[mrquatch]

Just wondering what the ideal tip should be like? I know the shape is supposed to be like a dime's, but I am confused about its surface? I always thought it should be reaaaalll smooth, but I have heard scuffed is best. Anybody help? Thanks.

[Billy_Bob]

So far as the surface of the tip goes, keep in mind that the surface needs to be able to hold chalk. I don't like a slick tip as it will not hold chalk and will miscue. I lightly sand my tip with a sandpaper shaper about once a week (I play several hours every day) and this gets rid of the slick surface.

As to tip shape, you have playing cues, break cues, and jump cues. Then you have U.S. quarter shape, U.S. nickel shape, and U.S. dime shape. (The internet has an international audience, and they don't all have U.S. coins in their pockets!)

So far as which shape is best, so far as I know, there has never been any "scientific" testing conducted to determine if one shape is better than another. However it is said that a dime shape will reduce "squirt" or "cue ball deflection". And this would probably be just a little bit as compaired with say a low deflection Predator shaft. Note that Predator shafts come with a dime shaped tip.

Other than that, Bunjee jump cues which come with a phenolic tip (very very hard tip) recommend using a dime shaped tip - they also recommend using the "dart jump stroke". Players who use an underhanded jump stroke say they use a leather tip with a nickel shape and it works just fine.

Then for a break cue, many people recommend using a quarter shaped tip. Doing this will help to prevent mushrooming and probably help to prevent miscues.

For playing cues, I think most people use a nickel shape - probably because most shaping tools are nickel shaped. Then many better players use a dime shape, but not always.

I have a quarter shape on my breaking cue and a dime shape on my playing cue.

I think the best thing to do is experiment with different tip shapes - also different brands/types of tips (leather, pig skin, phenolic, etc.), and different hardnesses of tips. See what works best for *you*, then stick with that particular brand/type/shape forever.

You can make you own sandpaper shaping tools from PVC pipe. Use with 220 grit sandpaper. Here are the sizes...

Do-it-yourself tip shaper...
Cut electrical PVC in half and about 8 inches long - Be safe, use a vise to hold the pipe when sawing and both hands on saw.

PVC SIZES...
Dime (1/2" PVC Pipe) [15.00 mm]
Nickel / Penny (3/4" PVC Pipe) [19.75 mm]
Quarter (1" PVC Pipe) [25mm]
Half dollar (1 1/4" PVC Pipe)
Billiard ball (2" PVC Pipe)

U.S. COIN SIZES...
Dime ......................... 18.00mm
Penny ..................... 19.10mm
Nickel ....................... 21.10mm
Quarter ...................... 24.10mm
Half Dollar .................. 30.50mm

[paco1076]

I tell you what Billy Bob, you sure do go into a ton of detail on all your posts. I appreciate all the extra effort!

Craig