So, on a whim in 9 ball last night I decided to use my playing cue to break. It has a Medium Ultraskin. Given it's 9 ball, and I'm not aiming to crush the rack but control the break, and given it's not a soft tip...is this ok and safe for my cue long term? 9 ball only.
Using playing cue to break?
- Thread starter RichSchultz
- Start date
You shouldn't have any issues.
Check your tip a little more.
I know many good players who break 8 ball w their playing cue.
One of my favorite sayings..."force it, and if it breaks, f%$k it you needed a new one anyway".
Of course, if you have one of those shafts that's hollow at the end cause it's made of a bunch of strips of wood, that will probably break. Only cue I've ever heard of it happening to. Which the old saying applies to that shaft.
Check your tip a little more.
I know many good players who break 8 ball w their playing cue.
One of my favorite sayings..."force it, and if it breaks, f%$k it you needed a new one anyway".
Of course, if you have one of those shafts that's hollow at the end cause it's made of a bunch of strips of wood, that will probably break. Only cue I've ever heard of it happening to. Which the old saying applies to that shaft.
Thanks....the Meucci Pro shaft is solid, right? don't think they still offer it both ways...
9' tables, breaking from box
Worked out great! Because I was concerned about damaging it, I took some off the break. Control went up proportionally. Made wing balls with great spread.You forgot to tell us how it went?
.???? Balls on the break? Squatin' the rock?
The break is arguably as important of a shot as the 9-ball, and you are cheating yourself if you do not give it the same careful consideration. Hitting the rack with power means nothing if you don't make balls &/or have a shot to begin your run. Exploding the rack with thunder is a little impressive, but consistently running out because you always make a ball on the break & always have a shot on the 1-ball is way more impressive.
Words of wisdom from Eric Crisp...creator of the greatest cue I have ever played with!
Thanks Eric...I will take that as confirmation that I am ok to keep breaking with my player!
MissippiBrock
Registered
I had a meucci years back that literally exploded where the forearm meets the wrap. Fortunately for me it was already traded, ha
Personally, it makes little sense to break with any playing cue's tip I've that I've shaped exactly how
I like it and then go and pound the leather breaking with it.......duh? It only means more maintenance
and reshaping of the cue tip which lessens its overall life span and why do it when this is avoidable?
If you use a soft tip, then breaking with any harder tip, even just a house cue, makes a lot more sense.
Protect your tips & maintain them in the shape you prefer, use a quality chalk and the game is easier.
I like it and then go and pound the leather breaking with it.......duh? It only means more maintenance
and reshaping of the cue tip which lessens its overall life span and why do it when this is avoidable?
If you use a soft tip, then breaking with any harder tip, even just a house cue, makes a lot more sense.
Protect your tips & maintain them in the shape you prefer, use a quality chalk and the game is easier.
Totally true....but I did not "pound the leather" on my tip. What if I'm not hitting 'em that hard?
I prefer not to break with my playing cues for a variety of reasons. Tend to get more dings on the butt, tip gets harder, and don't feel like it offers any advantage. I don't break hard 90% of the time, but breaking is still a harder hit than I would do during normal play.
Old house cue works just fine to break with if you don't want to buy a break cue.
On the other hand, if you don't mind a harder tip, or dings then by all means use your playing cue. People used to use their playing cues all the time to break with, even with ivory ferrules, and rarely did it cause any issues. Sure sometimes a ferrule cracks, but they are replaceable.
Old house cue works just fine to break with if you don't want to buy a break cue.
On the other hand, if you don't mind a harder tip, or dings then by all means use your playing cue. People used to use their playing cues all the time to break with, even with ivory ferrules, and rarely did it cause any issues. Sure sometimes a ferrule cracks, but they are replaceable.
Tad Kohara once said to me, "why wouldn't you break with it? It's strong."
I tend to agree...with certain caveats.
I stopped breaking with my Joss 20 years ago. I will occasionally break with it, but because it is my Joss, my mind will not let me go full force on it. I just can't. The cue is too valuable to me. I rarely do it, and it isn't much of a break to be honest.
What do I worry about? The A joint. Not the shaft. Not the tip. Not the joint pin or collar. Not even an ivory ferrule. All of that is easily fixed or replaced.
An old cue that is valuable...even if it is just valuable to you...may mentally interfere with your break.
Is it strong? Yes.
But it only take once, one harsh blow, to potentially create an A joint rattle. I am not even talking about breaking the cue or anything crazy like that, just breaking loose some glue around that joint.
A cue is designed for linear force. As long as you are not introducing lateral forces, it should be fine if constructed well. Old cues with old adhesives and/or old construction methods might be an exception. That "might" can get in your head.
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superpanget2
Registered
+1, only reason for me not to break with my playing cue is to keep the tip in shape longer. No matter how soft my break is, I find I tend to flatten the tip easier if I break with it.
:smile:Thank you!
Words of wisdom. Another great cue maker told me that tips should have the one mushroom rule. If your tip never mushrooms or loses shape, it's too hard for you. If it mushrooms or loses shape more than once, it's too soft. If you only ever have to reshape it & cut the mushroom off one time, it's just right. Simple logic but it's true.
I'll tell you what, since you're shooting with a Meucci have you considered the Meucci break cue? Fairly inexpensive & they actually break great. I actually have one coming to me with another Meucci I'm having made up.
I buy so much it's crazy because I couldn't wait for them to get with me I bought a 2nd Revo to break with in the meantime.
But I will tell you when my Meucci breaker arrives, I'm going to have a hard time choosing which breaker to use.
I buy so much it's crazy because I couldn't wait for them to get with me I bought a 2nd Revo to break with in the meantime.
But I will tell you when my Meucci breaker arrives, I'm going to have a hard time choosing which breaker to use.