Bigger Tip Diameter = More Consitency?

Safety

Safety

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was playing at a local nine ball tournament with an 11.75mm tip against the guy who usually places in the top 2 every week. He was watching me shoot and asked me what the size of my tip was. When I told him, he said that the tip I was using is too small and I will be more consistent with a bigger tip. His reasoning for this was that it is easier to find center ball with a bigger tip. His was a 12.75mm Tiger XShaft.

Is it true that a bigger tip will make you a more consistent player?
Is an 11.75mm tip too small for 9ball on a 9x4.5 foot table w/ fast cloth?
 
This has been argued over and over again in prior/previous posts. Pretty much it is subjective. It is whatever you will feel more comfortable with. Don't let people put things in your head. I know people who could whoop some of the best with a broomstick with a tip installed on it. Do your own thing and what you feel most comfortable with. JMHO.
 
a9ballbr8k said:
This has been argued over and over again in prior/previous posts. Pretty much it is subjective. It is whatever you will feel more comfortable with. Don't let people put things in your head. I know people who could whoop some of the best with a broomstick with a tip installed on it. Do your own thing and what you feel most comfortable with. JMHO.
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Thanks a9ballbr8k. The main reason I was asking this question is because I'm planning on getting a predator soon. I was having a hard time choosing between the Z^2 and the 314^2. I've also read a lot of posts that say the Z^2 is very hard to adjust to and a slight hit off center will throw off your shot a lot more than a 314^2.
 
I think a "slight" hit off center would not neccessarily throw your shot off more than a 314-2. This was discussed in a previous post. It was stated that even though the tips are different sizes, as long as they have the same shape (dime, nickle) they still have the same contact point on the cueball. Anyhow, I play with a 13mm and one time I grabbed a cue off the wall and the bar cue tip must have been like 11.5-12 and the aiming really threw me off because I wasn't used to it. Use what your most comfortable with and go with that. If you wanted to change to a different tip size to experiment, that's ok. Just make sure you give yourself enough "adjutment time" before playing in another tourney with it. Hope this helps.
 
even though the tips are different sizes, as long as they have the same shape (dime, nickle) they still have the same contact point on the cueball. [/QUOTE]

I like the smaller shaft.
 
a9ballbr8k said:
...It was stated that even though the tips are different sizes, as long as they have the same shape (dime, nickle) they still have the same contact point on the cueball...
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Not true. With the same shape, the biggest tip will still have the bigger contact point. If you have a flat tip, it will just have a bigger contact point. The second, when you hit the CB, the tip will be pressed together, resulting in a bigger contact point.

Safety said:
I was playing at a local nine ball tournament with an 11.75mm tip against the guy who usually places in the top 2 every week. He was watching me shoot and asked me what the size of my tip was. When I told him, he said that the tip I was using is too small and I will be more consistent with a bigger tip. His reasoning for this was that it is easier to find center ball with a bigger tip. His was a 12.75mm Tiger XShaft.

Is it true that a bigger tip will make you a more consistent player?
Is an 11.75mm tip too small for 9ball on a 9x4.5 foot table w/ fast cloth?
Click to expand...

It's true that it's easier to find center ball with a bigger tip, it's also true that it's more consistent, but I don't think it's true to say that it's beter or too small for 9 ball. If you have a good stroke, the 11.75mm would be a better tip. When you have a bad stroke, the 12.75mm would been better.

The 11.75 tip will give you more english, but it's harder to hit dead center, compare to 12.75mm. If you can hit straight, there will be no reason for you to use a bigger tip.
 
With the same shape, the biggest tip will still have the bigger contact point.
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I don't believe this is true. With the same shape, the smaller tip is simply the center part of the bigger tip. You're only using the "extra" part of the bigger tip when you hit on its edges, so most of the time it's the same tip.

It's true that it's easier to find center ball with a bigger tip, it's also true that it's more consistent
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I don't think either of those is true either. Do you have any reasons to think so?

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I don't believe this is true. With the same shape, the smaller tip is simply the center part of the bigger tip. You're only using the "extra" part of the bigger tip when you hit on its edges, so most of the time it's the same tip.



I don't think either of those is true either. Do you have any reasons to think so?

pj
chgo
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Let's say a normal tip is 13mm. Just imagine it's not 13mm but it's 13 meters :D . If you have a 13 meters tip, it doesn't matters how you hit the CB, it will always go forward.
 
This is the best thing I can do. But if you just search the internet, you will get some better pictures.

As you can see, the contact point will change with a bigger tip:

4m29ge8.jpg



The only way that will not effect is the following picture:

6euw0tz.jpg


But that would mean that the blue-cue will have a really flat tip.
 
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WesleyW said:
This is the best thing I can do. But if you just search the internet, you will get some better pictures.

As you can see, the contact point will change with a bigger tip:

4m29ge8.jpg



The only way that will not effect is the following picture:

6euw0tz.jpg


But that would mean that the blue-cue will have a really flat tip.
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Your diagram assumes the larger tip has the curvature of a basketball, which is unrealistic. Larger tips usually have the same curvature as smaller tips (say about a nickel's radius), and that's what determines sensitivity to tip/ball accuracy. If you make a scale drawing of a 10mm tip and a 13mm tip with the same curvatures striking the same distance offcenter (measured by their center axes), you'd see they hit the cue ball at the same place unless you're hitting near the edge of the larger tip, and that only happens near the miscue point (about halfway out to the edge of the ball).

pj
chgo
 
WesleyW said:
The only way that will not effect is the following picture:

6euw0tz.jpg


But that would mean that the blue-cue will have a really flat tip.
Click to expand...

Both share the same oval i.e. the same curvature. You think the blue cue has a really flat tip due to illusion. Yes it has a very thin cue tip and is relatively flat at the edge compare to the edge of the red cue tip. But if it is a center ball hit, the edge does not matter.
 
preference

It is all preference in this game. I have heard that from a lot of people, and that is why 12.75 and 13 are the most popular in this sport. I even had a cue maker tell me I would be more consistent with a larger tip.

I have been shooting with 12mm and 12.2 for quite some time, and I really like it better. I just like the feel of the cue more.

My wife had to shoot with a 12mm in order to be able to have a chance of a closed bridge! With the 13 mm the taper changed too quickly and it would break her close hand bridge.

I am assuming that you are shooting with a Z shaft, or an I3 shaft cause those are the ones promoting 11.75. However every one we have measured with calipers are closer to 12mm!

12mm is fine, and everyone has their own preferences. As someone else said quit letting someone else opinions influence your game.

OH BY THE WAY! A BETTER STROKE = MORE CONSISTENCY!!!!!

If you want to try out a thicker shaft and see, then that is fine but go with what feels more natural and comfortable for you.
 
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NervousNovice said:
Both share the same oval i.e. the same curvature. You think the blue cue has a really flat tip due to illusion. Yes it has a very thin cue tip and is relatively flat at the edge compare to the edge of the red cue tip. But if it is a center ball hit, the edge does not matter.
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This pictures shows that the blue and red has the same size. In reality, both will have the same consistency, I'm with you. But the problem is, when you are shaping both tips, you will not shape it in the same way. Only a cuemaker, or someone who will pay really much attention to shaping the tip will shape it in the same way. In reality the blue one is just too flat, you will not shape the tip as flat as the blue one. You will round it up.

You should try some tip, and you will notice the differences. I have played with a 11mm before, you will surely see differences between 11mm and 13mm.
 
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All this is exactly why I was afraid to post. The pissing contest begins. It doesnt matter if it's a 11mm tip or a tree trunk. If they are the same shape(curvature) the contact is going to be the same unless striking extreme english where the outside part of the tip is going to contact the cue ball. In this case your going to miscue anyway......so argue till your face is blue. Your wrong wesley. Search for the other post where this has been argued to death. I pissed further....game over.

Sensation thanks for the diagram. I was too lazy to look. Left you some rep.
 
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The icebreaker when it comes to tip sizes

It does not matter $h!t what size of tip you use when playing pool.

What matters the most is that your tip is in regulation with Billiard standards (either 9.5mm-15mm) good shape, chalked, and you know your mechanics in pool. You can play with a 14mm diameter cue and do draw shots or whatever you want. I know this has been a huge debate for a very long time and after playing with regulation balls and a slip-on 14mm tip, using a 8.4' pool table, I can draw the cueball from the corner pocket to the opposite with succession.

If you know your mechanics in pool, you can play with whichever cue you desire.
 
JimS said:
even though the tips are different sizes, as long as they have the same shape (dime, nickle) they still have the same contact point on the cueball.
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Actually Jim...the shape of the tip doesn't matter for the size of the contact spot between tip and CB. It is always about 1/8" or 2mm...the same size as the red circle on a red circle CB. Changing the curvature of the tip does not change the size of the contact. :D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Scott Lee said:
Actually Jim...the shape of the tip doesn't matter for the size of the contact spot between tip and CB. It is always about 1/8" or 2mm...the same size as the red circle on a red circle CB. Changing the curvature of the tip does not change the size of the contact. :D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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It sure does! :D
niarke.JPG

And never forget about elasticity of the tip!
 
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