Take all of the weight out of your break cue

I think the days of people trying to break 25+ mph are over. It's more of a controlled break now.

The ideal break is break the pack open land the CB in the center of the table and have a shot of the first ball.
 
My 3C playing cue is around 15.5oz. Maybe 16.

I get around the table just fine.

As a kid I always looked for a light cue on the rack.

I had a guy make me a stick with at 3/8 x 10 pin that weighs about 12oz. plus shaft I'm at 15.2
and it plays amazingly. The new cloth is so pressure sensitive there is no reason to play with a heavy cue
in my opinion.
 
I vaguely remember Dr. Dave saying that there’s diminishing returns whether you go lighter or heavier. Staying within 18-21oz is ideal. A lot of it comes down to your genetics and if you have fast twitch or slow twitch muscle fibres.
If this is true, and it probably is, then it makes sense that you would move to a heavier breaker as you age. The only thing fast twitch on this guy anymore are my eyelids!
 
I was using it at its stock weight. Now using it, at it's minimal weight. Will continue to see how it goes. But you're right, trial and error. See what works for you. As an idea, I do think using a heavier cue and developing the stroke/precision that you want could have some "weight to it" ;)

But really felt good and had good results yesterday, and am keen to continue seeing how it goes.
I'll let you in on a secret. If you get one of those Elite brand breakers, the ones with the wood pin, they can make an excellent break cue. They are $240 now but used to be about $150. Anyway... take out the ridiculous weight bolt. The thing is probably 3/8" diameter and 8" long. Then face off the phenolic tip/ferrule combo until it's flat on the end. Put on something like a hammerhead 2 or a white diamond. You will have an absolute beast of a break cue.

They are super light without the weight bolt, probably 16 oz and they will obliterate a rack.
 
I think the days of people trying to break 25+ mph are over. It's more of a controlled break now.

The ideal break is break the pack open land the CB in the center of the table and have a shot of the first ball.
Yes, Matchroom and WPA seem to lean into that, even with a 3-point rule, you're not needing 100% effort.
 
You generate the highest amount of force if both mass and acceleration are balanced. a toothpick can be swung as quick as your arm can move, and a barbell is quite heavy, but neither are going to impart much force into a rack if used as a cue. Additionally, the energy transfer from the cue ball to rack should be as close to 100% as possible, requiring a precise hit. Your gains in force are greatly diminished if you're not hitting the rack full. You should have a cue weight that allows you to swing as hard and as accurately as possible to get the most efficient hit that you're capable of.
 
You generate the highest amount of force if both mass and acceleration are balanced. a toothpick can be swung as quick as your arm can move, and a barbell is quite heavy, but neither are going to impart much force into a rack if used as a cue. Additionally, the energy transfer from the cue ball to rack should be as close to 100% as possible, requiring a precise hit. Your gains in force are greatly diminished if you're not hitting the rack full. You should have a cue weight that allows you to swing as hard and as accurately as possible to get the most efficient hit that you're capable of.
Sound advice, I would tend to trust a member named 'Crasher' on matters relating to breaking 😂

Played some more WPA 9ball last night, still very happy. Took around 5 breaks to make some adjustment to MR breaking, but feel pretty solid there. 8/10 ball break both working well. Took a few attempts to dial down the 10ball break to get it workable.

As I mentioned before, I won't say the weight inside was a bad thing, if anything, it's allowed me the accuracy I have now using it as a lighter cue.
 
Ok, it gets complicated, but you’re correct about force. I was thinking Kinetic Energy that is directly proportional to the mass and the square of the velocity. When breaking I’d think it would be more correct to use Kinetic energy than force. Where’s Dr. Dave when you need him🤣

Isn’t it all about energy when we’re talking about the break?
 
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Interesting thread Flake.

I reduced my break cue weights recently too.

What tip do you have on your break cue?

I am currently on kamui sai but dont really like it.
 
assuming that the lighter the cue, the more cue ball speed, the stronger the break, how much is TOO much??? There has to be a sweet spot of cue weight and velocity. look at the chart below.

20 ounce cue moving at 20 mph
18 ounce cue moving at 22 mph
16 ounce cue moving at 24 mph
14 ounce cue moving at 26 mph
12 ounce cue moving at 28 mph
10 ounce cue moving at 30 mph

these are all made up numbers, but you get the idea.

If speed was the main factor then a one ounce cue, think pencil, hitting the cue ball at 80 mph would be ideal.
or if cue weight was the main factor then a 19 POUND cue hitting at 2 mph would be the best.

There has to be a "magic" combo that produces the ideal break shot. Doesn't there???
 
Interesting thread Flake.

I reduced my break cue weights recently too.

What tip do you have on your break cue?

I am currently on kamui sai but dont really like it.
Currently PBkai with Ignite G shaft. A bulletproof tip.

After playing it in for a few months, I find it transfers energy really nicely through the ball. Enough softeness for 'feel' and hard enough for power through the ball. I like the 'feel' to it, for me I feel this helps with timing and stroke mechanics. I can clearly define the point of contact with the cueball, and time my mechanics nicely. Highly rate it as a tip (I dented it badly when I first got it, and when I asked, he said he'd give me a lifetime supply if I could truly break it lol - after a little more playing, right back to how I shaped it).

Nice for jumping the ball too (if you're into that sort of thing).

Sai was second on my list, and if it wasn't for the fact someone gave me the BP to try, I would have gone that route.
 
assuming that the lighter the cue, the more cue ball speed, the stronger the break, how much is TOO much??? There has to be a sweet spot of cue weight and velocity. look at the chart below.

20 ounce cue moving at 20 mph
18 ounce cue moving at 22 mph
16 ounce cue moving at 24 mph
14 ounce cue moving at 26 mph
12 ounce cue moving at 28 mph
10 ounce cue moving at 30 mph

these are all made up numbers, but you get the idea.

If speed was the main factor then a one ounce cue, think pencil, hitting the cue ball at 80 mph would be ideal.
or if cue weight was the main factor then a 19 POUND cue hitting at 2 mph would be the best.

There has to be a "magic" combo that produces the ideal break shot. Doesn't there???
True, and I think that will be relevant to the individual, there physical condition and their stroke mechanics. Like most things in cue sports, you can learn to use anything. Some things fit our playing 'personality' (for want of a better word)
 
Currently PBkai with Ignite G shaft. A bulletproof tip.

After playing it in for a few months, I find it transfers energy really nicely through the ball. Enough softeness for 'feel' and hard enough for power through the ball. I like the 'feel' to it, for me I feel this helps with timing and stroke mechanics. I can clearly define the point of contact with the cueball, and time my mechanics nicely. Highly rate it as a tip (I dented it badly when I first got it, and when I asked, he said he'd give me a lifetime supply if I could truly break it lol - after a little more playing, right back to how I shaped it).

Nice for jumping the ball too (if you're into that sort of thing).

Sai was second on my list, and if it wasn't for the fact someone gave me the BP to try, I would have gone that route.
nice. i heard good things about ignite G

i was trying to find taom break tips but seems like they are off the market, i'll give bulletproof a try
 
nice. i heard good things about ignite G

i was trying to find taom break tips but seems like they are off the market, i'll give bulletproof a try
I have had three different friends give negative feedback of the Taom. Damaging cloth, and self-destructing with friction wearing the edges of the tip unevenly. I also considered this tip to replace the Mezz Sonic, which I found to lose shape easily, so I have a spare (which I will likely never use now)
 
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