What Break Cue??? What do you have?

Custom ALEX BRICK J/B with 6" telescope butt extension. Osage orange (5.5oz) shaft. NOT FOR SALE--haha
 
My J/B is a custom 8-point Andy Gilbert. I got it with two shafts so that I could have one with a regular tip and one with a phenolic tip. If you're looking for a dedicated breaker I've heard a lot of good things about the x-breaker from several people on here whose opinions I value.

The thing about a Gilbert J/B, however, is that it is a jam up player as well! One cue to rule them all...lol *sorry, I'm about 60% geek :D*

Pictures:

Gilbert_butt.JPG


Gilbert_fore.JPG
 
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love the ebony, its beautiful, well im starting to think the xbreaker has some value, but i think im going to go through with a stinger, ill post results of whatever i end up getting.
 
I have a few...Mace, Grey Ghost, Rich/Searing Hybrid and a few others. Its all hearsay on whats the best or how easy they break. Go break with some, ALL of em...My next B/J will be from EuroWest, Markus showed me their new patented ferulle/tip combo and its very appealing to me. Might get me back in the pool room more than once a week!!
 
prolecat said:
love the ebony, its beautiful, well im starting to think the xbreaker has some value, but i think im going to go through with a stinger, ill post results of whatever i end up getting.

Prolecat-
If you get the X-Breaker I can assure you, you will NOT be disappointed. I will say this though: supply is limited. Richard went to Valley Forge with quite a stash and sold out in two days!! He's already got a two month wait so you may have to get one off ebay or through the second hand market!

Still, its well worth it.
 
I bought a crappy Cuetec J/B cue off ebay for about $110 and threw a Joe Picone tip on it. It drops the balls like stink and I can control the cueball well, which are my only two requirements from a break cue. I did cover the wrap area with hockey tape as the butt is a little thin and I hate that rubber grip crap. Looks like hell, but I only use it for one shot per game and I'm not big on fashion.
 
Nico said:
I bought a crappy Cuetec J/B cue off ebay for about $110 and threw a Joe Picone tip on it.


Those tips make a real difference. I put one one my BK and it turned it into fricken cannon.
 
prolecat said:
Anyone use a sledgehammer, or have tried one before? Im in the market for a new break cue, i have about $300 to spend.

I was looking at the Jerico Stingers, i saw one in person, they look real nice.

anyone have any other suggestions in this price range?


I have a Mace Break Jump by Rick Howard. I have had it for 12 years now and have been happy with it. I have been thinking about trying an
X-breaker or stinger but have not. IMO they are very pricey for
a break cue but the break is important.
I also have been thinking about replacing the ferrule and tip on mine to a
phenolic one.
 
For looks I have everybody beat.

I was on the wrong end of a ebay deal gone bad. Bought a cue that was advertised as a Meucci and turned out to be a knock off that was the biggest piece of crap I've ever seen. I used it as a practice cue for doing leather wraps on. The first leather wrap I tried was a soft cow hide that I butchered. Ended up sanding the wrap and it became very soft, it felt great.

I then made a shaft for it that was 31" and extremely fat. Put a Sumo tip on the end and have had amazing luck with it for the last 4 months. I think it is around 18oz's and 60" Long with epoxy running from all edges of the wrap and the but sleeve starting to fall off. Every once in a while I have to hit it on the ground for the sleeve to tighten up.

Sorry I ramble.....
 
deep said:
Those tips make a real difference. I put one one my BK and it turned it into fricken cannon.

I have a McDermott J/B and a Predator BK, I installed Picone tips on both and it made one hell of a difference for the better.

With either cue, I usually make two or more balls on the break. (I have made up to six on the break in 8 ball a couple of times.) The balls wind up nicely spread with the cueball parked in the middle of the table. BTW, the McDermott does a great job as a jumper with the Picone tip. What more could I ask for?

OTOH, a good dedicated break cue will help, but it doesn't matter what cue one uses if one's breaking technique is faulty. Poor technique will yield poor results no matter what cue one uses or how big and strong, or skinny and weak, a player is.
 
Secaucus Fats said:
I have a McDermott J/B and a Predator BK, I installed Picone tips on both and it made one hell of a difference for the better.

With either cue, I usually make two or more balls on the break. (I have made up to six on the break in 8 ball a couple of times.) The balls wind up nicely spread with the cueball parked in the middle of the table. BTW, the McDermott does a great job as a jumper with the Picone tip. What more could I ask for?


I made 6 balls on the break last week playing 9-ball with my BK. The rest of the afternoon i made a couple of 4's, a few 3's and a load of 2's. My BK really does take a lot of hammer when i break (i snapped a shaft on my stinger) and it just keeps going!
 
I've been using the BK2, and I love it. I decided to get one after I destroyed the ferrule on my regular BK.
 
Well i have been using a Action Sneaky Pete for breaking and was kinda frustrated in the results i was getting, so i Added weight to the cue making it about 21oz's and also added a Phenolic ferrule/tip.

The same nite i got the cue back, i practiced breaking with the cue and it was unreal how the balls just exploded and how much control i have with the CB.

Now on the flip side, about a year ago, i bought a players JB that had a phenolic ferrule/tip on it and at first i was breaking well with the cue, but then i just couldnt control the CB, no matter how soft i would break.

I believe the shaft was too whippy, for breaking or jumping.

Now the Action cue, it just the opposite, i can squat the CB in the center of the table 90% of the time, and there is no whippy-ness in the shaft that it noticeable.

dave
 
I decided to keep buying break cues until I found one I liked. Finally, after selling the first 3 ,I got a Fury J/B. Got it off E-Bay for $119.00, $15 shipping...Best break cue I have ever had and jumps real good too.....
 
I have to mention the mezz powerbreak (II). Great cue. I own a J&J with all-in-one ferrule, like that alot aswell.
 
Jerico Stinger...

I have had tried a Sledgehammer, (seemed a little butt heavy 'To Me'), I own a Fury, its OK, a little whippy though, and not nearly a product made by a 'Craftsman'. I purchased a Stinger almost two years ago, its a great cue, love the way it breaks, jumps like a bunny, and it is one good looking cue. People actually think its a SP, (I have the Cocobolo Model). I haven't tried an X-Breaker, but I am perfectly happy with The Stinger, (American Made by Jerry Powers, Clyde, Texas). This fact goes a long way in my book.

A side note:

I recently had an unfortunate 'accident' during a tournament...my case hit the floor with my cues standing in it! :eek: My Schon LTD and my Stinger hit the floor! Unfortunately The Stinger took the brunt of the force and hit the bottom rung on a chair, (shattered the shaft in two places from the ferrule to about 4" up the shaft). I was Pi**ed to say the least. I pride myself on taking very good care of my equiptment. Called Jerry with my disturbing news, his reply, 'send it to me, if it's just the seal coat I'll repair it and fit it back to the cue, if the shaft is broken, I'll just send you a new one', my reply, ('a shaft'?), 'No, the time to make a shaft to fit your cue, to maintain weight/balance etc., would take awhile, I'll send you a new cue'. Thats right, a brand new cue! How 'bout that for customer service!? Don't see that much anymore...

Anyway, long & short, I sent the cue to him on Wednesday, the following Friday a BRAND NEW Stinger arrived at my door. Second Generation Tip, only been produced for two weeks now, Forearm Signed by Jerry, Stinger on the Shaft, along with 'Made In The USA'...sweet...
 
This is my break cue. The 314 shaft has been filled and a phenolic tip ferrule combination was added.
 

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Jersey said:
I have had tried a Sledgehammer, (seemed a little butt heavy 'To Me'), I own a Fury, its OK, a little whippy though, and not nearly a product made by a 'Craftsman'. I purchased a Stinger almost two years ago, its a great cue, love the way it breaks, jumps like a bunny, and it is one good looking cue. People actually think its a SP, (I have the Cocobolo Model). I haven't tried an X-Breaker, but I am perfectly happy with The Stinger, (American Made by Jerry Powers, Clyde, Texas). This fact goes a long way in my book.

A side note:

I recently had an unfortunate 'accident' during a tournament...my case hit the floor with my cues standing in it! :eek: My Schon LTD and my Stinger hit the floor! Unfortunately The Stinger took the brunt of the force and hit the bottom rung on a chair, (shattered the shaft in two places from the ferrule to about 4" up the shaft). I was Pi**ed to say the least. I pride myself on taking very good care of my equiptment. Called Jerry with my disturbing news, his reply, 'send it to me, if it's just the seal coat I'll repair it and fit it back to the cue, if the shaft is broken, I'll just send you a new one', my reply, ('a shaft'?), 'No, the time to make a shaft to fit your cue, to maintain weight/balance etc., would take awhile, I'll send you a new cue'. Thats right, a brand new cue! How 'bout that for customer service!? Don't see that much anymore...

Anyway, long & short, I sent the cue to him on Wednesday, the following Friday a BRAND NEW Stinger arrived at my door. Second Generation Tip, only been produced for two weeks now, Forearm Signed by Jerry, Stinger on the Shaft, along with 'Made In The USA'...sweet...
How does the new tip differ fr old one<I have a ebony stinger i use for jump,break 9 ball but i find i get a better break with my playing cue for 8 ball.I notice most good players in my area also break 8 ball with a softer tip.
 
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