Finally made a break and run. I've run 15+ in straight pool before and I've had plenty of almost break and runs only to choke on the 9 because of the mental block. A small part of me actually believed that the moment the 9 fell, the Top Gun anthem was going to come on and the bartender at the pool hall would give out free shots for everyone and I'd get a call from Johnny Archer congratulating me.

Anyways, a while ago I made a thread wondering about the Lucasi Hybrid. I made the plunge and bought it. My old cue is a Scorpion for the sake of having a benchmark. Obviously it's not like you never have to worry about compensating for deflection again but I'm very pleased with it. On the low deflection front, I find that I had to adjust very little to none at all for half table and shorter shots. Full table shots I do have to shift my aim but I rarely shoot with english on table length shots. Furthermore, it felt like I was getting more out of my stroke. The cue came with a Kamui original tip and that may be the reason. I could use a lighter stroke and have the cue ball travel further or take more spin. The hit feels much more satisfying for some reason. Like it makes a fuller sound and I could feel it in my body. It's very hard to explain. I enjoy shooting with the Lucasi more than I did with the Scorpion, that's probably the best way I could put it. I was amazed at how little strength I needed to draw table length. (Yeah, I'm the guy that could draw table length whenever. I'm working on becoming the guy that can draw 18 inches when he needs 18 and 17.5 when he needs 17.5) Also, love the golf style grip and the glossy, kinda metallic design on the butt. I'm young, I love how the cue looks like it could turn into a light sabre at any moment. All in all, it was a good pool day.

So how did it feel when you had your first break and run? Also, I like to name my cues, anyone else do the same? My Scorpion is Ariadne, my Lucasi is Penelope and my jump/break cue is Mjolnir. I enjoy Greek and Norse myths.

I like that you name you cues. I named my cue the "Bully Club" because its intimidating and cruel to its opponents. A friend of mine named his cue "Taylor Swift" because it is white, skinny and heartless lol.

I shoot with a Lucasi LE66 with an OB shaft. I will never go back to a stock shaft again. It's been 25+ years since my first runout so I don't remember that feeling, but congrats on finally getting past the 9ball block. That is tuff when the nerves kick you in the ass. Think I will need to come up with a name for my cues now...

they actually played the top gun anthem for me. earl strickland even popped out and gave me a little slap on the butt. i thought he squeezed it a little but it might've just been the arm weights. that's what he said anyway. i could've swore there was a wink though.

i just held onto my old joss real tight and acted like nothing happened.

"A small part of me actually believed that the moment the 9 fell, the Top Gun anthem was going to come on and the bartender at the pool hall would give out free shots for everyone and I'd get a call from Johnny Archer congratulating me."

Awesome

"they actually played the top gun anthem for me. earl strickland even popped out and gave me a little slap on the butt."

lol. I had the pleasure of sitting at a table with Earl for an hour and listen to his genius/madness rants a few months ago. He was talking about how he slightly altered his bridge and the difference it makes, talking about the extra 1/8" gap under the skin, overall suspension on power shots, etc. . .some low open player asked him some question, and he stared at him and said "alright, lemme see your bridge. . . " The player laid his hand on the table the way he bridges. Earl got out of his chair, put his head near his hand and panned around his bridge for maybe ten seconds. Then he stares at the player and they lock eyes for a second. Earl then shouts "That's a WEAK bridge!" in his face, sits down and starts laughing...lol Earl.

That's all I ever wanted. Could replace Strickland with Archer but we're just splitting hairs here. I actually taught myself how to jump with a full length cue (I'm 6'3, I could do it without chicken winging too much) so that on the off chance I were to meet Earl and demonstrate my jump shot abilities, I would earn his respect as a pool player.

i don't use a jump cue either. still seems wrong to me somehow. Archer's an amazing player as well obv, seems like a really good guy too.
-took a long time away from pool and have been getting back into it recently.

i've been watching a lot of youtube/stream stuff lately and svb is great--along with a bunch of other guys. but one that's really stuck out to me is alex pagulayan. wow.

I play UK pool (blackball i think is the proper name), had my first break and run last august and came very close to my 2nd in november or december (ran out of position on the black and literally didnt have a reasonable shot to play).

Felt incredible, somewhat frustrating cos id practically given up on the idea of being a good pool player as it took me 4 years to make a break and run. Was pretty funny as i was playing a girl (very recreational, doesnt try, just plays for fun) and she immediately demanded a rematch bcos she didnt get a single shot .

The best thing about it was it made me realize im good enough to do it, done it once, can do it again - next goal is to do it in a league/cup game .

Don't name cue's, although one guy said my cue looked like the balabooshka from the colour of money.