What's in a break cue?

krupa

krupa

The Dream Operator
Silver Member
I currently use an old McDermott for my break cue. I see no exceptional reason for getting an real break cue but my birthday's coming up and figured that might be something to suggest.

Is there something about break cues that make them better than an old cue with a hard tip? (I don't need a break/jump cue; for me, pool is a 2-dimensional game.)

Thanks
-matthew
 
I believe that most of the break sticks have a stiffer shaft. I use a Mike Gulyassy Jump/Break. I have to admit I rarely break it down for a jump shot but it's there if I ever need it. I wouldn't use anything else. I used to just grab a house cue to break with but now I wouldn't be without a good breaker.
 
There are several reasons to own a dedicated break cue::
A) you don't want to damage the tip on your play cue
B) you don't want to risk damage to your play cue
C) you want to break with a harder tip than your play cue
D) you want a stiffer shaft than your play cue

C and D are the typical reasons to own a break cue, A and B are an insurance policy for your play cue.
 
MitchAlsup said:
There are several reasons to own a dedicated break cue::
A) you don't want to damage the tip on your play cue
B) you don't want to risk damage to your play cue
C) you want to break with a harder tip than your play cue
D) you want a stiffer shaft than your play cue

C and D are the typical reasons to own a break cue, A and B are an insurance policy for your play cue.
Click to expand...

Other possible reasons include: you want to break with a cue that has a different weight, or a different length, or a different thickness, or a different wrap, or a different balance than your playing cue.
 
My play cue has a medium tip and an ivory ferrule. I use it to break for 9 ball, but I wouldn't risk it for 8 ball breaks. My break cue is also much lighter than my break cue.
 
Advise from who

stanfordturner said:
I believe that most of the break sticks have a stiffer shaft. I use a Mike Gulyassy Jump/Break. I have to admit I rarely break it down for a jump shot but it's there if I ever need it. I wouldn't use anything else. I used to just grab a house cue to break with but now I wouldn't be without a good breaker.
Click to expand...

I would think that you would want to seek this advise from a pro.
Find a pro that gives lessons Tell him to break 10 in a row, if he drops a ball 7 or 8 racks out of ten on the break hire him.

Then I would go out a buy a break cue that is made for your stlye of break.

personaly I think a old 40.00 cuetec sst with a hard tip is hard to beat.
Somthing in a 18 oz


MMike
 
krupa said:
I currently use an old McDermott for my break cue. I see no exceptional reason for getting an real break cue but my birthday's coming up and figured that might be something to suggest.

Is there something about break cues that make them better than an old cue with a hard tip? (I don't need a break/jump cue; for me, pool is a 2-dimensional game.)

Thanks
-matthew
Click to expand...

If you like your break with the McD now, I doubt you'll see any significant gains from a "break cue". the only thing I can think of since you didn't mention that, is the weight of your break cue. I prefer a slightly lighter break cue then my playing cue. it allows me to generate a little bit more speed with less effort and no loss of control. But other than that there's not a whole lot to be gained from where you are right now.
 
Thanks for the replies. My McD currently has a hard tip on it and I'm not unhappy with it. Maybe tonight I'll try someone's break cue and see if it feels any different.

-matthew
 
I've actually broken a cue breaking. It was a Predator shaft and it just exploded. This was years ago and Predator was incredibly apologetic about it and replaced it free of charge. What's more, this happened to a few people I knew so there was obviously something that needed to be fixed.

With that thought in mind, it's something to think about. You CAN break your cue if you're breaking over 20 mph which is moderately hard. If you're like me and you enjoy going to tournaments in your immediate area and occasionally travel to regional and national events, do you want to take that risk? Many break-cues retail between $200-300 with the more expensive ones going for around $500. It's a one-time cost that you shouldn't have to make again for 5 or 10 years.

Still, I don't break any harder with my break cue than I can with my playing cue. In fact, if I'm having a bad day and breaking awkwardly, I'll often switch to breaking with my playing cue to get me back on track.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I've actually broken a cue breaking. It was a Predator shaft and it just exploded. This was years ago and Predator was incredibly apologetic about it and replaced it free of charge. What's more, this happened to a few people I knew so there was obviously something that needed to be fixed.

With that thought in mind, it's something to think about. You CAN break your cue if you're breaking over 20 mph which is moderately hard. If you're like me and you enjoy going to tournaments in your immediate area and occasionally travel to regional and national events, do you want to take that risk? Many break-cues retail between $200-300 with the more expensive ones going for around $500. It's a one-time cost that you shouldn't have to make again for 5 or 10 years.

Still, I don't break any harder with my break cue than I can with my playing cue. In fact, if I'm having a bad day and breaking awkwardly, I'll often switch to breaking with my playing cue to get me back on track.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I'm not too worried about breaking the shaft. I don't expect not to, I just won't care if I do. We have few tournaments in my area and I don't travel for them (yet) so I'm not worried about that situation. When I say the stick is old, I bought it used when I was in college 20 years ago, so I feel I've definitely gotten my mileage out of it.
 
I've never had a break cue (24+ years), if I did the shaft would have to be the same size as my player. Nowadays my break is more about a precision hit on the one ball and cue ball placement. than it is about power. When I get my custom cue in, I'll probably make my blud my break cue just so I don't mess up the expensive cue.
 
Another option for you may be to replace the tip on your McD with a phenolic tip. You will get much more ball speed off that tip and not have to put as much effort in your break, effectively prolonging the life of your shaft. I just recently purchased a 2 year old solid feel cue with a rubberized/gel type grip and replaced the tip with a phenolic one...I love it. And I bought it light enough (I too like a little lighter break cue) so that I can more effectively jump with it in tournaments/events that don't let you break a stick down for jumping (I know, I would have never thought it either until I actually encountered the rule!).
 
Its all in the weight distribution, the sledgehammer felt very light to me and my friend said it was like 27 ounces..
 
Hircine said:
Its all in the weight distribution, the sledgehammer felt very light to me and my friend said it was like 27 ounces..
Click to expand...

I've never heard of one being that heavy. My sledgehammer is 20oz with the weight bolt and 17.8oz without. I keep the bolt out as I prefer it lighter.
 
If this has already been mentioned I apologize. A break cue was designed from the bottom up to increase the speed of the cue ball when you break. They mostly have a phenolic tip, stiff shaft and rear weighted. These thing all put together transfer more energy to the cue ball when you break.

If you have a chance grab a friend who has the break speed app on his phone. Then break 10 times with a regular cue and 10 times with a break cue. If you see a increase in MPH between the two that will tell you if you will benefit from a break cue.

Good luck.
 
TheNewSharkster said:
If this has already been mentioned I apologize. A break cue was designed from the bottom up to increase the speed of the cue ball when you break. They mostly have a phenolic tip, stiff shaft and rear weighted. These thing all put together transfer more energy to the cue ball when you break.

If you have a chance grab a friend who has the break speed app on his phone. Then break 10 times with a regular cue and 10 times with a break cue. If you see a increase in MPH between the two that will tell you if you will benefit from a break cue.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Good answer :thumbup:

Chris
 
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