Difference Between a Playing Cue and Break Cue?

1/1/2007 6:02:06 PM

Difference Between a Playing Cue and Break Cue?

What is the difference between a regular pool cue (e.g. a playing cue) and a break cue or a jump-break cue?

What specifically makes a "break cue" a "break cue"? Is it length, weight, shaft size, personal preference?

I've always used the same stick to shoot and break with.

I have never used any separate jump or break cue. I guess I will have to get with the program and do a little experimenting.

I really have not had a problem with the tip going flat as some have suggested to me. Maybe I don't break enough. That tells you something about my game!

What would be a good, reasonably priced, jump/break cue?

jgpool

Difference Between a Playing Cue and Break Cue?

Replies & Comments

Shorty on 1/2/2007 10:02:10 AM
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 around $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.

A dedicated break cue can provide you with a consistent tip shape and a difference in cue weight, which puts more power behind your break shot.

I prefer to play with a heavier cue and break with a very light cue, but that is atypical and is just my preference when it comes to playing 9 ball.

jgpool on 1/2/2007 12:59:46 PM
Thanks for the break stick info and the contact info also. I like re-learning about this game.

Slowhand on 1/2/2007 2:32:56 PM
What makes a cue a "break cue" is that it has a stiff shaft. If that's the kind of cue that you like to shoot with, then there is 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.

As others have said, the weight thing is 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.

BVal on 1/2/2007 3:13:29 PM
I use a seperate cue for everything. One cue for breaking, one cue for jumping, and one cue for playing the table.

My break and jump cue have the same tips though. They both have White Diamond pool cue tips. 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.

StormHotRod300 on 1/3/2007 6:09:36 AM
I will say this about having a break cue. Get a cue that has NO WRAP!

After that, it's personal preference.

I use a Action SP with a phenolic tip and ferrule put on it, and I like the way it breaks. Its also about 21oz too.

I have a separate Lucasi jump cue that I sometimes use as well.

CaptainHook on 1/3/2007 8:54:52 AM
I always like to have a Jump cue with me, because 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 me.

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.

219Dave on 1/11/2007 10:51:17 PM
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 cue tip? I've heard good things about them.

BHQ on 1/11/2007 11:55:39 PM
Joe won't say what they are made of. I've put on a couple dozen of them and I think they are great tips. They hold chalk well and stay on if installed properly.

BVal on 1/12/2007 11:07:26 AM
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 anything 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.

jgpool on 1/12/2007 4:49:52 PM
Thanks shorty for the direction on the J/B Stick from @ChrisOnline. The quality of the stick and the experience dealing with Chris has been great.

user1547143311 on 1/10/2019 10:01:52 AM
Can you use a breaking cue to play with as well?

Difference Between a Playing Cue and Break Cue?

Title: Difference Between a Playing Cue and Break Cue?
Author: jgpool (Joe Giammarino)
Published: 1/1/2007 6:02:06 PM