Just The Tip

[Billiardnaire]

What is your tip of choice?

Do you have a specific tip you stick with?
Do you mix it up? What's your favorite brand?
Are you loyal to a specific brand or maker?
What tip / ferrule / shaft / joint set-up works best for you?

Share your thoughts on tips below...

 

[Island Drive]

Be good if a few top 32 players in the world would comment on this thread.
I find it Nice/enjoyable/informative when in the PGA, a few players are mic'd up and talk about conditions/play etc. during their walk-up to their next shot position. Good Stuff!!!!

 

[couldnthinkof01]

Be good if a few top 32 players in the world would commented on this thread.
I find it Nice/enjoyable/informative when in the PGA, a few players are mic'd up and talk about conditions/play etc. during their walk-up to their next shot position. Good Stuff!!!!

This has what to do with equipment?
Pros play with whatever they get for free or are paid for.

 

[Island Drive]

You lost me there.

 

[couldnthinkof01]

You lost me there.

Listening to pro pool players talk about tips would be the equivalent of listening to golfers discuss which brand of tees they are using.

 

[gregcantrall]

I got some pure gold insights from Cole regarding tips and cues in general. I will relate what I took from the conversations and can only hope that what I was picking up was indeed what he was putting down.
Let's start with the cue I bought from Cole, when Don Wirtiman busted him at Harry's place on a Friday night. I had loaned him $500 against his rig which included 2 butts and 6 shafts. The one butt had been broken and repaired by a pro. Upon redemption of the rig I inquired as to buying that butt and a shaft, as he was leaving to go build a fence to replenish his ammo. His reply was, "it's for sale and Dooley offered him 150. I gave him 200. A few months later I encountered Cole and he informed me that my cue would be foreign and less than optimal for him at that time.
Oh yeah, the tips......were waterbuffalo. He had a small bag with 6 tips. The first thing he checked upon redemption was for those tips. That's how critical he considered them.
So the idea or thought that a top pro would go Willie nillie changing tips and or shafts or cues is coming from a player that has no experience with Cole's level of play.

 

[gregcantrall]

At the end of the session Friday night Cole packed his case and slung it over his shoulder. Turning to me he says, "I will pay you tomorrow." I gently stepped forward and took the strap in my hand and replied, "and I will return the cues at that time." ☺
I had all night to hit balls on my table at-home. With the cue of a Legend! If there was ever a Fast Eddie Felson, it was Cole.

 

[gregcantrall]

Oops I forgot the topic. It took me YEARS but I am currently shooting with waterbuffalo. Kind of like a high performance car. Straight out of drivers education is not the time for a high performance race car.

 

[TheBasics]

Howdy All;

Played mostly off the wall until '79. Then I bought my first one. It came with a Le Pro.
I also bought a box of 50 to use as needed. Over the years I've pretty much stuck with the LP's.
but recently, past 6 or 7 years have ventured out into the realm and have tried some WB's, as
well as Triangles and some of those pooldawg8 milkduds. I also tried a few of those multi layered
tips. Found that if the multi's aren't dead center on the shaft then there will be a section of
glue that shows proud and creates some goofy action.
So, I stick to single layer and I'm using the pooldawg8 MD's on a Joss sideways W, Tri's on the
Hunter Classic custom and the Mueller (Bar Box). The cue I bought in '79 still wears a LP as does
the Bludworth.
I've tried swapping them (tips), around but each shaft has it's preference for which tip it works
best with FOR ME. Of course, YMMV.

hank

 

[MitchAlsup]

Me, personally:

I like play tips in the 84-86 durometer reading range, and break tips in the 90-92 range.

Anything softer mushrooms and takes too much maintenance and does not last long enough.

There are a number of tips in these ranges that hold chalk well, last a long time, and do not miscue.
I stick with(lessor favored) one (no need to advertise).

 

[couldnthinkof01]

I got some pure gold insights from Cole regarding tips and cues in general. I will relate what I took from the conversations and can only hope that what I was picking up was indeed what he was putting down.
Let's start with the cue I bought from Cole, when Don Wirtiman busted him at Harry's place on a Friday night. I had loaned him $500 against his rig which included 2 butts and 6 shafts. The one butt had been broken and repaired by a pro. Upon redemption of the rig I inquired as to buying that butt and a shaft, as he was leaving to go build a fence to replenish his ammo. His reply was, "it's for sale and Dooley offered him 150. I gave him 200. A few months later I encountered Cole and he informed me that my cue would be foreign and less than optimal for him at that time.
Oh yeah, the tips......we're waterbuffalo. He had a small bag with 6 tips. The first thing he checked upon redemption was for those tips. That's how critical he considered them.
So the idea or thought that a top pro would go Willie nillie changing tips and or shafts or cues is coming from a player that has no experience with Cole's level of play.

Selling his cues for a few gambling bucks is the definition of willy nilly.

 

[Ghost of OBC]

I've accidentally switched to Tiger Everest tips. I was always a soft tip partisan. I bought a new shaft with an Everest thinking I'd get it re-tipped. That was more than a year ago and somehow my beater and extra shaft have grown Everests too. The more medium hardness seems to last forever, be a little more precise, and need less looking after.

 

[tim913]

LePro

 

[Fitzz47]

Revo 12.9 Techno Dud,Radial joint. And don’t plan on changing

 

[gregcantrall]

Selling his cues for a few gambling bucks is the definition of willy nilly.

Not really Willie nor Nilly but a standard method of operation.
Joss had his specks on file.
At a team event in Kelso, I saw him hawk his cue 3 times for $300 with 3 different people.......and leave with his cue slung over his shoulder.
Cole could get another made with a phone call. He could also get $1000 with a phone call.
Vince was one of the creditors and bought the interest of the other 2. We left Kelso or was it Longview? With me driving Coles pickup and Vince riding with my wife in our Vega. Cole was drunk and Vince had no license. As we we are mounting up, Vince says, "we are going to Western Union ". Once in the rigs Cole says, "forget that, let's find a bar. I just left a message asking, I don't know if it will be there.
So upon arrival at the Western Union in the Port of Tacoma, the money was there. So he paid the 900 note and bought us breakfast. I had the benefit of being his drver for an hour an a half of stories. What I learned.
I also got to watch him earn $23,000 playing Harry. Cole was real close to my age. We both trained as survivors. His weakness was the alcohol. And control of it.
So on his behalf I Take Offense......at you defining him as ,"Willie or Nilly ".
Take that as the backhanded kid gloves slap to the Puss.

 

[follownoone]

I agree about the Everest tips. It is the only layered tip that I have liked of the ones I have tried.

 

[couldnthinkof01]

Not really Willie nor Nilly but a standard method of operation.
Joss had his specks on file.
At a team event in Kelso, I saw him hawk his cue 3 times for $300 with 3 different people.......and leave with his cue slung over his shoulder.
Cole could get another made with a phone call. He could also get $1000 with a phone call.
Vince was one of the creditors and bought the interest of the other 2. We left Kelso or was it Longview? With me driving Coles pickup and Vince riding with my wife in our Vega. Cole was drunk and Vince had no license. As we we are mounting up, Vince says, "we are going to Western Union ". Once in the rigs Cole says, "forget that, let's find a bar. I just left a message asking, I don't know if it will be there.
So upon arrival at the Western Union in the Port of Tacoma, the money was there. So he paid the 900 note and bought us breakfast. I had the benefit of being his drver for an hour an a half of stories. What I learned.
I also got to watch him earn $23,000 playing Harry. Cole was real close to my age. We both trained as survivors. His weakness was the alcohol. And control of it.
So on his behalf I Take Offense......at you defining him as ,"Willie or Nilly ".
Take that as the backhanded kid gloves slap to the Puss.

I assume you mean Dickson. Obviously the guy was a champ and I understand the operating procedures.
As you said he could get a new one made in no time. My point is.. if he doesn't get the cue back...big deal he will just run out with a new one.
Everyone has their personal preferences. Those preferences are unique to them. Just because x guy plays with x tip means fk all.
Learn what you like as a player, don't worry about the next guy.

 

[Billiardnaire]

Be good if a few top 32 players in the world would commented on this thread.

I agree.
Although there are players that simply play with whichever product(s) they receive for free, and/or they are paid to promote, there are still many that remain loyal to what they like.

Alex Pagulayan is one that comes to mind.
His passion for the game, and his fascination with his equipment is interesting. The way he delves into the specifications of what he needs/wants in every aspect of his cue - from the tip, to the joint, to the weight and balance, to the wrap - to create the optimal feel for his playing style, is very relatable... For me, at least.

Whether it is a 'top pro'; unfamed hustler; local weekend player - some people are willing and able to play with whatever is handed to them. While others are interested in refining their preferences in the way their equipment plays and feels.

This topic was targeted more toward the latter... An opportunity to share insight into individual preferences of tip types, materials, hardness, preferred brands, makers, cue set-ups, etc.

Be that as it may...
Happy cueing, @Island Drive

 

[gregcantrall]

if he doesn't get the cue back...big deal he will just run out with a new one.

The point is........it would be Willie Nilly to take on important competition with a new tip/shaft/cue. To play at his level requires absolute familiarity with the cue. That is acquired with a commitment of time. Then decide whether to keep it or burn it.

 

[couldnthinkof01]

The point is........it would be Willie Nilly to take on important competition with a new tip/shaft/cue. To play at his level requires absolute familiarity with the cue. That is acquired with a commitment of time. Then decide whether to keep it or burn it.

Why point out he could get a new one with a phone call?
Why "risk" not getting it back?

To me it would be risky to take on competition with new equipment. I also can barely play as it is
To Bugs or Buddy or insert your favorite player here it might not matter at all.