[BiG_JoN]

IMHO, and in my experience the larger the tip, the more accurate in the long run.
I play with a 13.08 (no joke...)

Just for the record, i used to play with a 12.25mm tip way, (waaaaaaaaaaaaaay) back when.

[Billy_Bob]

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CCRider wrote:
There is this big debate going on, is the little tip, ll.5 better than a 13mm. Can somebody sort this out for me.

It depends on a lot of things...

When using a soft tip, if the shaft size at the tip is smaller - like 11mm - and you are using a dime shaped tip, just one hard whack - center ball hit, and your tip will become deformed - looks like a dried up prune. You need to reshape it.

A softer tip will deform easier. A hard tip will keep its shape better.

A smaller shaft size at the tip 11mm is like driving a small sports car around a curve - you can drive a little to the left, center of road, a little to the right, etc. A larger shaft size at the tip is like driving a large truck around a curve - you can only drive between the lines.

If using a dime shaped tip, the curves on the edges of the tip will go down almost to the ferrule on a 13mm shaft, so you can only reshape it a few times before you need to replace the tip.

I use a dime shape, use a 12.75mm shaft size at tip (largest size, yet can reshape tip many times). And use a hard tip which keeps its shape the longest.

If using a nickel shape, I would say 13mm would be OK.

The only problem I have with smaller shafts like 11mm is that the tip will deform and not last as long. It is not good to need to reshape a tip in the middle of a tournament.

I feel that if you always play with the same tip, same hardness, same shape, same surface condition, same amount of chalk applied... Then your game and shooting will be more consistent.

Watch other players get a new tip installed and have their game go out the window for awhile. It is because they did not keep their tip the same shape, not same surface condition, probably different brand/hardness of tip, etc.

I would suggest experimenting with different tips, different tip shapes, etc. Choose what works best for you, then always play with that exact tip.

[Terminator]

Great post dude, you are 100% right on every statement.

[BiG_JoN]

Quote

Billy_Bob wrote:

Watch other players get a new tip installed and have their game go out the window for awhile. It is because they did not keep their tip the same shape, not same surface condition, probably different brand/hardness of tip, etc.

Something to add to that:
If most people were asked what shape their tip is, they would most likely be wrong, by just a little bit.
Most tips (well, most single layer tips) will conform to your stroke.
I can use a triangle and after about a week or two of play it will go from a little more radii than a nickel to a little less than a nickel. EDIT: and it will stay that way, because that is what my stroke dictates. I had a guy that kept comming back wanting his tip dime shaped. I don't think he got the picture :-D, once a tip is played in, you shouldn't touch it, unless to rough it up on a lathe (i use a razor blade to take some off ((down to "new" leather)) and then some sand paper.)
I think that is all i meant to say...
I'm sure someone will pick the post apart :-P :-D

[ Edited by BiG_JoN on 2005/6/10 23:03 ]

[Pelican]

PICK, PICK, PICK, PICK
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:-D :-D :-D

Pel

[onebigred51]

Should a player use a different hardness tip for different games (9,8, straight, bank, etc.)? Does the speed of the table make a difference.?

I ask this because I play with a Joss (18oz) and a Talisman X tip with a 12mm shaft. I shoot good on bar tables, and my home table, but good Diamonds and billiard room 8 and 9 footers I can't seem to control the cue ball.