Cue Tip Shape

[Lenny]

Re started playing just recently and the task of learning is going forward reasonably well. One area of problem is the application of top and bottom spin side spin is also a problem where I get miscues occasionally . I either jump on top spin or lift the cue ball on bottom spin. Another player suggested I examine the profile of my cue tip and maybe a softer tip would help.
I use a Cue Craft cue with a 9.5mm tip . The tip is the one already there when I bought it. I do not know its make

Questions

What is the optimum profile of a cue tip ?


Does a soft tip help with these problems ?

Many Thanks
Len

[Jake O'Sullivan]

Cue Tip Shape

Sounds like your digging down too much on the white ball mate. I think generally the softer the tip, the easier it is to screw/spin. also the shape of the tip helps.

[paul schumacher]

Cue Tip Shape

Tip should be the same profile as the the cue ball

[nrage]

I think the most common cause of a miss-cue on a screw shot is not bringing the cue through as level as possible, and not pushing it right through the white. If you stop too early on the shot, the tip usually drops and hits too low, and without any weight behind it.

So, to practice line up a shot as you normally would and check your cue is as level as possible. Check your bridge is as low as comfortable/stable. Now, just push the cue right through the white. Don't try to hit it hard, you should be able to generate screw on a short range shot fairly "effortlessly" just by making sure you strike the correct place (low, 1/2-1 cue tip diameter above the cloth) and push the cue right through the white. When I was learning to screw the ball I would focus my eyes on the white and make sure I was striking where I was aiming, so that might help. I also had a training ball which would often end up with a chalk mark where I struck it, which helped me realise that most of the time I was striking too high.

[Lenny]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try them out when I next go to the club on Wednesday before our handicap competition starts .

I think I will also find a softer tip to the one that is on the cue.

Thanks again
Len

[Lenny]

Many thanks for the suggestions. I will try to have a practice session before our clubs handicap competition starts on Wednesday.

I think I will change the current tip for a softer one though .

Any suggestions please.

Many Thanks
Len

[denja]

I can now screw back to a reasonable standard when learning these were my main faults hope this may be of help
1/ Hitting cue ball too hard.
2/Tensing up the grip hand maybe afraid of mis-cue
3/Thinking I was hitting ball in correct spot but raising cue a fraction on hit resulting in a stun.
4/Overall tension based on fear of mis-cue or hitting cloth.

Try screwing blue ball back into center pocket. there is a knack of rolling your bridge hand to the side so white does not hit bridge hand.think there is a example on u tube (To close for comfort ( neilmaxman )

Play any ball up the table from the blue spot or just below it with cue ball on brown spot try to screw back to the baulk cushion

[jimhassel]

Hi all,

To make ball spin cue tip should be softer. It's due to the friction appears more when softer part touches the ball and then ball fell the grip of cue tip. And for strike short tip should be hard enough to make a good compact on ball.

[jimhassel]

Hi all,

To make ball spin cue tip should be softer. It's due to the friction appears more when softer part touches the ball and then ball fell the grip of cue tip. And for strike short tip should be hard enough to make a good compact on ball.

[Acrowot]

After my exceptionally long lay off from snooker, I had the same problem with miscuing and the white jumping as though it was supposed to be hurdling. I think most of if was bad cue action and now have seemed to have overcome the miscues. Deliver the cue as smoothly as you can and persevere with it.

[denja]

I would say that 90% of the time most problems come from a over tight grip and tensing up on the shot,you can be hitting the ball in the right place have the bridge hand correct appear to have a nice follow through but if you are in any way up tight and tense it just wont work. relax ! I have seen a video of I think Nic Barrow playing the screw back holding the butt with just the first finger and thumb to illustrate this point.

[gazza147]

The Most Common Mis-cue is Not Timing the Shot Right! I would suggest removing the Tip that Came on your Cue as it maybe one of the show Tips so take that off and try either a Elk, Bluediamond or what ever you prefer and then try it as using the Tips that come on some of these Cues are UnPlayable as there machined tips for show "HARD AS ROCK".

I see alot of People Raising the Bridge Hand to Screw Back! This is incorrect you should be Lowering the Bridgehand so the Cue does go thru Level where your hitting the Cueball and this is when i see alot of Mis-cues or Cueball Jumping Off the Table as they have Dug Under the cueball hitting it way to Hard and Jabbing it so the cue is Not going Level its Digging Down Under the Cueball which makes the Cueball Jump or Mis-cue.

Hope this Helps.

[nrage]

I would say that 90% of the time most problems come from a over tight grip and tensing up on the shot,you can be hitting the ball in the right place have the bridge hand correct appear to have a nice follow through but if you are in any way up tight and tense it just wont work. relax ! I have seen a video of I think Nic Barrow playing the screw back holding the butt with just the first finger and thumb to illustrate this point.

Neil does the same thing in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD659eZ054I&feature=plcp

He's basically saying that screw back is all to do with technique and also how well the cue is made, but importantly /not/ the weight of the cue which he says makes very little difference.

To the OP, Neil has a good collection of videos on the screw shot:
http://www.youtube.com/user/neilmaxm...os?query=screw

.. and I've always liked this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqqakiKbhHI&feature=plcp

Mike Page is a man who knows what he's talking about (IMO).

[davisskeggsm]

Cue Tip Shape

You should move youe bridge hand to the place of cueing, i used to miscue an awful lot when trying to generate side or screw. Then i had a lesson and i was able then to understand what i was doing wrong. You should lower the bridge to screw back and vice versa for top spin, and when your playing side you should move you bridge hand over so your still cueing in a straight line as a pose to what i used to do and can only suggest what your doing is placing your hand as if your cueing to the centre of the ball and rotating the cue round and playing across the cue ball
Hope this helps
Matt

[Lenny]

A big Thank-you to all you guys replying to the thread. I changed the tip to an Elkmaster Soft. Went to our club night tonight and took with me all your advice. I had a 15 minute practice before the rest of the guys arrived and had a reasonable session. I found I could screw back successfully still got learn about strength. Applying side both left and right. 'Not one miscue all night' Brilliant.
In one of the frames I even managed to clear all the colours in one break. For me that is success..

The only issue was that the temperature was so high the cue seemed to get sticky and not run on the bridge smoothly but the cue seemed judder. One of the guys suggested removing the varnish on the end part of the cue and use some cue oil to lubricate it. I would welcome your thoughts

Once Again Many thanks for your help

Len