Why do some pool halls enforce the use of break pads?

[SeniorTom]

At one of the locations I play pool at they use brake pads. Although, some of the guys put the cue ball just in front of the pad and not on it, making me wonder why they even use the pad at all?

 

[maha]

why should the pool room have to replace their expensive cloths more often just so you can break harder.
most people breaking cant break properly anyway and do make marks or holes in the cloth.
i also notice the 9 ball players tend to go pick the tables with the nicest cloth.

a place i play in requires it and the tables dont have long steaks going to the head ball and little holes in the cloth.
you dont want to use the cloth play straight pool or one pocket. 9 ball ruins tables faster.

 

[ChrisinNC]

At one of the locations I play pool at they use brake pads. Although, some of the guys put the cue ball just in front of the pad and not on it, making me wonder why they even use the pad at all?

It serves absolutely no purpose if placed behind the cue ball. The break burn marks are caused by the bottom of the cue ball burning the cloth as it is hit down on at a high rate of speed. It has absolutely nothing to do with the tip of the cue following through down into the cloth on the follow through, although those marks are certainly noticeable as well from some players.

The break tracks on the path from the cue ball to the head rack ball are caused from the cue ball landing back on the cloth at a high rate of speed, as the cue ball generally glides across the top of the cloth the first few feet on a high velocity break shot.