Towards the lighter side. 18oz.
Who likes a heavy breaker and who likes a lighter one?
I feel like I’m on the opposite side on this one. My players are 19.25oz and 19oz. I like to break with an 18oz. Preferred breaker 1 piece Dufferin or any solid wood 1 piece. Anything over 20oz is way too heavy.
...
Obviously most pros seem to use break cues so there must be something faulty with my logic, or beyond my experience/skill level. But I genuinely wonder... why not extend break cue logic even further and have a multitude of cues for the many different shot types, like golf? Eg, we have break cues, jump cues, masse cues, playing cues - why not add cues with heavy shafts & soft tips for short delicate rail shots, and rearward balanced harder tip cues for long draw shots?
That said, I think the physics works out such that almost anyone can generate more power & maintain more control with a lighter break stick. For the most part this is true for most athletic activities dealing with similar issues (eg baseball, tennis, golf, skiing, mountain biking...), which is one of the reasons for the general migration to lighter, stronger materials.
Cheers
Why would I want to slam the shape of my playing cue’s tip from repeatedly breaking with it?Guess I’m the oddball here. Never really saw the point of a break cue. I’ve heard and understand all the various reasons that folks prefer dedicated break cues - but the concept of repeatedly switching to a totally different cue during a match for the most important shots - has always seemed weird to me. In fact this is one of several reasons I don’t like soft tips - they mushroom too much if used to break with. No “right” answer, all subjective tradeoffs, but personally I value consistency over most other variables. I play with a 19 oz ish cue with medium tips, and even prefer to execute easy jumps with my playing cue unless its too short a hop and I’m forced to use a jump cue to be competitive.
Obviously most pros seem to use break cues so there must be something faulty with my logic, or beyond my experience/skill level. But I genuinely wonder... why not extend break cue logic even further and have a multitude of cues for the many different shot types, like golf? Eg, we have break cues, jump cues, masse cues, playing cues - why not add cues with heavy shafts & soft tips for short delicate rail shots, and rearward balanced harder tip cues for long draw shots?
That said, I think the physics works out such that almost anyone can generate more power & maintain more control with a lighter break stick. For the most part this is true for most athletic activities dealing with similar issues (eg baseball, tennis, golf, skiing, mountain biking...), which is one of the reasons for the general migration to lighter, stronger materials.
Cheers
Making a ball on the break is far more crucial at the Pro level than for amateurs, because many are capable of multiple break and runs. If Earl Strickland can see the 1 ball, he's usually out. This is why when he missed, he forfeits the game out of self anger (for missing). In the winner break format, I've seen first hand a dry break can erase a 4 game lead. Such as playing against Chang Jun Lin, break and run 4 games in a row. This is because the 9-ball (aka Texas Express 9-ball) is the game of choice for tournaments. Prior to the popularization of this game, dedicated break cues and jump cues didn't exist. Hope this helps your understanding.
Thx. I understand match/break formats, and completely grok the importance of the break shot and making a ball. That's exactly why I prefer the consistency of using the same cue I play with. With modern equipment, using maximum power to slam break shots isn't really what most of us are doing anymore, and 10-ball and alternate break formats sort of minimize that logic - yet we still see a strong preference for break cues in those environments also.
I guess @Bavafongoul's response is more likely to be what affects many players - and is aligned with what I was originally surmising. For those who prefer softer playing tips that shroom out easily and require more maintenance - definitely makes sense to have dedicated break cue. I prefer medium tips and minimal fussing with tips in general, so guess it's sort of non applicable to me.
Not trying to be contentious or critical. I tend to be a minimalist, and strongly biased towards consistency in all aspects of the game. To each their own.
Peace & love
Hi, not really sure what you’re getting at. I simply don’t view the break shot as something special that requires a special or different anything. I’m not a brilliant man, but hitting all shots (except for short jumps) with my playing cue/tip - seems pretty consistent and works well for me. I’m of the opinion that the holes & weak areas of my game (including improving my break) aren’t going to be fixed with this stick or that tip. Perhaps at some point I’ll be divinely blessed to see whatever truth I’m currently missing, but my guess is most folks use break cues because its what the cool kids do, and/or they play with soft tips and want to minimize tip maintenance, which is very reasonable. I’m open minded though, perhaps if I get a cool new breaker with phenolic tip and an embossed 3x5 case my game will jump a ball or two. Shoot, I might even grab a glove and a personalized magnetic chalk holder while I’m shopping. Can never have enough fancy arrows in the quiver...Wouldn't consistency be the best if you only used the same tip for breaking and the same tip for playing?
Hi, not really sure what you’re getting at. I simply don’t view the break shot as something special that requires a special or different anything. I’m not a brilliant man, but hitting all shots (except for short jumps) with my playing cue/tip - seems pretty consistent and works well for me. I’m of the opinion that the holes & weak areas of my game (including improving my break) aren’t going to be fixed with this stick or that tip. Perhaps at some point I’ll be divinely blessed to see whatever truth I’m currently missing, but my guess is most folks use break cues because its what the cool kids do, and/or they play with soft tips and want to minimize tip maintenance, which is very reasonable. I’m open minded though, perhaps if I get a cool new breaker with phenolic tip and an embossed 3x5 case my game will jump a ball or two. Shoot, I might even grab a glove and a personalized magnetic chalk holder while I’m shopping. Can never have enough fancy arrows in the quiver...
.
I get it. Thx for sharing your experience, I value & respect your views. CheersLOL, I can see the sarcasm in your post regarding the latest this or that. Trust me, I'm not that guy. I don't own a glove, I don't use fancy chalk, I don't own a super expensive cue, I don't own a super expensive break cue, I'll never own carbon fiber, etc...
Point being, I began using a break cue because I did use soft tips, but over time I realized I prefer a much different tip profile for my break cue so even though I now use a hard tip (and break with it occasionally) I won't play a serious game of pool without a break cue, so I am consistent
Good luck in your endeavors.
Speaking as a reformed minimalist I know exactly where you're coming from. However what I can say is that power in my break has been a hole in my game for a very long time. In the last several years I have been using templates and opt to break with my soft tipped player. I don't need the power, and rather focus on controlling the CB. That said, I did very recently pony up for a CF breaker and the difference in power transfer into the CB is quite noticeable. Does that replace my player the option for a controlled break...?..., no not at all. What it does do is give me option when I'm dealing with bad racks, or other poor table conditions.Hi, not really sure what you’re getting at. I simply don’t view the break shot as something special that requires a special or different anything. I’m not a brilliant man, but hitting all shots (except for short jumps) with my playing cue/tip - seems pretty consistent and works well for me. I’m of the opinion that the holes & weak areas of my game (including improving my break) aren’t going to be fixed with this stick or that tip. Perhaps at some point I’ll be divinely blessed to see whatever truth I’m currently missing, but my guess is most folks use break cues because its what the cool kids do, and/or they play with soft tips and want to minimize tip maintenance, which is very reasonable. I’m open minded though, perhaps if I get a cool new breaker with phenolic tip and an embossed 3x5 case my game will jump a ball or two. Shoot, I might even grab a glove and a personalized magnetic chalk holder while I’m shopping. Can never have enough fancy arrows in the quiver...
.
Thx for your feedback. I don’t believe I’m poopooing anything. Have fun with your break cue, glad it works for you. I’ve experimented with break cues, including cheapies and other well known popular ones; both heavy and light, various tips, etc. What can I tell you, I’ve tested and quantified best I can, no discernible positive change in results for me, so I guess we just have different experiences. I play with traditional FS splice butts and Cynergy CF 12.5 shaft, medium tips. When I was first getting used to CF shafts, I didn’t break with them, as I was unsure of strength/durability of both the CF and the shorter, lighter, newer ferrule materials. But the good thing about production CF shafts, is that an exact perfect replacement is a just credit card order away, but turns out mine are holding up perfectly fine anyway. In any case, I slam hard 8b/9b breaks on shitty bar tables, more controlled breaks on nice big tables and soft 1p breaks - endlessly with same cue and holds up fine and I seem to be having decent results.Speaking as a reformed minimalist I know exactly where you're coming from. However what I can say is that power in my break has been a hole in my game for a very long time. In the last several years I have been using templates and opt to break with my soft tipped player. I don't need the power, and rather focus on controlling the CB. That said, I did very recently pony up for a CF breaker and the difference in power transfer into the CB is quite noticeable. Does that replace my player the option for a controlled break...?..., no not at all. What it does do is give me option when I'm dealing with bad racks, or other poor table conditions.
Not saying everyone should run out and buy a high dollar breaker. Just saying that poopooing on the notion that a dedicated breaker could improve break performance to a notable level, is short sighted.
How many times after shooting the break shot do you stroke the cue ball as hard again as you did on the break shot?Wouldn't consistency be the best if you only used the same tip for breaking and the same tip for playing?