Anyone have this happen to their sumo tip?

Cue Freak

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I went to break the other day and miscued, when I did, I actually broke a chunk of my sumo tip off. Is this supposed to happen? (They can't be that hard) Anyway, does anybody know a good break tip, I think I'm going to switch :)
 
Cue Freak said:
So I went to break the other day and miscued, when I did, I actually broke a chunk of my sumo tip off. Is this supposed to happen? (They can't be that hard) Anyway, does anybody know a good break tip, I think I'm going to switch :)

What is the sumo tip made of?

I know that happens with the Water Buffalo tips a lot. (The key is not to Miscue!)

Tiger's Jump/Break tip that they are putting out doesn't chip when miscued, but I find it is a tad bit softer than a good ol Hard Water Buffalo tip.

Just my thoughts.
 
The Sumo is a single layer water buffalo tip. What you experienced is common. The tips are so hard & dry that they are quite brittle. It only takes a very slight miscue and presto...a chunk is missing from the edge of your tip. This is why I do not recommend any WB tip...haven't in years. Sure a lot of players will chime in that they love them & have no issues...but I've seen way too many instances of failure. A much better option is the SuperPro layered tip available from Prathers & very inexpensive. The SuperPro is about the hardest tip you can buy and works great as a leather j/b tip. My second choice would be Talisman Xtra hard. Either of these choices will serve you fine with no problems. If you'd like to make your own tip then read my tips on soaking & pressing Triangles, discussed in the current Milk Dud thread.
 
Varney Cues said:
The Sumo is a single layer water buffalo tip. What you experienced is common. The tips are so hard & dry that they are quite brittle. It only takes a very slight miscue and presto...a chunk is missing from the edge of your tip. This is why I do not recommend any WB tip...haven't in years. Sure a lot of players will chime in that they love them & have no issues...but I've seen way too many instances of failure. A much better option is the SuperPro layered tip available from Prathers & very inexpensive. The SuperPro is about the hardest tip you can buy and works great as a leather j/b tip. My second choice would be Talisman Xtra hard. Either of these choices will serve you fine with no problems. If you'd like to make your own tip then read my tips on soaking & pressing Triangles, discussed in the current Milk Dud thread.

That SuperPro sounds good, where can I get one of those? Tried looking it up but to no avail. Thanks!
 
You could always try the White Diamond tip. They are very hard, hold chalk well and require almost no maintenance. Have had mine for a couple of years now and just scuffed it for the first time about 3 weeks ago - mostly just for fun not becuase it needed it. JMHO All the other suggestions are good as well.

BVal
 
Cue Freak said:
That SuperPro sounds good, where can I get one of those? Tried looking it up but to no avail. Thanks!

www.prathercue.com

Edited to add: They may not be listed on their site. They do have them though...$2 each or $25 for a box of 50. Call 1-800-364-6913 and ask for Jennifer.
 
Last edited:
The chunk out of the Sumo is a common occurance that is oft discussed here...try a search for sumo using the search function for detail.

They play great and are cheap, better order more than one!
 
Cue Freak said:
So I went to break the other day and miscued, when I did, I actually broke a chunk of my sumo tip off. Is this supposed to happen? (They can't be that hard) Anyway, does anybody know a good break tip, I think I'm going to switch :)

If you want a leather tip to break with, buy some Triangles and press them in a vise. Tighten the vise by hand as tight as you can on the first day. Leave it over night, and increase the pressure the next day, by tapping the vise handle with a hammer, about a half turn. Leave it over night and increase the pressure by tapping the handle a 1/4 turn, and then remove it and install in the morning.

Triangles prepared this way will break a ton, mantain thier shape, and still hold chalk very well.

Good Luck
 
Cue Freak said:
That SuperPro sounds good, where can I get one of those? Tried looking it up but to no avail. Thanks!



If You still have'nt got one of these tips, PM Me a address to ship to, and I'll send You a couple. Most people I've installed these for really liked them. Including Myself. A customer made Me break with one I put on a cue for them during league one night because they liked It so much. I made the 8 on the first snap with It. And broke and ran a couple racks after that. Unfortunatly they were on the opposing team that night, and I don't think they want Me using that cue anymore:D This was during a period in time when phenolic just was'nt working for me, and I have to admitt it kind of sold me on these tips for breaking. Possible they are not for everyone, but worth trying to see IMO.:)

Greg
 
Cue Freak said:
So I went to break the other day and miscued, when I did, I actually broke a chunk of my sumo tip off. Is this supposed to happen? (They can't be that hard) Anyway, does anybody know a good break tip, I think I'm going to switch :)

The first time I ever heard of a Sumo tip was at a tournament, about 2 or 3 years ago I think, and as usual, Keith McCready was getting his tip changed the same day as the event. He wanted a hard Moori, but they were out of hard Mooris. So the cue mechanic told Keith about this hard Sumo tip. Keith decided to try it out.

The very first shot he made with the brand-new tip, a big hunk of the Sumo tip chipped off, and the chunk was sitting on the table. That was the end of the Sumo tip trial period for Keith. He then got another tip installed and settled for a medium Moori.

JAM
 
Cue Freak said:
So I went to break the other day and miscued, when I did, I actually broke a chunk of my sumo tip off. Is this supposed to happen? (They can't be that hard) Anyway, does anybody know a good break tip, I think I'm going to switch :)
Are you opposed to phenolic? IMO these are the best for transfer of energy. I posted a thread on this over two years ago with a very simple experiment showing that phenolics result in faster cue ball velocity. Not a perfect experiment, but conclusive in my mind.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=11930&page=5&highlight=phenolic
Post #67.

-td
 
I wonder if anybody has ever tried using hard rubber as a tip material on a break cue... perhaps like that used in a Super Ball. Wouldn't that be something!!!... cue ball break speeds approaching 50 MPH!!! :D :D :D
 
td873 said:
Are you opposed to phenolic? IMO these are the best for transfer of energy. I posted a thread on this over two years ago with a very simple experiment showing that phenolics result in faster cue ball velocity. Not a perfect experiment, but conclusive in my mind.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=11930&page=5&highlight=phenolic
Post #67.

-td

Yeah, I can't seem to control the CB as well with the phenolic tips, don't know why...I've tried various breaks with them, but none work very well. CB usually flies off of the table...
 
cigardave said:
I wonder if anybody has ever tried using hard rubber as a tip material on a break cue... perhaps like that used in a Super Ball. Wouldn't that be something!!!... cue ball break speeds approaching 50 MPH!!! :D :D :D


That would be great! And you would never miscue!! LOL! :D :D
 
The tips went out today, threw a couple of extras in there, hope they work out for You:)

Greg
 
Cue Crazy said:
The tips went out today, threw a couple of extras in there, hope they work out for You:)

Greg


Thanks a lot Greg, I'll let ya know how they turn out :D
 
Cue Freak said:
Thanks a lot Greg, I'll let ya know how they turn out :D


You very welcome sir,

I dropped a couple of WB's in there too, but as far as break tips there about the same as the sumo, some of them work out fine, but some are brittle and do the same thing. The super pros, I did have one delaminate on a customer after a while, but that was the only one, and I replaced for free. Even with that happening they still wanted the same tip. I put plenty of extras in there for ya should that happen though.

Greg
 
Just had to say, I got the SuperPro put on my stick last night and it performs great. Broke about 10 racks with it and no problems, has a nice solid feel to it and it holds chalk great. Also seems like there'll be little maintenance required for it...only time will tell... :)

Matt
 
Sumo Tips

Cue Freak said:
So I went to break the other day and miscued, when I did, I actually broke a chunk of my sumo tip off. Is this supposed to happen? (They can't be that hard) Anyway, does anybody know a good break tip, I think I'm going to switch :)
I used to use Sumo tips on my break cue and I've had the same thing happen to me. Chunks of the tip just broke off, but I did like the tip a lot before that happened! Sumo tips are hard and brittle and if you miscue this is not uncommon to have a piece of the tip come off.
 
Back
Top