What Differnce Does the Tip Make for Your Game

[peppersauce]

......................

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

 

[lfigueroa]

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.

Fair enough.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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

So, it's just a preference and there's little difference in performance, no?

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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.

You don't like the super hard tips, but would you say they take your game down?

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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

Got it.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

IMHO thereare no Magic Pool Cue Tips,

one of the better player in Arizona use to use a

.

You didn't answer the question...

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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!!!

I like and use the Kamui black SS too -- I'm curious: have you noticed that after awhile they lose their grab?

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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

Sean, what do you do to the tips to get them right? Do you put them in a vice? (I've never been able to get an Elkmaster to stop mushrooming.) Also, what about the issue of durability? The few I've used have worn out in no time.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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

I thought the Tiger Oynx were super hard -- how would you rate them?

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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..

I used to love the Mooris too, but they started delaminating on me too much. So what's the deal with the Milk Duds AND do you really believe they've been soaked in milk

Lou Figueroa
whole or 2%

 

[lfigueroa]

0%, as long as it is there and not glossy (which I can fix, so as long as it is there).

dld

You are obviously not an equipment maven

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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.

But does using another tip take your game down?

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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.

Good description and it's probably about how I feel about my tips.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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?

ah, now we're getting around to what I was wondering and trying to get to in this and the other tip thread. Specifically, I was wondering how much -- as you see in high speed videos of cue tip cue ball contact where the tip distorts and moves sideways -- the effect would be given different tips and tip heights. Also, what that means in terms of accuracy.

Lou Figueroa

 

[whammo57]

tips

I have tried the buffalo, moori, elkmaster, triangle, and a few others.

I find that within a month they all seem to harden and I start to miscue more.

I am sticking with the elk master because I change my tip about every 2 weeks and they are cheap.

I am going to try a milk dud to see if there is any difference.

IMHO, tips are like shafts in that it is all in the player and what he/she thinks gives him/her the best playing ability. (whether it actually does or not)

Kim

 

[lfigueroa]

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

Can I get an Amen

Lou Figueroa

 

[pooltchr]

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

An average carpenter with a golden hammer is still going to get average results.
A great carpenter with an average hammer is going to get great results.

Steve

 

[lfigueroa]

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.

Well basically I can't abide a super hard tip -- I hate the sound, feel like I'm getting less feedback, and I'm always worried about miscuing. I also don't care for super soft tips, but ironically I'm playing with Kamui black SS. BUT, they're not really soft at all, but grab the cue ball, as you say, for that extra millisecond. But unlike you I sort of feel that that is a plus, not a negative. I think a lot of it, like cues, and shafts, and tapers, and balance points are a matter of personal preference and has a lot to do with what we start out with and get used to.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

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.

That's very true, Lenny. It's funny we talk about LD shafts, and diameters, and tapers, and ferrules but it's the tip that actually hits sumthin'

Lou Figueroa

 

[nksmfamjp]

I'm going to throw an observation out here. I like medium tips. Soft tips feel like they deposed my stroke causing missed leaves due to speed. Hard tips seem to hurt my confidence due to miscues, or perceived miscues. I mean when a hit has weird sound, but whitey does as instructed.

So here is my observation...medium non-layered tips have a better feel/consistency vs layered. I think it is the hardness of the glue layers. Wizard M's are nice, but I'm glad to be back hitting a triumph. I will try a Kamui Black M to see if they do it better, but my new Triumph feels good.

Percentagewise....uh I think for me, a tip can be 25%...maybe. It is all about feeling the same and building confidence. If you can ignore that, a tip will mean less.