anyone play with a phenolic tip?

Beware_of_Dawg

Beware_of_Dawg

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Silver Member
so last night I had a very interesting thing happen...

I broke the tip of my normal playing shaft (Z shaft, triangle tip), so I'm using my backup shaft (OB1-sniper tip)... It takes me a bit longer to get in stroke using the OB1, mainly because of the larger width and a completely different tip... and frankly I just can't get the same action on certain shots... but I seem to be more acurate with the OB1 on standard straight in's and easily shots...

I've complained about my Z not being "lively" enough and it taking alot of effort to shroke certain shots that require me to get around the table... well the OB is a step up in the livelyness, but again the width of the tip is a bit more than Im used to and there is a missing comfort factor on certain shots... I've switched back and forth between the two shafts for awhile and the guys I play with say they can't really tell a drop off, or improvement in my play regardless of shaft... they say it seems I play the same with either shaft... but I feel different playing with the two...

But anyway to my story... I also have a predator BK2 break shaft (phenolic tip) so I'm messing around banging balls last night and I decided to use the break shaft (despite hating that awful *tink* sound everytime you hit a ball)... it was wierd, I hit a gear using that shaft/tip I have only rarely hit with the others... I was getting around the table with no effort, every shot took the simplest, softest stroke... it dint seem that my english was suffering much either, actually being able to get around the table so easily required me to use less english on most shots... again the *tink* sound is pretty annoying but damn!! that's what Ive been missing/looking for... effortless action around the table... Im not sure if I just hit a "focus gear" last night or if it was indeed the shaft/tip combo but IM going to keep playing with it and find out... it was awesome. lol.

anyone else play with a break shaft? anyone use a phenolic tip on their everyday player or have any experience with it?
 
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Beware_of_Dawg said:
so last night I had a very interesting thing happen...

anyone else play with a break shaft? anyone use a phenolic tip on their everyday player or have any experience with it?
Click to expand...

Dawg, that's just wrong. You hit a super gear playing with a concrete tip, that must be capable of drawing the rock 6 inches from 6 inches. That is interesting.

Seriously tho, that is valuable feedback about YOUR game. Now, if you have the secret decoder ring, you can apply that feedback. (I'd guess it's telling you that maybe you need to use closer to center ball more often?)

:thumbup:
 
I can't imagine using a phenolic tip for every day use beyond breaking. I do use it for practice. If I feel I am getting in the habit of using too much english to work my way around a table, I pull out my break cue and play games with that. I miscue like crazy if I try any sort of power draw or extreme english. Depends on what you're looking for. I think its good practice for getting natural shape and breaking but that's about it IMO.
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Dawg, that's just wrong. You hit a super gear playing with a concrete tip, that must be capable of drawing the rock 6 inches from 6 inches. That is interesting.

Seriously tho, that is valuable feedback about YOUR game. Now, if you have the secret decoder ring, you can apply that feedback. (I'd guess it's telling you that maybe you need to use closer to center ball more often?)
Click to expand...

lol, what is this "centerball" you speak of ???


and what strange, I didn't lose hardly any english. I could draw and spin fine... the only real problem I had was the annoyance with the *tink* sound. Im not kidding about that gear (for me)... I played for a hour+ using the OB1, might have beaten the ghost 2-3x while usually running 4-6 balls... loaded up the BK2 played for 30 minutes, beat the ghost 5-6x easy.

I need to try this a few more times... could have been an anomoly. I almost hesitated to mention it until I tried it a few more times, but the effortless power was pretty intoxicating... and Im like a pool crackhead so... I hadta say something.
 
I once knew a guy slightly who would stick his jump cue shaft onto a normal butt and play with that. Every time he shot there was this audible *click!*. I dunno what was in his head. :/
 
Ive done it before!didnt like it too much!!
have a Super Pro or a WaterBuffalo tip put on the Z you will never look back
 
HDR10 said:
Super Pro or a WaterBuffalo tip put on the Z you will never look back
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those tips are way too soft, I need something uber-hard that makes the cueball explode off the tip...
 
Soft??????

Beware_of_Dawg said:
those tips are way too soft, I need something uber-hard that makes the cueball explode off the tip...
Click to expand...
superpro is 10 times harder than triangles!W/B is 5 times
 
I've shot with my break cue by accident a few times, which has a phenolic tip, and it's so hard it's almost like hitting the cue ball directly with the ferrule. I can't imagine how you could shoot with much cue ball control or accuracy with much of anything other than simple shots.
 
HDR10 said:
superpro is 10 times harder than triangles!W/B is 5 times
Click to expand...

Oh... thought W/B were really soft ie; elkmaster

I ordered a triangle-milkdud tip already for the Z... Ive been told they are very hard as well...

REP to you.

blueridge said:
I can't imagine how you could shoot with much cue ball control or accuracy with much of anything other than simple shots.
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Me neither, But Im telling you.. control didn't seeem to be an issue and effort on the stroke was zero.
 
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I shoot with my BK2 also just to keep my stroke in shape. As long as you have a good stroke and not do anything back hand english shots, it's surprising how much control you have on the cue ball with a BK2. I personally have run 4 racks playing 9-ball with my BK2. But I do shoot with a super pro tip on my playing cue and making the switch to a phenolic tip is no big deal. If you practice with a phenolic tip you'll be amazed on how better your stroke gets when you switch back to a regular tip.
 
I was on a business trip, and didn't have my cues with me.
I met up with a couple of players that were real cool. They let me shoot with their cues, and I couldn't get comfortable with their cues because the tables were playing very slow compared to what I am used to. So, I decided to use a break cue with phenolic tip because I know I can get more CB speed with the harder tip.

I played great with it. The guys were a little pissed that I was beating them with a phenolic tip. Especially, when I shot a full table draw shot (8 foot table).

I think if you've got a good stroke, you can play well enough with a phenolic tip. To prevent the CB from jumping, when playing with a phenolic tip, you have to have a smooth stroke. If you use a crisp, snap stroke, the CB will jump.
You can get a lot of spin with phenolic, but not as much spin as with a leather tip.
I think to play with a phenolic tip, it would limit some of the things you can do, in comparison with a leather tip.
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
Oh... thought W/B were really soft ie; elkmaster

I ordered a triangle-milkdud tip already for the Z... Ive been told they are very hard as well...

REP to you.



Me neither, But Im telling you.. control didn't seeem to be an issue and effort on the stroke was zero.
Click to expand...

If you feel that SuperPro is still not hard enough for you, you should try a Pressed Ingot Tip from Mezz.

http://www.mezzcues.us/gear/originaltip/index.html

Hope that helps.
 
My Z2 w/a Super Pro has the hard feel I look for. I like it a lot.
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
anyone else play with a break shaft? anyone use a phenolic tip on their everyday player or have any experience with it?
Click to expand...

Whenever I get the chance to play with a phenolic tipped shaft, I take it with enthusiasm.

I do not have any issues using english, draw, or follow. I play around the same speed with the phenolic or regular tips. I've found that I really like the way a phenolic hits, and even made a post on the board months ago about it. Let me see if I can find it...
Aaah, here it is.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=102535
I got no love for loving the way it plays either.

I say more power to you for finding something that works for you! :thumbup:


I'll still play with a phenolic whenever I get the chance.

eldowan
 
i just got back from banging balls for a couple hours...

incredible. I am not fuxin kidding, just incredible.

more articulation and explanation to follow.
 
I will occasionally shoot with my Jerico Stinger with the canvas/resin phenolic on it. The only thing I don't like about it is the fatter shaft and the tink of the tip. English isn't a problem with it.

A friend has a Meucci with a fat black dot shaft (13.5 - 14 mm) and he accidentally left his cue case on top of his car. He realized it after he was down the road a stretch and turned around to look for it. Only one car was behind him on that country road, but it ran over the Meucci. The case didn't protect the cue...:rolleyes: The last few league nights he's been palying with my Jerico. He's an APA 6 in 8 ball 7 in 9 ball. I think he shoots better with the Jerico than he did with the Meucci. He hasn't lost a league match with it yet.


:cool:
 
Alright Dawg... <stating this begrudgingly> I thought you probably needed to lay the pipe down, but ... Maybe you're onto something! I'd have never thought of doing this, but obviously others have.

I get out of line more than I feel I should. So I'm going to give my Poison VX J/B a crack at it. If I win the Worlds, I will owe it all to you, jelly sure to follow! :thumbup: (u like strawberry or grape?)
 
try a hercules. http://cuecomponents.com/he23lameexse.html

I used a Super Pro. I tried them on a radial pin flat faced and it was not really hard feeling. I tried it on a steel joint and it felt really hard.

I also tried milk duds with Elk Masters and Triangles. They are good tips with lots of grip, but they are not 'crisp feeling' like a Super Pro or a Phenolic would feel.

I have used this Hercules I mentioned above and it is the tip I've been looking for. I've hit balls with a phenolic tip and I liked it as well. I don't think I would like to play with one, but I do like that crisp feel. I have found that in this Hercules. Joe Barringer is selling them 25 for $19.99 good deal if you ask me.
 
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