The game of pool is highly competitive and one shot can make or break a match. There are many important shots to be played during a match, but none are more impactful than the first shot. Breaking is a big advantage in the game so players need to make sure to use this advantage.
One sure way to optimize your breaking advantage is to use the best break tip, so then, what is the best break tip?
The best break tip will depend on the player. Different players will prefer different break tips depending on their style of play. In general, players prefer phenolic or leather break tips and they will range in hardness and durability. The harder the tip the less grip you will have on the ball. The Bulletproof break tip(Amazon link) is a great breaking cue tip!
There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the best break tip, let’s look at a few.
Best Break Tips To Buy
There are many good break cue tips out on the market, and this is by no means an exhaustive list – These are the best break cue tips available to buy on Amazon today! I have broken them down into their categories for better comparison.
What Is The Best Break Cue Tip Made From
Break cue tips are specially designed for the break, meaning their purpose is to shoot the maximum power shot and to transfer all the power from the player into the white ball.
For this reason, break cue tips are made very hard and durable. They are directly opposite to playing cue tips that are much softer to allow for controlled shots with a lot of grip on the white ball.
To get this hard and durable breaking tip there are different materials that can be used. The most popular ones are leather, phenolic resin and fibreglass.
All these materials have different characteristics so they will behave differently and have their own pros and cons. It will depend on the player and how they play to choose the best tip for their game.
| Leather | Phenolic resin | Fibreglass |
| Spin and control | Power transfer | Control and power |
| Holds a lot of chalk | Holds minimal chalk | Holds chalk well |
| Scuffable | Holds shape well | Holds shape well |
One great break cue tip on the market is the Bulletproof break tip, made from polymer it is harder than phenolic and can still offer good control and chalk retention.
The Bulletproof tips can be found here. Bulletproof break tip(Amazon link).
What Is A Phenolic Break Tip
A phenolic break tip refers to the material that is used to make the tip, it is made from a phenolic resin. The resin is used together with a base material like canvas or linen cloth as well as other fibre materials. The fibrous materials are compacted and held together by the phenolic resin. This combination makes for very high density.
The phenolic tips are made to be very hard and durable and therefore they are a very popular option for many players. Because the phenolic resin is so hard you do not lose any power in your shot. The tip does not give away or absorb any impact, it transfers all the power straight into the white ball.
Best Phenolic Break Tip
The best phenolic break tip is a big topic of discussion. It is especially a hot topic since many of the pro players make use of the phenolic tips for their breaking cue. As with anything, there are so many different variations even in the category of phenolic tips. Many of them have different hardness levels, and different diameters and have a special feel to them.
After taking a look at all the best tips on the market we conclude that the Tiger Icebreaker is one of the best you can find. The Tiger Icebreaker is a super hard 14.5mm tip that is designed to also be a jump break tip.
You can find it here. Tiger Icebreaker(Amazon link).
Another good option is the Elite break tip (Amazon link), it is a little bit more affordable compared to the Tiger Icebreaker and it will also get the job done.
Best Leather Break Tip
A more old school tip construction is the classic leather tips. They are similar to the playing tips that are also made from leather, but of course, the breaking tip is much harder compared to the playing tip. It is still leather, meaning it has properties that make it one of the softer options between the breaking tips.
The leather tips are made by overlaying many layers of leather and then compressing it as much as possible. The layers form a hard tip that does a great job at making powerful breaks and jump shots.
Many players who just start looking for the best breaking tip will first try leather tips. They are the most similar to playing tips due to their composition and they are also the most forgiving.
The leather tip scuffles so it holds more chalk and gets more grip on the white ball. This all makes it easier to play.
The Tiger break cue tip is one of the best leather tips on the market. It is a super hard tip that comes in 13mm and 15mm.
The Tiger tip can be found here. Tiger break cue tip(Amazon link).
Be sure to check out my article on the Best Glue for Cue Tips to make your cue tip stick better and longer on your cue stick. And if you’re interested, You can also check out my list of Best Pool Cue Tips in another article I wrote.
What Is The Difference Between Bakelite And Phenolic
Bakelite and Phenolic are almost the same except for some minor differences. Phenolic resins are the name given to phenol-formaldehyde resin formulations where other base materials are added like wood, canvas, sheets. Bakelite is just the name of one specific formulation.
Bakelite is the first plastic formulation that has been made with synthetic materials. The resin is formed by condensing phenol and formaldehyde, making it a thermosetting phenol-formaldehyde resin.
Bakelite and Phenolic are thus not two entirely different break tips, but rather two different compositions of the same resin procedure. This makes both tips amazing options for a breaking cue. It would just depend on the player and what feels best.
With cue tips, the best option is to try different options and see what feels the best and what suits your style of play the best. It is not a case of one being much better than the other, rather a case of what the player prefers. Only after trying a few different tip constructions should you make a choice of which tip to purchase.
Wrap Up
If you are looking for the best break cue tip on the market today then you have a couple of options. I really like the bulletproof break tip, it’s modern, new and smashes the pack up great!
Rob is an avid player and fan of all cue sports, particularly 8-ball, and snooker. He has competed in a few local 8-ball tournaments and although he is not a professional, he can compete with the best of them.
