Need some Break Cue advice....the value kind, not the $$$$$ kind.

V

vpr80

Registered
So I wanted to get a break cue, but there seems to be a lot in the "value" category so I wanted a bit of help narrowing it down.

Doesn't really matter if it's a Jump/Break combo, but I guess better if it's a combo. I'm a newbie and been reading that the phenolic tips mis-cue often so I think I rather stick with hard leather tips unless I am wrong. Also I kind of like the linen wrap so I would prefer one with it, but again not necessary.

Here are my cheapie options:
1) Use a cheap J&J that I have and change the tip and re-wrap it - $80
2) Panther P-JB1 - No Wrap - $95 - http://www.jjcue.com/panthercues.htm
3) J&J Spark Break - Wrap - $99 - http://www.jjcue.com/sparkbk.htm

Bit more expensive. I would consider these if there is a "noticeable" difference and are worth the extra money. I like the Lucasi a lot, but been reading a ton of praise for the Mezz. Just don't know if it's worth it at this point.
4) McDermott Stinger NG01 - Jump/Break - No Wrap - $150 - http://www.mcdermottcue.com/Stinger.asp
5) Lucasi L2000JB - Jump/Break - Linen Wrap - $175 -
6) Mezz Power Break - $230 - http://www.jjcue.com/mezzbk.htm

Thanks!
 
since the wrap is a minor selling point, what's better the 4410 or the P-JB1? is the Stinger worth the extra $50?
 
I've used a predator SPW for a long time. Using a lot of different tips including a white diamond. I finally settled with a super pro. The predator shaft for stiffness and the super pro for hardness and chalk retention. You can do the same without buying a cue, just get a shaft for a cue you have. That way your only in for a couple hundred. :smile:
 
Options

My advice - Keep the J&J with the phenolic tip (they do break harder than leather tips), and concentrate on your break form rather than the cue. If you have good breaking form and stroke, you will get real good breaks with it.

Most people do not have good breaking form, and that is why they rely on a leather tip to catch the 'slopiness' of their form to bail them out when they break. Having good mechanics on the break is more important than the tip really, but phenolic tips do add some zip that would not be there otherwise.
 
Snapshot9 said:
My advice - Keep the J&J with the phenolic tip (they do break harder than leather tips), and concentrate on your break form rather than the cue.
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I would have agreed with you until I hit with a Samsura tip. I am sure there are others like it, but that tip is realy freakin hard.
 
I'd go with a Panther, it hits much better than the regular J&J. You can keep the phenolic tip and ferrule combo on it. Just have someone put a thin leather tip over it. I'm hearing many great things about the Samsara J/B leather tips. Also, a vendor on here can get you a much beter deal on those cues than purchasing directly from J&J. I have a review for the panther J/B in the Cue Review section. IMHO, best bang for your buck. Also, it seems the wood joint transfer power and balances better. My brother has a J&J J/B 2724 that was customized by Varney cues with Ivorine IV ferrule and G10 tip. To me, the Panther's overall cue is thicker, so it gives me a good grip, compared to the J&J that has the regular tapper much like a playing cue.

Good luck.

Chino :)
 
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On wrap: {My opinion} Unless you yourself or a close friend have a cue lathe--buy the butt wih the wrap (or not). Its too expensive to wrap an unwrapped cue.

On Phenolic: Phenolic is going away, BCAPL has outlawed it, others will follow. There are plenty of really really hard leather tips. If possible, get the Break/JumpBreak with the tip you want (leather, phenolic) and save the $20-$30 to re-tip it.

On Break/JumpBreak cues: the feel in your hand is more important than the price (to first order). If possible don't buy until you have felt one in your hand.
 
MitchAlsup said:
On wrap: {My opinion} Unless you yourself or a close friend have a cue lathe--buy the butt wih the wrap (or not). Its too expensive to wrap an unwrapped cue.

On Phenolic: Phenolic is going away, BCAPL has outlawed it, others will follow. There are plenty of really really hard leather tips. If possible, get the Break/JumpBreak with the tip you want (leather, phenolic) and save the $20-$30 to re-tip it.

On Break/JumpBreak cues: the feel in your hand is more important than the price (to first order). If possible don't buy until you have felt one in your hand.
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On tip: I agree with you on that one, but none of the ones mentioned seemed to have any of the popular tips and most of them have the phenolic tips. I don't know which tip the Stinger has and looks like the Lucasi has a Triangle tip. If I am going to pay to change the tip, I might as well just do it my chapie J&J that I already have, but that one needs a re-wrap so all together it would cost as much as the Spark Break cue. In which case, I rather just get the Spark or Panther cue.

Unfortunately, I haven't really seen any in the local pool shops, they are not very common in my area, so I kind of need to buy it sight unseen.

I think I'll just get the Panther cue and see how it like it. If I don't like the tip, I can always change it to a leather one right? Although I really like the Fury cue on Ebay for a bit more. Are those good? What's better the Fury or the Stinger?
 
Fury JB-RW series is non-Phenolic out of the chute

socks said:
check out the fury. its a nice looking j/b with a leather wrap. cracks em like a hammer and doesnt break the bank at only $143 shipped with joint protectors from joe.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Fury-Jump-B...34.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301:1|293:1|294:30

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Fury-Jump-B...34.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301:1|293:1|294:30

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Fury-Jump-B...34.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301:1|293:1|294:30
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socks:

Excellent suggestion and links. Another thing to keep in mind when selecting a break or jump/break cue, is that the Fury JB-RW series comes with a non-Phenolic ferrule/tip combo right out of the chute. (It's a woven carbon-graphite tip, guaranteed not to harm the cue ball.) So it's "BCA Rules" friendly right from the get-go.

Here's additional technical info:

http://fury-cues.com/pool-cues-fury-series.asp?SortID=6
http://fury-cues.com/pool-cues-fury-cue.asp?id=24

For those that have EXTREMELY powerful breaks (25+ mph), you will experience some mushrooming after some time, but fortunately, the Fury ferrule/tip combo is one-piece, and there's enough "meat" at the tip that you can sand-off the deformed portion and reshape the tip lots of times before any danger of getting near the internal tenon. Plus, this weaved carbon-graphite ferrule/tip is easily cut off (shaved down on a cue lathe) by your local cue repairman, and replaced with either the same type, or your ferrule/tip of choice.

Hope this is helpful,
-Sean

P.S.: no, I have nothing to do with Fury as a company. Just a satisfied customer of their JB-RW series.
 
vpr80 said:
alright so i think the Fury looks like the best deal for they money. jump/break combo, not phenolic, good price, and leather wrap.

BUT, how about these?
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=145194
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Poolfool1957/Rick is a great guy to deal with. What he offers in that J/B, you get a lot for the price you pay. As he sad it, those usually can run you between 300-400. I wouldn't hesistate dealing with Rick. Very easy guy to talk to and very easy to deal with. There is a Sneakiest Pete J/B review in the cue review section as well. As for the White diamond tips, BCA, IIRC, has also banned the white diamond tips as well.

Chino
 
Break cue

I would go with Fury for money no doubt it is a sledgehammer.I use a Predator bk2 with great results.Fury is great break cue.I am going to pick one up also.Rick is cool and will take care of you.
 
OMG I am going to get this decided today if it kills me. I don't play in any tourneys so banned tips don't really matter to me, I was more thinking about usability and play of the different style tips. I actually really like the Sneakiest Pete JB cues, they look great and I like that they are custom (I think) rather than 1 in a million like the others.
 
stormshadow1 said:
I would go with Fury for money no doubt it is a sledgehammer.I use a Predator bk2 with great results.Fury is great break cue.I am going to pick one up also.Rick is cool and will take care of you.
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this doesn't help me :) so you suggest to get the Fury (best value for $$$) or pony up for Rick's?
 
I can decide for you if you want :D, PM Rick for his paypal account and send him the money for the J/B if you have the extra doe to spend, if not than go with the Panther. Rick stands behind his product, and with no doubt here, he would take good care of you.

If the ti[ doesn't matter, than stick with the phenolic, only reason many are saying this and that about phenolic tips are because BCA banned them. As far as phenolic tips has been out, I haven't heard much people complaining about them.

BCA can take that ban, wrap it around their forehead and go for a jog. I don't care for the ban, I use my own damn CB anyway.

Chino
 
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I have an NG01 mcdermott and love it. I did contact them about the tips as I was concerned that my league would follow the BCAPL rules. They do have a new tip now. I don't know if it is an option from the stock NG0 series. Below is the email from Jayme.
We have developed a replacement option for the phenolic material. Our new Big Boy tip is an all leather tip that is equally as hard as the phenolic, but is legal to use in all formats as it is leather. This is the tip that will now come standard on our i-1 Big Boy shaft.
We can replace the Stinger tip with the Big Boy for $25 plus S&H.

Jayme Cernicka
Customer Service Manager
McDermott Cue
1-800-666-2283 x 121
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