Fiber pad question

twal

twal

"W"
Silver Member
So I have seen these pads pop up more and more.
Does anyone put them on their cues?
I know when I talked to someone about a year ago they said that maybe the pad would somehow save the ferrule?
But then I talked to someone at a big tournament who did it professionally, they said really this pad did nothing.

So have anyone put these pads on their shafts?
A bigger concern for me is, would it change how the tip it’s self feel?
Would the tip feel/play softer somehow due to the fiber pad?
 
twal said:
So I have seen these pads pop up more and more.
Does anyone put them on their cues?
I know when I talked to someone about a year ago they said that maybe the pad would somehow save the ferrule?
But then I talked to someone at a big tournament who did it professionally, they said really this pad did nothing.

So have anyone put these pads on their shafts?
A bigger concern for me is, would it change how the tip it’s self feel?
Would the tip feel/play softer somehow due to the fiber pad?
Click to expand...

From my experience it used to be that pads were put on cues with ivory ferrules to cushion the impact of being struck over and over again. I seem to remember the old French Champion tips having pads on them. I haven't played with a tip with a pad in years and I'm not aware of any particular reason for them now. Someone else might know more about that than me, however.
 
I have one on my McDermott jump/break on the G-Core shaft under an Everest. I've played a few balls with it and it does take quite a bit of the feel out of the shot. There is also another damper under the ferrule as well but the cue itself is made to break with, not play touch shots. It does masse very easily with the leather tip, and jump great with the phenolic.
 
Any other thoughts on this?
So if you put a pad under the tip there I will or will not change the feel?
 
I always have them put on when I change tips. I like the way they look and protect my ferrule. I don't notice and difference in feel, but that could be because I use a soft tip.
 
twal said:
So I have seen these pads pop up more and more.
Does anyone put them on their cues?
I know when I talked to someone about a year ago they said that maybe the pad would somehow save the ferrule?
But then I talked to someone at a big tournament who did it professionally, they said really this pad did nothing.

So have anyone put these pads on their shafts?
A bigger concern for me is, would it change how the tip it’s self feel?
Would the tip feel/play softer somehow due to the fiber pad?
Click to expand...


Whoever, told you that a pad will not help protect your ferrule in my opinion was wrong. People forget that when we shoot most shots we are using the side or the edge of the tip. So if some one allows their tip to get short / thin which many do because they do seem to play better, they hit the edge of the tip and the ferrule at the same time which can cause the ferrule to crack or chip depending upon the material it is made from. Not all cracked ferrules are caused by this, but many are and a tip pad can help protect the ferrule by stopping impacts on the ferrules edge.

Do they change the feel of the tip, in my opinion they certainly do. I also think like you said that a pad depending upon what it made from will soften the hit of a cue. But, this is only true for fiber pads, and not everyone uses only fiber pads. Some use phenolic pads, others use carbon fiber pads, and I have even seen one cue that had a thin piece of wood used as a pad and each will have it's own feel.

Hope this helps
 
manwon - Great info.
That is what I was looking for.
So if you don't wear your tip all the way down, would it still be useful as protection?

I was not quite as concerned about the protection as I was the feel.
Those who have used the fiber fad... does this soften the hit?
Assuming it does how much?
I can see it making a very small difference, like 5% softer (as a guess).
Looking for anyone who has compared a tip and shaft with and w/o the fad.
 
I honestly can't tell the difference...if you have ivory ferrules, you really need them to avoid not only what Manwon mentioned, but the "spreading" of a tip during the hit that puts lateral pressure on the ferrule. No biggie with non-natural ferrules, but not good for ivory. If you're using non-ivory ferrules, don't see why you'd want to mess with them.

As far as "softening" the hit, I don't see how a layer (the fiber pad) that's a little harder when glued on both surfaces than the layers (one or a bunch) of the tip itself would soften the hit. Only if the fiber pad were somehow softer than the tip would I think it could possible make a difference--and it isn't. It's really just another layer of the tip in the end.
 
Pads are on all my shafts. Reason being I think it gives the tip a professional look. As for as feel or hit no difference. They just look cool to me. :thumbup:
 
I think if you blindfolded someone and used the same cue and tip. One with a fiber pad and one did not. It would be very hard to tell the difference. Again this is all subjective. I just got one put on my cues and shot before and after and i feel no difference.
 
Like mentioned, the pad distributes the impact away from the edge of the ferrule, across the entire ferrule face. It's purpose is protection & it does a pretty good job.

As for feel, I don't think it's noticeable. I can't tell the difference. I have used pads to dampen the sound that very hard tips makes, but it didn't dampen the feel much. They aren't necessary on ivory. I don't use them on ivory very often. So long as the tip isn't too short, there usually is no problem. The hardest leather is still softer than fiber. If feel is your concern, the thickness of your tip has more to do with that than a fiber pad would. IMO, the thinner your tip is, the more natural the feel. Thick tips bother me. So do very thin tips. I like my personal tips to be about 1/16" thick on the sidewall.
 
I'd love to give you more feedback twal but unfortunately my NG05 came with the pads already so it's hard for me to tell you if that's why it feels fairly dead when used or if it's the cue's construction. Again, mine has 2 pads, one above and one below the ferrule and these are different to one another. It is, as mentioned before, a break cue, and not a player.
 
twal said:
manwon - Great info.
That is what I was looking for.
So if you don't wear your tip all the way down, would it still be useful as protection?

I was not quite as concerned about the protection as I was the feel.
Those who have used the fiber fad... does this soften the hit?
Assuming it does how much?
I can see it making a very small difference, like 5% softer (as a guess).
Looking for anyone who has compared a tip and shaft with and w/o the fad.
Click to expand...


For years, when I have my tips professionally installed, I have pads put on with every tip. When I change my own tips I just sand down to the pad and glue the new tip. A few years ago the cue mechanic asked me if I wanted pads and, just because, I said no. Three cracked ivory Ginacue ferrules later (all three shafts went) I have wised up.

Personally, I doubt you'll be able to tell a difference in hit.

Lou Figueroa
 
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