A break cue is built for one job and does it far better than a playing cue: stiffer through the shaft, usually a touch heavier, and fitted with a much harder tip. The result is more energy into the cue ball and a pack that spreads properly.

It also protects your playing cue. Breaking is the hardest hit in the game and it takes a toll on a soft playing tip, so a dedicated break cue keeps your main cue and its tip in top condition for far longer. Jump cues are shorter and lighter, designed to strike down on the cue ball and lift it cleanly over an obstructing ball — a shot that turns an impossible snooker into a genuine option.

Several cues in this range convert between break and jump by removing a section, which gives you both tools in a single purchase.