We switched to braided at our lodge last season and lost way fewer cannon balls. I didn't loose any, and I think between about 5 of us only 1 or 2 broke off, and it was never just ware and tear, always a specail circumstance like the brake failing then a guest hitting the button while the ball is dropping fast. We just ended up putting 2 or 3 stoppers on to stop sliding - worked fine. Also, we had the scotty stuff and the blowback sucked, so a few of us got some no-name braid at the shop. I think it was 100lb and was quite thin. No break offs and definitely dropped straiter than cable. It doesn't take long to adjust to the different angle. O and also I used snubbers to cuision the stress on the line, but not all the guides did.