Would a flat tip be preferred when cueball is frozen to a rail?

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PocketPoint

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If the cueball is frozen to the rail, a flat tip would strike the cueball lower than a traditional rounded tip.

Would this lead to increased accuracy, or would the flatness of the tip cause problems in sending the cueball in the right direction?
 
What are you talking about? From what direction would you be striking the cue ball, and why in the hell would anyone want to carry a flat tip around with them in their bag?

The dome shape of the tip is there for a reason, and that is to contour with the cue ball.

There is a good reason pool has evolved to the point it has now. It would be better to learn how to use the cue and all the shots with the equipment that is currently developed.

Flat tips, milk soaked tips, low deflection shafts, and all that other stuff isn't going to help you a whole lot if you don't know how to 'properly stroke the cue'.
 
A flat tip would be preferred ... just make sure you strike the flat part of the cue ball.
 
It might allow you to contact the cue ball slightly lower then a tip with a normal radius. I don't think it would make much of a difference. A properly shaped tip that is chalked well is all you should need IMHO.

It would certainly be easy to experiment with.:wink:
 
PocketPoint said:
If the cueball is frozen to the rail, a flat tip would strike the cueball lower than a traditional rounded tip.

Would this lead to increased accuracy, or would the flatness of the tip cause problems in sending the cueball in the right direction?
Click to expand...

In order to get a flatter tip to work, you would have to elevate your cue to hit square on the cue ball. With a firm stroke you could be jumping the cue ball a small amount and masse'ing it off of the shot line if you don't hit it dead center.

The rounded tip works well for leveling out your stroke off the rail. It conforms to the arc of the top of the cue ball as it sits on the cushion.

Best,
Mike
 
Dime Radius vs. Nickel Radius

This is a question I have often wondered about also, since I use a nickel radius because I miscue more often with a dime. I also end up with shots with the cue ball on or close to the rail frequently, and the nickel radius seems to work better there for me. I read an article in Billiard Digest a long time ago that said Efren pounds his tips almost flat, and I think they were Elkmasters. Hope that helps.

SteveD
 
The bottom edge of a flat tip would contact the ball slightly lower than the rounded tip, but the trade-off is the fact that you would get very little leather on the cueball. The rounded tip gives you more surface contact, ie, a bigger footprint, on the cueball for more effective control on off-center hits.

To make your contact more solid on the rail shot, simply apply a little downward force on the cue shaft with your back hand. A very slight pressure down will ensure you get a solid hit with no miscue, and you'll be able to maintain accuracy by keeping your cue level.
 
As Bruce Lee may have said

Don't concentrate on the shape of the tip or you will miss (the shot and ) all that heavenly glory!

PocketPoint said:
If the cueball is frozen to the rail, a flat tip would strike the cueball lower than a traditional rounded tip.

Would this lead to increased accuracy, or would the flatness of the tip cause problems in sending the cueball in the right direction?
Click to expand...
 

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If a flat tip would be better for rail shots then you would have to agree that it would be better for all shots with top spin.

The reason a properly shaped tip is preferred over a flat tip is because it probably presents a larger and certainly more uniform effective contact patch with the cue ball.
 
Aim at the center axis of the cue ball and strike the rail just behind the cue ball. Yes you heard me right, aim for the rail just about an eighth to a quarter inch behind the cue ball. You will not miscue! And you will make a good hit on the cue ball. Try it, you'll like it! :grin:
As for the flat tip, forget about it!
 
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