So many tips, so hard to decide on which one to try!

[The Renfro]

Wow, thats one flat tip, lol.. Its really funny that were talking about this over the last few days, because I just had a guy come in this afternoon looking for someone to shape his Black Kamui tip that was installed on a shaft he got for xmas. It was installed by the company he got the shaft from, and it looks very similar to yours, but yours is still flatter. Its the first pic below, then a pic of it after I shaped it up for him to a dime radius.

Is the flat piece in your photos a radius template or do you actually use that to shape the tip in lieu of a razorblade or chisel as it appears to have leather debri on it?

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

I used French red-back Champions for years

Got some old old ones. They still mushroom their whole life. It made me remember why I went to the original Moori way back when.

LePro and a Moori.

Played both many years. They also mushroom. Better soak and press a le pro. Moori was an ok tip though, the originals.

My friend swears by Elkmaster.

I swear at them. Feels like a sponge hitting the cue ball.

and personally feel the Kamui Blacks are the best tip on the market...

Totally agree, and I don't even sell snake-oil :smile: I use the medium personally and they do not mushroom etc... I cannot stand their chalk though....



Bottom line, don't skimp on the most important part of your cue, the tip.

 

[Rain-Man]

Is the flat piece in your photos a radius template or do you actually use that to shape the tip in lieu of a razorblade or chisel as it appears to have leather debri on it?

Hi Chris,

It is a radius template/ razor blade steady rest. I bought it from chuckpilegis here on AZ. Excellent tool, and a good price for it to boot :thumbup:..
The debris you see is just build up, I dont use the tool as the actual cutting mechanism...

Here are a few pics for illustrative purposes:
The first pic is a shaft I just chucked up to shape a Black Kamui tip (it didnt really need it, but its what was closest and one of mine)

The second pic is after it was shaped. Normally I would have both hands on the blade, but then I wouldnt have been able to take the pic (lol).. :thumbup:

 

[pt109]

Hi Chris,

It is a radius template/ razor blade steady rest. I bought it from chuckpilegis here on AZ. Excellent tool, and a good price for it to boot :thumbup:..
The debris you see is just build up, I dont use the tool as the actual cutting mechanism...

Here are a few pics for illustrative purposes:
The first pic is a shaft I just chucked up to shape a Black Kamui tip (it didnt really need it, but its what was closest and one of mine)

The second pic is after it was shaped. Normally I would have both hands on the blade, but then I wouldnt have been able to take the pic (lol).. :thumbup:

You can do my tips anytime, sir......I love your set-up.

A tip done on a lathe, IMO, plays better and lasts longer.

I like slightly more than a dime shape

 

[Rain-Man]

You can do my tips anytime, sir......I love your set-up.

A tip done on a lathe, IMO, plays better and lasts longer.

I like slightly more than a dime shape

:thumbup: Thanks for the kind words...

 

[Lesh]

How Hard?

What tips have worked for you and what are your recommendations that I should try. I definitely know I do not like hard tips. I’ve heard that I should try a Kamui tip. Which hardness do you recommend and should I go with the standard or black series.

Here is an eye-opening hardness comparison that was done by the fine people at Pool Dawg.

Zan (Soft) 14mm 66.3
Elk Master 10-14mm 66.8
Kamui Black (SSoft) 14mm 67.5
Da Vinci (Soft) 14mm 68.7
Black Heart (Soft) 14mm 68.7
5280 Red Line (Tiger) 14mm 69.2
Kamui (Super Soft) 14mm 69.2
Morakami (Super Soft)14mm 72.0
Kamui Black (Soft) 14mm 72.3
Aramith Laminated (Soft)14mm 72.6
Moori (Soft) 14mm 72.8
Da Vinci (Medium) 14mm 73.6
Fuji (Soft) 14mm 74.2
Morakami (Soft) 14mm 74.3
G2 (Soft) 14mm 74.8
Hirano (Soft) 14mm 75.2
Predator Victory (Soft) 14mm 75.3
Moori (Medium) 14mm 75.5
Flying Pig (Medium) 14mm 75.5
Tiger Everest 14mm 75.7
Aramith Laminated (Med) 14mm 75.8
Tiger Emerald 14mm 76.0
Tiger Onyx 14mm 76.4
Black Heart (Medium) 14mm 76.6
Tiger Laminated (Soft) 14mm 76.7
Zan (Medium) 14mm 77.8
Tiger Sniper 14mm 77.8
Kamui II (Soft) 14mm 78.1
Tiger Laminated (Medium)14mm 78.2
Elite 11 Layer 14mm 78.3
Fuji (Medium) 14mm 78.5
Kamui Black (Medium)14mm 78.7
Moori V 14mm 79.3
Talisman Pro (Soft) 14mm 79.6
Great White 14mm 79.6
Predator Victory (Medium)14mm 79.8
G2 (Medium) 14mm 80.1
Tiger Dynamite 14mm 80.8
Morakami (Med) 14mm 81.3
Tiger Laminated (Hard)14mm 81.7
Da Vinci (Hard) 14mm 81.9
Talisman Water Buffalo (Med)14mm 82.0
Kamui II (Med Soft) 14mm 82.2
Stingray 14mm 82.6
Talisman Water Buffalo (Hard)14mm 83.2
Tweeten Virgin 12.5mm 83.3
Kamui II (Medium) 14mm 83.4
Talisman Pro (Medium)14mm 83.5
Fuji (Hard) 14mm 83.8
Predator Victory (Hard)14mm 84.3
Moori (Hard) 14mm 84.4
Talisman Pro (Hard) 14mm 84.4
Hirano (Medium) 14mm 84.8
Kamui Black (Hard) 14mm 84.8
G2 (Hard) 14mm 85.5
Aramith Laminated (Hard)14mm 86.6
Scorpion 14mm 86.8
Zan (Hard) 14mm 87.4
Morakami (Hard) 14mm 87.5
Le Pro* 10-14mm 88.2
Black Heart (Hard) 14mm 88.2
WB Water Buffalo 13-14mm 88.2
Talisman Pro (X-Hard)14mm 88.7
Blue Elf (Hard) 14mm 90.4
Hirano (Hard) 14mm 90.6
Triangle 12-14mm 91.0
Triumph 14mm 92.0
Kamui II (Hard) 14mm 92.2
Samsara Jmp Brk 14mm 95.5
Tiger Jump 14mm Phenolic
Mezz Ignot 14mm Phenolic

Reformatting it was a pain in the buttinzky. I highlighted the tips I have used over the years and can speak intelligently about how i got to the point where I use Sniper Tips exclusively.

I would actually prefer to use milk duds if I could find someone that makes decent ones and doesnt want 15 bucks a tip.

Lots and Lots of Love,

Lesh

 

[rhatten]

Hey Chris (Renfro),

Can you comment on your Ki-Tech tips (tip set S,M, H etc) as to how they fit into the List from Pool Dawg?

Thanks Randy

Here is an eye-opening hardness comparison that was done by the fine people at Pool Dawg.

Zan (Soft) 14mm 66.3
Elk Master 10-14mm 66.8
Kamui Black (SSoft) 14mm 67.5
Da Vinci (Soft) 14mm 68.7
Black Heart (Soft) 14mm 68.7
5280 Red Line (Tiger) 14mm 69.2
Kamui (Super Soft) 14mm 69.2
Morakami (Super Soft)14mm 72.0
Kamui Black (Soft) 14mm 72.3
Aramith Laminated (Soft)14mm 72.6
Moori (Soft) 14mm 72.8
Da Vinci (Medium) 14mm 73.6
Fuji (Soft) 14mm 74.2
Morakami (Soft) 14mm 74.3
G2 (Soft) 14mm 74.8
Hirano (Soft) 14mm 75.2
Predator Victory (Soft) 14mm 75.3
Moori (Medium) 14mm 75.5
Flying Pig (Medium) 14mm 75.5
Tiger Everest 14mm 75.7
Aramith Laminated (Med) 14mm 75.8
Tiger Emerald 14mm 76.0
Tiger Onyx 14mm 76.4
Black Heart (Medium) 14mm 76.6
Tiger Laminated (Soft) 14mm 76.7
Zan (Medium) 14mm 77.8
Tiger Sniper 14mm 77.8
Kamui II (Soft) 14mm 78.1
Tiger Laminated (Medium)14mm 78.2
Elite 11 Layer 14mm 78.3
Fuji (Medium) 14mm 78.5
Kamui Black (Medium)14mm 78.7
Moori V 14mm 79.3
Talisman Pro (Soft) 14mm 79.6
Great White 14mm 79.6
Predator Victory (Medium)14mm 79.8
G2 (Medium) 14mm 80.1
Tiger Dynamite 14mm 80.8
Morakami (Med) 14mm 81.3
Tiger Laminated (Hard)14mm 81.7
Da Vinci (Hard) 14mm 81.9
Talisman Water Buffalo (Med)14mm 82.0
Kamui II (Med Soft) 14mm 82.2
Stingray 14mm 82.6
Talisman Water Buffalo (Hard)14mm 83.2
Tweeten Virgin 12.5mm 83.3
Kamui II (Medium) 14mm 83.4
Talisman Pro (Medium)14mm 83.5
Fuji (Hard) 14mm 83.8
Predator Victory (Hard)14mm 84.3
Moori (Hard) 14mm 84.4
Talisman Pro (Hard) 14mm 84.4
Hirano (Medium) 14mm 84.8
Kamui Black (Hard) 14mm 84.8
G2 (Hard) 14mm 85.5
Aramith Laminated (Hard)14mm 86.6
Scorpion 14mm 86.8
Zan (Hard) 14mm 87.4
Morakami (Hard) 14mm 87.5
Le Pro* 10-14mm 88.2
Black Heart (Hard) 14mm 88.2
WB Water Buffalo 13-14mm 88.2
Talisman Pro (X-Hard)14mm 88.7
Blue Elf (Hard) 14mm 90.4
Hirano (Hard) 14mm 90.6
Triangle 12-14mm 91.0
Triumph 14mm 92.0
Kamui II (Hard) 14mm 92.2
Samsara Jmp Brk 14mm 95.5
Tiger Jump 14mm Phenolic
Mezz Ignot 14mm Phenolic

Reformatting it was a pain in the buttinzky. I highlighted the tips I have used over the years and can speak intelligently about how i got to the point where I use Sniper Tips exclusively.

I would actually prefer to use milk duds if I could find someone that makes decent ones and doesnt want 15 bucks a tip.

Lots and Lots of Love,

Lesh

 

[pt109]

Lesh just made me subscribe to this thread.........good info.....
Thanx

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

Ok, I'll step out on a ledge here, but you are joking right? Of course you can shape a Kamui tip.... Here's a pic of a new Kamui Clear Black Soft and another pic of a Kamui Clear Original I just put on for a few guys yesterday.

I JUST switched from a Sniper to the Kamui clear soft. So, I don't have much experience to share other than - It was shaped for me, I hadn't noticed an issue there. But, I've played only 5 hours on it. It's hit is a little softer, but with a new tip (and ferrule, thanks US Airways) - the compression on a new tip is to be expected.

I've scuffed it once and not miscued once. The cueball position is disobeying a tad during my learning curve, but it will come.

 

[arps]

Bottom line, don't skimp on the most important part of your cue, the tip.

i agree - the most important part of the cue.

 

[x3dnd3x]

I am not sure why some have said that Ultraskins is bad but to me, I feel its one hell of a tip. Imo, it plays very differently from Kamui Original or Black. I am getting enough action of the cue ball though.

 

[demon627]

i just purchased a cue, and the person i got it from said it was a Blackheart tip on it. Ive never played with one of these, and upon googling blackheart tips, the tip on the cue i purchased doesnt look like the tips on the Blackheart website. The tip is black, but a little above where it glues up, is a red layer. Anyone know what this tip may be? The blackhearts on their site dont have the red layer. Just made me curious, because when i receive the cue, and happen to like the tip, id like to know what tip to buy when i need to replace it.
heres a pic of it. https://www.dropbox.com/s/t0helvzr8ubxu1x/tip.jpg

 

[pt109]

i just purchased a cue, and the person i got it from said it was a Blackheart tip on it. Ive never played with one of these, and upon googling blackheart tips, the tip on the cue i purchased doesnt look like the tips on the Blackheart website. The tip is black, but a little above where it glues up, is a red layer. Anyone know what this tip may be? The blackhearts on their site dont have the red layer. Just made me curious, because when i receive the cue, and happen to like the tip, id like to know what tip to buy when i need to replace it.
heres a pic of it. https://www.dropbox.com/s/t0helvzr8ubxu1x/tip.jpg

I think it's what I use....it's an add-on, a bakelite layer.
I got used to this from playing with Champion tips, so I kept using it.
My Sniper tip has this red layer under it.

 

[DAVE_M]

So far I've used:
Elkmaster
Elkmaster Pressed
Le Pro
Triangle
Kamui Black Medium
Black King Medium
Tiger Everest
Wizard
Triumph
Talisman Pro Medium
Talisman Pro Hard
Mike Johnson Milk Duds
and some off brand layered tips from ebay

The talisman pro hard was my favorite, but it didn't last very long.

 

[Rain-Man]

Tiger Onyx Ltd.

i just purchased a cue, and the person i got it from said it was a Blackheart tip on it. Ive never played with one of these, and upon googling blackheart tips, the tip on the cue i purchased doesnt look like the tips on the Blackheart website. The tip is black, but a little above where it glues up, is a red layer. Anyone know what this tip may be? The blackhearts on their site dont have the red layer. Just made me curious, because when i receive the cue, and happen to like the tip, id like to know what tip to buy when i need to replace it.
heres a pic of it. https://www.dropbox.com/s/t0helvzr8ubxu1x/tip.jpg

That tip you have is a Tiger Onyx Ltd.. The red layer is a warning layer to remind you that you need a new tip when you get down to it..

 

[demon627]

That tip you have is a Tiger Onyx Ltd.. The red layer is a warning layer to remind you that you need a new tip when you get down to it..

Thanks for the insight. I like getting to play with tips i havent used before. Maybe ill like this one

 

[osama]

In my experience, all the cues or shafts that I bought new online didn't have it's tip cut/prepped. I had to do that at home or take it to a specialist shop.

On a side note, 4 years for a tip? You might need a replacement. :grin-square:

 

[Rain-Man]

In my experience, all the cues or shafts that I bought new online didn't have it's tip cut/prepped. I had to do that at home or take it to a specialist shop.

On a side note, 4 years for a tip? You might need a replacement. :grin-square:

Usually they are shapped a degree, and you just have to go over it a little with your tip tool.. But they do not come installed flat on there, lol...

I was thinking the same thing, "4 years!?!". Holy cow, I don't even get 4 months out of a tip sometimes :grin:

 

[Bella Don't Cry]

i just purchased a cue, and the person i got it from said it was a Blackheart tip on it. Ive never played with one of these, and upon googling blackheart tips, the tip on the cue i purchased doesnt look like the tips on the Blackheart website. The tip is black, but a little above where it glues up, is a red layer. Anyone know what this tip may be? The blackhearts on their site dont have the red layer. Just made me curious, because when i receive the cue, and happen to like the tip, id like to know what tip to buy when i need to replace it.
heres a pic of it. https://www.dropbox.com/s/t0helvzr8ubxu1x/tip.jpg

Your friend may be right. Black Heart E_Class
http://bhtip.com/xo-85/

 

[Sealegs50]

I ... can speak intelligently about how i got to the point where I use Sniper Tips exclusively.


Lesh

Lesh,

Please tell us how you decided upon Sniper based upon these data and your experiences. While my experiences are not representative of these results, I am interested to hear more about yours.

The list below was edited to highlight the tips that I have owned or experienced using friends’ cues. The list does not even qualitatively put them in the order that I would have predicted based on my experience. For example, I have used many Triangle tips over the years and I have never had one hit similar to a Talisman XHard (my current break tip).

Elk Master 10-14mm 66.8
Kamui Black (Soft) 14mm 72.3
Moori (Medium) 14mm 75.5
Tiger Everest 14mm 75.7
Tiger Emerald 14mm 76.0
Kamui Black (Medium)14mm 78.7
Talisman Water Buffalo (Hard)14mm 83.2
Moori (Hard) 14mm 84.4
Talisman Pro (Hard) 14mm 84.4
Kamui Black (Hard) 14mm 84.8
G2 (Hard) 14mm 85.5
Morakami (Hard) 14mm 87.5
Le Pro* 10-14mm 88.2
Talisman Pro (X-Hard)14mm 88.7
Triangle 12-14mm 91.0

I plotted the PoolDawg results (Series 1) against the posted hardness data provided on the Mueller’s website (Series 2) for tips they sold in common. (apologies if I made a few transcription errors, but these data should be fairly accurate) Each company went to a lot of trouble to help customers decide which tips to try according to their tastes. I am sure that all of these tips are valued by players in the pool community. I wish there was a better means rating their characteristics so players can make better choices of which tips to try.

Fortunate that we don’t have the same problem with scientific measurements on percentage deflection for LD shafts.