When playing Straight Pool (14/1) or 1 Pocket.
Do you break with your playing cue??
- Thread starter our_auctionguy
- Start date
IMO, Your Poll is biased against break/BJ sticks, possibly because you don't use one? No options for them in Poll, this is going to skew results to make it invalid.
Having said that, I used the same stick for anything that came up for close to twenty years(67-87approx). I damaged the joint collars and ferrules a few times, just glued collars back on, and replaced tips and ferrules when needed. Didn't use a house stick because not many performed as well as my cue.
When I started playing again in 2004, I got on the cue/technology treadmill relatively fast, but used my old cue as a breaker for a while until I found a BJ cue that I was satisfied with. The funny thing is, it breaks as good as any break cue I've tried, even with it's faults.
The first '8' ball team I played on the captain was laughing at it, because I had to line up joint bend up or down(and align up the loose collars) depending on what englinsh I was using. He quit laughing when he saw how good it hit and started using it himself. Still has the same tip on it when I put it away in the eighties. Sticks been retired for three years from actual play, but occasionally I pull it out and play a bit with it, actually bought an I2 shaft for it and it plays really good with it.
Since I have damaged my cue, I would have to say my BJ is cheap insurance from damage to my prime cue.
Having said that, I used the same stick for anything that came up for close to twenty years(67-87approx). I damaged the joint collars and ferrules a few times, just glued collars back on, and replaced tips and ferrules when needed. Didn't use a house stick because not many performed as well as my cue.
When I started playing again in 2004, I got on the cue/technology treadmill relatively fast, but used my old cue as a breaker for a while until I found a BJ cue that I was satisfied with. The funny thing is, it breaks as good as any break cue I've tried, even with it's faults.
The first '8' ball team I played on the captain was laughing at it, because I had to line up joint bend up or down(and align up the loose collars) depending on what englinsh I was using. He quit laughing when he saw how good it hit and started using it himself. Still has the same tip on it when I put it away in the eighties. Sticks been retired for three years from actual play, but occasionally I pull it out and play a bit with it, actually bought an I2 shaft for it and it plays really good with it.
Since I have damaged my cue, I would have to say my BJ is cheap insurance from damage to my prime cue.
our_auctionguy said:
To answer the first question, I moved to using Moori Quick (Hard) in 1999 and Kamui hard tips this last year. I can get almost as much english and far better control with those tips than than the Moori Mediums I was using previously. I am finding that the Kamui outlasts the Moori and is even harder than the Moori.
I agree with one about not breaking with my cues that had ivory ferrules. I have to confess, on several of my cues, I had went to a 314 shaft as my main playing shaft to preserve the originals and take advantage of less deflection.
Currently, and most likely not going to change, my main cue is a Les Blevins with both shafts at 12mm. I break with either one. I have had other players break with it and they all are amazed at how solid this puppy hits with those skinny shafts. It puts more energy into the cue ball on the break than any cue I have ever owned and is NOT whippy in the least.
After reading all of your responses, I appreciate the differing viewpoints and advice and may consider picking up a break cue to possibly put a little more life on the tip, even though I don't think these Kamuis are short lived in the least. I can attest to the fact that with the hard tips, I have had no need to trim, or reshape them, as they seem to hold up with little need for grooming. The only problems I have ever encountered was them coming off from a less than perfect installation job. That has happend on a couple occasions and I found out the cure: Install them myself. If the tip holds up to my breaks after one session, it "ain't" going anywhere. That has been my experience.
While I am amazed at the skills some possess with a jump cue, I have never had any desire to jump. More along the fear of damaging a nice table. I will masse, kick, and scream before I will jump. I guess you could say this white man can't jump.
As to the last poster, yes my poll is intentionally biased to take the break cue out of the equation. It is obvious that those who have a break cue use it for whatever reason. I wanted to understand whether that reason was because of fearing damage to the playing cue by limiting the choice to a wall hanger. No one questions whether a break cue is better at breaking than a playing cue. If someone selects a wall hanger over their playing cue, it can be assumed it is mostly out of concern for the cue or it's tip being too soft, etc.
Thanks for all of your input.
Play with a Blevins... you'll think you're in heaven!!!
I agree with one about not breaking with my cues that had ivory ferrules. I have to confess, on several of my cues, I had went to a 314 shaft as my main playing shaft to preserve the originals and take advantage of less deflection.
Currently, and most likely not going to change, my main cue is a Les Blevins with both shafts at 12mm. I break with either one. I have had other players break with it and they all are amazed at how solid this puppy hits with those skinny shafts. It puts more energy into the cue ball on the break than any cue I have ever owned and is NOT whippy in the least.
After reading all of your responses, I appreciate the differing viewpoints and advice and may consider picking up a break cue to possibly put a little more life on the tip, even though I don't think these Kamuis are short lived in the least. I can attest to the fact that with the hard tips, I have had no need to trim, or reshape them, as they seem to hold up with little need for grooming. The only problems I have ever encountered was them coming off from a less than perfect installation job. That has happend on a couple occasions and I found out the cure: Install them myself. If the tip holds up to my breaks after one session, it "ain't" going anywhere. That has been my experience.
While I am amazed at the skills some possess with a jump cue, I have never had any desire to jump. More along the fear of damaging a nice table. I will masse, kick, and scream before I will jump. I guess you could say this white man can't jump.
As to the last poster, yes my poll is intentionally biased to take the break cue out of the equation. It is obvious that those who have a break cue use it for whatever reason. I wanted to understand whether that reason was because of fearing damage to the playing cue by limiting the choice to a wall hanger. No one questions whether a break cue is better at breaking than a playing cue. If someone selects a wall hanger over their playing cue, it can be assumed it is mostly out of concern for the cue or it's tip being too soft, etc.
Thanks for all of your input.
Play with a Blevins... you'll think you're in heaven!!!
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Great question. And, I think a lot of people are a bit spoiled by the number of specialty cues on the market now, as if it's always been the case to break with a break cue.our_auctionguy said:
Before I ever got a second cue, I broke with my playing cue 100% of the time. And I drive my shaft into the bed. The only problem I've seen with other players is one particular guy who would hold his bridge hand down too long. And he snapped his shaft. But, since most players don't do that, I think breaking with your shooting cue is fine. I'd recommend a hard tip or else you tend flatten out a softer tip.
Fred <~~~ still will break with playing cue everyon now and then