Tip 9 mm or 9.5 mm? “+” and “-“ of diff. tip sizes

[dao]

As I found from different sources the most popular tip diameters are between 9 mm and 9.5 mm. Could you, please, describe possible advantages and lacks of every tip size. I heard several times that M. Selby (who uses 9.5) told that playing with small diameters it’s difficult to avoid unintended side.

What do you think? It’s interesting to know different points of view.

[thai_son22]

keeping it simple.

what i think is:

1. the bigger tip offers more coverage on the ball hence you are more likely to hit the center of cueball due to the margin or error allowed from the tip size.
2. smaller tips offer more spin but generally, if you have a good/decent cue action, i dont see the problem unless you are playing with 11mm+.
3. yes, smaller tips can cause unintentional side because you have to be more "accurate" in hitting the cue ball as intended. This is because you get less coverage on the ball.

ive played with tips ranging anywhere in the 9-10mm region and dont have a problem with any. its just a minor case of getting use to it but thats about it.

hope this helps.

[felipecocco]

I completely subscribe to everything thai_son said, but I just have a curiosity as to magnitude. Given the transition from a 9.5 to a 9mm tip, we are talking of a difference in surface area of less than 9%. Since there is 9% less area of contact with the cue ball, obviously all the arguments above follow, but I am somewhat skeptical of claims that others have made that the difference is so clearly noticeable. When I played snooker with my pool cue once just for fun, clearly it was very apparent that the tip size was making a huge difference. However, in this case the tip's surface area ends up being twice as large as the snooker tip. Is it possible that the impact of tip size is being overemphasized?

[RGCirencester]

Thats my personal feeling as well but others disagree. If you compare the tip size to the actual snooker ball even at 11mm the ball is much bigger than the tip still. And as long as the tip is domed the difference between them should be minimal imo.

[poolqjunkie]

I like 10mm but 9.5mm is fine, too.
When the ball is tight on the cushion it could be a pain to have a big tip.
Too small a tip is somtimes different to use because if you do not cue well, you could miscues, jump the ball and so on.
It depends on the taper I think, more than the tip size alone, what would work for you.
Like if you have a 10mm cue and you sand it down to 9 mm by hand, the taper would be different and that may not work as well as if you order a cue made to be 9mm with the appropriate taper.
Some woods are more stiff and even if the tip is smaller it still plays stiffer than some shafts with bigger tip.
I know some players like to use their tip to aim and if the tip is too big it may be less precise for some shots.

[Nic Barrow]

Less than 9.5mm is harder to SEE the centre of the cue ball. Think about it... if your tip was the same width as the cue ball (52.5mm!!!) then you would 'see' the centre of the cue ball very easily every time.
Because the 'flat top' part is also bigger on this huge tip, you would ALSO hit the centre of the cue ball every time! So a bigger tip also makes it easier to bit the cue ball where you are aiming because it has a wider flat part on top.
Over 9.5mm to most pro's feels like using a tree trunk and can give less feel and sensitivity and ability to put spin on the ball.
Interestingly if you use an american pool cue with a 12 or 13mm tip you will find it is IMPOSSIBLE to miscue because the tip cannot get too low on the ball!
The biggest mistake in thinking that i see below century break players make is that they say: "I have an 8.5mm tip because it makes it easier to screw back."
It also makes it impossible to play accurately which is why they are not into regular century breaks yet! The reason they cant screw back is that they dont have the cue control to do so. Therefore they should improve that, win the world championship with a tip size that all the other pro's use and THEN reduce to 8mm tip to 'improve his screw back'!

[joao_hendryfan]

keeping it simple.

what i think is:

1. the bigger tip offers more coverage on the ball hence you are more likely to hit the center of cueball due to the margin or error allowed from the tip size.
2. smaller tips offer more spin but generally, if you have a good/decent cue action, i dont see the problem unless you are playing with 11mm+.
3. yes, smaller tips can cause unintentional side because you have to be more "accurate" in hitting the cue ball as intended. This is because you get less coverage on the ball.

ive played with tips ranging anywhere in the 9-10mm region and dont have a problem with any. its just a minor case of getting use to it but thats about it.

hope this helps.

I disagree
With smaller tips you have less deflection and with large 10-11 mm tips you can easly put unintentional side on the cue ball. I use 9.5 mm, which the very averge size and for me is okay. Large tips are probably better for begginers but there are some good players who prefer those tips. Smaller tips have less deflection but it's a question preference.

[dao]

Thanks a lot for detailed and comprehensive answers!
When I started to play long time ago I used very light (16 oz) old cue with 8.5 mm tip. It was really tough instrument for beginner. Later I decided to try something heavier: chinese "cudgel" 19 oz and 10 mm tips. I learnt finally to pot long shots with power, but I felt a lack of accuracy in the high scoring area, close to the cluster. Then 5 years ago I came back to the delicate surgical instrument, again very light and 9 mm tip. It helps me to improve technique and reach a few centuries on practice and quite regular 30+ 40+ breaks in the game. But sometimes I face unintentional back spin and sometimes I cannot play precisely stun run through shots. Sometimes when I play stun run through with equal pace or cue ball stops (clear stun) or cue ball goes to far. Maybe it's a matter of practice, but I decided to switch to 9.5. Maybe it helps to feel the nuances a little bit better.

[Nic Barrow]

Small tip deflection

I disagree
With smaller tips you have less deflection and with large 10-11 mm tips you can easly put unintentional side on the cue ball. I use 9.5 mm, which the very averge size and for me is okay. Large tips are probably better for begginers but there are some good players who prefer those tips. Smaller tips have less deflection but it's a question preference.

With larger tips i find it harder to unintentional side on the ball.
Also my post did not mention the amount of deflection given with small or big tips. There are many factors that affect the deflection off straight with the cue ball when played with side such that some small tips could deflect less and others more.

Even if a small tip (9mm or less) DID deflect less with side I would still rather play with a bigger tip because there is more chance of seeing (and more chance of hitting) the centre of the cue ball in the first place. That is where the 'advantage' of small tips undoes itself.

[goshow]

I recently moved from a 9mm to a 9.4mm and it took a fair bit of getting used to but now my game is better than itever was. Most of the guys I play with use a tip around 9.5mm the largest being 9.7 and the smallest being 9. The guy who plays with the 9mm is the worst player out of us all and the guy who uses the 9.7 is a pro.