Lance Link
Banned
Without walking around and physically checking every single stick in the room, how can you tell if someone has a phenolic tip on thier cue ?
How Do You Spot A Phenolic Tip ??
- Thread starter Lance Link
- Start date
it sounds kind of like glass shattering when they break. the sound of a regular tip hitting the CB and a phenolic one are VERY different. visually, they can be hard to spot b/c some phenolic tips are brown and look like a regular tip from a distance, unless its a one piece phenolic ferule/tip (like a sledgehammer). hope this helps.
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How do you "spot" a phenolic tip? Easy, give him all the breaks.
All kidding aside, it's easier to recognize non-phenolic tips. When you start getting into the "is it black or brown in color" thing, that's where you enter a gray area. If the tip has a cross-hatch/weave pattern on it, it's most likely not a phenolic tip -- rather, it's graphite (like the Fury JB/jump-break series).
When it's a solid color (i.e. no cross-hatch or weave pattern), that's when things get difficult. It might be that BCAPL reps will view any one piece solid-black/-brown colored ferrule-tip combinations as being illegal -- which is a mistake in my opinion.
For instance, I'd had the graphite ferrule-tip combo shaved off on my Fury JB jump/break, and replaced with a phenolic one piece ferrule-tip. Then, when the BCAPL ban on phenolics came out, my cue repairman "decapitated" the rounded portion on the very tip of this phenolic ferrule-tip (basically, 3/16-inch off the very tip), shaved it flat, and then glued a Samsara break tip on that flat surface. It's legal, and I've never been happier. The problem, though, is that if a BCAPL rep were to just look at my Fury JB's tip, he/she would probably rule it "illegal" because it "looks" like a solid one-piece phenolic ferrule-tip combo. It isn't. You have to look really close to see the glue joint where the Samsara tip joins the phenolic ferrule.
I'd say a more definitive test would be a durometer test, but how many BCAPL reps do you know that carry durometers?
Hope this is helpful,
-Sean
Lance Link
Banned
Would a very hard tip make the same sound, though ?
you will know the difference, its a very high pitched sound at impact.
Are phenolic tips not legal in some associations? Bought a jump/break cue recently which has one on it.
Abrormal amount of cueballs flying off the table...
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Seems like there was a thread about that a while back, maybe BCA?
Atomic Playboy
Registered
I switched from the phenolic tip that came on the Predator BK2 to the Samsara leather break tip, and although they both hit very, very hard, the sound is completely different. I'd say the best way to determine if a tip was phenolic on the fly would be to listen to the sound it makes when it contacts the cue ball; there's a very specific high pitched plinking noise that's reminiscent of a miscue. Leather doesn't do that (even very hard leather).
But the only way you could be positive would be a durometer or scratching the tip with something that were harder than leather but softer than phenolic; something more scientific than just trying to figure out the sound. Still, the sound is a pretty dead give away.
But the only way you could be positive would be a durometer or scratching the tip with something that were harder than leather but softer than phenolic; something more scientific than just trying to figure out the sound. Still, the sound is a pretty dead give away.
no, really hard leather smashing into phenolic (cue ball) doesn't make the same sound as phenolic smashing into phenolic (high pitched shriek). plus, it sounds like nails on a chalkboard when a phenolic tip is being chalked. leather never does that, no matter how hard.
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Ahem! As a BCA rep, I agree the chalk sound is the most obvious flaw. I sure do miss my Phenolic tip though. It packed the extra oomph I needed.
PS. I am going to look for a durometer to bring to nationals now....does that come in a portable version?
PS. I am going to look for a durometer to bring to nationals now....does that come in a portable version?
Be careful -- screeching chalking sound occurs with Samsara break tips also!
Folks:
Be careful about this "screeching sound when chalking" business with break tips! The Samsara tip often does this, especially if the player isn't diligent about keeping the surface rough. For that matter, even ordinary leather tips on playing cues will do that, if the player has bad chalking technique (e.g. "chalk drillers" -- those that grind the cue tip into the center of the chalk, especially with a shaking technique in the chalk-holding hand, a la Corey Deuel). Proper chalking technique (wiping/brushing) won't make the screeching sound, even on a phenolic or G-10 tip.
I'd recommend that if BCAPL reps/refs hear this screeching sound, that they don't just give the "illegal!" battle cry without first walking over and inspecting the tip first.
-Sean
Ahem! As a BCA rep, I agree the chalk sound is the most obvious flaw. I sure do miss my Phenolic tip though. It packed the extra oomph I needed.
PS. I am going to look for a durometer to bring to nationals now....does that come in a portable version?
Folks:
Be careful about this "screeching sound when chalking" business with break tips! The Samsara tip often does this, especially if the player isn't diligent about keeping the surface rough. For that matter, even ordinary leather tips on playing cues will do that, if the player has bad chalking technique (e.g. "chalk drillers" -- those that grind the cue tip into the center of the chalk, especially with a shaking technique in the chalk-holding hand, a la Corey Deuel). Proper chalking technique (wiping/brushing) won't make the screeching sound, even on a phenolic or G-10 tip.
I'd recommend that if BCAPL reps/refs hear this screeching sound, that they don't just give the "illegal!" battle cry without first walking over and inspecting the tip first.
-Sean
No way! No battle cries. Why would I pass up the chance to check out a shaft? Or tip....
Here is a good question... I really do play with a break cue w/phenolic tip... If I decided to play in a BCA event could I break with a leather tipped cue and play with my phenolic tipped one? I thougt they oked phenolic on jumpers because they said it was the break cues with phenolic that were doing damage.....:scratchhead:
