What is the best tip size for my cue?
The tip sizes for cues are normally determined by the size of the cue ball you are playing with so the smaller the cue ball the smaller the tip.
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. American 9 ball cues also use bigger white ferules to give the cue more strength when hitting the bigger ball.
The standard cue ball for English 8 ball is 1 7/8 because it has to go through the ball return. With a table that has no ball return (not coin operated) then all the balls, including the cue ball will be the same size.
English 8 ball cues and snooker cue shafts are most commonly made with ash and American Pool cues are made in maple with a straight taper. It is important to realize English 8 ball and American nine ball are only called those names because those are the countries in which those cue sports are mostly played and developed. 9 Ball is very popular in many other countries around the world, especially Canada. Likewise English 8 Ball is popular worldwide and is especially very popular in France.
Of-course there are also many different sizes of table which also use different size balls but the above tip sizes are the most commonly used. We do supply snooker and pool cues with many other tip sizes as well if required.
Sometimes we get some inquiries for 7mm tip cues, and though we can supply these at an extra cost we do not recommend for most players. Some players believe that a small tip size gives them more cue ball control but you need to be a very good player indeed to be able to get any extra benefit from a tip of this size as it can sometimes cause miscues.
Also, the wood beneath a 7mm ferule would be very small and this can more easily cause the ferule to snap off completely, especially when playing power shots. Certainly we could not guarantee this would not happen on any cue purchased from us with a 7mm ferule / tip and this is why we recommend 8mm to 8.5mm for pool cues.
In truth you can play all pool sports with a bigger tip if you wanted to, that is why most pub cues have a 12 or 13mm tip. However it is more difficult to play snooker with a very small tip. Remember, as well as the increased chance of miscuing the strain of a heavy impact on a bigger heavier ball will increase the chances of the ferule breaking off altogether.
Hi.
Can you plrease tell me how tand from where to measure the Pool Cue tips.I bought 12mm and 13mm cue tips are they are STILL too small.I measure the cue tips which is 20mm from the top.
Please help
thanks
khanReply
Hi Khan,
Just measure across the tip of the ferrule. What type of cue sport do you play? I do not know any cue sport that uses a 20mm tip and 13mm is normally the biggest we supply.
Reply
How do you go down in size on your tip and ferrel? Can you?
Hi Shannah,
Yes you can. We can fit a new ferule and re-tip for £24. We normally charge £12 just for a re-tip so it is not that expensive. However if you were taking it down from a 10mm to an 8mm then there might be an extra cost because the shaft may have to be sanded down and re-finished. We only offer this service locally as there would be extra postage costs otherwise as well as a possibility of damage in transit. I have to say also that we would be reluctant to do this on a very expensive cue as it requires the shaft to be put in a lathe which is spinning at considerable speed. For such a low cost alteration we would not want to be responsible if the shaft splits when the tool turns the shaft down.Though this has not happened in the past, it is always a risk as we have no idea on the quality of the timbers we are machining. If the cue is relatively inexpensive we would recommend you consider putting the cost of the alteration toward a new cue. You are welcome to give me a call to discuss further.
Reply
I have just started playing pool and the tip broke off after a fall..can I just glue it back on? Also I will need to purchase some spare tips…what do I measure…from/ to etc…help.
Reply
Hi Kim, for advise on how to change a tip please visit this webpage for full instructions https://www.bluemoonleisure.com/how-to-change-or-replace-a-cue-tip/ The tip size you will require can be measure across the top of the ferule but unless it is bigger than 10mm we fit 10mm to all tips and cut down, as shown in the instructions. I hope this helps, regards, Rob.
Reply
Hi Kim.
please visit our webpage https://www.bluemoonleisure.com/how-to-change-or-replace-a-cue-tip/ for instructions on how to replace a tip. Unless your cue has a tip bigger than 10mm, we use 10mm for both snooker and pool. You measure the tip across the width of the tip (or ferule). I hope this helps, regards, Rob.
Reply
