Blue Diamond - Welcome back!!

[sootyvrs]

I put on a Talisman M tip on one of my cues some months back and was astounded at how much reaction I got from the cue ball e.g. top spin, screw, side and I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread!

One of the downsides was that I was finding it difficult to tame the beast and was over hitting shots regularly. I thought that perhaps I just need to get used to it but the more I played the more I lost confidence.

I started to blame the cue thinking it's too stiff and responsive and since have changed my cue and occasionally revisiting the old cue only to re-confirm that it's too responsive (for me). I was even considering selling it as I just wasn't using it.

Anyhow, I found a new Blue Diamond tip that I was given when I purchased the tip some time back and thought lets just see what it's like.

Not used a BD tip since I played snooker 20+ years ago and comments on here saying that quality control is not what it used to be and most are unplayable had put me off using it.

Wow.... what a transformation..... I can now control the white and the feel I get when I do screw/top/side shots is back.... It's like playing with a totally different cue and all this from a 50p tip

Don't get me wrong the Talisman is a great tip and perhaps one that would better perhaps for players with more talent than me who can tame it but for me pressed tips are my preference and I'd say this Blue Diamond tip played every bit as good as the Mike Wooldridge tip I have on another cue.

So before you throw away your cue thinking that it doesn't suit you.... Try changing tip first... You never know you may find that magic that perhaps was always there.

[stejohn]

after changing tips a fair bit recently i have now settled on a blue diamond tip too, alround control is so much better, find they keep shape slightly better than an elk aswell.

Always worth trying 2-3 tips before deciding a cue isnt right, i also agree with that part!

[deant1982]

I recently put a Talisman S (I think, its either S or M) on a mates cue. He has used a BD all his life, but as his cue needed re-tipping, I said I'd do it, but didn't have a BD at the time, so he said he's try the Talisman. He is now playing better than he has for the last 5 years at least (he's had the tip on about a month) as he is getting used to it, and said he probably wont go back to a BD in the future.
I think a lot of how people play with different tips affects how they feel. If you play with a laminated tip, and put a slight bit of unintentional side on when attempting a long pot, it can throw the white off enough to miss the pot, thus affecting confidence, and this starts a downward spiral for future shots - no confidence = bad cueing = missed pot = no confidence etc. If you are playing well, the tips help you do exactly what you want to do, with minimum effort. Running round off 2 or 3 cushions is no problem, where as it takes a lot of cue power with a pressed tip. I think pressed tips are more forgiving on the unintentional side front, but this makes playing off several cushions hard work.
The thing I have found is - if you get a good pressed tip, it doesn't matter who makes it. Blue Diamond, Elkmaster, Mike Wooldridge.... If you put a good one of each on the same cue, all will invoke a very similar reaction. (I believe MW describes his "supertips" as "like a good elkmaster, everytime"
A good Blue Diamond is as good a pressed tip as any, the problem is finding a good one.

[Deepscrew]

Ive always used elkmaster. Mainly because thats what the chap put on at the club, then i started to get the tips off him to fit myself i just naturally used them.

I used to play so much that i was changing the tip regularly and loved playing with a new spongy tip. As oon as they harden up and get clogged with chalk its time for a change.

I read alot about 'bad' tips but ive never noticed anything significant from tip to tip. The only problem ive had was chipping the edge of one when i made a beautiful overhanging mushroom. Took me ages to shape it and it chipped in the first frame! So annoying.

[Acrowot]

When I used a Talisman S, found them too hard and would not hold the chalk very well.

[sootyvrs]

The thing I have found is - if you get a good pressed tip, it doesn't matter who makes it. Blue Diamond, Elkmaster, Mike Wooldridge.... If you put a good one of each on the same cue, all will invoke a very similar reaction. (I believe MW describes his "supertips" as "like a good elkmaster, everytime"
A good Blue Diamond is as good a pressed tip as any, the problem is finding a good one.

I agree with this is that they are very consistent assuming you have a good one.

I thought that I wouldn't go back to a pressed tip but have had a U turn. I didn't have much of a problem with missing pots with unintentional side but was more running out of position e.g. run through or screw back an inch or two too far and that can make a difference on a tight pool table.

Laminates from my limited experience seem very sensitive to how accurate you follow through and time the hit and get it slightly out it seems to have greater (negative) impact compared to a pressed tip. An example is that an intended soft screw shot of 6 inches might end up an 8 inch with a Talisman where as a pressed tip might be 7 inches if the timing and follow through are slightly not accurate.

Perhaps on a larger snooker table the impact is smaller as there is more margin for error but I do agree that Laminates get a better reaction and can certainly help moving the white around for equal power than using a pressed tip.

[ADR147]

i assume this is the tweetens blue diamond plus?

[Gerry Armstrong]

If you like Blue Diamonds then get the Buffalo Blue Diamond tips - they are excellent and every one I've put on so far has been a good one.

I'm happy with my Talisman S but a few of my mates who I put tips on for love these and I've played with one for a while myself just to try one and they're really good if you prefer pressed tips.

[DeanH]

For many years I had Buffalo DB tips, great chalk holding, feel, and shape longevity.
Been using Elkmaster for the more recent years, I have very much liked these but recently the last 2/3 tips something seems to have changed with Elks and that they seem to be very hard (yucky sound), not good at holding the chalk (leave dust trails everywhere even on the softest shot.
I am definitely going back to Buffalo DB next tip changing time and hope the memories are realised

[sootyvrs]

i assume this is the tweetens blue diamond plus?

I thought there was only one but it seems there are a few that use the Blue Diamond name.

I assume I have the Brunswick Blue Diamond tip as I got it from Stu and Greenbaize and Brunswick is what is seen on his website

[ADR147]

I thought there was only one but it seems there are a few that use the Blue Diamond name.

I assume I have the Brunswick Blue Diamond tip as I got it from Stu and Greenbaize and Brunswick is what is seen on his website

ask stu - the brunswick ones are terrible tips!

[sootyvrs]

ask stu - the brunswick ones are terrible tips!

I did notice that Stu went through a few in the box before finally giving me two tips and said those feel like good ones so perhaps I just got lucky as it does feel very much like the MW supertip I have on my other cue.

Might give the Buffalo one a try next time although must admit I'm very happy with the MW tips and this one BD

[ADR147]

I did notice that Stu went through a few in the box before finally giving me two tips and said those feel like good ones so perhaps I just got lucky as it does feel very much like the MW supertip I have on my other cue.

Might give the Buffalo one a try next time although must admit I'm very happy with the MW tips and this one BD

the brunswick ones are so bad i won't actually sell them any more - not worth the feedback you get!

[stejohn]

whats the difference between the brunswick tips in the box with a dark front and red outside square and the ones in the white and orange box with gold crown logo in top left? I have the latter on one of my cues at the moment and i'm really happy with it, found a box of them behind bar in my local and put one on:-)

[poolqjunkie]

Has anyone tried the triangle 10mm tips?