I have to say that a good break stick helps, but you must first be fundamentally sound on your break. I wasn't "fundamentally" sound on my break for the first 10 years of play (although I thought I was). After taking a few lessons from a World Champion, it took him 3 minutes (not exaggerating) to make a few miniscule changes to what I was doing. Now I can pretty much crush em' consistently...and if I lose my consistency I know what to check and adjust.
As far as cues, I personally love breaking with the Predator BK Break cue. I love that it feels like it has added power. I learned how to jump with my shooting cue way back when. I didn't touch a jump cue until a few years ago. 90% of the time I use my shooting stick to jump with, unless it's so close that I'm sure I'll be more accurate with a jump cue. I'm not one of these "no jump cue" advocates by any means. I do feel like people should give it their best shot to learn to jump with their shooting cue accurately. Once you have a feel for the shot, you can then go with a jump cue, and it will make it that much easier for you to handle.
Sledgehammer does make a fantastic product, and I've used Don Purdy's "baby" (custom sledge). It is a heck of a cue.
But, I will be honest. My friend Jesse had the tip converted on an Action B/J cue (replaced the tip with that phenolic type tip similiar to sledgehammer) and I can crush a rack with it. It is a great hitting break cue. So, and I'm sure this is evident to everyone, that phenolic tip plays a big role in how the sledgehammer breaks. But personally I still love a Predator BK Break with a moori tip. I don't hit em' AS hard, but I keep the cue ball in the center of the table and still make one or two balls...depending on condition 2 or 3 (fairly consistently). Everyone just has to find out what they like best, and what will work best for them.
