Talisman Pro or WB??

[Shanghai Matt]

dont make it too complicated and the replies as they are. go for blue diamond plus

Blue diamond plus tips will still need retipping/shaping much more often than a layered tip.

I'd go for o'min pig skin.

[Dragonsye]

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated!! So if i can, I think I will go for a Talisman soft pro and an omin pig skin (possibly the omin first, since its cheaper!)

[kcohentan]

Hi dragonseye,

Just chiming in here. I recently got a new o'min cue with one of their tips on. It's quite nice but somehow dampens the shot for me. While it's great for very delicate touches I find it difficult to gauge the right strength for a long shot. That's probably because I was using Talisman pro soft tips before. I just changed the tips on my new cue, and it's hitting oh-so-sweet. If you like a clean contact with good report (can't say recoil hehe) then I'd recommend Talisman tips. Also, it's pretty much fit and forget kind of tip, once you get it nicely domed you can just keep knocking at it and it just stays the same.

Great consistency, low-maintenance, and from what I see with my old cue (which my mate's son has been threshing about) the tip is still exactly like new. So once you get it shaped the way you like it, it's pretty much set. Might feel a bit 'longer' than the normal tips but you'll get used to that in no time. Hope this helps

[Dragonsye]

Hey, thats exactly the reply i was witing for!! I would definitely go for the Talisman if it gives a better feel. One question though - what do you mean by 'longer than normal'?? I think i was reluctant so far because of the price, which is equivalent to 20 pounds in the UK (by which i mean that over here, for a little more cash than you would pay for a Talisman tip, you could buy a cheap cue!!) But i the more i hear, the more im convinced i would prefer a Talisman, and that it would be worth the price!! Thanks to all, and especially kcohentan!! (In other word, yes- it helps a lot!!)

[Shanghai Matt]

ADR147 sells tips, and I'd have thought he could ship a talisman tip to you for less than £20...

[Dragonsye]

Heh!! No no, what i mant was that in SL, for about 8-9 pounds, you can buy a cheap cue. Just to put things in perspective, and justify my constant whining about paying 6 pounds for a tip!! It would not have been an issue, but i speant 70 on a peradon Royal on ebay, which lefft me broke!! Hoping that i didnt get ripped off (fingers crossed!!) Seemed like a nice guy, but then again, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating!!"

[kcohentan]

Hey Dragonsye

Glad it was useful to you. I'll tell you something else as well now lol My old cue was a cheapo £20 job and when I told the guy at my local snooker hall to retip it with a Talisman he gave me a raised eyebrow as it probably costs half of the cue hehe. However, I went for it nonetheless and was telling my mate about it as well which he put down to gimmick, how can a tip make so much difference? I thought so as well but I read alot on this forum too about it.

Got the tip on, and it looks "longer" compared to the normal BDs or Elks due to its laminated layers (more layers hence thicker). Got down to take a shot and wham took stun shots, screw shots, even masse shots and it just played beautifully. End result? my £20 cue felt like a £60 cue (or something like that) with just a tiny tip change. My mate converted to it as well with his cheapo cue and we're both happy campers Don't think about it costing half or even the same price as your cue, think about it adding value to whatever cue you are using at the moment. Which is why my new O'min classic has the talisman as well after I tried knocking about with the tip it came in. I can't promise it works the same way for you as it did for me and my mate, but what I'm saying is, if you wish for maximum results with minimum changes it doesn't get any better with a nice lil tip change

Hope you'll try it mate, and give us a shout and tell us if it worked for you too Good luck yea!

[Dragonsye]

Heh!! Thanks for that!! But you miss my point mate- i dont think its NOT worth it. Its just that its a bit costly, and right now (since im broke after buying a new cue!!) it's much more difficult for me to rustle up the cash!! So if another tip can do the same thing, I would prefer that obviously!! But if there isn't another, i will SOMEHOW go for a Talisman. I'm getting utterly fed up with having to reshape my tip constantly. I think the problem is i like it well domed ( more round than flat) and i tend to play power shots more often than average. As a result, the tip goes out of shape pretty fast!! So I will definitely go for a Talisman!!

And to add to the "cheap cue+good tip=playability of a expensive cue" I TOTALLY agree with you there!! My cuecraft bulldog plays pretty well as long as it has a thick round elk!! I recon I can get as much action with a parris!! But the only issue is that since it is forward- balanced, the speed control is what suffers. So hope the new (or at least new to me!!) Peradon will be more to my liking in the balance dept! If so, I'll be good to go-for life!!

[kcohentan]

ahh ok I hear ya. Hmm well it's a false economy then if you keep having to reshape or change your tip. I get mine nicely domed and it's been playing consistently no matter how you trash it. When will your Peradon arrive then? Try playing with it first and see how you like it, then when you do switch over to a Talisman you'll appreciate the difference, and you'd already know how the cue plays like. But yea, until I actually get my mitts on a Parris or TW this is pretty much as good as it gets for me, and I hope it'll help you with your game. Keep potting!!

[Dragonsye]

My thoughts exactly mate!! And if i got an omin or a mastercue or a craftsman( to name a few!), i doubt id EVER think of a parris or a TW!! All i want is a cue that feels right!! If the Peradon does it for me, so be it!! I'll be getting it hopefully by mid next month. Waiting for my best bud to bring it when he comes down. He's the one who bought it, and he'll be bringing it. So my only chance is to tell him to bring a Talisman as well!! Thanks a lot mate. Seriously!! You pushed the last seeds of doubt out of my head!! Will do so, and hope the omin gives you many years of good service!!

[kcohentan]

Aww that's cool, at least you don't have to worry too much about it getting damaged in transit then Like I've posted in a separate thread, I'm still getting used to the O'min and it's a nice little journey of discovery in itself. And yea it's about finding that elusive winning combination isn't it? But do remember to post some pics of your cue when it arrives, I'm sure you'd be well chuffed with it

[Dragonsye]

I sure hope so!! Just apprehensive about ebay. I've never bought off it before. So unless I've been played, i will DEFINITELY be chuffed with it!! From a budget cue to a handspliced is a big step!! And i will definitely post pics!!! Cheers!!