Tip diameter and potting (aiming) ability

S

Schluffi

Registered
Hello guys,

I play for 2 Jears a tip diameter of 11,5 mm on a Vollmer Shaft

Yesterday i´ve played with a Cue from a friend of me an he has the Standart 314/2 Tip diameter (12,75)

And i´ve been surprised. It´s very easier to aim on the Cueball, and give Spin at the Cueball.

Okay okay, you´ve said: Yeah thats a 314/2 Shaft with this Shaft is playing pool easy because the 314/2 has less defelction as a Vollmer.

But this is not my question:

What do you think:

is aiming on a Cueball easier with a bigger tip diameter?

Is aiming on a Cueball harder with a bigger Tip diameter?

When you are good at aiming at the cueball the pot success ist better...
this ist what i ask me....because at some ballls aiming is very difficult for me....

And i made this balls with the bigger Tip diameter and the balls all are going in.

Is this my brain, and has no Reason or is a bigger Tip diameter better for aiming?

Thanks for Answer!
 
Last edited:
Bigger Tip diameter creates bigger sweet spot on the CB(Center of Cue ball), and more accurate when hitting as close as the CB.

Smaller Tip diameter needs more precision hit on the CB, and less deflection when english is applied.

Conclusion, use bigger tip if you are more of a pocket shooter, use smaller tip if you are more of shape shooter.

Thanks.
 
FYI, tip size and shape can affect many things (see "size and shape" here).

Concerning alignment and aim, a larger-diameter shaft might help some people better judge the CB center; but I'm not sure it would help them visualize the aiming line of the cue ... but this is an interesting question.

Regards,
Dave

Schluffi said:
Hello guys,

I play for 2 Jears a tip diameter of 11,5 mm on a Vollmer Shaft

Yesterday i´ve played with a Cue from a friend of me an he has the Standart 314/2 Tip diameter (12,75)

And i´ve been surprised. It´s very easier to aim on the Cueball, and give Spin at the Cueball.

Okay okay, you´ve said: Yeah thats a 314/2 Shaft with this Shaft is playing pool easy because the 314/2 has less defelction as a Vollmer.

But this is not my question:

What do you think:

is aiming on a Cueball easier with a bigger tip diameter?

Is aiming on a Cueball harder with a bigger Tip diameter?

When you are good at aiming at the cueball the pot success ist better...
this ist what i ask me....because at some ballls aiming is very difficult for me....

And i made this balls with the bigger Tip diameter and the balls all are going in.

Is this my brain, and has no Reason or is a bigger Tip diameter better for aiming?

Thanks for Answer!
Click to expand...
 
TheDragon said:
Conclusion, use bigger tip if you are more of a pocket shooter, use smaller tip if you are more of shape shooter.
Click to expand...

..*to self* :( Why does it bug me so much when people say this? ... is it gonna be a new pet peeve of mine?
 
i find it easier to aim with the smaller tip (with the exception of banks and the magnification of the english w/smaller tip) than a larger one....smaller tip i don't have to leave the center of the CB to get my english (1 tip at most) which keeps me more accurate....a bigger tip the farther out from center you have to get to gain the desired english....

there's a good middle ground for everyone with tip size....
 
Thank you for all anwsers....

tomorrow i´ll be going to test different Tip diameters while I play.

Conclusion: I´t´s an individuall Thing. It don´t give one reason in the posts.
 
the subject of tip sizes is grossly misunderstood imo

keep in mind that when comparing tips you are also comparing shaft sizes, shaft shapes, and in most cases, entirely different cues, tip materials, ferrules, and tip shape

the variables are numerous,

what we do know as a fact is that a very small portion of the tip contacts a very small portion of the ball for a very short amount of time

imo, within the generally accepted ranges the differecnes are slight at most and completely inconsequential

pool lends itself to placebo effect a little too much for my liking, makes it alot easier for manufacturers to sell alot of crap
 
smashmouth said:
imo, within the generally accepted ranges the differecnes are slight at most and completely inconsequential

pool lends itself to placebo effect a little too much for my liking, makes it alot easier for manufacturers to sell alot of crap
Click to expand...

Agree. "Aiming ability" is 100% from the shooter. Just remember the straight-face test. Ask yourself... is there any ball I've missed that I'm pretty sure I would have made if I'd been aiming with a different tip?

If you're being honest the answer will always come up "no".
 
TheDragon said:
Bigger Tip diameter creates bigger sweet spot on the CB(Center of Cue ball), and more accurate when hitting as close as the CB.

Smaller Tip diameter needs more precision hit on the CB, and less deflection when english is applied.

Conclusion, use bigger tip if you are more of a pocket shooter, use smaller tip if you are more of shape shooter.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

IMHO, the Dragon has it about right. 40 years ago, many 14.1 player were using large diameter shafts presumably to aid in pocketing percentage. Hell, at that time a local Chicago pro named Wendall Weir used a 15mm shaft. One afternoo, I watched him play Tom Spencer at Marie's Golden Cue and can personally attest.
I was then a young straight pool player and had two custom cues made, each with a 14mm shafts. One a Schrager, the other a Burton Spain; I still have both including the 14mm shafts. I have always remained with shafts at or greater than 13mm. Additionally, and at that time, I played with a then older fellow (75 years of age, I was maybe 22) who also advocated and played with a 14mm shaft. For me, the pocketing advantage was key and over the years I always believe a larger shaft was a facilitator (for me). I never understood the move to smaller shafts but it is apparently an individual thing and, as such, it likely justification enough. I believe pool is primarily a subjective skill; watch a thousand player and see a thousand different styles, shaft size nothwithstanding.
 
rikdee said:
IMHO, the Dragon has it about right. 40 years ago, many 14.1 player were using large diameter shafts presumably to aid in pocketing percentage. Hell, at that time a local Chicago pro named Wendall Weir used a 15mm shaft. One afternoo, I watched him play Tom Spencer at Marie's Golden Cue and can personally attest.
I was then a young straight pool player and had two custom cues made, each with a 14mm shafts. One a Schrager, the other a Burton Spain; I still have both including the 14mm shafts. I have always remained with shafts at or greater than 13mm. Additionally, and at that time, I played with a then older fellow (75 years of age, I was maybe 22) who also advocated and played with a 14mm shaft. For me, the pocketing advantage was key and over the years I always believe a larger shaft was a facilitator (for me). I never understood the move to smaller shafts but it is apparently an individual thing and, as such, it likely justification enough. I believe pool is primarily a subjective skill; watch a thousand player and see a thousand different styles, shaft size nothwithstanding.
Click to expand...


.... yet somehow, all those snooker players have been able to pocket balls into those tiny pockets with small diameter tips... hummmmmm
 
IMO tip diameter has nothing to do with aiming or applying English. If you have the same radius on 2 shafts with different diameters the contact area is the same, The only thing a smaller tip can do is maybe make it easier to locate the contact point and may give the illusion that the smaller tip gives more spin when in fact you have a greater offset.

Spin is a function of stroke quality and offset primarily with shaft taper having some role.
 
3kushn said:
IMO tip diameter has nothing to do with aiming or applying English. If you have the same radius on 2 shafts with different diameters the contact area is the same, The only thing a smaller tip can do is maybe make it easier to locate the contact point and may give the illusion that the smaller tip gives more spin when in fact you have a greater offset.

Spin is a function of stroke quality and offset primarily with shaft taper having some role.
Click to expand...


This is exactly what i´´m thinking. :thumbup:

A smaller tip gives only the illiusion, of more spin in the cueball, it isn´t a fact.

I´ve tested some shafts yesterday, some balls are going better with a bigger Tip diameter, but some shots going not so good....

I´m thinking this is only my brain...it makes a joke with me when i play a shaft with a bigger tip diameter...
 
i play a little better with a thicker tip. i used to prefer 12.65ish but these days i prefer 13mm. i tend to undercut some shots more with 'em but overall shots are easier to make
 
I feel that I can jump comfortably between 12.50mm and 13.20mm ( Pred. FAT shaft ). For me it's more about the taper, it has to be a stiffer shaft rather then a whippy one.
 
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