My first sledgehammer experience--need advice

[penoy78]

So I use to break with a Players j/b with a hard tip and I just switched over to a gulyassy sledgehammer j/b with a phenolic tip. With the Players j/b I had it down to an art. After most (at least I'd like to think it's "most") 8 ball breaks I'd pocket a ball and the balls would spread fairly well.:winknudge:

Along comes the sledgehammer. I spread the balls like you wouldn't believe but I have to slow my break down in order for the cue ball to stay on the table. Any advice or should I just keep breaking at 75%?

 

[Varney Cues]

You may want to flatten the radius of the tip. Flatter tips will help the ball stay on the table. A dime radius on a phenolic style tip makes it hard to control the rock. :wink:

 

[MJR77]

Hit the head ball square and there will be no problem keeping the ball on the table. It will just shoot straight up.

 

[Varney Cues]

Hit the head ball square and there will be no problem keeping the ball on the table. It will just shoot straight up.

And of course be sure to try and keep your cue as flat as possible with your stroke. Often when the ball is popping off the table its due to shooting down into the cueball. Stay flat.

 

[penoy78]

You may want to flatten the radius of the tip. Flatter tips will help the ball stay on the table. A dime radius on a phenolic style tip makes it hard to control the rock. :wink:

I'll have to try that. My cue is level and I usually strike the 2nd ball as if it were in line with the 8 ball. But I know I'm hitting the ball square. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[SK Custom Cues]

I'll have to try that. My cue is level and I usually strike the 2nd ball as if it were in line with the 8 ball. But I know I'm hitting the ball square. Thanks for the advice guys.

Learn how to hit the head ball squarely like SVB does. The object is to see the cue ball pop up and land in a basketball sized spot in the center of the table. That will do more good for you than you may think. How do you think SVB beat Efren last night? Good luck.

 

[j!dub]

So I use to break with a Players j/b with a hard tip and I just switched over to a gulyassy sledgehammer j/b with a phenolic tip. With the Players j/b I had it down to an art. After most (at least I'd like to think it's "most") 8 ball breaks I'd pocket a ball and the balls would spread fairly well.:winknudge:

Along comes the sledgehammer. I spread the balls like you wouldn't believe but I have to slow my break down in order for the cue ball to stay on the table. Any advice or should I just keep breaking at 75%?

You're can't have a level cue on a break shot...it's impossible because your cue has to come above the rail. Your issue is controlling the cue ball. The best thing do is learn how to had a dead perfect stop shot on the head ball every time. It's going to be a pain practicing these at 4 diamond length with a Sledgehammer, but if that's the cue you want to break with, that's what you need to learn to do.

You need to accept that all of these j/b cues exist to get significantly harder hits for the same amount of energy. So if before it took you 100% energy to get the spread you wanted, you probably didn't control the CB as well as you would have liked. By dropping you breaking energy down to 75% (3-4 table length speed) you can now control the CB better.

All j/b cues are going to make the CB airborne at the hit...the trick is either (a) hitting the OB dead straight, so if the CB is airborne at the moment of impact it will go up rather than the side...or (b) having the CB back on the cloth at impact, which is done by having more control in your shot.

 

[IA8baller]

You may want to flatten the radius of the tip. Flatter tips will help the ball stay on the table. A dime radius on a phenolic style tip makes it hard to control the rock. :wink:

I have to agree with this. I like my phenolic jump/break cues fairly flat at the tip. I seem to get better control, especially when jumping balls. I also noticed I actually break better and pot more balls using an 85-90% swing instead of all out.

 

[penoy78]

Thanks for all the advice. Last night I just took what everyone said and hit the head ball square instead of the 2nd ball. The balls spread like peanut butter and I potted a couple of balls as well. Another plus was the CB was in the "basketball sized" area unless it was being kicked by another ball. Thanks again guys. It's just funny how I had to adjust based on the equipment that I had. Just like golf eh?