New Black Heart layered tip

[Particle Physics]

I thought bd plus and pg were pressed tips not layered .

Sorry, my bad, just had a look at them, eys, you're right.

[Particle Physics]

I dont think much pros playing laminates.

After a long time testing different type of tips ive decided to spend no more money on laminates.
I had much more problems than with pressed tips overall.
Just an example: one bad miscue can destroy laminates much easier than a pressed one. And yes, i have miscues from time to time because i am just a normal player like 95 % of us.

You have to treat a laminate differently to a single layer tip. Firstly, don't use light green triangle chalk. This chalk does not cover evenly on elks and buffalo tips, nevermind a hard tip like a laminate. Use dark green triangle, which is grainier and grips on to the laminate better, or Master light green chalks. You will get more even coverage. A lot of mis-cues are caused by lack of chalk, bald spots, so make sure your laminate is fully chalked up. Second, if you do get a miscue, or shiny spot, sand this downwards a wee bit. Don't sand upwards or use a tip profile raising tool, these tools are designed for single layer tips, and will delaminated a laminate tip.

[Dave Walton]

A lot of folk who play pool play with BDs and elks. The problem in snooker is that a bad one (and most of them in the box are iffy) ruins a game, because the shots require more force, spin, and the balls are bigger and heavier. This is the reason to go for layered pigskin; it does what it says it will do every time, so you're not taking a chance. ROS did not use a regular elk either, he used an old elk off a pool stick, shaved down from 13mm, by a specialist tip fitter. This was a relatively played in elk, and probably quite hard as elks go. Do we all have time to raid pubs and persuade the landlord to cut a tip off for us, should we be lucky enough to find a good one? This is why some players like lammys, consistency. The other thing about lammys that folk like is their hardness. As ADR says, one should play with the hardest tip one can manage. BDs and Elks aren't hard, unless you go to all the trouble of baking them, microwaving them, soaking them in weird concoctions, etc. I'm not saying lammys are for everyone, just like single layer tips aren't for everyone, it's a matter of taste. But folk like MW shouldn't be poo pooing them because they don't believe that in theory a lammy isn't any good. It's up to each player to find their own tip of choice and experiment along the way. As for the full range of shots argument, I really don't believe it. There are shots you can play with a lammy that elks and BDs are incapable of producing. I don't know of any top pros who use BDs, BD plus, PGs. Some use elks I admit. Don't forget that BDs, BD plus and PGs are layered tips! Only the PGs tend to not fall apart, because GBL glue them together properly. It's the only buffalo tip I'd play with again. As for MW's supertips, they sound worth a go at some point too. I'm just going to keep an open mind about tips. Looking fwd to testing the new BH tip this August.[/QUOTE]

Last time I checked bd, bd plus and pg are all pressed tips not layered the argument I presume your making is that glue/resin is used to make them, totally different thing to making layered tips. As for no pros use bd's I know Martin Gould definitely does. Some of the greatest snooker ever played has been done so with elk master tips, if they were crap why would John Paris, Trevor White and Mastercraft aswell as just about every other cue maker going fit them as standard? Snooker balls aren't so heavy that you need a rock hard tip unlike American pool where they're obsessed with tips not mushrooming, most laminated/ layered tips are far too hard for snooker and feel lifeless its like sticking a bit of wood on the end of your cue not to mention the glue lines causing miscues and not holding chalk. Oh and regardless of what size the tip on Ronnies cue was its still just an elk out of a box, dig your nail into the side of the tip to judge how hard it is, select a hard one if that's your preferance, fit it and use a cue ball or if you want a hammer and repeatedly tap the tip to speed up the playing in time, quick reshape, burnish the sides and off you go, Its not that hard lol. As for Mike Wooldridge the guy knows what he's talking about, apart from making cues for about 20 years or more he's a regular century break player so I reckon he's entitled to his opinion just like everyone else on the forum

[Gerry Armstrong]

The Blue Diamond Plus tips are very consistent, much like MW Super Tips are consistent. I've had a few on my cue and fitted many on other folk's cues and the feedback has been consistently good.

I go between the 2 depending on whether I'm in a firmer tip mood (MW) or a slightly softer tip mood (BD+). I've tried many laminated tips many times and have ruled every one out that I tried. The only one I liked the feel of was the Kamui Black MH, but at £12 a go and only 1 miscue away from splitting, a bit too much trouble for me.

And before anyone mentions it, my Kamuis were 100% genuine as I got them from Stu (Green Baize).

[Particle Physics]

What really amazes me is that folk are quite happy to spend 75 quid on a new ferrule but object to 15 quid on a tip. If the ferrule might work mirracles, it may be worth 75 pounds to try it. If the tip might also work miracles, it may be worth 15 quid of try out. If £15 for a tip is too much, how is £75 on a ferrule ok? On most cues, ferrules cost about the same as a good tip, not the other way round.

[Raldon]

You have to treat a laminate differently to a single layer tip. Firstly, don't use light green triangle chalk. This chalk does not cover evenly on elks and buffalo tips, nevermind a hard tip like a laminate. Use dark green triangle, which is grainier and grips on to the laminate better, or Master light green chalks. You will get more even coverage. A lot of mis-cues are caused by lack of chalk, bald spots, so make sure your laminate is fully chalked up. Second, if you do get a miscue, or shiny spot, sand this downwards a wee bit. Don't sand upwards or use a tip profile raising tool, these tools are designed for single layer tips, and will delaminated a laminate tip.

Thanks, but my decision is certain
...and tip profile raising tools are not designed for single layer tips, they are designed to make money.

[Raldon]

What really amazes me is that folk are quite happy to spend 75 quid on a new ferrule but object to 15 quid on a tip. If the ferrule might work mirracles, it may be worth 75 pounds to try it. If the tip might also work miracles, it may be worth 15 quid of try out. If £15 for a tip is too much, how is £75 on a ferrule ok? On most cues, ferrules cost about the same as a good tip, not the other way round.

Well, Mike Wooldridge has a good reputation. And changing a Tip is much easier than changing a ferrule. I tryed different types of ferrules because there was a cuemaker just a couple of miles away. He lives now 300 miles away, so i have to pay for shipping costs also...it isnt that cheap anymore for me to change a ferrule just to test something. A tip is changed easily without special equipment, but 15 quid is to much for a piece of leather for most of the players. And after all these broken Kamuis, i think people are more cautious now with "supa mega best of all 14,5 layered tips from alien skin".

[poona]

What really amazes me is that folk are quite happy to spend 75 quid on a new ferrule but object to 15 quid on a tip. If the ferrule might work mirracles, it may be worth 75 pounds to try it. If the tip might also work miracles, it may be worth 15 quid of try out. If £15 for a tip is too much, how is £75 on a ferrule ok? On most cues, ferrules cost about the same as a good tip, not the other way round.

I'm neither happy to spend £75 on a ferrule nor £15 on a tip.

I've just potted a 59 and a 70 break tonight with a 50p ELK master tip on a 20+ year old 1 piece Powerglide Purist cue that I bought from jrc750 on Friday.

Personally I don't feel like I need a £15 tip to pot big breaks.

[jrc750]

Ohh man don't tell me ive sold the magic cue ive been looking for
ps well done on the breaks, nice going

[Dave Walton]

I don't think anyone would pay £75 for a ferrule, the blackspin isn't just a ferrule though, infact it isn't technically a ferrule at all as it isn't a ring encompassing the end of the cue. Same theory though in that its made to protect the cue from splitting/snapping when playing. It allegedly makes the cue stronger with less chance of snapping under the ferrule and if that's true can only be a good thing, the fact its lighter than brass so reduces throw is just a bonus you could achieve the same thing using a fiber ferrule but that's not the point of the blackspin. Personally I wouldn't pay that much for a ferrule or ferrule like system. Mike's notoriously expensive anyway :-P (no offence Mike) And certainly wouldn't pay £15 for a tip, I paid £16 for a box of 50 elks even if I only get to use 10 of them those 10 will far outlast the 1 tip at £15 and the others I can fit for other players who have different preferance to my own. Although to be honest I'm not that fussy as long as my tip doesn't feel like a sponge or a piece of marble I just get used to it.

[Particle Physics]

I don't think anyone would pay £75 for a ferrule, the blackspin isn't just a ferrule though, infact it isn't technically a ferrule at all as it isn't a ring encompassing the end of the cue. Same theory though in that its made to protect the cue from splitting/snapping when playing. It allegedly makes the cue stronger with less chance of snapping under the ferrule and if that's true can only be a good thing, the fact its lighter than brass so reduces throw is just a bonus you could achieve the same thing using a fiber ferrule but that's not the point of the blackspin. Personally I wouldn't pay that much for a ferrule or ferrule like system. Mike's notoriously expensive anyway :-P (no offence Mike) And certainly wouldn't pay £15 for a tip, I paid £16 for a box of 50 elks even if I only get to use 10 of them those 10 will far outlast the 1 tip at £15 and the others I can fit for other players who have different preferance to my own. Although to be honest I'm not that fussy as long as my tip doesn't feel like a sponge or a piece of marble I just get used to it.

Fair play for an honest and frank answer. I am thinking of going the removal route. I'm quite skilled with a dremel and can remove one no problem. The issue would be rebuilding the side wall with acrylate, which is brittle sometimes, and may crack. Then I would put the tip on top.

[poona]

Ohh man don't tell me ive sold the magic cue ive been looking for
ps well done on the breaks, nice going

Tell you what mate, the feedback from the shaft on that cue is superb. Much better than any £400+ cue I've had. And it may be only 17.5 but feel little more due to the nice heavy shaft.

Yeah well happy with the rapid progress of only two sessions with it.

[lukeh147]

Can i just add... if these tips are soo damn good or any other tips you guys have mention ( no including the elks or diamond plus etc) why is it that non of the pro's use them? lol its a catch 22... Whatever feels good to you id stick with....... Right now im using Titan 11mm... hits the ball fantastic, and its consistent!
ive been playing for 17 yrs so i have a fair idea of what im looking for... and ive been through all the tips! Id rate Titan no.1 IF you like a hard solid tip!....... But i would be interested to see how these 100 dollar tips go... sounds like a joke to me... Just like the 45 dollar chalk... Back in the day the pro's never worried about these exotic tips... and still dont!... If your good enough stick to the basic tips.
Ive watched a junior knock in 3 tons one after the other... his tip was half hanging off!! So i just say... Whatever feels good to you

[craigslater]

New Black Heart layered tip

Doesnt matter if there tips are £15 15p or £1500 if been waiting nearly two weeks for a sample to try and still nothin! I emailed them to ask if it was still coming, the reply was ''im sure you'll get it in time'' not very professional of a company trying to push expensive new tips in a cut-throat business!!!

[Asi]

Just got my sample. Looks very good and well made. Will re-tip one of my cues and will see how it feels.