yes, I have
Yes, I have tried others, shot with Lepros for 20 years, Everest, Tiger.
I like the Hercules better than any I have used, and they last a long time.
I shape once after getting put on (not much though), and just use
A TipPik on it after that. Doesn't mushroom, layered tip.
I use the medium hard, but they have a hard hard one too. I use it
for breaking and playing.
One test for a tip is to shoot a long straight in shot with the cueball
on the end rail. Do the same shot at 3 speeds, soft, medium, and hard.
First, you have to be able to make such a shot. Second, if you make
one of the 3, then your tip might be throwing off the cueball. If you
make 2, then it is okay. If you make 3, then your tip is good and true
to the stroke.
A long hard straight in shot with you having to jack up on the cueball
is one of the best tests for a tip, and that you will notice differences
between soft, medium, and hard tips.