Ok here's my 2 cents.
Being an avid user of both there are some definate pros and cons to both.
that's all.
Just kidding.
First to address one issue here.
Personally i am a hibitual, well... OCD Chalker. 8 Swipes after each hit while rotating the butt to get a nice even coat (but that's my crazy ass) As for chalk on Layered vs Solid, I can agree with the fact that they do lose chalk a little more, BUT if you notice that the chalk does gather between layers, really giving more grip to the places where the extra spin is generated.
Layered Tips:
I LOVE a moori soft on my playing cue. I use a Pred Sneaky with wood to wood joint. Finesse play at it's best.
On another note: If you've recently bought a Predator Z^2 shaft LOOK VERY CLOSELY at the ferrule for any defects. Predator made a bad run of ferrules and i was lucky enough to get one. I just had to send my NEW Z^2 shaft back to pred due to the ferrule snapping in 2 before i played 10 games with it.
Where i'm going with this is that i told them install a Moori 3 Soft, and by god that tip aint soft. AND I HATE IT!!!! I want to say it's a med, but it really feels too hard. I've used the Moori Power on my break cue and it isnt as hard as that tho. (P.S. **** a Moori Power get a nice stiff LePro fer breaking.) This is just to somewhat comfirm the earlier post about the gentleman not liking the Moori med. As for the Softs, i would swear by them. I hardly ever glazed the Moori Soft even pulling extreme english, they dont like to miscue. The Moori that is on my Pred shaft now glazes like pottery tho. Never had any problems with mushrooming
Ratings: Moori Soft 10/10 (Personally); Moori (whatever is on my cue now Med or Hard) 6/10, Moori Power: 4/10 (Considering for what it's used for i've never actually used it as a play tip)
I also currently use one of the new H2 tips that Herculese put out. For any of those wondering, The H2 is a little harder than the old Herc tips (in comparison) but are more reliable in their hit, and the Pre-Dome is kinda nice. I really cant complain about the H2s. Dont get glazed very easily. Even on some hard miscues they've endured with minimal glazing.
Also no noticeable mushrooming.
Rating: 8/10 Above average Tip at a below average price.
Tried Shooter 12 layer. Terrible! This lasted about 10 games on my stick. By the end of the night i could see where the layer was coming apart. I thought it might be that tip so i tried another from my stock cause i didnt want to throw the book at them yet. Low and behold the 2nd tip did the same. Lasted a lil longer, maybe a month, but the same results.
Rating: 3/10 I wont even reccomend them to my customers due to the terrible experience i had with em.
Super Pro: Another Layered tip. These are relatively new to the market you can notice them immeadiately due to their red color. These are a good tip. Rated at Hard, but due to their "core" for lack of a better way to put it they play at about a med. Holds up very well against mushrooming. Great for breaking or someone who loves to hammer sure shots, or every shot
. Price is decent for their usefulness.
Rating: 6/10 Great break tip, above avg hard play tip
Now onto what you all actually want to hear
Solid tips
Starting with the standard, LePro. I cant stand these tips personally. You have to pick through a full box to find 5 or 6 that are truely playable. But saying that i also have to say i like a soft tip. (To avoid any flame) LePro is a GREAT tip for it's price avg'ing about 20 a box on ebay minus shipping. They rate at a medium but their inconsistancies can put them at a med-soft to a too hard to play with in everyday. I've never had one mushroom on me though.
Rating: 7/10 If you dont mind sifting to find one that's right for you their price is great and on a tip-to-tip basis very consistant.
Elkmaster. Elkmasters are a VERY SOFT tip. Softest solid tip on the market i do believe. They have always done me good. One definate downside is that they do not burnish well hence the mushroom factor is increased exponentialy *sp*. Although, if you have a burnisher in your bag mushrooming shouldnt be that big of a factor because you dont need to cut the mushroom, simply move it back into place. Hardly ever glazes over and when it does not hard at all to scuff. Great Price, very low priced tip. Main problem i've found with them is that on MANY the glue side will be skewed which causes a big problem in shaping them. With that said there is a "Hand Picked" Selection of Elkmasters called Blue Diamond tips. I have no experience with them tho.
Rating: 7/10 Great tip if you like soft tips. Some small problems with them tho you might try the blue diamond line.
Triangle. Triangle Tips are tried and true. They scared me at first due to the way they ....tear.... when you shape them, but proved to be a great tip. They are a medium to medium hard tip that shoots at a medium soft. Good price. Doesnt glaze over easily.
Rating: 7/10 Great tip for those who like Medium
Triumph. Triumph tips have always been good to me. I began using them as a break tip due to their initial hardness, but they ...tear... like a Triangle when shaping giving them more grip on the cue ball. I'd rate their play as medium to medium soft dependant on the tip. They are a little more inconsistant on a tip-to-tip basis. Triumph comes packages with a fiber backing to be ivory friendly, but i have had this backfire on me. On an extreme bottom shot i had the tip tear away from the fiber backing. I dont know how often this would happen but i installed one on a customer's shaft and he has had no problems with it. Glaze factor is low. Mushrooming is nil, price is right.
Rating: 7/10 Very close to a Triangle, base it on your preference tip-to-tip
That's all i have folks... is it enough?
---Chris
I have been using Mooris for over a year now and have them on my 3 Cues that I use daily with no issues Ted Harris installed 1 last year and Steve Lomax did the other two this year on a Jacoby and a McDermott after a week or so I checked the sides and shape adjusting where needed and never touched them again all 3 are alive and well ! I do chalk using Master carefully with all shots especially when drawing with no problems! If you are one that does not like to chalk then Layered hards are really not for ya!
