To Sarah, and everyone else

StormHotRod300

StormHotRod300

BigSexy
Silver Member
Ok, since it seems everyone is turning to Phenolic tips on there break/jump cues, i am wondering how long it took everyone to get comfortable with it, because i know it makes controlling the Cue difficult.

I myself i still have issues with my break cue lol, its like i can go 75% and have a monster break make 3 balls and be like WOW!

Yet on the next break i can try to put a lil more into the break and either scratch, air ball, or have a dud break and not make squat lol.

And when i had the tip put on, the guy said, that the tip is made to hit the cue, Dead Solid. I have try'd on many occasions putting a lil low or high english when breaking, but find, erratic results, either getting tons of english or the ball scratch or air ball.


But overall i do love having this tip on my break cue :)

I am just curious on what other peoples results are on this tip, and what they might have had to change in thier break.


Dave
 
Hi Dave,

I think you are running into the same problem that many people run into with the phenolic tip. I know I had the same problem when I tried using one. I tried for awhile but just couldn't get used to it.

I have a pretty strong break (for a girl I know you are thinking) and I couldn't keep the cueball on the table, let alone control it on the table, when I tried to hit them hard. I noticed that when I eased off and didn't try to kill the cueball the results were alot different. The balls spread well and the cueball was easier to control.

Another thing, I think you were deceived. You were told it was impossible to put english on the cueball if you used the phenolic tip. Then you tried it out and found out you can put extreme english on the ball. It still requires finding a spot to aim. I try to aim dead center but I know some people aim high and others aim low. It is whatever is comfortable to you.

Something else to remember is the rack. It is something that is always inconsistant. It makes a huge difference.

Everyone else please share with us your experience with the phenolic tip. I didn't continue to use mine so I cannot give a timeline for getting used to it.

Take care,
Sarah
 
Hi Sarah and Dave,

i recently bought a Sledgehammer and i had the same Dave's problems in the first week. Then a friend of mine put a phenolic tip on my former break cue, a 100$ piece of wood I used for the last 2 years. I tried it and the results were surprising, i found much more power and control just breaking like i did before, with the same cue.
Maybe the reasons is that it's a cue I already feel comfortable with, or maybe i was just lucky. I think i feel better with my modified old break cue also because it's 1 oz. lighter than the Sledgehammer i bought, but i think this is a matter of personal way of breaking. Anyway, i sold my Sledgehammer.

;) Tom
 
Put one on a Heubler J/B cue. With a dead center hit on the CB it was AWESOME, but if get off a bit and whoa, who knows where it is going. :D
 
Ive had a sledgehammer since January.It does takes some time to get used to it.Ive still havent really got used to it all the way.Im in the process of going back to an older non phenolic jump break cue I have.Im kinda running a test between the two.I have more control with the leather tip and more power with the sledge.Im hoping to be able to get more power form the non phenolic and if so then ill most likely sell the sledge.
Sarah, you do break pretty good for a girl.lol :)
 
StormHotRod300 said:
Ok, since it seems everyone is turning to Phenolic tips on there break/jump cues, i am wondering how long it took everyone to get comfortable with it, because i know it makes controlling the Cue difficult.

Dave
Click to expand...

I guess I've had a different experience than most as I adjusted to it pretty readily. The trick to the phenolic tip is to use center ball. If you go more than a half-tip off, you lose control of the white. If you like to use English on the opening break, then the phenolic solution is not for you.

My break has come back up quite a bit since I went over to the 'Hammer and I've been making about 2.25 balls per break since I switched from the Meucci j/b I'd used for years. Jumping is easier for me now and I can do it with a more level stroke be it on a Simonis surface or slower cloth.

However, I have heard from some players and noticed first-hand myself that there are differences in the phenolic tip ingredients (for lack of a better term). I can't recall the names off-hand though... one was called "linen" IIRC and I forget the name of the other stuff... "linen" was blackish in color and the other stuff was a brownish-tan color. Anyway, I tried three different cues at the last tournament I was at: one played bouncy, one played OK (though it had a leather tip on it), and the one I have on my personal cue hit a dead ball almost every time for me. So I guess I got a good one. :)
 
vader93490 said:
II've been making about 2.25 balls per break since I switched from the Meucci j/b I'd used for years.
Click to expand...

So vader, what do you do with the 3/4 of a ball that's left on the table :D
 
Hey all

Sarah, well i dont know if i said, that i was told that putting english on a phenolic tip was impossible, lol,,, i know the guy who put the tip on for me, said its best if you break hitting the center of the cue. I know i have been able to put high or low english on the cue when breaking, and yes the reaction is very erratic and hard to control. But i know sometimes when you hit with high or low english it sounds like a miscue too. which leads to another story i have lol but will tell later.

but i think i see where we got miss under stood Sarah, lol but anyways.

I do see that Tom and Jerry also had similar instances too,

But i am thinking its just a simple situation of being more consistent with my break and hitting the cue.

Oh anyways,, to my story about my break cue lol

the first day i had, it,, i got it about 30minutes into the tournament, and i was told that with the Phenolic tip, your not suppose to do anything with it except break and jump.

Well i break, make a couple balls, go and line up my shot, with a lil draw, and hit the ball, and thought i miscue'd but i still make the object ball, well i look at the tip and go DUH,,, i am still using my break cue lol.

That would be a scene i would love to see on TV lol.
 
Thank you all for your input on this subject.

Dave, I guess "impossible" wasn't the word to use. Sorry for the confusion. I guess more practice is all you need. Practicing to aim centerball.

I agree with everyone else that there is a difference in each cue with a phenolic tip. Some cues, like the Sledgehammer, I believe have a phenolic ferrule as well as a phenolic tip. Others only have a phenolic tip.

Since it sounds like you have just a phenolic tip on your old break cue you could look into other kinds of phenolic tips. There are some that have more of a leather concentration to them. Those aren't quite so hard or jumpy, but still hit very solid.

Dave, you are lucky you didn't have to hit that shot too hard. The cueball would have gone flying. :)

Take care,
Sarah
 
sarahrousey said:
Thank you all for your input on this subject.

I agree with everyone else that there is a difference in each cue with a phenolic tip. Some cues, like the Sledgehammer, I believe have a phenolic ferrule as well as a phenolic tip. Others only have a phenolic tip.

Since it sounds like you have just a phenolic tip on your old break cue you could look into other kinds of phenolic tips. There are some that have more of a leather concentration to them. Those aren't quite so hard or jumpy, but still hit very solid.

Dave, you are lucky you didn't have to hit that shot too hard. The cueball would have gone flying. :)

Take care,
Sarah
Click to expand...

You're correct Sarah... the sledgehammer does have a phenolic ferrule. The tip and ferrule are one piece. In any case, I've had good results with it so I'll stick with it.

If memory serves, Bunjee has a combination leather/phenolic tip available.
 
Hi guys, I'm new to the forum, I just bought a Predator BK (from inside pool), but had to send it back :mad: (I ordered a 18 oz they sent me a 19.70 oz with out a weight bolt in it), so I should get it next week, when I do I'll post how I like it :D .


Pete
 
Vader, there are a few different options when it comes to phenolic tips. There are some that have a very small concentration of leather and others have a large concentration of leather. I have one that is not quite so "plastic" feeling. It still gets the job done when it comes to jumping. Unfortunately, I don't really care for it when it comes to breaking.

Pete, I think you got a good product in the Predator BK. It's too bad they sent you the wrong one. Please let us know how you like it. Enjoy your time here on the forum. Feel free to ask about anything.

Take care,
Sarah
 
It's funny, some people love the phenolic tips to death, other people hate them.

My wife has always had a pretty good break, but when she got a sledgehammer she thought all her christmases had come at once! Just adores that cue. I tried her cue out for a few hours during practice and just couldn't make friends with it. Didn't feel 'right' in my hands, couldn't stand how dead it felt.

I know people that have bought expensive break cues, then found house cues that work better! £10 later, they have their perfect breaker. Personally, I break with my old predator sneaky pete. Used to play with it, now break with it. It isn't perfect, and I keep trying out other options, but I won't change until I find something better.

I think, like all things cue-related, it is all horses for courses.
 
You are exactly right Raistlin, some people love it while others hate it. You mentioned how dead it feels and I completely agree with you. Although, I do think it is a good product. It has made alot of players break better. I think it is much like everything else in life, what is made for some is not made for others. To each their own.

Take care,
Sarah
 
sarahrousey said:
Vader, there are a few different options when it comes to phenolic tips. There are some that have a very small concentration of leather and others have a large concentration of leather. I have one that is not quite so "plastic" feeling. It still gets the job done when it comes to jumping. Unfortunately, I don't really care for it when it comes to breaking.

Take care,
Sarah
Click to expand...

I don't recall what the tip was I had initially (Bunjee, IIRC) when I first bought my Sledgehammer second-hand. Whatever it was, it wasn't right for me. Good jumping ability, but breaking was so-so at best.

Mike Gulyassy put the correct ferrule-tip unit back on the shaft of the cue and the results were much improved in jumping and breaking both as I stated previously.

In any case... the ferrule-tip unit is what works best for me so I'm going to stick with it.
 
Well i am back,,,,,, :) sorry for being gone for so long.

And its ok, Sarah i forgive!

Anyways, well I have been using my Action Break/Jump lately just trying it out, and it still hits pretty nice, but its only a 18oz, so for me it feels like i dont get the power i do from my Viking which is a 21oz which has the phenolic tip on it.

But weds i was practicing, and when i was breaking, i was trying to hit the cue a lil below dead center, and i found my breaks FREAKING AMAZING LOL, and for some reason, the cue was jumping about 6inches off the table when it hit the rack, scary, but seemed like a good sign lol.

Well maybe i have figured out the phenolic tip :)
 
Hi Dave,

I'm glad you have figured the phenolic tip out. I'm suprised though at the fact that you said you can't break well with your lighter cue. Alot of players use a lighter cue to increase their arm speed. But, I do remember that you play on the bar table alot so I guess the heavier cue is alright. Just keep the lighter break cue in mind when you play on the 9ft table.

Sorry if I've confused you again :)

Good luck. I hope your great break continues. Keep us all updated.

Take care,
Sarah
 
Sarah,

Well for some reason even on a 9ft i like using my heavier break stick, i can generate more power with control. I guess maybe i am just unique about the whole thing, but even the owner of the pool hall i frequent uses a 21oz PFD for a break stick lol.


I mean honestly when i use my 18oz action break stick, i fell like i am using a twig lol. it does hit nice, but i just havent found a comfort with it.

And untill i started using viking as a break stick, i was using my SCHON for breaking and everything else lol.

Oh and how do you deal with new felt that makes the ball roll farther? lol
 
Just got my Predator Break stick.

Just got my Predator Break stick :p . I'm going to the club after work and try it out :D . I'll let you guys know in a couple of days what I think.

Pete
 
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