Break Cue?

[jgpool]

What makes a break cue a break cue? Length, weight, shaft size, pers preference? I 've always used the same stick to shoot and break with.

[jgpool]

I have never used either. I guess I will have to get with the progarm and do a little experimenting. I really have not had a problem with the tip going flat. Maybe I don't break enough. That tells you something about my game!

A good reasonably priced jump/break stick would be?

Thanks,

[Shorty]

As you are someone not familiar enough with break cues to go out and blow a lot of money on buying a cue you may not even like, I would get in contact with ChrisOnline here on the forum and get one of his J&J break cues from him. They are 60 bucks I think and it will allow you to tinker with the idea of a break cue just to see if you will like having one. They are great break cues for the buck and will really provide you with some insight as to what a break cue can offer you over breaking with your playing cue. Jeff really hit the nail on the head as far as what a break cue can provide for your game. The biggest thing to me is a consistant tip shape and a difference in cue weight. I prefer to play with a heavier cue and break with a very light cue...that is just my preference when it comes to playing 9 ball.

Just some advice...

Shorty

[jgpool]

Originally Posted by Shorty

As you are someone not familiar enough with break cues to go out and blow a lot of money on buying a cue you may not even like, I would get in contact with ChrisOnline here on the forum and get one of his J&J break cues from him. They are 60 bucks I think and it will allow you to tinker with the idea of a break cue just to see if you will like having one. They are great break cues for the buck and will really provide you with some insight as to what a break cue can offer you over breaking with your playing cue. Jeff really hit the nail on the head as far as what a break cue can provide for your game. The biggest thing to me is a consistant tip shape and a difference in cue weight. I prefer to play with a heavier cue and break with a very light cue...that is just my preference when it comes to playing 9 ball.

Just some advice...

Shorty

Thanks for the break stick info and the contact info also. I like re-learning about this game.

[Slowhand]

I have to agree with Jeff, what makes a cue a break cue is a stiff shaft. If that's the kind of cue that you like to shoot with, then there's no difference. I bought a McDermott one time where the shaft wasn't that stiff, and I couldn't break worth a damn with it.

The reason I use a break cue is because I would tend to flatten the tip on my playing cue if I were to use that one for both. You will talk to a lot of people that claim their tip never gets deformed from breaking, either they don't care about the shape of their tip or they're just not hitting it as hard as the rest of us. I know that in time I could eventually get a flat spot on even the hardest leather tip. But then, I couldn't flatten the tip on that old McDermott because the shaft was absorbing the impact. So when you listen to those people that say they never flatten a tip, take what they say with a grain of salt because there must be a reason.

Jeff is also right about weight being only a preference. Although Shorty may prefer a light breaking cue, I prefer a heavy one. The people that prefer light breaking cues claim they can get the cue stick moving faster so the cue ball will go faster. I use a heavy cue and explain it with the sledgehammer analogy. You can hit a nail harder with a sledgehammer than a light hammer even if you swing the light hammer faster. And if you don't have a good stiff shaft, it's like hitting the nail with a rubber mallet. But it really comes down to preference, try different weights and find what you feel most comfortable with.

I hope I cleared things up more than confused the issue.

[BVal]

I use a seperate cue for everything. Playing/Jumping/Breaking. My break and jump cue have the same tips though - White Diamond. My break cue is just over 13mm and is very stiff. My jump cue is 14mm and very light - about 9 oz. I have found that having a cue for each specific purpose has helped me a lot. I also do not have to compromise any specs that I want in order to have a multi functional cue.

Playing Cue - Predator 4K1 - Moori Soft 18.5 oz.
Break Cue - Petree - White Diamond 18 oz.
Jump Cue- Stealth AT-1 - White diamond 9 oz.

[jgpool]

Originally Posted by jeffduke

For the $$, Shorty is right...Chrisonline has the deal of the century on the J&J j/b cues. That'd be a good start to figure out what you'll like in a break cue, cause I believe, don't quote me, but I BELIEVE they have a leather tipped model AND a phenolic tipped model. He sells them very cheap IMO, er...gives em' away really! The last I heard they were somewhere around $60, give or take. Personally, since I have become accustomed to custom cues by Bob DZ here in Erie,PA...I play AND have a j/b cue by him. Mine is just a purpleheart sneaky pete, but I prefer sneaky pete cues to use anymore cause they feel more solid to me. I'll add a pic of my current pair of playing cues, and my j/b cue is the one with the black band around the base of the points where it comes apart also for jumping. Good luck finding something that works for you!!

I cannot find Chrisonline in the members list. Any help would be appreciated.

[Slowhand]

Originally Posted by jgpool

I cannot find Chrisonline in the members list. Any help would be appreciated.

That's because you'll find him in the forum and not this one.

[jgpool]

Originally Posted by Slowhand

That's because you'll find him in the forum and not this one.

Thanks for the direction. I will take a look.

[StormHotRod300]

I will say this about having a break cue. get a cue that has NO WRAP!

After that its personal preference. I use a Action SP with a phenolic tip/ferrule put on it. And i like the way it breaks. Its also about 21oz's too.

I have a seperate lucasi jump cue that i also have.

[CaptainHook]

I always like to have a Jump cue with me, cause that one time I don't have one and I could have gotten out, will haunt me. So I have a few B/J cues, depending what playing cue I take with. I have a Cuetec 99296 B/J and a Sterling B/J. Here is a photo of the Sterling, it was a cheap-o B/J but since I had the White Diamond tips installed, It has a .357 Magnum break, and a Monster jump.

[jgpool]

I have made contact with Chrisonline and as soon as he has some cues in he will get with me. Thanks for all the help and knowledge.

[219Dave]

Originally Posted by CaptainHook

Here is a photo of the Sterling, it was a cheap-o B/J but since I had the White Diamond tips installed, It has a .357 Magnum break, and a Monster jump.

What's the deal with the White Diamond tips? What are they made of? How do they compare with phenolic tips or j/b? Or are they a type of phenolic? I've heard good things about them.

[BHQ]

Originally Posted by 219Dave

What's the deal with the White Diamond tips? What are they made of? How do they compare with phenolic tips or j/b? Or are they a type of phenolic? I've heard good things about them.

joe won't say what they are made of. i've put on a couple dozen of them. great tips. hold chalk well & stay on if installed properly.

[BVal]

I personally believe that each cue has a purpose. I have a playing cue, a break cue and a jump cue. My break cue is 13.2mm with a very short taper with a white diamond tip and is 18oz (very solid and stiff). My jump cue is 14mm with a white diamond tip and is 9oz. My playing cue is a Predator 4K1 with z-shaft-2 with a Sniper tip on it.
If any of you are considering getting the white diamond tips I suggest you do so. I have been using them for over a year now and they are very very nice. I would use nothing else. I have used many other tips and cannot find one that holds chalk as well, hits as hard and jumps as easy as the white diamond. Joe is a super nice guy with a good product.

BVal