What is wrong about a softer tip?

Da Poet

Da Poet

Pool is Cool
Silver Member
Most folks here seem to prefer harder tips and I certainly agree with the "feel factor", but I was wondering besides this, what are the main drawbacks to using a softer tip?

Thanks!
 
I've been using an Elkmaster for years.

It maintains its shape well (I don't ever have to reshape it actually) and it lasts for months.

I think this thread should have been titled: What's different about a softer tip?
 
Klopek said:
I have read a lot of opinions from players that think badly of using soft tips, so if someone likes them and wonders why all the bad press, the title is appropriate IMHO.
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No worries...I don't really have an issue with the title. I'm obviously in the minority that prefers them.

Actually, I haven't used a harder tip consistently in a long time. I'd be curious to hear from someone that has extensive experience with both.
 
gajga said:
No worries...I don't really have an issue with the title. I'm obviously in the minority that prefers them.

Actually, I haven't used a harder tip consistently in a long time. I'd be curious to hear from someone that has extensive experience with both.
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I use a tailsman medium. I do not have to shape it as it holds its shape throughout the whole time I am playing with it. I do not break with it and it lasts me about 2 years. I play on the average of 20 hours a week.

Softer tips, I was constantly re-shaping. Tips only lasted about 6 months.
 
Klopek said:
I would fall under that category. Learned on elks, played with them for about ten years. Switched to Talisman pro hard for about 4 years, went to Triangle, back to Elks and now using medium WB Talisman. Softer tips were mushrooming and changing shape constantly, very annoying, so I stick with harder tips now. ...
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Yikes. I'd be scared to switch tips after playing with them for so long. The tip is such a crucial part (the most crucial part?) of one's cue that some experimentation does seem warranted...especially once you've gotten your game to a certain level.

I'm now curious what other benefits hard tips yield with regard to playability.

I don't want to hijack this thread though...
 
Im not so sure Pros are dead against soft tips. I seem to remember a listing one time that showed the cue / shaft / tip used by pros and there were quite a few that had medium or soft tips.

I personally like as soft a tip as I can get that still holds its shape.

That has put me into the medium catagory.

The life of the tip (for me) seems to go from plays lousy when it huge and bulky...to plays good after it has worn down a bit....to plays like a slick brick once it passes a certain point.

I tried an experiment on a recent tip that I am going to try on a softer tip and see if it will hold its shape better this way.

I had a tip put on and after I played with it for a week or two I went back to get the tip re-trimmed. I asked him to put a slight inward taper on the tip..(much like the shaft)...not much...just a little inward taper ...I really liked the way it looked when down on shots, the way it felt in the fingers...etc.

I wonder if tapering a soft tip will help it hold its shape and keep it from mushrooming......

That would be the ideal tip IMO...a soft tip, but firm enough to hold its shape...
 
I have tried just about every Tip for the last 20 years or so. I truly see the Elkmaster Tip is consistant (move Whitey easily) and I soak them abit before putting it on the Cue. They are not much to maintain either. Alot of my friends who have had other tips on their cues and then played with the Elkmaster I put on for them, swear by them now :-) Draw, Follow, Stun and Side spin just seem to be so much easier with these soft tips !!!
 
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Klopek said:
Softer tips seem to spin the cue ball a little easier, which I like, but I feel harder tips are more precise and accurate when making very thin hits or long shots.
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This is accurate based on my findings.

Softer tips stay on the ball longer which causes more spin. harder tips are more accurate due to consistency

Sometimes with a softer tip, you will add spin to a shot that you don't want to. it differs from player to player.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.


Yeah, I knew about the wear and tear thing, but I didn't realize that a softer tip, under the right circumstances, could actually increase the chances of a miscue. That's very interesting.

I played in a tournament some time ago, and everyone, including myself was having miscue trouble. (occasional, but more than normal) I figured it might be the ball polish or something. I read on another post that someone changed their tip to a softer one and their miscues dropped considerably and it got me thinking, and posting.

Also, I have to keep deglazing and picking my Sniper tip or it gets a little slippery. (I think this is more local conditions than anything) I loved the feel of it when it was first installed, and it's hardened up a little since then and I gotta admit, I miss that new tip feeling! lol

I just ordered an extra 314-2 shaft and I asked them to put on a Kamui soft tip just to try it out. I also ordered one of each of all the other Kamui tips of varying hardness as well so I could just have a local guy change them whenever I want. Should be interesting. Hope they're labeled well. lol
 
BPG24 said:
This is accurate based on my findings.

Softer tips stay on the ball longer which causes more spin. harder tips are more accurate due to consistency

Sometimes with a softer tip, you will add spin to a shot that you don't want to. it differs from player to player.
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Softer tips will give someone with a poor stroke more english as they are more forgiving than a harder tip as far as mis-cuing. Some one with a good stroke will get more spin with a hard tip than he will with a soft one.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
Softer tips will give someone with a poor stroke more english as they are more forgiving than a harder tip as far as mis-cuing. Some one with a good stroke will get more spin with a hard tip than he will with a soft one.

Dick
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That would explain why I prefer hard tips
 
BPG24 said:
This is accurate based on my findings.

Softer tips stay on the ball longer which causes more spin. harder tips are more accurate due to consistency

Sometimes with a softer tip, you will add spin to a shot that you don't want to. it differs from player to player.
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Thanks,

Actually the reason I'm responding here is that you've got this great picture of a girl on the bow a boat, but your "location" is on a golf course.

You must really like golf! :D
 
i play with a moori soft and it doesn't need shaping at all. it gives me a great spin advantage and i seem to like the feed back that i get. Kamui i'm going to try with my dominiak
 
steveL75121 said:
Efren Reyes even Loves the Elkmaster Tips !!! Thread Done !!! LOL
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I have heard many times that alot of the Filipino's players use elk masters, but they soak them first so they get very hard
 
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