nickel or dime tip radius

Shooter1 · Jul 28, 2017

Do you prefer a nickel or dime tip radius, and why?

The reason I ask is about 8 months ago I bought a used shaft from a guy and it had a Kamui SS clear on it. I really liked the way it hit so I had them mounted on two other extra shafts. The installer put a dime radius on them. I've always played with something closer to a nickel but I've played with them for some time now and like everything about them except I've noticed that when the cue ball is stuck on the rail, I will miss-cue, (slide off the top of the ball) more often.
I almost never used to do that. I keep the tip maintained so it holds chalk and have even started to consciously raise the butt of the cue more on shots when the CB is frozen on the rail but I didn't seem to have to do this in the past.

I'm wondering if the change in tip radius may be a factor here. The OD on these shafts is about 12.7mm.

What radius do you all prefer in general, and any particular reason why?

Thanks.

Moet.1977 · Jul 28, 2017

Tip

Depending on what game I'm playing, if I'm playing bank pool I use my shaft with a nickel tip. I seem to do alot better at Bank with it.

If I'm playing 1 hole I like my tip between dime and nickel.

mchnhed · Jul 28, 2017

Moet.1977 said:
I like my tip between dime and nickel.

Isn't that a Penny?

dr_dave · Jul 28, 2017

Shooter1 said:
Do you prefer a nickel or dime tip radius, and why?
...
What radius do you all prefer in general, and any particular reason why?

The short answer is: It really doesn't matter.

For the long answer, see the quotes and diagrams from Patrick Johnson on the tip size and shape resource page.

Enjoy,
Dave

Shooter1 · Jul 28, 2017

Thanks for that link Dave, that was a good read. I think my tips are fine at a dime rad. I just need to be more disciplined when shooting off the rail.

Moet.1977 · Jul 28, 2017

nice

mchnhed said:
Isn't that a Penny?

That's funny I actually got little chuckle out it . Thanks..

Bavafongoul · Jul 28, 2017

Nickel for playing pool.....dime shape for playing 3 cushion......I have a few cue shafts just for billiards play.

pt109 · Jul 28, 2017

dr_dave said:
The short answer is: It really doesn't matter.

For the long answer, see the quotes and diagrams from Patrick Johnson on the tip size and shape resource page.

Enjoy,
Dave

A little empirical evidence here in my experience, Doc...I'll leave the science to you.

I can do some fancy spin shots...like the Jimmy Moore one that Massey has made well known.
I NEED a dime shaped tip to do it.....and I've tried, with little success, with the nickel shape.
I figure with the nickel shape, the back pressure from the cue ball is conentrated to close
to the edge of the shaft....thus creating a weaker hit.
When I use dime shape, the power is closer to the center of the shaft, therefore giving me
the power to do the shot.

So for years, when someone hands me a cue to do it, I look at the tip...if it is too flat, I tell
them I can't do it....this applies to snooker cues also....although with a typical British
tapered snooker cue, (too strong), I can't do it no matter what shape the tip is.

KMRUNOUT · Jul 28, 2017

dr_dave said:
The short answer is: It really doesn't matter.

For the long answer, see the quotes and diagrams from Patrick Johnson on the tip size and shape resource page.

Enjoy,
Dave

The question was "what do you prefer?", not what is better. I think what you prefer matters quite a lot.

KMRUNOUT

dr_dave · Jul 28, 2017

KMRUNOUT said:
The question was "what do you prefer?", not what is better. I think what you prefer matters quite a lot.

Good point. Being a pool-playing engineer, I almost always prefer what is better.

As pointed out on the cue tip size and shape resource page, a flatter tip is better in certain ways; but in general, a rounder tip is better, so I prefer a dime radius over a nickel radius. Although, as the resource page also points out, there really isn't a meaningful geometric difference between a nickel and dime radius (in relation to the CB), so what I prefer really doesn't matter much (to me, anyway).

Regards,
Dave

jalapus logan · Jul 28, 2017

Joe Blackburn put a "dickel" radius on my tip one year at the dcc, lol. I swear, I don't have a clue which is better. Just adapt to whatever is on there.

Johnny Rosato · Jul 28, 2017

Moet.1977 said:
That's funny I actually got little chuckle out it . Thanks..

Chuckle hell, I laughed out loud!

mchnhed · Jul 28, 2017

2twoball said:
Chuckle hell, I laughed out loud!

Moet.1977 said:
That's funny I actually got little chuckle out it . Thanks.

mchnhed said:
Isn't that a Penny?

Moet.1977 said:
I like my tip between dime and nickel.

I've contacted Willards about doing a .386 Champ Penny Shaper.

Nickle is .415
Penny is .386
Dime is .358

SARDiver · Jul 28, 2017

I like a nickle shape. Forgiving, but able to put effects on the cueball when needed.

Dead Money · Jul 28, 2017

My cue tips are shaped with a car wash token radius!

jtompilot · Jul 29, 2017

SARDiver said:
I like a nickle shape. Forgiving, but able to put effects on the cueball when needed.

"effects" SARDiver where are you from? I've only heard that term used in Columbia. I've never been across the pond though

bbb · Jul 29, 2017

jtompilot said:
"effects" SARDiver where are you from? I've only heard that term used in Columbia. I've never been across the pond though

all the spanish language 3 cushion references i have from all the countries use efecto "effects" to mean "english" on the cueball

mchnhed · Jul 29, 2017

Dead Money said:
My cue tips are shaped with a car wash token radius!

Isn't that close to a Quarter?

Half Dollar is .602
Quarter is .477
Nickle is .415
Penny is .386
Dime is .358

pt109 · Jul 29, 2017

Dead Money said:
My cue tips are shaped with a car wash token radius!

mchnhed said:
Isn't that close to a Quarter?

It's perfect for humid conditions.

TILT9 · Jul 29, 2017

I have no idea what you guys are talking about? :boring2:

nickel or dime tip radius

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