Cue Tip Brand Hardness Comparison - Billiards and Pool Principles, Techniques, Resources (2024)

How hard are some tip brands relative to others?

See tip hardness effects for background information.

Here is a very thorough chart of tip types and hardness values for a wide assortment of brands (from jschelin99 on AZB).

Here is a summary of some durometer hardness test results from FLYINGSNAIL on AZB:

SAMSARA JUMP – 86.0
BLACK DIAMOND – 81.0
SUPERPRO – 81.0
WB USA – 77.0
BLUE ELF – 76.0
LePRO – 74.5
TALISMAN – (M) 70.5
TAD – (M) 75.0
TRIANGLE – 73.5
BLUE MILK DUDS – 73.0-74.0
KAMUI – (H. BROWN) 73.5; (M. BROWN) 71.0; (S. BROWN) 62.5; (H. BLACK) 73.5; (M. BLACK) 72.5; (S. BLACK) 62.0
MORRI – (1ST GEN. WITH “S” ONLY) 62.0; (2ND GEN. SOFT) 71.0; (OLD MEDIUM) 77.0; (M III) 75.0
TRIUMPH – 70.0
BLACK KING – (S) 65.5 (M) 67.5 (H) 70.5
TIGER SNIPER – 67.0
BAMMA – 66.0
OLD ELK MASTER ORIGINAL – 65.0

All hardness numbers reported are on the Shore D durometer scale. Here’s a demonstration of how tips are tested:

Here’s a summary of the results from the video:

32 X (Hard / Medium) 76 / 72
Atlas Canvas Phenolic 89
Bakelite Phenolic 92
Barringer Jump/Break 97
BSE (nicht zu verwechseln mit Creutzfeldt-Jakob) 83
Bunjee 97
Fiber Jump/Break 97
Laperti Bakelite 86
Lily 95
Magic Jump/Break 88
Magnum High Impact 86
No Name Tip 88
Oliver Stops 3000 80
Oliver Stops 4000 86
Picone White Diamond 95
Porper Ram (Hard / Medium / Soft) 72 / 55 / 54
Raven Black / Green / White 94 / 96 / 96
Wengler 96
XO 93

Here’s a buying guide (with some useful info) available from PoolDawg, including a large set of hardness data for most-commonly-used tips.

See the cue tip hardness effects page for info on how to select the right tip for your game.

from gerryf (in AZB post and AZB post)

Tip NameHardness RatingHardness
5280 Red LineSoft67
5th AvenueSoft73
Apus 3Soft71
Aramith (H)Soft71
Aramith (M)Soft69
Aramith (S)Soft67
Black Jack (H)Hard81
Black Jack (MS)Super Soft61
Blue KnightSuper Soft59
Brunswick Blue DiamondSuper Soft59
DiamondbackSoft71
DudleySoft72
EliteNormal76
Elk MasterSuper Soft58
Flying PigNormal75
G10Very Hard97
Great WhiteNormal78
Hirano (H)Very Hard89
Hirano (M)Hard83
Hirano (S)Soft73
Kamui (H)Hard80
Kamui (M)Soft73
Kamui (MS)Soft69
Kamui (S)Soft68
Kamui Black (HHard83
Kamui Black (M)Normal76
Kamui Black (S)Soft70
Kamui Black (SS)Soft66
Le ProfessionelNormal76
Mezz IgnotVery Hard97
Molavia (H)Hard79
Molavia (M)Soft72
Molavia (S)Soft65
Moori (H)Hard81
Moori (M)Soft72
Moori (S)Super Soft62
PhenolicVery Hard97
Porper MajesticNormal75
Porper Ram (H)Normal76
Porper Ram (MSoft70
Porper Ram (S)Super Soft62
Porper Water BuffaloNormal76
Porper Wild BoarNormal75
RocketSuper Soft61
Royal OakSoft64
Samsara Jump/BreakVery Hard97
SarinSoft73
Silver KingSuper Soft58
StingrayNormal76
Stratos (HHard79
Stratos (M)Normal74
Stratos (S)Soft64
Stratos (XH)Very Hard85
Sumo (H)Hard80
Sumo (MNormal75
Super Pro TipsSoft72
Talisman Jump/BreakVery Hard97
Talisman Pro (HHard79
Talisman Pro (M)Soft72
Talisman Pro (S)Super Soft62
Talisman Pro (XH)Very Hard84
Talisman WB (H)Hard81
Talisman WB (M)Soft72
Tiger DynamiteHard79
Tiger EmeraldNormal76
Tiger EverestSoft73
Tiger IcebreakerVery Hard97
Tiger Jump/BreakVery Hard97
Tiger LaminatedSoft65
Tiger Laminated (H)Hard81
Tiger Laminated (M)Soft72
Tiger OnyxSoft72
Tiger SniperNormal76
TriangleHard79
TriumphNormal74
Tsunami (H)Hard80
Tsunami (MNormal74
WBHard79
WenglerVery Hard97
White DiamondVery Hard88
Wizard (H)Normal78
Wizard (M)Normal74
Tip BrandTip SizeHardness
5280 Red Line (Tiger)14mm69.2
Aramith Laminated (Medium)14mm75.8
Aramith Laminated (Soft)14mm72.6
Aramith Laminated (Hard)14mm86.6
Black Heart (Hard)14mm88.2
Black Heart (Medium)14mm76.6
Black Heart (Soft)14mm68.7
Blue Elf (Hard)14mm90.4
Da Vinci (Hard)14mm81.9
Da Vinci (Medium)14mm73.6
Da Vinci (Soft)14mm68.7
Elk Master10-14mm66.8
Flying Pig (Medium)14mm75.5
Fuji (Hard)14mm83.8
Fuji (Medium)14mm78.5
Fuji (Soft)14mm74.2
G2 (Medium)14mm80.1
G2 (Soft)14mm74.8
G2 (Hard)14mm85.5
Great White14mm79.6
Hirano (Hard)14mm90.6
Hirano (Medium)14mm84.8
Hirano (Soft)14mm75.2
Kamui (Super Soft)14mm69.2
Kamui Black (Hard)14mm84.8
Kamui Black (Medium)14mm78.7
Kamui Black (Soft)14mm72.3
Kamui Black (Super Soft)14mm67.5
Kamui II (Hard)14mm92.2
Kamui II (Medium Soft)14mm82.2
Kamui II (Medium)14mm83.4
Kamui II (Soft)14mm78.1
Le Pro*10-14mm88.2
Moori (Hard)14mm84.4
Moori (Medium)14mm75.5
Moori (Soft)14mm72.8
Morakami (Hard)14mm87.5
Morakami (Medium)14mm81.3
Morakami (Soft)14mm74.3
Morakami (Super Soft)14mm72
Predator Victory (Hard)14mm84.3
Predator Victory (Medium)14mm79.8
Predator Victory (Soft)14mm75.3
Samsara Jump Break14mm95.5
Scorpion14mm86.8
Talisman Pro (Extra Hard)14mm88.7
Talisman Pro (Hard)14mm84.4
Talisman Pro (Medium)14mm83.5
Talisman Pro (Soft)14mm79.6
Talisman Water Buffalo (Hard)14mm83.2
Talisman Water Buffalo (Medium)14mm82
Tiger Dynamite14mm80.8
Tiger Emerald14mm76
Tiger Everest14mm75.7
Tiger Laminated (Hard)14mm81.7
Tiger Laminated (Medium)14mm78.2
Tiger Laminated (Soft)14mm76.7
Tiger Onyx14mm76.4
Tiger Sniper14mm77.8
Triangle12-14mm91
Triumph14mm92
Tweeten Virgin12.5mm83.3
WB Water Buffalo13-14mm88.2
Zan (Hard)14mm87.4
Zan (Medium)14mm77.8
Zan (Soft)14mm66.3
Cue Tip Brand Hardness Comparison - Billiards and Pool Principles, Techniques, Resources (2024)

FAQs

Which cue tip hardness is best? ›

Nonetheless, the majority of pool players tend to choose medium hardness tips as they combine the added control found in a softer tip with the increased consistency of a harder tip.

What is the best cue tip for billiards? ›

Leather Tips

They are known for their excellent feel and control. Leather tips come in various grades and hardness levels, allowing players to choose the one that suits their style. Best pool cue tips: Leather tips are often considered the best by professional players due to their consistency and performance.

What cue tips do professional pool players use? ›

Elk master 13mm pool billiard cue tips are popular among professionals because they enable them to achieve more spin on the cue ball thanks to their excellent grip on the chalk. Mistakes are therefore uncommon while employing these techniques.

What is the hardness of F1 crystal cue tip? ›

Rhino F1 Crystal Cue Tip - Soft/Medium Hardness - Brown.

Is a nickel or dime cue tip better? ›

SHAPING YOUR TIP

Predator research has clearly shown that a dime radius (or shape of a dime) will produce 5 percent to 10 percent less cue ball deflection than the more commonly used nickel shape. The cue ball deflection is reduced because the dime radius centralizes the hit to the center, or strong part, of the shaft.

Should I buy a soft or hard cue tip? ›

Hard tips do not absorb or stay on the cue ball as much at impact as a softer tip would. Because of this, hard tips create less spin and are more liable to miscue when striking the cue ball farther off the center point. They will play more consistently, last longer and require less maintenance.

What pool cues do professionals use? ›

PROFESSIONAL billiard players TRUST their game to Predator more than any other brand, including many WORLD CHAMPIONS ★ and top ranked players.

What size pool cue tip does Efren Reyes use? ›

FINANCE AVAILABLE 0% Interest
Tip Size12mm
Joint TypeUnited
Cue WrapNo Wrap
WoodMaple - Birdseye
Cue Type2-piece Cue, 1/2 Joint
5 more rows

Is a 13mm cue tip good? ›

Most players prefer tips around 13mm for a good balance of control and accuracy. English Pool: English Pool cues have tip sizes between 7mm and 9mm. Smaller tips, around 7mm to 8mm, provide greater accuracy and are preferred by advanced players.

What is the world's best pool cue? ›

  1. Predator Pool Cues. Innovation and aggression come to mind when we think about Predator cues. ...
  2. McDermott Pool Cues. No list covering the best brands of pool cues would be complete without McDermott. ...
  3. Jacoby Custom Pool Cues. ...
  4. Cuetec Pool Cues. ...
  5. Viking Pool Cues.
Jan 26, 2023

What is the most popular pool cue tip size? ›

Generally speaking most pool players prefer and 8mm to 8.5mm tip for a 1 & 7/8 pool cue ball, and most snooker players prefer a 9.5mm to 10mm tip for a full size 2 1/16 snooker cue ball. American pool uses an even bigger cue ball so the tip sizes are normally between 12.5 mm and 13.5mm.

What is the hardest pool cue tip? ›

Here is a summary of some durometer hardness test results from FLYINGSNAIL on AZB:
  • SAMSARA JUMP – 86.0.
  • BLACK DIAMOND – 81.0.
  • SUPERPRO – 81.0.
  • WB USA – 77.0.
  • BLUE ELF – 76.0.
  • LePRO – 74.5.
  • TALISMAN – (M) 70.5.
  • TAD – (M) 75.0.

What is the hardness scale of the Kamui tip? ›

The KAMUI Tip is standardized to 4 different hardness ranges. SS, S, M, H.

Are elkmaster tips hard or soft? ›

It is manufactured to unprecedented tolerances of shape and hardness by the world's most respected tip makers, Tweeten Fibre co. in the U.S.A. Boxes of three tips are available in sizes 9mm, 9.5mm, 10mm, 10.5mm, 11mm, 13mm & 14mm in the Soft, Medium or Hard options.

What tips do professionals use? ›

It's personal preference – but many top professionals and amateurs are using the new Century Pro Cue Tips because they come in four Grades from soft to hard in G1, 2, 3, and 4.

What is the best cue tip for draw shots? ›

If you are looking for the best pool cue tip for english or draw, the Predator Victory billiard tip is the right cue tip for your pool stick. It has been developed and tested with our team of professional players. Available in Soft, Medium, or Hard.

Should a cue tip be rough or smooth? ›

The tip simply slides off the cue ball.) A good leather cue tip should be somewhat rough. The roughness allows the tip to hold chalk, which in turn is what causes friction with the cue ball. In essence, the tip grabs the cue ball for an instant, allowing the desired spin to be transferred to the cue ball.

What is the best tip for playing pool? ›

How to Play Pool Better
  • #1: Develop a Loose Grip. Most beginners will grip the pool cue too tightly. ...
  • #2: Practice Your Stance. ...
  • #3: Practice Your Aim. ...
  • #4: Practice Your Swing. ...
  • #5: Practice Your Bridges. ...
  • #6: Practice Breaking. ...
  • #7: Remember to Use Pool Chalk. ...
  • #8: Practice Post-Shot Follow-Through.
Mar 31, 2022

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