Converting a playing cue to a break cue

I would say to learn how to read a rack, and practicing your break shot will give you a bigger upside, then buying a break cue.

BTW I am of the opinion that an old playing cue will serve well as a breaker.

Besides a harder tip, there is little to no difference between a player and breaker today.

Now a Jump/Break cue is a whole other discussion.


Lou Bones said:
If you take an old playing cue and put a good break tip (like a Samsara) on it, will that work as good (as a break cue) as a cue that is manufactured and marketted as a break cue?
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Lou Bones said:
If you take an old playing cue and put a good break tip (like a Samsara) on it, will that work as good (as a break cue) as a cue that is manufactured and marketted as a break cue?
Click to expand...

I've put G-10 tips on regular cues. If the shaft is a smaller diameter, the shaft will flex a lot when you break. Kind of fun to use.

Will still break nice and hard though! I believe pool should be fun and not all that serious.:smile:
 
To answer the OP's question, I've had mixed results converting playing cues into break cues, but it CAN surely be done successfully. I once used an old Cuetec cue (fiberglass-cladded shaft) I had put a White Diamond tip (and other hard tips) onto and could rarely make a ball or get good scattering action on the rack with.
OTOH, I once converted a cheap, Sterling sneaky into a break cue by installing a Samsara tip onto it and it broke as good as any break cue I own or have owned. I let that cue go with a case sale I made, but I wish I had kept it.

FTR, with the exception of a custom Larry Vigus (63Kcode on AZB) break cue I had him make for me, the only other reason I have purchased a break cue (or should I say J/B cue) was for the integral jump cue. I wanted to "dabble" at learning how to jump before eventually buying a dedicated jump cue. I now use a dedicated jump cue and a dedicated break cue, but I can still do both functions just fine with a good J/B cue.

The simple answer though to your question is YES, a playing cue can be converted to a decent break cue, but you may or may not have to play around with different combinations before you get what you desire out of it.

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
To answer the OP's question, I've had mixed results converting playing cues into break cues, but it CAN surely be done successfully. I once used an old Cuetec cue (fiberglass-cladded shaft) I had put a White Diamond tip (and other hard tips) onto and could rarely make a ball or get good scattering action on the rack with.
Click to expand...

I've just taken delivery of the same, and had the same results. The cue made a hell of a noise, and there seemed a lot of power in the break, but the balls didn't seem to go anywhere. I like the cue more as a playing cue, even with the break tip. :grin:
 
Take your playing cue out of your case and put it back in your case where you like to keep your breaker.just kidding!

Many cues designed for breaking do not work well for me.I like a light break cue and a pro taper,the thick taper is no good IMO for breaking.

The main reason to have a break cue is to save the tip on your shooter IMO.You could go with a hard tip for breaking but It might be a bit onforgiving if you unintentionally hit the CB off center?Maybe the opposite is true IDK,I don't have a hammer break.
 
brandoncook26 said:
I guess the little smiley at the end of the post blew right past you.
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It did. I had just gotten through mowing the lawn and was dead-tired. It's hotter than a pawnshop cue down here in Texas, even in the mornings.

My bad!!! :sorry:

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
To answer the OP's question, I've had mixed results converting playing cues into break cues, but it CAN surely be done successfully. I once used an old Cuetec cue (fiberglass-cladded shaft) I had put a White Diamond tip (and other hard tips) onto and could rarely make a ball or get good scattering action on the rack with.
Click to expand...

I did the same with an old cuetec, but I had great results with it. I guess the cuetec's ferrule is garbage and didn't transfer power well. I had a phenolic ferrule/tip combo placed on it for a good price, and it worked well for me:

Cuetec thread
 
The tip is a big part of how effective a break cue works. Harder the tip means more energy is transferred. I have noticed that my Mezz Power Break II is several inches shorter than a regular cue. The weight distribution is more in the rear and the shaft is VERY stiff. So IMO it is several characteristics that make a cue a good breaker.
 
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