Hard or soft?

BlackMamba

BlackMamba

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I want to see how the community weighs in... What is actually the better way to go when it comes to what tip you put on your cue, hard or soft? I am asking this because I am kind of at a loss for what to go myself. I play APA 8 ball and 9 ball. I am an 8 in 9 ball, and a 6 in 8 ball. Recently my tip finally said that it couldn't take anymore so I am curious as to what to go back with. I have always played with a very hard tip, but I'm wondering if there's a benefit to going softer? Cue maintenance is not an issue. If it mushrooms, I have the ability to fix it in seconds.
 
Soft tips get hard... hard tips stay hard...if consistent equipment is the question it's a no brainer.... do you want something that stays the same or something in a constant state of change?
 
Which do you prefer, a hard or soft option? If, when, why, what?

softshot said:
Soft tips get hard... hard tips stay hard...if consistent equipment is the question it's a no brainer.... do you want something that stays the same or something in a constant state of change?
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The force is strong in this one.
That about covers it.

I use Snipers, they are kinda medium-ish, not too squishy on good fast tables
When on tables that remind you of your retarded prom date (slow and tight)
I use a harder tip..... LLLLLLLike a glove!

Skittles
 
If you like a hard tip, I would lean towards a good layered medium.
Medium layered tips are typically on the hard side.
I like a tip on the harder side, as long as I can draw the ball easily.
UltraSkin medium or Kamui black medium are good, and I am leaning towards Tiger Onyx again.
Tiger Onyx is a terrific medium/hard tip, and you can't go wrong with UltraSkin, especially at the prices Tom sells them for.
 
I now play with a Ki-Tech hard.

Haven't gotten around to trying the medium yet because I don't want to take this damn thing off.

Hard all the way. Maybe medium. But definitely Ki-Tech. I'm a believer.
 
ddadams said:
I now play with a Ki-Tech hard.

Haven't gotten around to trying the medium yet because I don't want to take this damn thing off.

Hard all the way. Maybe medium. But definitely Ki-Tech. I'm a believer.
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I put a Ki-tech soft and a medium on an old Verl Horn cue just for the heck of it, and they play really good.
Everybody likes the way that cue plays with the Ki-Tech tips.
 
You haven't said how you like to play. Spin no spin; lots of english; no english; give us a bone and we'll tell you what you need !
 
I like to play English. It's a normal thing for my to cue up 2 tips of English and sometimes even a little more. The foundation of my game is a healthy draw stroke though. I feel that if I can't draw, I would probably lose a skill level
 
BlackMamba said:
I like to play English. It's a normal thing for my to cue up 2 tips of English and sometimes even a little more. The foundation of my game is a healthy draw stroke though. I feel that if I can't draw, I would probably lose a skill level
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Hard or soft doesn't matter, it's all about feel anyway. :rolleyes:
 
BlackMamba said:
I want to see how the community weighs in... What is actually the better way to go when it comes to what tip you put on your cue, hard or soft? I am asking this because I am kind of at a loss for what to go myself. I play APA 8 ball and 9 ball. I am an 8 in 9 ball, and a 6 in 8 ball. Recently my tip finally said that it couldn't take anymore so I am curious as to what to go back with. I have always played with a very hard tip, but I'm wondering if there's a benefit to going softer? Cue maintenance is not an issue. If it mushrooms, I have the ability to fix it in seconds.
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70-75 Shore D

HTH,

Freddie
 
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Hardness is the most important characteristic of a cue tip. Most serious players are in favor of either a hard or medium tip, while soft tips are generally the tip of choice for beginners.
 
I prefer layered hard tips. They last longer. Gives you time to get used to the hit before you have to change it out unlike softer tips that wear down quicker. Additionally, with power shots, you can hit it harder and still have a good feel for the shot. Softer tips tend to affect the way it feels, IMO. Also, it appears to matter between the type of leathers. Some are have more fiber/grain and can affect how it holds chalk or shape. Just my observations.
 
kaylaemarx said:
Hardness is the most important characteristic of a cue tip. Most serious players are in favor of either a hard or medium tip, while soft tips are generally the tip of choice for beginners.
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I believe Efren and Earl both play with an elkmaster. Which is like the standard of soft tips.
 
LHP5 said:
I believe Efren and Earl both play with an elkmaster. Which is like the standard of soft tips.
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Earl has always played with hard tips in the past. Harder than most people.

Efren like many of the Filipinos have played with crushed down Elkmaster Milk Duds in the past. The ones I have seen (Santos, for example, would carry them around in a plastic bag) are hard. He's been known to use Everest Tips which are medium, but not soft. {edit: medium/hard Sniper, not Everest}
 
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I know Corey plays with an standard elk master.

If you have two shafts, I would suggest putting a medium tip on one and then a hard and/or soft tip on the other and see what works for you. I switch back and forth from a Ultraskin soft and Ultraskin medium. Everyone here has good insight but figure out what works for you.
 
Cornerman said:
Earl has always played with hard tips in the past. Harder than most people.

Efren like many of the Filipinos have played with crushed down Elkmaster Milk Duds in the past. The ones I have seen (Santos, for example, would carry them around in a plastic bag) are hard. He's been known to use Everest Tips which are medium, but not soft.
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Current match not too long ago had Jayson Shaw as a commentator. He himself said Earl got him to switch over to elkmasters. Just what I heard from the stream.
 
Gravitating towards hard

I traditionally played with a Kamui black soft and liked it. It was easy to take care of, lasted forever, and I felt it put good spin on the ball.

Then I bought two shafts, one of which had a Moori M and another that had a Kamui black M. At first I thought they hit like rocks, but after adjusting to them I found out I actually enjoyed the firmer hit. I liked the Moori less because it seemed to glaze over more often, and I had to fuss with it a bunch to get it hitting well. As both of these tips wore down, however, I found myself wanting even more. I had become infatuated with getting even more of a solid hit.

I recently put on a Kamui clear hard, and I think it's great - it's everything I've been looking for in a tip. It holds chalk fine, gives effortless spin and draw, feels great and even has that satisfying "ping" sound when you strike the ball well.

All along I was looking for harder tips, I was just loath to really try them. Don't be afraid to experiment!

I shoot with an OB Classic Pro and play 9/10 ball on 9 (and the occasional 10) footers.
 
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