What Differnce Does the Tip Make for Your Game

[lfigueroa]

What Difference Does the Tip Make for Your Game

So, excluding break cue tips:

How much of a difference do you think using your favoritest tip on your playing cue makes -- as far as how well you play -- compared to your least favorite tip?

And, why do you think it is so?

Lou Figueroa

 

[TX Poolnut]

I like triangle tips. They save me a few bucks and that's what it comes down to for me.

Using my favorite tips keeps a few Washingtons in my pocket. That's it.

 

[Ratta]

hi Lfigueroa

i think it s nearly the same question like *what hit you prefer or what kind of shaft*. you have to test it and feel good with it...and trust it.
in the 80 s i played just with LeProfessionals, in the 90 s i used triangle until i made a 10 years break.
Since i m playing again i m tested many laminated Tips. Now i m playing with a Kamui Tip-next to the Everest the best for me.
But i have also the opinion that you re able to do almost everything with every tip-it s just how good the feeling is-just subjective..but let you trust into your material. (to have no excuses^^)

lg
Ingo

 

[9BallPaul]

I prefer Elkmaster medium tips, but frequently use my scuffer and Tip-Pik to keep them chalked. And the Elkmaster is a little cheaper. My guy does them for $11, and usually not more than twice a year.

Can't stand super hard tips.

 

[Maniac]

Lou,

I prefer Triangle tips. It is a personal choice. I do not think they are for everyone. I use them solely for two reasons: I seem to miscue less with them, and they seem to hold chalk as good or better than most of the others. Of course, the "holding chalk" and the "less miscuing" go hand-in-hand with one another.

I can move the cueball around just about as good with any tip I've used, save some of the harder ones. I don't make my tip preference based on how well I can move the cueball around with one, but rather how low or out on the sides I can get on it without a miscue.

Maniac

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

IMHO thereare no Magic Pool Cue Tips,

one of the better player in Arizona use to use a

.

 

[Dakota Cues]

HUGE Difference!!!

To me they make a huge difference, both in feel and confidence.

I like the Kamui Black SS. It holds chalk great and grips the ball better than anything I've ever used. When I have that tip on my playing cue, I don't think of how the tips feels or plays. It just does what it's supposed to do, and it's up to me to do the rest.

When I tried a harder tip, I noticed too much of my focus was on the tip. Thoughts like, "Man this thing is hard", and the constant fear of miscues made me play differently, and took my focus off the game.

For me, equipment that I don't think about is the perfect equipment!!!

 

[sfleinen]

I prefer Elkmaster medium tips, but frequently use my scuffer and Tip-Pik to keep them chalked. And the Elkmaster is a little cheaper. My guy does them for $11, and usually not more than twice a year.

Can't stand super hard tips.

I'm with Paul on this one -- Elkmaster for me. I've a preference for soft tips (but broken in and compacted, via several racks of "slam ball" and then demushroomed / reshaped). But to be honest, the "wrong" tip for me doesn't make a "huge" difference in my game, even those hard tips that, to me, feel like I have a chunk of granite at the end of the shaft. The "wrong" tip just gives me a feel I don't like, but I'll still pocket the ball / play the same / get the same spin.

With the way some folks talk on here, you'd think that they "have to have" say, a Kamui or some high-priced tip, or his/her game goes in the crapper, or they'll drop one whole level of player or something along those lines!

To me, a decent tip is a leather one, properly shaped and maintained. That's it!

-Sean

 

[TATE]

So, excluding break cue tips:

How much of a difference do you think using your favoritest tip on your playing cue makes -- as far as how well you play -- compared to your least favorite tip?

And, why do you think it is so?

Lou Figueroa

Lou,

It makes a big difference to me on certain shots. I need to know how much spin to anticipate. If I don't get the amount of spin I expect, I can miss shots and position.

That being said, I feel like I can adjust to most tips given time. I switched over to the fairly new Tiger Onyx. What I like about it is, after very little break in, the tip stays the same hardness for many months with very little maintainence.

Chris

 

[Quesports]

I used to LOVE Moori's then I had all sorts of miscueing problems with them. So I switched to Elkmaster milk duds from Mueller. I bought 50 of them for $28.00 including s/h I change tips myself and saved some money. I like them just fine and wish I'd have switched sooner. Just the other day I played a guy that had a Moori tip he miscued 6 times in two hours, so I gave him ome of my milk dud tips.. Hope to see him soon and get his feedback..

 

[bnall]

Milk dud tips for me. They feel like a hard tip, wont mushroom, hold there shape, and grab the cueball like a soft tip. Also I miscue less with them. Best of all they are real cheap.

 

[Zivan1967]

When I'm in stroke the tip doesn't matter. When I'm struggling I find myself needing a medium layered tip.

I have tried hard tips, they feel great but I'll miscue trying to get tough position unless my stroke is perfect (ex: drawing str8 back to you from 8 feet away).

I have tried soft tips, they feel spongy and I miscue less but i'll still miscue trying to force position because the tip seems to take too much of the impact. I end up needing just as good a stroke anyway.

So for me its a medium tip, doesn't feel as good as a hard but i won't miscue trying to get massive spin and I can pull off my shots with much higher consistency. Not that I use a ton of spin always, just when it's needed I'd like to have access to it.

 

[cyrex]

Tips

I'm currently trying out Kamui SS tips. So far so good.

I was recently watching a video someone on AZ posted where (I think its a Dr. Dave analysis) they studied squirt and compensation. Interesting stuff. Since I use an LD shaft, I was wondering if the tip also makes a difference when it comes to squirt/deflection. I'd imagine a harder tip would deflect the cue ball more when applying english.

Reason I was wondering is because I was trying to execute a shot and noticed an aiming difference with two different tips I have currently on my cue. One is a Kamui SS on an OB1 shaft. And the other is a Triumph tip on an OB1 shaft. I think the Kamui has less squirt than the Triumph tip.

Anyone notice similar results regarding tips and defllection/squirt?

 

[manwon]

So, excluding break cue tips:

How much of a difference do you think using your favoritest tip on your playing cue makes -- as far as how well you play -- compared to your least favorite tip?

And, why do you think it is so?

Lou Figueroa

I most likely replace between 50 and 100 tips a month for my customers, and what I have come to believe is that tips just like anything else are nothing but a tool, some people have mentally convinced themselves that only certain tips will work and other don't have this hang up.

While it is important to have a tip that will hold it's shape, and hold chalk if proper maintenance is done, for there on it is up to the operator, and the operator's ability stroke through the cue ball properly.

I have people who have to buy every new tip that comes out, and that are never happy with the tips performance, in my opinion they need to work on their fundamentals not continue to buy new tips.

I can personally play with any tip I have ever encountered, so long as it holds shape and holds chalk, I also have the ability to install any tip made because i keep them all in stock. However, I use a non-layered tip and what many would consider a cheap tip ( Pressed Le Pro ) with which I can do anything that some one else can with any tip they use.

I think far to many people forget when it comes to any equipment or tool used, the performance the player gets from that equipment or tool is based upon that persons ability not some magic created by using the tool.

JIMO

 

[TATE]

I'm currently trying out Kamui SS tips. So far so good.

I was recently watching a video someone on AZ posted where (I think its a Dr. Dave analysis) they studied squirt and compensation. Interesting stuff. Since I use an LD shaft, I was wondering if the tip also makes a difference when it comes to squirt/deflection. I'd imagine a harder tip would deflect the cue ball more when applying english.

Reason I was wondering is because I was trying to execute a shot and noticed an aiming difference with two different tips I have currently on my cue. One is a Kamui SS on an OB1 shaft. And the other is a Triumph tip on an OB1 shaft. I think the Kamui has less squirt than the Triumph tip.

Anyone notice similar results regarding tips and defllection/squirt?

It's probably the spin throw difference you're noticing. I especially get that switching to a smaller tip.

Chris

 

[cyrex]

It's probably the spin throw difference you're noticing. I especially get that switching to a smaller tip.

Chris

Chris,
I was actually trying a table length (9') carom off the object ball to play safe behind a nearby blocking ball. With the harder tip, I'd go face first into the object ball. With the softer tip, I'd hit closer to where I was aiming, which was about 1/4 ball hit with outside english. It's a pretty consistent result *even with my crappy stroke*.

 

[shankster8]

So, excluding break cue tips:

How much of a difference do you think using your favoritest tip on your playing cue makes -- as far as how well you play -- compared to your least favorite tip?

And, why do you think it is so?

Lou Figueroa

I think hardness is the issue. I'm surprised at how many play with soft/super soft. Providing a tip holds chaulk, any that are hard/medhard are fine. Soft tips seem to grip the cueball for an extra millionth(?) of a second, contribute to cueball deflection; and, in general, make the shot less predictable. JMHO. I'd rather stroke (soft or hard) with a tip that doesn't cling to the cueball. I guess I've never played a game that was dainty enough to require a soft/supersoft tip. FWIW, I like the liveliness of Kamu tips (yes, Kamui black hard, or Kamui II hard, or either in medium). I'm aware that some people are focusing on less lively tips, however (Neil, conetip) What do you think, Lou? Give us your opinion.

 

[Fast Lenny]

I prefer a medium tip, Kamui black, Moori or even Hercules (not H2s). It does make a difference for me as the tip can change the hit and feel of a cue fairly easily from my experience.

 

[Ratta]

I most likely replace between 50 and 100 tips a month for my customers, and what I have come to believe is that tips just like anything else are nothing but a tool, some people have mentally convinced themselves that only certain tips will work and other don't have this hang up.

While it is important to have a tip that will hold it's shape, and hold chalk if proper maintenance is done, for there on it is up to the operator, and the operator's ability stroke through the cue ball properly.

I have people who have to buy every new tip that comes out, and that are never happy with the tips performance, in my opinion they need to work on their fundamentals not continue to buy new tips.

I can personally play with any tip I have ever encountered, so long as it holds shape and holds chalk, I also have the ability to install any tip made because i keep them all in stock. However, I use a non-layered tip and what many would consider a cheap tip ( Pressed Le Pro ) with which I can do anything that some one else can with any tip they use.

I think far to many people forget when it comes to any equipment or tool used, the performance the player gets from that equipment or tool is based upon that persons ability not some magic created by using the tool.

JIMO

Oooh yessss Manwon^^

buisness as usual! To work on fundamentals is way too hard and takes its times.................BUT:
Excuses and changing tips from time to time is cheaper

you took the words right out of my mouth my friend :grin-square:

lg
Ingo

 

[pt109]

Raymond Ceulemans

He said years ago "A good tip is more important than a good cue."

Still got some original Mooris (from when it was a one man operation)..
The tips hit much better than the modern ones and allow me to cue
nearer to the 'miscue zone'.
I also like Sniper and Molivia.
Had some Champions and Blue Diamond that played good also.

A tip is the only part of your cue that hits the cue ball...
...lousy tip = lousy hit

People ask me to show them shots sometimes...I always look at
their tip first...if I don't like what I see,I won't even try it.

If I could pick all my opponent's tips..I'd probably be world champion
at every form of billiards...well, except golf on a snooker table...
..I hate that game :frown: