this is fuct

Beware_of_Dawg

Beware_of_Dawg

..................
Silver Member
This is just fuct up. I don't know what to do. Ok, IM sure a bunch of you know the story from various posts I've made regarding the strange set of circumstances that ended up with me playing with a break shaft/phenolic tip as my everyday player (Story is here). and learning to play very well with it.

So, some of you also know about the horrible thing that happened to this break shaft (everyday player) when my joint exploded. (Story is here)

thumnail of both stories together. tip broke off Zshaft, while getting new tip messed around w/ break shaft. played very well with it, tried to switch back to Z when fixed... couldnt play as well. broke too hard once snapped the break cue.

So... anyway, I've been trying for the last few weeks to switch back to leather tips. I have really good equiptment to choose from...

Couple Lucasi cues, one with a Z Shaft (Melk Dud tip) one with a OB1 Shaft (Sniper tip). Also have a Josey Custom with the standard shaft and a OB1 (just switched the tip from a everest layered (way too soft) to a Tri-Dud (pressed Triange tip)...

So, I can still shoot Ok with any of these combo's... but It just doesnt feel quite right.. and I know this is going to sound funny but I just cant control the QBall as well... I also don't know with confidence where the Qball is going to end up when using english and a hard stroke... Also, everything feels "squishy" when I hit the QBall.. and no "feedbac" through the cue I can't feel it in my grip hand as well. But, I can still break & run a rack here and there. It just doesnt come as "naturally".

As friends have suggested that I just got used to the the phenolic tip and I need to re-adjust back to the standard tips and when I do, I'll be even better. It's all in my head. No, I don't think so... that's not it. Figure I've been playing pool 15+ years (5+ pretty seriously). If you check the thread dates I started playing with that BK2 shaft at basically the beginning of February, and it snapped in the middle of April.. So you figure I only played with that combo for a few months... So you'd figure its an easy transition back to what Ive been using for years and years...

So, anyway as I said I can still run some racks and play pretty well with the Josey or OB1 or Z. Just feels different and I play a couple balls slower than I was playing with the BK/Phenolic.

A buddy of mine just bought one of the new Lucasi Hybrid cues and with it he gets a cheapo (spark break?) break cue free. Like a $50 cue at best. So, here I am playing with a sweeeeeet Josey with a nice LD shaft and a nice new tip.. playing decent. I pick up that piece of crap and say, "let me see if I can beat you with your crap break cue"... First try, break and run... Continued playing with that piece of crap, played better than I was playing with all the other combo's. This was a super high deflection/phenolic tipped flea market cue. I mean WTF?!?!??!!?

So, here I am. My mind can't get around this very well and I think I've come to the conclusion that... Fukk it, I don't care what i'm "supposed" to be playing with... the proof is in the pudding. I'm a player, I play my best pool with a phenolic tip. It is what it is. But, then again.... ARRRGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! could it screw my game up worse, or could I plateau with this tip and get to a point where I can only go so far (as far as skill, ability, what "level") with it?

I don't know what to think/do. I'm really in a weird spot with my game. ANy feedback is very much welcome. If someone has some wisdom that will help my head get around this... I'm all ears.

~D4\/\/G~
 
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I have played with phenolic break cues in the past as a (supposed)handicap. I personally don't find it all that difficult, I think it just requires better pattern play, so as not to have to super stroke balls as much. Having said that, I just cannot see how it would be as consistent as a good cue with a normal tip. Plus, it's just a little harder to, say, juice your ball with top. My personal advice would be to quit playing with the phenolic, at least for your everyday player. The fact that none of the top players use them is probably a good sign of their overall playability. The fact is, guys who seriously play for dough wouldn't care what they looked like(in fact, it could be beneficial to look dumb, lol), or what anyone thought, if it gave them an advantage. But, that's jmo.
 
Pick the cue/shaft combo you like and have a Tiger jump/break tip (made of leather and pig) installed. The Talisman jump/break tip is also an alternative. You really don't want to use phenolic tips as they tend to eventually damage the balls. The Tiger and Talisman jump/break tips are about 98-99 on the hardness scale, only slightly softer than the phenolic and with a bit more grab.

Terry
 
You know everyone is different. Look at Earl. He plays with two baseball gloves and is one of the best players ever. I say if using a break cue helps your game then more power to you. Do it.

I would question what part of using a break cue helps your game though. I doubt it is the tip. Could be the weight distribution or length. I am pretty sure the break cues have a lot of weight in the very back and tend to be shorter. Maybe that is helping your game.
 
You like shooting normal shots with a phenolic tip? PHUQUE.....lol
 
Tbeaux said:
Pick the cue/shaft combo you like and have a Tiger jump/break tip (made of leather and pig) installed. The Talisman jump/break tip is also an alternative. You really don't want to use phenolic tips as they tend to eventually damage the balls. The Tiger and Talisman jump/break tips are about 98-99 on the hardness scale, only slightly softer than the phenolic and with a bit more grab.

Terry
Click to expand...

I agree with the above, but add white diamond and superpro to the list of tips to try. The superpro is very hard and will give you the feedback you are looking for.

GL and keep us updated.
 
TheNewSharkster said:
I would question what part of using a break cue helps your game though. I doubt it is the tip. Could be the weight distribution or length. I am pretty sure the break cues have a lot of weight in the very back and tend to be shorter. Maybe that is helping your game.
Click to expand...


Break shaft (BK2) is the same length as any other shaft, and it was attached to a standard Lucasi butt. So no weight distribution difference. Friends crap break cue was also standard length (58") and didnt have unusual weight distribution... it was so cheap I doubt ANY technology was put into the distribution of weight. It was essentially a piece of wood with a joint and a phenolic tip.
 
Thats freaking nuts. Could it be with the phenolic tip you use just enough english cuz it could miscue? What is your miscue rate shooting with the phenolic? I am going to try running a rack with one for kicks. I should have some more questions after I do.
 
Tbeaux said:
Pick the cue/shaft combo you like and have a Tiger jump/break tip (made of leather and pig) installed. The Talisman jump/break tip is also an alternative. You really don't want to use phenolic tips as they tend to eventually damage the balls. The Tiger and Talisman jump/break tips are about 98-99 on the hardness scale, only slightly softer than the phenolic and with a bit more grab.

Terry
Click to expand...

What he said....just get a hard playing tip....
 
center pocket said:
Thats freaking nuts. Could it be with the phenolic tip you use just enough english cuz it could miscue? What is your miscue rate shooting with the phenolic?.
Click to expand...

Zero.

Well, I should qualify that. I have miscued a few times but that was a result of not having the tip chalked properly.

and no, I'm not scared to use as much english as is needed. I will go to the edges of the Qball without fear if I think that's what's called for... It wouldn't deflect and I wouldnt miscue.

Big Perm said:
What he said....just get a hard playing tip....
Click to expand...

I'm going to put something on the OB1 harder that what is on it. But I was told the Tri-Dud (milk soaked, multi pressed Triangle tip) was one of the hardest tips you could get. Still, not close to hard enough for me.
 
Quatsch83 said:
Obviously the solution is that you should switch to Cuetec. Stat.
Click to expand...

Really you think that would help my game? Brilliant!! You might be onto something... Hey, I just got another idea, since it seems my game is only off when I think to much... maybe I should drop a cinderblock on my head... that should stop all that pesky brain functioning.

But, in all seriousness... I wish there were a way to try out some of these tips you guys recommend without having to keep buying them. I mean some are 10-15 bucks and another 10-15 to install... this gets pretty expensive and discouraging to buy and install a new tip just to find out it not "the one" and then to just chop it off and try again...
 
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good job you shoot better because you focus more on your hit, knowing that the hard tip is less forgiving....try a g-10 i do and love it also drives your opponents crazy listening to the "tink" \
keep shootin straight
 
POOL--TIME said:
good job you shoot better because you focus more on your hit, knowing that the hard tip is less forgiving....try a g-10 i do and love it also drives your opponents crazy listening to the "tink" \
keep shootin straight
Click to expand...


I just read another thread that says the G-10 messes up the balls by embedding fiberglass into them?? I've also read that the Phenolic is supposed to mess up balls but I found that completely untrue. I play with a red dot ball and CRANK it up when I break... After 100's if not 1000's of breaks I haven't seen a single blemish on my cueball.
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
This is just fuct up. I don't know what to do. Ok, IM sure a bunch of you know the story from various posts I've made regarding the strange set of circumstances that ended up with me playing with a break shaft/phenolic tip as my everyday player (Story is here). and learning to play very well with it.

So, some of you also know about the horrible thing that happened to this break shaft (everyday player) when my joint exploded. (Story is here)

thumnail of both stories together. tip broke off Zshaft, while getting new tip messed around w/ break shaft. played very well with it, tried to switch back to Z when fixed... couldnt play as well. broke too hard once snapped the break cue.

So... anyway, I've been trying for the last few weeks to switch back to leather tips. I have really good equiptment to choose from...

Couple Lucasi cues, one with a Z Shaft (Melk Dud tip) one with a OB1 Shaft (Sniper tip). Also have a Josey Custom with the standard shaft and a OB1 (just switched the tip from a everest layered (way too soft) to a Tri-Dud (pressed Triange tip)...

So, I can still shoot Ok with any of these combo's... but It just doesnt feel quite right.. and I know this is going to sound funny but I just cant control the QBall as well... I also don't know with confidence where the Qball is going to end up when using english and a hard stroke... Also, everything feels "squishy" when I hit the QBall.. and no "feedbac" through the cue I can't feel it in my grip hand as well. But, I can still break & run a rack here and there. It just doesnt come as "naturally".

As friends have suggested that I just got used to the the phenolic tip and I need to re-adjust back to the standard tips and when I do, I'll be even better. It's all in my head. No, I don't think so... that's not it. Figure I've been playing pool 15+ years (5+ pretty seriously). If you check the thread dates I started playing with that BK2 shaft at basically the beginning of February, and it snapped in the middle of April.. So you figure I only played with that combo for a few months... So you'd figure its an easy transition back to what Ive been using for years and years...

So, anyway as I said I can still run some racks and play pretty well with the Josey or OB1 or Z. Just feels different and I play a couple balls slower than I was playing with the BK/Phenolic.

A buddy of mine just bought one of the new Lucasi Hybrid cues and with it he gets a cheapo (spark break?) break cue free. Like a $50 cue at best. So, here I am playing with a sweeeeeet Josey with a nice LD shaft and a nice new tip.. playing decent. I pick up that piece of crap and say, "let me see if I can beat you with your crap break cue"... First try, break and run... Continued playing with that piece of crap, played better than I was playing with all the other combo's. This was a super high deflection/phenolic tipped flea market cue. I mean WTF?!?!??!!?

So, here I am. My mind can't get around this very well and I think I've come to the conclusion that... Fukk it, I don't care what i'm "supposed" to be playing with... the proof is in the pudding. I'm a player, I play my best pool with a phenolic tip. It is what it is. But, then again.... ARRRGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! could it screw my game up worse, or could I plateau with this tip and get to a point where I can only go so far (as far as skill, ability, what "level") with it?

I don't know what to think/do. I'm really in a weird spot with my game. ANy feedback is very much welcome. If someone has some wisdom that will help my head get around this... I'm all ears.

~D4\/\/G~
Click to expand...

Maybe the phenolic tip is more conducive to your stroke. Just keep it chalked after every shot. If you feel comfortable with it then you will play well. I'm no pro but if I feel comfortable with something then I'm usually okay. Sometimes I try different tips...sometimes I'm able to adjust and other times I'm not. If you change you have to give yourself ample time to adjust.
 
Dawg, I believe I've read a few of your posts over time, and if memory serves, you are a pretty good player....in my experience, good players perform regardless.....they can grab a cue off the wall, borrow a buddies cue, or even use a break cue to play.....there is a bit of a adjustment period, but after a while, you are the same good player you have always been....I don't believe that any shaft, or any joint, or any type of wood can keep a good man down :D

Play with whatever you want, but methinks it's in your head amigo....if you've been shooting with a phenolic tip for a while, anything less than concrete is gonna feel wierd....
 
I am going to put on one of my LeDuds I made over the past week......id say shoot with what you play best with......
 
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