A Variety Of Cue Tips
If you are looking to buy a cue or want to have your current cue repaired, it is important to know each part and it's importance to help you decide the cue or cue part that is best for you. In this section, you will find extensive information about each part of a cue.
This section features:
Tips | Ferrules | Shafts | Joints
Inlays | Wraps | Weight
The tip refers to the small device on the front end of the cue used to strike the ball. Experts make tips with a range of materials, employing everything from leather to phenolic to pig skin and water buffalo or cow hides. Each material has its advantages. For example, phenolic is a good material for a break cue tip because the tip gives a harder, more direct hit while the leather tips give the ability to use English.
Hardness is the main point of variation – a factor that largely comes down to personal preference. The commonly used tip is a medium-hard to hard tip because hard tips are more durable and hold the cue tip shape longer.
Cue Tip Sizes
A typical cue tip measures 13 mm in diameter, but the size can range from 11 1/2 to 14 mm. Some players who use a lot of English prefer the smaller tips while some who hit mostly close to the center of the ball often stick with the standard 13 mm size. Along with choosing a diameter, a buyer should consider the degree of curvature of the cue tip they prefer after installation. A player can ask their cue repairman to shape their tip to match the curvature of a dime or nickel.
Leather Tips
Leather "non-layered" tipsgenerally consist of one piece of leather and are not laminated. If you use the a certain brand of leather non-layeredcue tip and have it replaced, the next cue tip of the same brand may not feel the same when striking the cue ball. These cue tips are prone to mushrooming and getting flat spots.
The hard leather tips holds shape longer and less prone to mushrooming. These also provide a more solid hit giving more control over the cue ball. When purchasing these tips, you can buy 12, 13 or 14mm sizes according to your specifications.
Layered Leather Tips
Layered tips consist of roughly 5 to 20 pieces of leather laminated together. Praised for their durability, these tips are less likely to “mushroom” or flatten out beyond the lip of the ferrule. Some feel layered tips are typically more responsive than their one-piece counterparts, which make them popular with players who use a lot of English.
Some players believe the layered tips have a more consistent feel when replaced with the same brand. For example, if you play with one brand of a layered tip, when it is replaced, you are more likely to have the same feel upon contact with the cue ball. Layered tips generally cost more but last longer. You can only buy them in 14 mm size, therefore, they need to be customized to the size of your ferrule upon replacement.
Phenolic Tips
Phenolic tips are brown or black in color and are typically used on jump and break cues. Phenolic is a plastic resin which is the same materials used in modern pool & billiard balls with canvas or linen that gives the tip extra strength. Cotton based phenolic with leather pressed into the center is another type of the phenolic tip.
These tips can be placed on the cue with the current ferrule or as a one piece tip and ferrule combination. The one piece tip/ferrule combination offers more stability because there is no glue line and the tip won't "pop off" during the shot.
Because phenolic tips are made out of harder materials, they don't hold chalk as well as other tips. It's also very hard to use English but the advantage is a much harder hit.
G-10 Tips
These tips are a green one piece tip and ferrule combination. G-10 tips are made with a glass epoxy which is harder than the cue ball and object balls. When breaking or jumping with this tip, the player risks nicking the cue ball during the shot. Some tournaments, pool halls and other events do not allow use of the G-10 tip for this reason.
Cue Tip Pads
Fibrous pads are used in conjunction with cue tips to change how the shot feels when the cue ball is struck by a tip. For example, if a player likes a hard tip on the cue, they may elect to have a cue tip pad placed between the tip and the ferrule. This will give the player a "feel" of a medium tip instead of feeling like they are striking a rock. With a medium tip, a fibrous cue tip pad will give the feel of a soft tip. Some ferrules, like ivory, require a pad because the ferrule is soft and a hard tip may damage the ivory ferrule.
Choosing a Cue Tip
When choosing a tip for your cue, consider trying a few different tips on the same cue. Many players will have tips changed frequently until they find the type or brand that works with their stroke the best. A cue maintenance and repairman should be able to recommend a tip suited towards your playing style and skill level. Feel free to ask about the cue tips they have on hand and why they recommend those tips. Also keep in mind it is only a recommendation and players will try out many tips until they find one that is comfortable for them. Repairmen can only suggest a cue tip while it is up to you to decide if the tip works for you.
Learn how to maintain your cue tip in our Cue Maintenance & Repair article or find a professional to replace your cue tip in our Pool & Billiard Directory.