Tip Sizes Compared

Patrick Johnson · Feb 2, 2020

Tip size is a hot AzB topic - we seem to think it matters. Here's a scale drawing (zoomed in to ~twice actual size) showing the relative differences in the normal range of sizes - 11 to 13 mm + a 10 mm snooker tip for comparison. I imagined bigger differences, maybe because of all the discussion about it...

pj
chgo

MattPoland · Feb 2, 2020

I keep getting invalid attachment errors when clicking the link.

EDIT: As soon as I posted this, the page refresh fixed the image for me.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

bbb · Feb 2, 2020

we all know
l l
is 6 inches.......

Patrick Johnson · Feb 2, 2020

MattPoland said:
I keep getting invalid attachment errors when clicking the link.

EDIT: As soon as I posted this, the page refresh fixed the image for me.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Sorry - I was adjusting the pic size.

pj
chgo

mikemosconi · Feb 3, 2020

I usually use about 13mm on my shafts- most of my shafts have about a 12 inch pro taper- all are straight maple shafts- I found that even an 11.5mm tip is OK for pocket billiards for me IF the shaft has more of a conical taper than a pro taper- such as using an 11.5 mm tipped carom cue -
I don't think I would play with anything less than 12.5 with a pro taper maple shaft.

surffisher2a · Feb 3, 2020

I like smaller tip sizes around 12 - 12.5MM because I have small hands and it makes closed bridges easier for me.

garczar · Feb 3, 2020

surffisher2a said:
I like smaller tip sizes around 12 - 12.5MM because I have small hands and it makes closed bridges easier for me.

I like 12.75-13 for opposite reasons. I have long fingers and smaller shafts feel like a straw when i use them. I couldn't make a ball with a Z Pred shaft and sold it two days after i got it.

Bavafongoul · Feb 3, 2020

16- 17” pro taper &12.75 - 13mm tips seems ideal; shaft weight needs lto be >3.75 ozs. and < 4.3 ozs.

RickLafayette · Feb 3, 2020

The difference between an 11.75mm and a 13mm tip may not seem like much of a difference, but it is certainly noticeable when placed against a 2 1/4" ball, especially, say, a tip below center.

Patrick Johnson · Feb 3, 2020

I use a 10 mm tip with a conical taper, like a snooker cue for pool (I added it to the pic in the first post for comparison). The straight taper stiffens the hit while the small tip encourages precision by showing me a little more precisely where I'm hitting the CB (and reduces squirt, especially since it's hollow).

pj
chgo

ShootingArts · Feb 4, 2020

Yech, you stepped into spin!

The big deal about tip size is that the vast majority of players aim with the center of their shaft regardless of what part of the tip they are hitting with using spin.

When you consider both the tip and the cue ball dropping away from the aim point those seemingly tiny differences in tip size make a big difference. Add the popular hard tip and where most people are aiming never makes contact.

When it comes to aiming the advantage of a smaller shaft is simple. It reduces the error created by aiming with the center of the shaft and hitting with the edge of the tip.

Hu

Patrick Johnson · Feb 4, 2020

ShootingArts said:
The big deal about tip size is that the vast majority of players aim with the center of their shaft regardless of what part of the tip they are hitting with using spin.

Tip size doesn’t affect where the tip contacts the CB - tip curvature does (but only a tiny bit). I think most people confuse the two.

pj
chgo

ShootingArts · Feb 4, 2020

easy to put to the test

Patrick Johnson said:
Tip size doesn’t affect where the tip contacts the CB - tip curvature does (but only a tiny bit). I think most people confuse the two.

pj
chgo

The smaller tip hits further out on the cue ball than a bigger tip when you aim with center shaft. As soon as you quit playing with rigid two dimensional drawings this is obvious. What you are saying about curvature would only be true if the edge of the tip didn't come into play. It does when using a lot of spin.

Hu

Patrick Johnson · Feb 4, 2020

ShootingArts said:
The smaller tip hits further out on the cue ball than a bigger tip when you aim with center shaft. As soon as you quit playing with rigid two dimensional drawings this is obvious.

Rigid two dimensional drawings sometimes show that what you think is obvious is really wrong. Here's one that shows how different size tips with the same curvature contact the CB on the same point:

What you are saying about curvature would only be true if the edge of the tip didn't come into play. It does when using a lot of spin.

And here's one that shows how even the smallest tip (10mm) with a flatter curvature (nickel shape) doesn't hit on the tip's edge until you apply maximum side spin - in other words tip size doesn't change tip/ball contact even at the extreme:

And finally, here's one that shows even tip curvature doesn't matter much:

pj
chgo

dr_dave · Feb 4, 2020

Patrick Johnson said:
Rigid two dimensional drawings sometimes show that what you think is obvious is really wrong.

Pat,

FYI, I've added your new images to the cue tip size and shape effects resource page.

Thanks for helping to make the resource page so well illustrated and instructive.

Good job,
Dave

Patrick Johnson · Feb 4, 2020

dr_dave said:
Pat,

FYI, I've added your new images to the cue tip size and shape effects resource page.

Thanks for helping to make the resource page so well illustrated and instructive.

Good job,
Dave

Glad to contribute to your excellent collection of info/knowledge, Dave. (Sorry it's only those rigid two-dimensional drawings.

)

pj
chgo

ShootingArts · Feb 4, 2020

try looking at chalk marks on a cue ball

Try looking at chalk marks on a cue ball with markings or using another ball that lets you see how far out you hit the ball and the shape of the chalk mark. Get out near the miscue limit.

Post some pictures of that.

Hu

Patrick Johnson · Feb 4, 2020

ShootingArts said:
Try looking at chalk marks on a cue ball with markings or using another ball that lets you see how far out you hit the ball and the shape of the chalk mark. Get out near the miscue limit.

Post some pictures of that.

Hu

Here's a pic I have on hand of a near maximum spin hit (maximum would be about on the stripe's edge) made with my 10mm tip. What does it tell you?

pj
chgo

Tip Sizes Compared

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day

MattPoland

AzB Silver Member

bbb

AzB Gold Member

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day

mikemosconi

AzB Silver Member

surffisher2a

AzB Silver Member

garczar

AzB Silver Member

Bavafongoul

AzB Silver Member

RickLafayette

AzB Gold Member

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day

ShootingArts

Smorg is giving St Peter the 7!

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day

ShootingArts

Smorg is giving St Peter the 7!

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day

dr_dave

Instructional Author

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day

ShootingArts

Smorg is giving St Peter the 7!

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day