Many people who own their own playing cue may also opt to purchase a cue solely for the purpose of breaking. This is getting to be more and more common now as people get into the sport and don't want to ruin their playing cue. They might also want a cue they can take "less than ideal" places to play and/or is expendible. This might be for a bar or a cue just to keep in your car's trunk. This section gives the common reasons to purchase a break cue and what to look for in one.
There are several reasons for owning a dedicated break cue. Two have been outlined in the previous paragraph. The main reason, of course, is reducing the overall wear and tear to the playing cue. Since breaking requires more power in your shot, a lot of stress is concentrated in the joint and shaft. This power will eventually lead to something either breaking or coming loose. Breaking the rack causes the tip to mushroom and flatten out which many players don't want.
Here is where we will look into how to select a dedicated break cue. The common idea is to buy a cue for breaking that costs less than the playing cue. A very plain looking cue or "sneaky pete" type cue is usually a good choice because it is cheaper and is usually easier to replace.
The main thing you should be concerning yourself with in the search for a break cue would be the tip and ferrule. You would want a ferrule that can withstand the heavy pounding associated with breaking. The ferrules we recommend for break cues are Aegis, Melamine, and fiber. These materials are very well made and is almost impossible to destroy. Note that you should stick to whatever ferrule that came with your cue and replace it only when it breaks or produces a problem. Replacing the ferrule requires extra money and making use of the stock ferrule will save you some money. The tip should be a hard tip that is left flat in order to prevent any unnecessary uses of english.
The weight of the dedicated break cue is usually one of debate. The common notion people give is for a lighter cue. The argument suggesting the lighter weight will give you a better break because of more acceleration. Some on the other hand suggest getting a little heavier cue. Experiment to find the right weight for yourself. Regardless of what weight people tell you to get, you should always be looking for two things in order to find YOUR ideal break cue.
- You should be able to get a good break with the cue.
- You should be able to control the cueball on the break and not have it fly off the table
