The Champion tips were best I ever used back when I was moving around. Le Pro were hard as rocks and with me liking to spin the rock some what, miss cues could be and were costly at times. Noticed that some stated the backings were a problem coming off. I remember a problem with that also,,but to add I used these tips over a 10 year time frame , and never had a problem with them until the early 80's. I always replaced my own tips and when playing everyday , whether 6 to 8 hours in practice or out on the road in action , tips wear down quickly and one had to take care of his equipment. I never used a lathe to install a tip, so heat generated wasn't the cause of the backings failing on the Champion's I witnessed. The last box I bought of those tips were so bad I carefully cut the backings off, then installed the backing to the shaft of my cue, and let it dry over night, then installed the tip to the backing. I do the same thing now, except I purchase the backing separately. I wish those tips were still available.