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D-RACK
USA
321 Posts |
 Posted - 03/08/2011 : 2:08:49 PM
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| Contrary to what many believe, lighter is better when choosing a break cue weight. Even though a heavier break cue feels more powerful, a more powerful break will be achieved with a cue weighing 18.5 to 19 oz. Most professional players break with a cue that is 1/2 to 1 oz lighter than their playing cue because less weight allows them to generate more cue speed, resulting in greater cue ball speed and a more powerful break.(Predator Website) |
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Torsten
USA
401 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2011 : 9:46:41 PM
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Hey, old friend! You are correct. It's diometric opposition. The cue will always be heavier than the ball and you can swing a lighter cue harder
I think the worst time to have a heart attack would be during a game of charades... or during a game of fake heart attack. |
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Phil
USA
829 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2011 : 09:17:09 AM
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True for a lot of people, but not true for everyone. There are at least two other factors that could limit the speed of your break.
The first is your ability to accelerate the cue. If that's limited (either on the high end or the low end), then a heavier cue may work better for you. Consider what happens when you throw a ping-pong ball versus one of those plastic practice golf balls. The golf ball is a little heavier, but both come out of your hand at the same speed. That's because your hand and arm are heavier than both, so they don't affect how fast you can move your hand. The same is true for a cue stick in the hands of many people. Big strong people can swing different-weight cues the same speed. Similarly, if you have a weak stroke it won't make much difference how much the cue weighs, as you can reach the slow speed either way.
The second, and most important thing that affects your ability to generate cue ball speed is the contact you make with the tip of the cue. If you increase the speed of the cue but can't control that contact, you will lose cue ball speed. Even the slightest off-center hit can negate any increase you might get with a lighter cue.
The physics principle that governs break speed is conservation of momentum. Linear momentum is mass times velocity. The idea is to transfer as much linear momentum to the cue ball as possible. Some people can maximize that by increasing the mass of the cue (because the speed of their stroke is pretty much constant), and some can do that by increasing the velocity of the cue to more than offset a decrease in mass. The two things everyone can do is increase the hardness of their tip to produce a more elastic collision, which is why break cues often come with phenolic tips, and refine their stroke to create a solid hit in the center of the cue ball at higher speeds.
Phil
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Torsten
USA
401 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2011 : 10:27:00 AM
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What works for me, regardless of weight, is accurately hitting a tight rack. I've experimented with a lot of different breaks over the years and haven't found a more successful formula than simply a firm stroke to the head of the rack. If I try to maximize power by whacking the hell out of it, I usually end up with a lousy spread. I don't always make something but the table is usually spread nicely and white ball doesn't go flying if I don't try to overpower it.
I think the worst time to have a heart attack would be during a game of charades... or during a game of fake heart attack. |
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Showtime
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2011 : 11:40:00 AM
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I have to agree with the science behind Phil's response, P=mv. Momentum is everything. How you transfer that momentum from cue stick to cue ball and from cue ball to object ball tells the story. I actually use the same weight stick to break and shoot with, but not the same cue.
One thing I have heard over the years I've shot is that you can obtain better control with a lighter weight cue. This is a little off topic, but what are the schools of thought here.
If I disagree with you, it is because I am right. |
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D-RACK
USA
321 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2011 : 11:47:54 AM
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| WOW TY EXCELLENT THOUGHTS!!!!!!!!! |
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BigRigTom
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2011 : 3:50:08 PM
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I have not commented on this forum for a while as I have been super involved in work here in Chicago but I like this topic a lot.
A while back I had the pleasure of speaking with Charley Bond about his invention "The Break-Rak" Here is a couple of links if you want to read about that.
http://www.breakrak.com/Testimonies.html
http://www.bigrigtoys.com/prod.itml/icOid/4627
The point is that: I explained to Charle what my problem was, he in turn explained to me how he felt I could improve my break immediately and I instantly began breaking a LOT better.
Bottom line is that all of you are correct in what you have said to some extent and each of you will find solutions in a different combination of things and as long as you improve YOUR break then it will be a good thing.
I beleive that if you hit the cue ball accurately and you hit the target accurately you do not have to have a super powerful stroke. Of course a tight rack helps a lot but if the ball you hit is frozen to the ball directly behind it that is not even really critical.
Most 9 ball breaks and many 8 ball breaks are the result of a slightly loose rack, that will give you all something to think about. 
BigRigTom
http://hardingersystems.com/BAT-Forum to discuss Billiards and Trucking or anything that interest you! |
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Break Cue Weight.... Thoughts?
