NEWS FLASH - Your cue stick is your primary weapon deployed against your opponent, when you are locked in combat, playing a game of pool. The shaft is like a sniper rifle, as you move through the forest, better know as a pool table.
A pool cue stick is so important to the game that most high caliber pool players will invest a great sum to obtain not only one but several individually customized billiard cue sticks, bringing even more firepower to the game.
The first six to ten inches of the shaft is like the trigger on that rifle. It takes a nice, smooth controlled pull to target and subsequently transfers energy from the shaft, into the cue ball.
So if the shaft is your rifle and those first six to ten inches are your trigger, what comes next, and what is even more important than both the shaft and the first six to ten inches?
If you are a super pro and have played your way to an invitation-only spot in the American Poolplayers Association (APA) World Pool Championships, then you already know the answer to this one.
Likewise, if your name happens to be Minnesota Fats and you've chosen to earn your living a hundred dollars and one game at a time, sharking the local pool halls, then you have probably guessed the answer to that question.
For the rest of us, the good players right down to the beginner billiard novices, the answer to that question may have escaped you. So here is the answer to the question.
The most important part of your billiard stick is the tip. Consider this. The tip of your cue stick is the only thing that makes contact with the cue ball. The tip of your cue is like the bullet from a rifle. No matter how fancy your pool stick, if you can't make accurate and consistent contact with the cue ball, it won't matter. The type, density and, size of your tip can literally be the difference between hit or miss.
Things You Should Consider When Choosing Your Cue Tip
The first thing that you should know is that there are essentially four types of tips to consider. Each one has its advantages as well as disadvantages. The density or hardness that chose for your pool cue tip is dependant upon your style of play. Another factor is for what purpose will your billiard stick be used. Is this your playing stick, or is it your breaking stick?
- Soft and "Super Soft" Tips- absorb more energy at impact, forcing the tip to stay on the ball a split second longer. This results in more spin or "English" on the cue ball. If you're the type of player that likes to work the cue ball around the pool table, then a soft tip is what you should play with. Unfortunately, though, softer tips tend to "mushroom" and need maintenance more frequently.
- Medium Hard Tips- are the most commonly used type of cue tip. This type of cue tip is an all-around tip that offers players a combination of cue ball control and consistency. Also, medium hard tips require less maintenance than their counterpart soft tips.
- Hard Tips- absorb less energy at impact, resulting in less spin on the cue ball. Although hard tips last longer, require less maintenance and offers players some consistency, because they absorb less energy at impact, this type of cue tip is more likely to result in miscues.
- Phenolic Tips- are made with carbon fibers and are as hard as the cue ball itself. This type of cue tip is frequently employed on billiard cue sticks that are used for breaking. Phenolic tips transfer the maximum amount of energy on contact and require almost no maintenance.
- So, now that you have a better understanding of different types of cue tips and how they will play on billiard tables, it's time to find the perfect tip for your style of play. Visit our selection of tips here:https://www.ozonebilliards.com/searchresults.html?keywords=cue+tips
