. Why take a chance on damaging the playing cue?
2) Break cues are made just for that, breaking. Most have a 14 mm tip and a stiffer shaft.
3) A playing cue break might leave balls a few inches from going in, where a break cue break will enable those balls to make it to the pocket to go in.
4) As one ages, you lose part of your strength, and a break cue allows you to compensate some by having a stiffer shaft, bigger tip, and I have to include a phenolic tip here too. In other words, you will not power break as much as when you were younger, and a break cue keeps you in the game.
5) I got a break cue after shattering the ferrule on my playing cue, and I am glad I did.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top