Maybe you need to practice your break.
Going towards CF break shaft/cue, my options
- Thread starter mjantti
- Start date
A lot of old school players making money were gamblers who were exceptional players looking to play people they believed they could beat, I know it still happens today, but there is more money in tournaments and more of them around the world today IMHO
Of course you played people you thought you could beat.
You would have to be a dumbass to play ANYTHING if you thought it was a sure loser.
I never played anybody thinking I was going to lose. I was of the mindset that I thought I could hang with anybody.
That doesn't mean everybody went out looking for suckers to play.
I used to go into places where people were gambling and ring games were being played and I would jump right in not knowing anybody or how well they played.
I would go into places and "run over" people right from the start if they wanted to gamble. If they couldn't hang and quit, so be it.
I never once hid my speed and I ran a lot of people off because they knew right from the beginning they couldn't beat me head up.
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I love to play but I've never had the money to gamble, I started playing later in life so I know I'm nowhere near your speed, I just keep working everyday to get better.
You don't have to use your whole life savings to play pool for money and you don't have to play for a lot of money in "friendly" ring games. It is like playing friendly poker at somebody's house.
When I was a kid working in the pool hall, I would jump in the ring games with the adults who were playing $.25 on the five ball and $.50 on the nine. There would usually be four or five players in the game.
I always came out ahead and sometimes I would win over $100 before everyone quit. I would play until I had all their money or they quit.
$100 back then is equivalent to $700-800 in today's money.
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I'll play in $5 or $10 tournaments, it's good experience but my experience is gamblers don't like to quit until they have all your money, I have been approached a few times to gamble but I saw their speed and it wasn't any gamble on their part, I did get my first break and run of the year last week in league, there are a lot of players that are very good and have been playing a long time.
I started gambling at pool when I was a young teen working in the pool hall.
I started playing as a kid and I played all the adults in the pool hall and watched the gamblers play. I played with some of the best gamblers when they were practicing.
I didn't start gambling with them until I knew I could hang with them. By then I could consistently run racks and string racks together. Eventually, I could outplay all of them and they wouldn't play even...they wanted a spot.
Maybe I could share insight on my break cue ideology. I just recently went from old school high deflection playing shaft to Revo. Yes, there is a major increase in power and spin. With this in mind I am looking for a break cue which can add more power. I never break really hard, I try to use my arm as much as I can and my body as little as I can because I feel that more moving parts add inconsistency in the long run to the cueball control. Thus I want to have the maximum power from the cue to avoid start using my body when power increase adjustment is needed for instance in 10-ball or 8-ball.
Now with the current 9-ball Matchroom break it is about shooting either draw or draw with English with a cut break. As forceful break is required (whatever that means ruleswise), again I want to get the maximum juice out of the break cue without excessive body movement.
Additionally, I have been using Taom break tip for a long time and IMO it is a crucial part of the break cue: impart power and also spin (without a fear of a miscue) in MR 9-ball cut break. A long time ago before phenolic tips I used to make break tips myself by cutting Triangle in half, and then applying chalk and pounding the tip rock hard with the cueball and this process repeated 2-3 times. The result was a pretty solid non-miscuing break tip.
As living in Finland, the availability of cues, shafts and tips is limited for hands-on testing.
Thank you for your tips and insights!
Now with the current 9-ball Matchroom break it is about shooting either draw or draw with English with a cut break. As forceful break is required (whatever that means ruleswise), again I want to get the maximum juice out of the break cue without excessive body movement.
Additionally, I have been using Taom break tip for a long time and IMO it is a crucial part of the break cue: impart power and also spin (without a fear of a miscue) in MR 9-ball cut break. A long time ago before phenolic tips I used to make break tips myself by cutting Triangle in half, and then applying chalk and pounding the tip rock hard with the cueball and this process repeated 2-3 times. The result was a pretty solid non-miscuing break tip.
As living in Finland, the availability of cues, shafts and tips is limited for hands-on testing.
Thank you for your tips and insights!
I have experimented too much and bought stuff I maybe shouldn’t have. Yeah, I know the bigger issue is me, etc…. So I’ve tried a bunch of break cues and bought a few less than that. Recently I picked up a used Predator BK Rush locally as I was thinking I probably should have just bought one to begin with given the reviews. I shouldn’t have bothered with cheaper, different, good for the money etc…. Just spend a little more, get the BK rush and be done. Especially as you play with a Revo and like it. If you were local I’d tell you I have some break cues for sale tho…
I agree with both you and Skor. If jump cues are legal I’ll have one. So I will get the equipment that might co e in handy. Jump cue, extension etc…. But man there are days where I wish we never got past a player in a 1X2. Extra shaft and a piece of chalk.
You know u can buy all the gadgets u want and spend whatever u like, but if someone don't have it u just don't have it .Remember it's not the arrow it's the Archer Stephen Hendry won 7 worlds with a cheap 2 piece snooker cue enjoy the game and have fun were not pros.
Kinda a bad example, because when that cue was broken he never really recovered his top form.
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
Ignite G or Gold9 break shaft on the PBK butt.
Works beautifully. I have both. Finding an Ignite G shaft without PBG butt is tricky (You could just get a PBG), the Gold9 shafts (Japanese made) seem to be in abundance here with Mezz joint. (Not sure about internationally - I could always help about 300$ not including shipping)
Universal make a break cue that is equal to anything I have tried; BKR, PBG etc (and like 200$ here - doesn't look like a POS like some of the cheaper cues either). They also have a jump cue to match. You'd likely get your break and jump sorted with dedicated cues for under 500$
JFlowers are good value, but the logos are tacky as hell.
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Flakeandrun
Well-known member
Kamui Sai Hard will do you right on your current PBK - I use the Ignite G for MR 9ball and the Gold9 for 8/10 ball. I do quite like the Mezz DI2 shaft for 8/10 ball too because of the flex into the table.
Phenolic is horrible (So is WD in my opinion) the feel and feedback are horrible. I like the bulletproof, but am really getting on well with Kamui Sai Hard, tried a few different things on others equipment, as I am blessed to be in a location where I can find everything under the sun.
Anything you want to know about, just ask, I can likely get pictures (or videos to you if you want to connect on a different social media platform - not sure about videos here, cannot do the tube of you)
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
This is good if you're a beginner. I have seen real nice ones, and ones that sound like they're a bag of nuts and bolts.... really is luck of the draw. Think this is their old stickering/branding, as it seems to have changed to a new design here. I would say the Universal branded break and Jump are much better, and look nicer. Probably the best bang for buck I have tried.but theres another option with cf for 180 on amazon
the little monster
158 on amazon
just bought it get it friday and will make a review
if it doesnt disintegrate its a home run
unilock 13mm cf shaft
theres a couple reviews of it on amazon with video and show the shaft looks like a good quality , goes with what they also say about it.
But I agree with TCC, price doesn't really equal performance in break cues (or many things in the pool world to be quite honest)
CueLee's (LiSi) - also make some BKR looking cues now, but the price is on the up and up. BKR is what everyone fawns over here, in classic China fashion, it's "new colour please"..."this is the best cue ever, and I am not just saying that to justify the $$$$"
Infinity was a popular flavor here for a minute, a 'spanish' brand - made in China and stickers in Spain I imagine. Looks and plays just like Becue and GoCustom, likely all from the same place. Orochi (Japanese brand part of Navigator I believe - or vice versa) are clearly the supplier for Geez (which is Wu Kunlin and the Ko brothers new flavor of the month) - Orochi and Geez both play nicely.
Scratching my head thinking of what else is popular here right now. Anything you'd like to know about, as I mentioned in the previous message, ask and I shall try to provide
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I don’t think the Taom break tip is phenolic.
Flakeandrun
Well-known member
It's not, but their latest one has gone back to layered and resin I think. The 2.0, had many problems with friction rounding the edges, and affecting the cloth of the table. Has a nice feel to it though, similar feel to bulletproof in my experience.