Cue weight and Tip Preference

HI POOLBUM,

DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A LIST OF CUE WEIGHTS AND BRAND AND HARDNESS OF TIPS, TODAYS TOP PLAYERS USE?

THANKS

I don't know of a compiled list of who uses what cues and weights. As you might imagine, it varies greatly but most use fairly light weight cues. In the 18 to 19 oz. range. A heavier cue is easier to stroke by letting the weight carry it through the stroke but lighter equipment allows better touch and feel for more precise control. The top players mostly have such good strokes that they benefit more from the precision a light cue permits. 

InsidePOOL Magazine has a video feature called: What's in the case. They have interviewed a bunch of top players and had them empty out their case and talk about each item. You can find many of these at YouTube and at the InsidePOOL Magazine  web site.

The tips are really a matter of personal preference ranging from very hard buffalo hide tips to very soft ones like pressed Elk Masters. Layered tips like Tiger, Talisman, and Moori have gained a lot of acceptance in recent years. Consistency of hit is a major factor. I suspect that of the top brands you'd find a fairly even spread. Most of the major tip manufacturers have lines of soft, medium and hard to have something for every preference. Tips that maintain their shape (don't flatten too quickly or mushroom are favored but often it's just a matter of what a person is accustomed to. Players generally use a break cue, not because they worry that hitting the cue ball at breaking speed will damage the cue (although that can be a concern with ivory ferrules and joints) but because it can flatten out a tip pretty fast.