Observational question from watching some of the Mosconi cup

[middleofnowhere]

The camera work is pretty good with lots of close-ups. I keep noticing when they show their tips they are playing with tips that looked to be in many cases just a few millimeters thick. Used to be tips were commonly almost a quarter of an inch thick. Is this the new thing?

They also seem to cue the cue ball extremely off center. Draw shots they're literally hitting the cloth. It seems I can hear during the broadcast many of which sound almost like miscues.

I should add too the kicking and safety play of the European players is incredible. They go a couple of rails and land the cueball fractions of an inch where they want to be snooker you.

Kicking, and jumping, forget about it. The US players have a long way to go to catch up.

 

[Cuebuddy]

Over the years I have noticed that many top players prefer thin, hard tips. I have installed many and have cut 60% of the leather down before shaping the radius.
Yes it appears that when aiming the tip is outside of the safe zone for miscues.
I think many players adjust on the last stroke.
Some players cue low to aid in aiming.

 

[straightline]

Over the years I have noticed that many top players prefer thin, hard tips. I have installed many and have cut 60% of the leather down before shaping the radius.
Yes it appears that when aiming the tip is outside of the safe zone for miscues.
I think many players adjust on the last stroke.
Some players cue low to aid in aiming.

They used to start with oversized leather machined to fit.

I think a shorter tip has less "jiggle" and might be more consistent. Also you tend to stroke more firmly to avoid miscues. These days I just glue on the correct diameter tip and shape the top as required.

 

[middleofnowhere]

They used to start with oversized leather machined to fit.

I think a shorter tip has less "jiggle" and might be more consistent. Also you tend to stroke more firmly to avoid miscues. These days I just glue on the correct diameter tip and shape the top as required.

When I used to build cues and do repairs I often had players want thinner tips. I would not just take the tip down but had a jig for one of the lathes to slice a little off the back of the tip before installing it.

 

[Cuebuddy]

Makes sense. Just think of the jiggle you would have with a 1.25” leather tip with a slight droop to it.

They used to start with oversized leather machined to fit.

I think a shorter tip has less "jiggle" and might be more consistent. Also you tend to stroke more firmly to avoid miscues. These days I just glue on the correct diameter tip and shape the top as required.

 

[straightline]

Makes sense. Just think of the jiggle you would have with a 1.25” leather tip with a slight droop to it.

Yeah waiting for the scientists to clear the term for use.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... They also seem to cue the cue ball extremely off center. Draw shots they're literally hitting the cloth. It seems I can hear during the broadcast many of which sound almost like miscues.
..

Some players address the cue ball considerably lower than they're going to hit. Allegedly, this helps find the center of the ball better, but you'd have to ask each player what their reason is.

 

[straightline]

As a nonplaying practorsioner I take one more step at the bottom and gently press into the cloth. This helps locate the stroke by setting a tactile point.