Cue weight & breaking

[Big John JT]

Having been out of pool for years this may have been discussed here before but... I use an 18oz cue for breaking in 9 ball, a lighter cue did seem to improve my break, which I did like most people back then and broke with as much energy as possible. I have started using a much softer break and seem to get a lot better results but here is my question, since a lighter cue helps out with velocity in a powerhouse break, would a heavier cue say a 21 oz., be better for a softer break? I am going to be getting a break cue in a while and I am just curious about ideas on this.

 

[Colin Colenso]

Having been out of pool for years this may have been discussed here before but... I use an 18oz cue for breaking in 9 ball, a lighter cue did seem to improve my break, which I did like most people back then and broke with as much energy as possible. I have started using a much softer break and seem to get a lot better results but here is my question, since a lighter cue helps out with velocity in a powerhouse break, would a heavier cue say a 21 oz., be better for a softer break? I am going to be getting a break cue in a while and I am just curious about ideas on this.

Hey John,
I've got no real clear answer for what cue is best for a softer accuracy break, but here are some things to consider.

To determine the maximum power break cue form different people it will depend on their power and the length of their backswing.

A cue weighing a ton would still only send off the cue ball at just under double the speed the cue was travelling on impact. This is determined by Vcb= (2*Mc*Vc)/(Mc+Mcb). A very light cue hitting a cue ball of the same weight would give cue ball the samespeed as the cue and the cue would stop temporarily (this is what we see when a sliding ball contacts a still ball in the centre). A cue with no weight would bounce back off the cueball and not move it.

Obviously we couldn't swing a cue weighing 100kg very fast. So there is a kind of maimal power point for various weights of cues for players of different power. A shot put champion may get more cb speed with a 24 oz cue. Your grandma with a 15 oz cue.

For accuracy, my guess is the best cue to use is the one you can get the greatest speed with. This should be the cue you can get 80% top speed with the most ease also. It might help to have a big tip on the break cue to reduce the effects of side.

 

[THE SILENCER]

a soft break and a 21 oz. cue will not work. the best break cue is a 18 oz. cue. i suggest for $75 to go to www.malicloth.com click on cues, scroll down, get rafer billiards toll free # and order the F-6 in 18 oz. tell them bernie sent you and speak to mike.