Phenolic Break Tip Question?

You don't put chalk between two balls when they smash together. Chalk is ground up sand. It's better to have give on the tip side.

But you don't have to believe me. Get two brand new balls, put a thin layer of chalk on one of them, put them together at the chalk spot and shoot a hard combination on them. Look at the two balls. Or you can do the same thing with a phenolic break tip, but you have to start with a smooth ball.
Thanks, I'm banning phenolic tips in my (home) pool room.
Does anyone know how much extra you get from a phenolic tip? Seems like with tennis racquets, looser strings give more power. I have to think there is a synchronization that yields the most power. If the tip rebounds quickly but the cue doesn't maybe you get less power than if they rebound at the same rate. The rebound of the ball must also be a factor.
 
Thanks, I'm banning phenolic tips in my (home) pool room.
Does anyone know how much extra you get from a phenolic tip? Seems like with tennis racquets, looser strings give more power. I have to think there is a synchronization that yields the most power. If the tip rebounds quickly but the cue doesn't maybe you get less power than if they rebound at the same rate. The rebound of the ball must also be a factor.

I don't know how much more power a phenolic tip gets you and I don't know what speed the pros break at (guessing 20-23?) but what I have learned is that smashing the break as hard as you can doesn't get you anywhere in that world so there is a level of diminishing returns, which means, a phenolic tip is not necessary.
 
What are the pros breaking at? I don't see the monster breaks, it seems like 20 mph in the right spot does the job nicely. I'm probably about 16 or a little better and if I place the cue ball correctly I get a good spread.
My very fastest break was 21.3. Never been able to duplicate it. I found, with the Predator Break Speed app, that I am more accurate at 18 or so. I try to keep it at that.

The pros on the other hand were breaking at about 25, but that's old information. Dont know what the average is.

Maybe Matchroom can add that. Professional bowling adds bowling ball speed to the screen for the fans to see. Why not pool?

And it would get rid of this "referee discretion" as of late. Even 17 mph is an adequate break. And even the women pros would have no problem achieving it.
If someone breaks at leas then the determined speed, they should get one warning. After that, opponent assumes control.
 
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Does anyone know how much extra you get from a phenolic tip?

see
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"A phenolic tip can add about 17% more power or energy to a break as compared to a medium-hardness leather tip."

this said, phenolic tips are the devil- they beat up equipment and sound ugly. use a good leather tip with good technique and be done with it. my two pennies.
 
My players pure x with the
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bakelite phenolic tip doesn't damage the balls, I think it's been said only the g10 material is the one that does the damage.

I love the sound of a good crack with a phenolic tip
 
My phenolic tip is around a nickel radius. My tip does not damage cue balls. A harder tip like a G-10 can damage cue balls. My preferred tip for braking is a Triangle tip.
 
I don't know how much more power a phenolic tip gets you and I don't know what speed the pros break at (guessing 20-23?) but what I have learned is that smashing the break as hard as you can doesn't get you anywhere in that world so there is a level of diminishing returns, which means, a phenolic tip is not necessary.

i think you might be missing the point.

my understanding of it was the idea of using a phenolic or other composite material tip is so that you DONT have to crush the break as hard as you can.

a medium controlled stroke on the break with a 19oz cue and an elkmaster….. vs the same exact stroke with the same exact cue with a break tip, will yield vastly different results.

i have a joss thor hammer break cue and it has a plain black phenolic tip on there. I generally just chalk it once when it comes out of the case and its good all day.

I have a schmelke jump cue with a White Diamond, and it seems just softer enough to put a little spin on jump shots.

that said, if the two were switched, im not sure that im good enough to tell the difference. the diamond does seem to need chalked more often but thats probably user error as im just barely starting to learn jump shots.

With the discussion of phenolics damaging cue balls, does anybody have a cue ball from their home table that is no longer functional from breaking with it? We’ve all seen the half circle marks under the “skin” at pool halls, but honestly thats usually the least of problems when you go to the pool hall.

i just don't think its enough damage to matter in the long run. the marks on the cue ball rarely affect play and if it does how much is a new cue ball? $30?
 
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