Kamui black vs the rest

C

Catalin

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I had a Kamui black in the past that came with a shaft and I remember hating it. But they have a loyal following and I have heard multiple people say they get more "action" from the cue ball with Kamui black.

What's your opinion, is there something different about Kamui black tips? That includes the "clear" ones, same tip.
 
Can't stay I get any different type of action with the blacks, but they do hit nice and keep the shape well. Tend to harden up more than many other tips though after a few months of use for the soft ones. I have not used anything other than a soft rated tip in quite a while, comparing them to the other soft tips, they are as good as any and better than many of them.
 
Well Tips are like Beer, everyone has favorite.

Place like Muellers, PoolDawgs, Syberts offer a selection because stocking just one Tip kills sales.
 
I use and install Ultraskins with my home cue lathe, but have a Jacoby Black shaft that came with a Kaumi brown soft, and really like it, but will put a Ultraskin on it when time to change.
 
I tried various medium tips over the years and ultimately choose to go with Kamui brown. Played with it for years but had to fuss with it all the time.

Tried a Kamui black medium. Way too hard for me. Immediately switched to Kamui black soft. Quickly hardened up to play like a medium, holds shape and I never have to fuss with it.

I wipe the chalk off after playing before putting it in my cue case and then reapply chalk before playing again. Haven't done a thing to the tip since it was installed. Been using the current one for 2+ years and no noticeable difference. (I play 12-15 hrs./week)

My previous Kamui black soft lasted 4-5 years and was wearing down a little bit so I had it changed out for a new one at the DCC a couple of years ago even though it didn't really need it. More of a spur of the moment convenience thing since I carry a spare tip in my bag and happened to be walking past a booth where a guy was installing tips.
 
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I did a test at the request of Patrick J. a while ago. I hit 3 or 4 different tips in the same method. From very soft to a solid piece of phenolic. I hit a shot along the head string with full siding, while compensating for squirt. The difference in CB action resulted in a difference of ~3" by the time the ball hit the second rail.

My take away. Tip hardness only plays a roll in the feel of your cue and does not alter 'action' in any appreciable manner. However opinions will vary
 
First, a few years back, I put ultraskins on all my maple shafts. I switched to cf, and have put clear black mediums on all of them.
 
As it has been said tip preference is highly subjective. My experience with Kamui black was not good. Glazing over was a big problem for me. I switched to a Thoroughbred Med and I get much easier control and never have the glazing problem.

I have installed a couple Ultraskins which look very nice. Though I haven't played with one myself yet, I have received very positive feedback from the people I installed them for.
 
The black tips look cool. For me that was about it.

I’ve heard so much good stuff about ultraskins, I’ve played with them on other peoples cues for a good bit of time and did like them.

Best
Fatboy
 
Catalin said:
I had a Kamui black in the past that came with a shaft and I remember hating it. But they have a loyal following and I have heard multiple people say they get more "action" from the cue ball with Kamui black.

What's your opinion, is there something different about Kamui black tips? That includes the "clear" ones, same tip.
Click to expand...
Kamui black are horribly overpriced and the tips get glazed easily. Not worth the trouble IMO.
 
I’ve tried lots of brands in cue tips since I’ve been playing longer than the average player.
Along the way I tried Kamui Black but found the hard version had a tendency to glaze and
that became annoying. So I tried the medium but it also glazed quickly. Then I tried Kamui
Black Clear in a soft version. It is a great tip and doesn’t glaze like before with Kamui Black.
So it’s now on most of my cues and my cue tip brand of choice if I ever order another cue.
 
Started playing again last year after a 8 year break.
Back then, Moori medium from Japan was what I liked.
I could not find these in 2021, so asked around and most people raved about Kamui.
So tried a tip that was supposed to be about same hardness as my Moori.
It was, for a week or so... And as others have said, it glazes up and its a constant tip maintenance battle.

In the end, I ditched it on my first gen predator Z shaft.
My z2 shaft still had a Moori on it in good condition, so playing with that now.
The first gen Z shaft is getting one of these Ultraskin tips fitted. Pick it up on Monday, so we shall see.

I have also been amused how expensive chalk has got as well.
Still have my triangle chalk, but trying out these new chalks as well. Just square shaped ones as I refuse to replace my magnetic chalk holder as well. Ha ha.
 
Over the last few years I have experimented with a wide variety of tips, many recommended here.

The milk duds, the Searings, the Taiwanese tips, and several others many of you would recognize. And for me, the best tips are the Kamui black SS -- are they perfect? No. (I have also tried the Kamui black on the clear pad and those, for me, are a no-go.)

And yes, of course the old Moori tips were the best but good luck getting those.

Lou Figueroa
 
Has anyone tried the Ultraskin Fire or Ivory tip . I had a Black Kumi Clear Medium installed on my sneaky , Hopefully picking up tomorrow to see how she plays
 
The last Kamui Black I used was worn out in two months. Switched to Zan Medium and it's holding up much better. I wish the Predator Victory tips felt better because they survive the longest of any I've had.
 
Now that I have tried Ultraskin medium, convinced.
Finally found a replacement for my old Moori mediums.

Taom chalk, wow. Also converted.

So, should be good for another 10 years before things I like vanish off the market.
 
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