Using playing cue to break?
- Thread starter RichSchultz
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I prefer to never do that, even with a controlled 9ball break.14.1 being the sole exception.
I don't want to put stress on my tip, it will just flatten more quickly and I like a quite rounded tip best.
As I'm usually playing between medium to soft tips and a very soft game it's just not for me.
Cheers,
M
I don't want to put stress on my tip, it will just flatten more quickly and I like a quite rounded tip best.
As I'm usually playing between medium to soft tips and a very soft game it's just not for me.
Cheers,
M
Considering my cue is full splice, I shouldn't worry about an A joint.
Many of us did that for years and years. I remember one of my league teammates back in the 80's say, "if I'm gonna to pay $100 for a cue stick, I damned well better be able to break with it!"
Oh, how times have changed.
Freddie <~~~ spinnlng wheels got to go 'round
That's the tip philosophy I grew up on as well.
I always use my playing cue to break in 14.1.
I always broke with my playing cue before my layoff. Both 8 ball and 9 ball with a Southwest. I never had a problem and sometimes I have a fairly strong break. Since I've returned to the game I don't break with my playing cue even though I prefer to. I want to keep my playing tip in the best possible shape. I'm also aware of the damage it could cause even though unlikely. I do use my playing cue to break in straight pool.
Until I acquired more cues than I need, I always broke with my playing cue. Even my high-dollar custom cues. I can hit the balls as hard as most anybody and I have yet to break my cue or any part of it.
I sometimes shoot regular shots almost as hard as people break and I don't go get my break cue to do it...I use my playing cue.
FWIW, I use a cheap Players sneaky Pete for a break cue now and it has a Le Pro tip. I also have a cheap Cuetec cue that I use for breaking and it has a White Diamond tip on it. I prefer the Players because it gives me more control over the cue ball and I sometimes just keep shooting with it if I make a ball on the break.
I sometimes shoot regular shots almost as hard as people break and I don't go get my break cue to do it...I use my playing cue.
FWIW, I use a cheap Players sneaky Pete for a break cue now and it has a Le Pro tip. I also have a cheap Cuetec cue that I use for breaking and it has a White Diamond tip on it. I prefer the Players because it gives me more control over the cue ball and I sometimes just keep shooting with it if I make a ball on the break.
Broke with my playing cue forever and still will, won't bother me a bit. Never cared about the shape of the tip either. Would beat it damn near flat and still out draw/follow 99% of the players on here. Don't get caught up in all that crap, just shoot pool!!!
Jason
Jason
Best advice in the thread.
My first "break cue" - back in 1990, before I really understood why I wanted a dedicated break cue - was a Meucci Sneaky Pete. I was using it in a 9-ball tournament, and I broke a rack with a huge crack and made 5 balls.
I was really in the zone, and impatient to run out after such a great break, so I leaned over to take my first shot but my fingers just gripped air as I couldn't find the shaft. I looked down and it was hanging off the joint, split on both sides about 12" down the shaft.
It was really a playing cue, but it broke great, until I broke it!
Ok for me.
I break with my Diveney Lake Salvage shafts when ever I go to one of the local dives and play in a tournament on a bar box, as I don't like having a bunch of cues exposed to the drunks. I don't break with the 2 laminated LD shafts I have, a Meucci Black Dot and a OB Classic, both ae 12.5 mm with long tapers. I seldom use them and let guests use them.
If at the pool hall or playing on my home 9 footer I use my break cue, which has a 13 mm Dymonwood shaft and Diveney Ebony butt. I can't break very hard, so I don't think it matters much for me. I view tips like gun magazines, disposable and replaceable.
My buddy smashes the rack and has broken 2 shafts and one cue ball that I know of.
So he needs a break cue. I feel break cues are over rated for most players that don't have a hard break or a B game.
If I had spent thousands of dollars on a cue that came with a shaft from a well known high end cue maker I would not break with it.
The upside is having a break cue is another reason to buy another cue!
Diveney is making LD shafts now and I have one coming, I doubt I will break with it on a 9" table, even though Pat said it is pure maple and not laminated.
I break with my Diveney Lake Salvage shafts when ever I go to one of the local dives and play in a tournament on a bar box, as I don't like having a bunch of cues exposed to the drunks. I don't break with the 2 laminated LD shafts I have, a Meucci Black Dot and a OB Classic, both ae 12.5 mm with long tapers. I seldom use them and let guests use them.
If at the pool hall or playing on my home 9 footer I use my break cue, which has a 13 mm Dymonwood shaft and Diveney Ebony butt. I can't break very hard, so I don't think it matters much for me. I view tips like gun magazines, disposable and replaceable.
My buddy smashes the rack and has broken 2 shafts and one cue ball that I know of.
So he needs a break cue. I feel break cues are over rated for most players that don't have a hard break or a B game.
If I had spent thousands of dollars on a cue that came with a shaft from a well known high end cue maker I would not break with it.
The upside is having a break cue is another reason to buy another cue!
Diveney is making LD shafts now and I have one coming, I doubt I will break with it on a 9" table, even though Pat said it is pure maple and not laminated.
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Two Considerations for Shaft Repair/Replacement
If your shaft has an ivory ferrule, or ivory rings and your cue maker is in one the states that has an ivory ban you may not be able to replace it as it was originally made.
My main player is an old '65 Gina merry widow (with ivory ferrules) and have a new Gina with elforyn ferrules and don't really notice a difference but my skill level probably isn't advanced enough to notice a difference. Some of you might notice it.
Also, if your cue maker is nearing retirement you might have to find someone else to replace/repair it. Yes, there are plenty of capable cue makers that could do that job for you but matching the rings might be an issue.
Both of the above situations just seem to be something you can avoid by picking up a cue you can break with, and leave your player for playing.
My $.02.
Tony C
If your shaft has an ivory ferrule, or ivory rings and your cue maker is in one the states that has an ivory ban you may not be able to replace it as it was originally made.
My main player is an old '65 Gina merry widow (with ivory ferrules) and have a new Gina with elforyn ferrules and don't really notice a difference but my skill level probably isn't advanced enough to notice a difference. Some of you might notice it.
Also, if your cue maker is nearing retirement you might have to find someone else to replace/repair it. Yes, there are plenty of capable cue makers that could do that job for you but matching the rings might be an issue.
Both of the above situations just seem to be something you can avoid by picking up a cue you can break with, and leave your player for playing.
My $.02.
Tony C
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After reading this thread I broke with my player in a 9 ball match that night. I did not break as hard as I would have using my break stick. I hit the rack with about the same force as I would if I had to hit the cue ball hard into an object ball in regular play to get shape. Worked great. Much more control and consistently broke a ball in. My player is a Joss with a Triangle tip that has been pressed. Loved the result. Don't think I will be using it for an 8 ball break though.
Thats very interesting, I have never heard that before. I break most of the time with my player and I will need to reshape the tip once or twice when tip is on the new side then after that I just need to scuff it when chalk does not stick.
I cant imagine grabbing a house cue to break, the break is far too important of a shot, especially in rotation games and there is much more to the break than just scattering the balls around and making as much noise as you can.
As far as tips wearing out too fast when breaking, cmon, tips are cheap, especially compared to a $2K and up cue.
I use a McDermott G-Core on my player, McDermott told me that is the same shaft they use on their break cues so I guess its strong enough.