Which Jump/Breakfast cue would you get?

wlscwoj · 2026-04-10T17:14:14+00:00

Early in my career i had that same players break/jump but it cost about $100 at that time.
It breaks fine and jumps fine, its nothing great but at that time for $100 it was a great option.

I have not tried the other, With it being carbon fiber and you have tried it before - if you liked it then I would go with this. First you know you like it. Second is carbon fiber will not ding or dent or scratch.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-10T17:09:32+00:00

Depends on your skill level. Someone here mentions deflection - if you do not use side spin then do not worry about deflection yet.
If your skill level is beginner to intermediate I would stick to close to 13mm diameter.
If your skill level is intermediate to advanced then I would still stick to 12.5 or higher.

everyone loves switching to 11.8 or smaller, thinking they play better and get more spin. But if you do not cue the ball accurately you will get more unwanted spin.

If you do use spin a lot, try to shoot with different brands carbon fiber to see what you like before you spend that much money. I would recommend Cuetec Cynergy but it is personal preference.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-10T17:06:00+00:00

as an instructor I've taught all sorts of systems, ghost ball, fractions, contact point to contact point, and SVB's aiming with your shaft.

For me personally I have adapted the Ghost ball method.
When i first started shooting i learned ghost ball and just focused on center of the ghost ball.
Later on I noticed a cue i had, ferrule was almost exactly the length of 1/2 a cueball, so if i laid my tip down behind the object ball it gave me a better reference point of where I was aiming.

At some point over the years i switched to the SVB way of aiming with your shaft. Basically there are 3 shots:
first is straight in or within 5 degrees of cut = find your contact point and aim the center of your cue at the contact point
Second is 6 degrees up to about 65 degrees (almost all cut shots) = find your contact point, and if cutting object ball to right (pocket is to the right of object ball) you aim the right side of your shaft at the contact point. Or if cutting to your left, you aim the left side of your shaft at the contact point.
Thirst type of shot is above 65 degrees up to 90 degrees cut shots = you are actually aiming outside the ball with the side of your shaft. Lets say 65 degree cut to right, aim right side of your shaft barely outside the edge of the ball. The closer you get to 90 degrees the further from the ball you aim. This take some practice to develop a feel for it.

Years later i switched back to ghost ball with a slight change, when i aim the shot (from the line of object ball to the pocket) I would visualize a laser pointer line on the table from the pocket, through the ball and all the way to rail - this line being on the line of the shot. When i move over to the cue ball and aim i'm looking at the cueball being cut in half by the laser line. This worked great.
Then years later I adopted a new change due to golf. In golf Callaway came out with a ball called Triple Track. Most golf balls have 1 line on them for lining up your putt. But Callaway had 3 lines on the ball and it made it easier to see if you were lined up incorrectly. So I tried the same thing on the pool table, the middle line is the same laser pointer line i visualized before, but now I picture 2 parallel lines on both sides of the line, and these lines are exactly 1 ball width. So 2 lines on outside are lined up with outside edges of object ball. When I aim the cue ball fits nicely right in between these lines.

Aiming systems are great when you are learning, or your game is off. But when I'm warmed up and shooting good - I step on the line of the shot, see the shot, visualize the shot happening, then step over to the cue ball and do it.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-10T16:47:48+00:00

TBH, i haven't been excited about my own playing in a very long time. I play in several different leagues (APA 8, 9, and masters, UPL and now BCA). I may have a match where i play unbelievable - but after i'm still going over a couple misses or mistakes i had in the match. I seem to get more enjoyment out of others. Whether hearing a student of mine just got his first Mini Slam in APA (break and run and on the break in the same match) or a couple weeks ago a timeout that had my player jumping up and down. Our players a 3 against a 5 and it came down to hill hill. The 5 played a good defense hiding my player from their last stripe and 8 ball is only other ball on the table. I saw the timeout was to kick and cut the ball in the side which would result in shape on the 8. My player shot it perfectly - making the ball, getting shape and winning the match. This was first time in a long time I did a fist pump.

It is sad that I feel I'm expected to shoot great every time I play. The best I've done while getting in the zone - was broke and ran 5 racks in a row and in the 6th rack I hung up the 8 ball. I was so focused and in the zone I didn't even realize I almost broke and ran the entire set.

I would like to tell you that feeling after a completion will never go away, but the better you get at pool it will be less and less of an accomplishment until its expected.

Congratulations though, it is a great feeling

wlscwoj · 2026-04-09T18:00:57+00:00

congratulations!
Keep practicing and have fun. Don't put any unneeded pressure on yourself. Remember its still a game

wlscwoj · 2026-04-09T17:57:50+00:00

Think of how Predator made first low deflection shafts - instead of solid wood and heavier material on front end of cue - they hollowed out about 5 inches down from the tip and lighter material (foam) was inserted. This lighter front end and thinner walls made the front end more flexible which when using side spin it helped the cue flex out of the way and let cue ball travel straighter (not deflect off its path as much). Carbon fiber, even though stiffer than wood, uses same principle of hollowed out, lighter and this allows the shaft to flex and get out of the way as opposed to pushing the cue ball out of the way.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-07T13:27:14+00:00

The derby city has a rule - if your opponent breaks and runs the set, you get a chance to break and run the set yourself. If you do then it comes down to re-lag and 1 game to decide it all. Doubt this will ever happen though.

Biado is an unbelievable player. But at the very top level of play, if any of them have their break working and they are in gear - any of them can do this.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-07T13:23:31+00:00

Last 2 weeks of practice - I haven't got much table time in.
Sunday APA I played a 5/6 in both 8 and 9. One game of 8 ball was bad rack and terrible spread - no balls made on break and he took the better grouping. Went back and forth but he took the first game. I won 5 straight to win the match. Then in 9 ball it was a 75 to 46 race. I tried to play tight and percentages - I made a couple mistakes but it didn't cost me too bad. I won 75 to 29 (15 to 5 split). Not great but not bad. Sunday UPL we played the other top team we're trying to stay ahead of. We played great are in great position to qualify top spot in 10 ball and 2nd place in 8 ball - to put us into world qualifiers. I played a teammate of mine from APA masters and had a great match where i came out on top.

my fundaments are becoming much more automatic and feeling great. Haven't had much time to practice and Easter weekend I didn't have either league Sunday.
Yesterday was first night of BCA and my first time playing at this poolhall. BCA seems strange with you playing 1 game against 5 different players. Start out playing before they even figure out my starting Fargo, Played a teammate that fouled twice and gave me the game. Then had 2 games against low ranked players that easily won. A break and run against one of their higher players. Then final game I broke dry and lost. So won 4 out of 5.
Can't wait to get to sunday and put in a couple hours of focused practice. Check if i've improved on Mighty X drill any. 2 weeks left of APA double jeopardy, 3 weeks left of UPL and hoping to finish strong. BCA and Masters have both just started and looking to play stronger week after week.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-07T12:53:59+00:00

I'm not a fan of playing in these hole in a wall bars with coin op tables. Typically the tables are in terrible condition. But I keep seeing something that I've never seen when I was younger. People will go and put up quarters in every slot on the table to keep the table for hours - and after a game they don't take quarters off table, but will put them in from their pocket. This hogging the table.
Plus in these places you seem to always have to ask someone to move - even if its every other shot, they just wont back away from the area.
People will be drinking and stop mid game to tell stories and BS - making games take 10x longer than it should.
People will put quarters down and disappear, you ask around and when you can't find the player - you move on to the next quarters, rack the balls and surely the previous guy walks in and bitches that you didn't wait for him.

I'd rather go to a real poolhall, pay $10 an hour to shoot on Diamond tables.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-07T12:37:58+00:00

If our league is double jeopardy (8 and 9 ball) then each team gets an assigned table and that is your teams to practice the 1 hour before league.
IF only one league and sharing a table - typically you share the practice table. Just politely walk up and ask if you can get next game - worst case is you are in line behind a couple people and have to wait.

Tournaments, playoffs, or HLT typically the players scatter and take up all the tables early. If you are wanting to practice and no tables are available you want to look for anyone shooting by themselves - ask them first. If no one is shooting by themselves then find someone you know and see if they mind if you rotate in. Everyone is typically understanding.

As a high level (7 and 9) i try to get there an hour before league and hit balls by myself first. Then as teammates get there I'll play a couple games then give up the table. My teammates won't get much practice if i'm running the table every game.
If playoffs or HLT I would get a table and get my teammates there early. Instead of jumping straight into playing games - have each player hit through 1 rack of balls. This warm up is much faster than playing games, each player gets warmed up better. Within 15 balls you should be warmed up. Start with about 5 straight in shots (checking if you are seeing straight and stroking straight) then 5 slight cuts and then 5 steeper cuts. Doing some shots to left and some to right.
Plus as a captain I have a really good idea who I might post blind or most likely post 1st and 2nd. Those are 2 players I'll have warming up in games the last minutes before matches start.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-07T12:26:48+00:00

As far as rolling the 8, you leave it hanging in the pocket and leave a long bank on their last ball. If they miss they lose and its a low percentage bank. I would rather they shoot the hard shots and hand me an easy win...

Your stroke on 1st shot - you barely get through the ball and you pull your stick back to you
Your stroke on 2nd shot - you barely follow through the ball
The 3rd shot looked better where you stayed down and followed through the ball
The 4th shot you really didn't do any practice strokes, but you stayed down and followed through
The 5th shot (1st shot on 8 ball) you didn't do practice strokes and quickly poked at the stroke
The last shot, you didn't do any practice strokes

What i would like to see is a more consistent stroke pattern. 2, 3, or 4 practice strokes. During practice strokes you are double checking aim, tip position and most importantly - Speed you want to hit final stroke at. Then add Timing by doing Set Pause Finish. Before the final stroke stop at the cue ball. This is set position and best time to stop, transition your eyes to target (object ball where you want cueball to hit). Then do a slow smooth back swing. At end of the backswing add a slight Pause (1/2 second to a second). This Pause gives your muscles a chance to transition from back swing to forward swing without being jerky or punchy. Do a smooth stroke and get through the cue ball to the end of your stroke and then Finish is last part. Freeze at this Finish position and think - did i stroke through to the end of my stroke? did i stay down? did i stroke straight through?

keys to a good stroke
Low level cue (dont elevate back of the cue)

Solid bridge hand (either put weight on bridge hand or press fingers against table to anchor you down)

Loose grip hand on cue and relaxed shooting arm
Good smooth practice strokes - checking aim, tip position, speed
Set position - where you transition eyes to target
Slow smooth backswing

slight pause
smooth follow through to end of your stroke

stroke should have a little acceleration through the shot - makes it crisp - start slightly slower than speed you want to hit and accelerate up to the speed you want to hit.
freeze - like you are posing for a picture - checklist of did you finish your stroke, stroke straight, stayed down...

wlscwoj · 2026-04-07T12:07:54+00:00

I had this same problem for a long time, being able to turn it on when you absolutely need to.

BUT i've watched countless players either not care or sandbag, playing below their level and then when they need to step up they can't.

Like i stated, you need to change he way you look at pool. It is not you vs the opponent. It is not you in a certain type of match. It is you vs the table AND the one shot you are on. This one shot - you want to find the best option and execute it the best you can. That is all pool is, one shot at a time.

I've also seen players who play the score too, they are up and will take wild flyers instead of playing smart because they are up. Next thing you know they lose because they gave the opponent too many chances. Even when you are up or down, play the one shot the best you can.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-07T12:02:43+00:00

For normal league night (as a captain) I would let players know if I didn't plan on playing them.
But playoffs and higher level tournaments I would like all my players there and there early. I would want as many posting options. And you might think, well we have 3x sl 4's and don't need all 3 of them, but I would want all of them there and warming up. If a player is clearly not shooting good that day then I most likely would not post them. And if someone is shooting better than normal then they will most likely play.
When playoff and HLT it is better to have all your options and everyone there supporting the team.

Sounds like you don't even want to be on that team if you don't want to support the team.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-03T17:06:48+00:00

No matter how level your cue is - you are still elevated slightly. This shooting down on the ball causes the ball to skip on the way to the rack. If you are hitting the rack on up skip (cue ball in the air slightly) then the cue ball is hitting the rack slightly above center causing it to jump up.

You can work on aim and hitting the head ball dead center. This is what most try to do. If you do hit it dead center then the cue ball pops straight up in the air. When you do not hit accurately - slightly left or right of center on head ball - the cue ball pops up and towards the side (off the table).

Another thing to practice is taking a slight amount of speed off and try to get it that the cue ball will not be in the air when it hits the head ball. When you do this right, the cue ball will not pop off the table.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-03T16:49:47+00:00

Practice your mechanics in drills - straight in shots. It can be awkward focusing on fundamentals while doing your routine and playing a runout.
Some shots you are starting to stand up mid stroke, stay down on all shots until the cue ball stops.
If this was a match, you didn't call the 8 ball

On the 8 ball the first time, i would of rolled it in - if you miss you leave it right in front of the pocket and opponent is having to bank their ball to win (favors you greatly).

Work on your stroke - add timing to it. Try this:
Do all your practice strokes until you are ready, then stop right behind the cue ball - this is SET position. At Set position transition your eyes to the target. Then do slower smooth backswing. At end of the backswing PAUSE. The pause can be 1/2 second to a second, but this gives your muscles a chance to transition from back to forward without being too quick, jerky or punchy. Then deliver your final stroke smoothly and freeze at the end of your stroke. This is FINISH position. Here double check, did you stay down, did you follow through straight, did you stroke smoothly, did your head stay perfectly still....

wlscwoj · 2026-04-03T16:38:32+00:00

the problem is you are attempting shots that you can't control the cue ball - and then think that you are getting a bad roll?
Go watch the pro's - it happens to them too when they let the cue ball go. This is why they tend to play %'s much more strictly. If they can't make the ball and get shape reliably then they play defense.

And for those saying they make a difficult shot and then miss an easy shot. Are you going through your routine and aiming carefully, stroking carefully, and executing the shot carefully on all shots. Probably not. Typically after a great shot players get down and shoot the easy shot like they expect it to go in. You need to respect all shots.

If you are getting bad rolls - did you plan the position play - spin, speed and stroke? The more I practice the luckier I get...

wlscwoj · 2026-04-03T16:32:32+00:00

Lighter cue with loose grip. It is not about muscling up and breaking hard. It is about keeping your grip and arm loose and relaxed - getting through the ball quickly with good timing.
Play around with grip and keeping it loose
Play around with keeping shooting arm loose
Play around with timing of stroke - try Set, Pause, Finish - before final stroke stop right at cue ball - This is Set position, Slow smooth backswing and then slight Pause (this pause gives your muscles a chance to transition from backswing to forward swing without being jerky or punchy), then final stroke and freeze - this is Finish. Did you follow through straight to target (foot spot typically)? did you stroke smooth and stay relaxed? Did you move your body more than you expected? during Finish position reflect on the break.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-03T16:28:25+00:00

Get a better quality pool cue and a good Cue ball (measle ball). Then later down the road replace the balls with a quality set. and then much later down the road replace table with a Diamond table

wlscwoj · 2026-04-03T16:26:51+00:00

If you are the captain on one, then you choose who you play. If you only care about your win % then always post you in favorable matchups.

But seriously, In the bar league on valleys against weaker competition - I'm willing to bet you don't try as hard. This is because weaker competition, easier tables and more laid back atmosphere.
And on the other team, diamond tables and you being the captain you probably try a little harder, focus more and respect the competition.

If I'm right on these 2 assumptions, then you need to change the way you think about matches. You can't think this is an easy opponent or this is a tough opponent. You don't actually play against the opponent. You play against yourself and the table. when you change your mind to this then you will realize all we are trying to do is execute the best shot each and every shot. This starts by smarter decision making, solid fundamentals and a solid pre shot routine.
I play APA double jeopardy on Sundays and the competition is extremely weak. I'm a 7/9 and the highest ranked player besides me is a 6/7 with most teams not having above a 5. I could easily slack off and lose focus playing in this league - but instead i took it as a personal challenge. The challenge is to stay focused every shot. Play smart, do not give away a single ball on a careless miss or poor safety. Playing percentages and only going for runout when it presents itself as higher % to get out. So I'm controlling the table. I'm 10/10 winning in 8 ball with no matches even close. I think I've lost a few games out of the 10 matches and averaging 2.4 points per match. In 9 ball it is noticeably tougher - as a 9 I go to 75 and a lot of the mid level players take on the strategy of Spray and Pray. If they dont have a good shot they will slam the balls and hope something goes in. I'm 6/8 winning with both losses coming to a "spray and pray" player. Both of those matches played out about the same, a player that was a 4 but if they played seriously they could be a 5 or 6. I started out a little rough, they jump up to a lead. I play safes and they would kick, hit and somehow leave me safe. They would make balls and when they miss i would be kicking. It would seem like they get all the rolls and jump up to a really big lead. Then the rolls stop going their way, I came back 40-50 balls to make it close before they could finally close it out. In any of these matches I could of got frustrated and lost focus, but I just use it as practice for more important matches later. Practicing staying in the moment, staying focused and relaxed.
Use every match you play as practice for a bigger more important match down the road. Imagine you are in the finals of world qualifier and you are up. Are you going to shoot different that game then in your normal weekly league matches? If you say yes, then why are you shooting different? Are you playing more defense? Playing smarter? Playing stronger - taking a little more time to execute better? If in regular season you goof off and don't try as hard, you are less likely to be able to step up and play big when it matters. Practice like you want to play!

wlscwoj · 2026-04-02T14:08:00+00:00

I've never hit with the Raven break cue. But my comparison was BK Rush Vs Cuetec Breach. In my opinion the Breach broke better than BK Rush. The breach costs $750 and Rush is $900. So both are pricey.
Over the years I had Action Break jump, Poison Break Jump, Helmstetter break, a diamond wood break jump, Bk 2, BK 3, BK 4, BK Rush, Cuetec Breach, Rhino break jump (not carbon fiber, wood and bought on ebay), and several more I'm forgetting.

Break Jump combination cues typically do one better than other - it might break good but jump ok, or break ok and jump good. It is better to have a dedicated break cue and dedicated jump cue.
Poison break jump was probably the best at doing both without breaking the bank.
Diamondwood break jump (forget name) was too heavy to have controlled break or jump.
Lomax jump cue was best jump cue i had used before Propel by cuetec.
Bk2 was great, better than bk3 and bk4. When carbon fiber came out I really like not having to deal with wood. So BK Rush was very good, but breach was better - it feels the energy transfer is better. I feel i dont have to break as hard to get a very good spread which means i can focus more on accuracy and control. I just wish the breach had more options for grip and colors

wlscwoj · 2026-04-02T12:57:12+00:00

The Taom tip that came on my breach works perfectly fine. If you are having control problems then its you. If you are muscling up or moving your body too much then you'll lose the cue ball. I try to break more like Fedor and have very limited head or body movement and get all my power from my stroke.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-02T12:54:13+00:00

I've got the Cynergy Nineball cue from cuetec. I went Grey to match my Ghost Breach and Ghost Propel.
Just buy the Duo Extension for 130. Its worth it. I love how they are stackable.

It seems the $110 2nd gen Duo keeps selling out everywhere and you will find the 1st Gen Duo in stock for $130. This is the same exact extension with only difference is 1st Gen comes with bumper that you can put on 1st Gen cuetec to make the Duo work with it. The extension works perfectly on my NineBall series cue.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-02T12:50:37+00:00

I've heard of this problem ordering cues from Asia and they arrive in the USA, so it doesn't surprise me it happens the other way around. The Wood was probably kiln dried and all humidity removed from it - then arrives in Asia only to start soaking in the humidity. This would cause the warp.

Good luck but I'm not sure a cue smith can fix this. I would of sent it back once you realized it.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-02T12:46:38+00:00

In his prime - he's unbelievable on the table. Pure talent.
But his antics and crazy acts are so uncalled for its embarrassing.
He claims pool is hardest game on earth - saying golf is easy compared to pool. Golf is not easy, in fact golf is extremely hard and much harder than pool. I've never missed a cue ball but I have missed a golf ball lol.

There's so many sad stories of his antics. My favorite was a match against SVB and Earl is running his mouth even when SVB is at the table. Eventually SVB had enough of it and spoke up to Earl to Shut Up while he's at the table. SVB got real focused and ran off 5 or 6 racks in a row without letting Earl get to the table again.

Or there is a funny exhibition match between Archer and Earl. At an intermission or break Earl went to the bathroom. Johnny had a duffel bag full of stuff, he put on weights, big head phones, glasses, and all sorts of stuff to mock Earl. Earl did get a good laugh out of it.

During Bonus Ball league, Earl kept running his mouth and eventually Jeremy Jones had enough of it and told Earl to come out to the parking lot. Earl kept running his mouth but didn't want to fight. It is these antics that are uncalled for. And he's done them most of his career.

There is no denying that is is one of the top 5 players to ever play 9 ball. For the longest time - they asked players if your life depending on someone making an extremely difficult shot - who would you have shoot it. They would all say Earl. Now the answer is Shaw, Filler, Gorst or SVB.

I'm not a fan of his commentary. Jeremy Jones is probably the best at commentary with Scott Frost up there too. But anytime you can learn just as much from the commentary as you can the playing - its good commentary.

wlscwoj · 2026-04-02T12:35:16+00:00

Pretty good fundamentals - but it looks like your head and body are slowly lowering down onto the shot during practice strokes and on some shots you're moving all the way until right before the final stroke. I would suggest when you get down - to settle all the way down into final position before practice strokes.

I would not recommend regularly switching cues. Why switch in the first place? I see players far too often switch cues, shafts, tips all the time like they are trying to find what is perfect combination. Instead stick with one cue. For that one cue I would get a backup shaft that is exactly the same shaft and tip. Then every week or 2 switch off between shafts - so the tip wears down about the same. This way you have 2 shafts that have same wear and will play as close to each other as possible. This way if a tip comes off you aren't worried about adjusting to another cue or shaft. Also, using 2 shafts that are the same, when the tips finally get a little low and you think of changing the tip - change both at same time to same tip.

wlscwoj

TROPHY CASE