My first cue - advice please

[billabong]

I have to sand it quite small to begin with as play with a 6.5mm tip and if I leave it full height the deflection is quite bad on extreme edge shots. I get about 4-5hrs practice in each day too so it gets a bit of abuse. I prefer a really soft Elk too which doesn't help it stay in shape. I don't use rough paper on it, got a little glass nail file I nicked off the missus which is enough to just about take the shine off it. Doesn't bother me as long as I make sure I've got a bedded in tip for competitions!

Are you sure you've not picked up one of your missus's knitting needles by mistake ?