This discussion is pretty old by now, but I hit on it with a web search just to see what others had opined. For over 40 years, I played with whatever came installed on the shaft, and didn't think much of it. Probably replaced them myself with something like Elk Masters, etc. Probably 15-20? years ago (it's all a blur), when I got my first 'high tech' shafts (314), I started seeing ads and was exposed to layered tips. For almost 10 years, the the Tiger 'Everest' medium was my holy grail, and I was happy to get a dozen for $100. But the price just kept going up, and so I tried several other more reasonably priced layered tips, like Talisman, Wizard, Stingray, etc. At the same time, I was realizing that I actually liked harder tips, so moved from M to MH and then exclusivley Hard tips. I am no more likely to miscue because of the hardness of my tip, as my miscues are always a problem with my stroke delivery and not the tip. I also like that if I'm in a pinch, and I need to get a tiny bit of air to ensure clearing a blocking ball, I can just jack up with my playing cue and deliver a more controlled hop and still make shot and shape.
My latest favorite tips are from some OLD WB tips given to me by a friend. Non-layered, very hard, never 'glaze' (although I can't remember ever having a problem with any 'glazed' tip), they don't mushroom on me, I don't need any re-shape after maybe one touch-up after a week or so of play, then they don't need any attention other than chalk. I had two perfectly good WB tips with plenty of meat left on them, played great, and only changed them after almost two years to try out something different.
After getting a lathe in 2019, to begin finishing carbon fiber shaft blanks 'to order' for people, I had to install tips on the new shafts and also started installing tips for teammates, friends and customers. At the same time, I was using Ultraskin hard tips on both my CF shafts and loving them. I play at home and play in weekly league and the Ultraskin hard tips would easily last me 2 years or more, with minimal need for any shaping touch-ups. It got to the point where I was only taking them off to try something different, because people always ask me what I think about this or that brand tip. Frankly I have not tried every expensive tip out there and it's safe to say I never will. So now if someone asks me if I can put a Samsara or Kamui or whatever $$$ tip on for them, I say: "If you really want that tip, you get the tip and I'll put it on - I can't maintain an expensive inventory of tips and my buying it for you or maintaining inventory just requires another markup to you." I do maintain an inventory of soft, medium and hard Ultraskins, and if a customer isn't sure about what they want, I always recommend a medium (Ultraskin) tip. I am not getting complaints. They are also all going to get harder with play anyway. Two people recently asked me for harder tips and I put the WBs on for them and they really like 'em. I've just received some new WB tips, some Cue Components Water Buffalo (non-layered) and some Triangles, and this will probably be the extent of inventory I have for non-layered.
If people ask me for a 'soft' tip, I always try to plant the seed in their mind, telling them they should try a medium, and go on to explain my journey from soft to Hard tips. Some will try but some never stray from 'soft'. I talked one former teammate into moving from a soft tip (Sniper?) on his Cuetec CF shaft to a M/MH tip (a CueSoul) and his first observation after playing with it for awhile is that he says it is easier for him to get draw now. I said: "maybe less spin energy is lost because it's not being absorbed by the 'squish' on impact that you'd otherwise get with your soft tip??" I'm sure Dr. Dave has done a lengthy technical proof on that question...
I've got guys on my team who just can't stop fiddling with their tips, grinding and shaping them down to a nub, even though they've had no mushroom or shape problem going on, until there's almost 1/16" tip left (and ferrule damage), and then they ask for a new soft tip. Really? You've been playing for weeks now with a tiny bit of imagination left on your ferrule, which must be nearly as hard as a break tip, and you want to put a new 'soft' tip on?
So no new info here - just somebody else's opinions and personal views. Maybe it's easier to go back to non-layered tips if you like playing with 'hard' and you find hard non-layered tips you like. I already know there are at least two brand of hard layered tips I like, but probably only a few quality brands I think are 'economical' now.
