Video - Jumping with X-Breaker

Cornerman

Cornerman

Cue Author...Sometimes
Silver Member
Easily, IMO, best jumping cue currently. I video'd this while at Derby City in the AZ room while all quiet. I was trying to jump with a very controlled soft stroke. The balls don't come back because I'm pocketing them in the 4 1/2" pocket down table.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDAbA3ZTY8E

Fred
 
I agree. Competent break cue, superior jump cue. I also like jumping with mine full length on long shots when I don't have to get the cue bal up very quickly. The shaft also screws into the back part of the handle for a medium length jump cue.

Chris
 
Just one suggestion: You are dropping your arm a little as you stroke the shot.

You'll get a lot more height off the table with the cueball if you keep that back hand up which also means you'll be able to jump balls that are a lot closer to the cue ball.

Like I said, just a suggestion. I guess the teacher in me rears its ugly head once in a while.

Nice video!
 
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I love the fact that you get mad at yourself after the last of your casual attempts fails. Silly perfectionist. lol :p

I'd like to get my hands on an x-breaker. Been wanting one since who knows when... but can't justify buying one until I have a playing cue that isn't a pete since I already have a jump/break. I predict 3 years down the line will be about right... when I'm out of the military and making some REAL money :D
 
Good jumping with that pendulum stroke. I cant seem to master it, so I stick with the dart stroke. Hard to get the steeper angle required for close in jumps with the pendulum stroke.

Have you tried other jump/breaks before you got the x breaker? Comparison comments would be great.
 
Cornerman said:
Easily, IMO, best jumping cue currently. I video'd this while at Derby City in the AZ room while all quiet. I was trying to jump with a very controlled soft stroke. The balls don't come back because I'm pocketing them in the 4 1/2" pocket down table.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDAbA3ZTY8E

Fred
Click to expand...

This shot you are doing can be accomplished with many brands. What specifically, for you, sets the X-Breaker apart, from the others. You said that you are using a "very controlled soft stroke". Have you tried to use other cues with this same stroke. I only ask because I too have shot with the X-Breaker and many other brands and find most of them to be quite similar, almost indistinguishable, when it comes to jumping performance.

Is it more of a personal feeling, or could you quantify it with more objectivity?
 
Roadie said:
This shot you are doing can be accomplished with many brands. What specifically, for you, sets the X-Breaker apart, from the others. You said that you are using a "very controlled soft stroke". Have you tried to use other cues with this same stroke.
Click to expand...

I think it really is that on this particular shot, I am trying to hit with the least amount of effort to still jump over a full ball. Maybe I can't convey the physical aspect of what I'm doing. Every jump cue better be able to make this shot (and I have most of them), but it was a "look how softly, no effort, make the ball," type of shot. Ummagumma had a J&J j/b that I did the same shot, but I had to hit it a touch firmer to accomplish the same thing.

With the dart method, this X-breaker is just too easy.

Fred
 
Cornerman said:
Easily, IMO, best jumping cue currently.
Click to expand...

I've heard so many people say this for the same reason you illustrated: just how effortlessly it is to jump with the Xbreaker, and how accurate the results are.

-Roger
 
I have a stealth AT-1 jump cue with a white diamond tip. If you ever come to Phoenix I invite you to do the same test. I have nothing against the x-breaker at all - I think it is a great cue. I have tried all different kinds of jump cues (including the x-breaker) and tip combos and the jump cue I have right now is the easiest I have found. If anybody comes to Phoenix I will gladly let you use it to see how easy and effortless it is.

BVal

P.S. I like the video - I want to try and put one up soon.
 
Have you tried the Varney j/b? Seems like a lot of folks here really like it. How does the X-Breaker compare to it?
 
Thank you Fred for posting this video.

As a "cue author", I am sure you have had the opportunity to try many jump break cues. It is a true pleasure to have you choosing to use the X breaker.

I also enjoy our discussion on cues and such when we were down in the Derby. We agree on quite a few subjects actually such as the one regarding a certain new cue maker:)

I hope I can help to answer some of the questions raised in this thread regarding the X tip.

The X breaker built by Samsara has better jumpability than the original X breaker, it is because we have changed the ferrule material, ferrule/tip configration, taper, and balance.

I have tried the canvas phenolic and the white diamond, and they are all good jump tips. The X tip has a higher compressive strength than these tips, which makes jumping more effortless. Most players who try the X Breaker the very first time would jump too hard, because they are used to doing so with these other jump cues. When a player can jump with less force, he can use less moving parts in his stroke, and achieve more consistency and accurancy.

The first time I used a white diamond tip was may be 3 to 4 years ago. It is my own experience that these tips are great break/jump tips. I am also very positive that they are not made from Aegis or LBM or Ivorene 4 rods.

I like them. The problem I had was just that they are not as resistence to cracking and breakage as I would like as they are a bit on the soft side. I think the white diamond is a better tip than the canvas tip because it holds chalk better.

I have tested more tips and have spent more time and money testing them than most people/companies--if I have found something better than what I am using now, I would certainly use them.:) Thank you.

Richard
 
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BVal said:
I have a stealth AT-1 jump cue with a white diamond tip. If you ever come to Phoenix I invite you to do the same test. I have nothing against the x-breaker at all - I think it is a great cue. I have tried all different kinds of jump cues (including the x-breaker) and tip combos and the jump cue I have right now is the easiest I have found. If anybody comes to Phoenix I will gladly let you use it to see how easy and effortless it is.

BVal

P.S. I like the video - I want to try and put one up soon.
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that. I had a Sledgehammer with a broken shaft and a Stealth AT-1 jump cue. I used the Stealth shaft in the Sledgehammer handle, and was using it as a jump/break cue before I got my X-Breaker.

When I got the X-Breaker, it was a tough decision for me which cue to keep, because the Stealth/Slegehammer hybrid was definitely a terrific break cue and an excellent jump cue.

Comparing the X-Breaker to the Stealth as just jump cues go, the X-breaker gets the ball up in the air with less effort, the Stealth allows the player to use more spin. So if you're hitting a jump/stop or a jump draw, the Stealth is better. By the same token, sometimes the additional spin is not a desirable thing on jump shots if you mess up and put side spin on them.

Before switching over to these specialized cues I had a custom jump/break and it was 100% - not good for either job.

Chris
 
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