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When you look at the number of pool cue tips there are available today, it can be extremely overwhelming. That's why we've created the ultimate pool cue tip guide. Using a digital durometer, we're going through the process of determining the tip density for every pool cue tip we carry.
Key Takeaways
- Pool cue tip hardness affects feel, spin, power transfer, and maintenance. Softer tips generally provide a softer feel and can make applying spin and English feel more natural, while harder tips provide a firmer, crisper hit and tend to hold their shape longer.
- Soft, medium, hard, and break tips offer different playing characteristics. Soft tips (roughly 66 to 74 Shore A) emphasize feel and spin, medium tips (75 to 84) balance feel and durability, and hard (85 and above) or break tips provide a crisper hit and more efficient energy transfer.
- There is no single best cue tip hardness for every player. Your playing style, stroke, preferred hit, amount of spin you use, and how much maintenance you're willing to do all factor into the right choice.
- PoolDawg's hardness chart is based on physical testing of over 100 cue tips. Each tip was measured using a durometer on the Shore A scale, giving players a consistent way to compare the tips tested by PoolDawg.
- Durometer readings from different charts may not be directly comparable. PoolDawg uses the Shore A scale, while some outside sources use Shore D, so differences between published numbers do not necessarily mean one measurement is incorrect.
What a Pool Cue Tip Hardness Chart Tells You
A pool cue tip hardness chart shows how different cue tips compare in hardness and how that can affect cue ball control, power, and consistency. PoolDawg physically tested the hardness of the tips in this chart rather than relying solely on manufacturer claims. Softer tips generally provide more grip and feel, while harder tips can deliver a firmer hit and more efficient energy transfer. Softer tips also tend to require more maintenance to keep their shape and playing characteristics consistent, while harder tips generally hold their shape longer and require less frequent maintenance. The measurements use a durometer, a tool designed to measure the hardness of materials.
How Tip Hardness Affects Feel, Spin, and Control
Tip hardness affects how the cue feels at impact and how the cue ball responds. Softer tips compress more, creating longer dwell time and a softer feel that many players prefer for applying English and draw. Harder tips compress less, producing a crisper hit and more direct energy transfer.
- Soft tips (approx. 66 to 74 Shore A): Longer dwell time and a softer feel can make applying spin and English feel more natural. They are also more prone to mushrooming and require more maintenance.
- Medium tips (75 to 84): Balance feel, spin, power transfer, and durability, making them a popular all-around choice.
- Hard tips (85 to 92): Provide a crisper, more direct hit and efficient energy transfer while holding their shape longer between shapings.
- Extra-hard and break tips (93 and up): Provide minimal give and maximum energy transfer, making them well suited for high-speed power breaks.
Softer tips are also generally easier to scuff and can hold chalk well, while harder tips require less maintenance, hold their shape longer, and are less prone to mushrooming.
Ultimately, it boils down to personal preference. Look at your own game and you should be able to determine which tip is going to work best for you.
Testing Methodology
The methodology we use for testing tip density is as follows:
- Use a standard Shore A Durometer (0-100 hardness scale)
- 1Kg (2.2 lbs) of pressure
- Measure the density of three tips per brand
- Take the average of the three measurements to determine a density rating
Quick Reference: Soft, Medium, Hard, and Break Tip Categories
| Hardness Category | Approx. Shore A Range | Example Tips (from PoolDawg's tested data) | Typical Use |
| Soft | 66-74 | Zan (Soft), Kamui Black (Super Soft), Moori (Soft) | Spin control, players who prioritize feel |
| Medium | 75-84 | Caiden Fighter (Medium), Predator Victory (Medium), Tiger Sniper | All-around play, beginner players |
| Hard | 85-92 | G2 (Hard), Kamui Athlete (Hard), Le Pro | Crisp hit, low maintenance |
| Extra Hard / Break | 93+ | Samsara Jump Break, Tiger Ice Breaker, Bulletproof Clear | Power breaks |
Pool Cue Tip Hardness Chart
| Tip Brand | Tip Size | Hardness (Shore A) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Skin (Pro, White Stamp) | 14mm | 61.8 | Click for Price |
| Kamikaze Black (Super Soft) | 14mm | 62 | Click for Price |
| Ultra Skin (Very Soft, Green Stamp) | 14mm | 62.2 | Click for Price |
| Kamikaze Black (Soft) | 14mm | 64.7 | Click for Price |
| Ultra Skin (Soft, Gold Stamp) | 14mm | 64.8 | Click for Price |
| Dr. V's Titlist Pro (Soft) | 14mm | 65 | Click for Price |
| Zan (Soft) | 14mm | 66.3 | Click for Price |
| Elk Master | 10-14mm | 66.8 | Click for Price |
| Navigator Automatic (Extra Soft) | 14mm | 67 | Click for Price |
| ON Cyborg Black (Super Soft) | 14mm | 67 | Click for Price |
| Kamui Black (Super Soft) | 14mm | 67.5 | Click for Price |
| Bulletproof AIM (Soft) | 14mm | 68-69 | Click for Price |
| Black Heart (Soft) | 14mm | 68.7 | Click for Price |
| Da Vinci (Soft) | 14mm | 68.7 | Click for Price |
| 5280 Red Line (Tiger) | 14mm | 69.2 | Not Available |
| Kamui (Super Soft) | 14mm | 69.2 | Click for Price |
| ON Cyborg Black (Soft) | 14mm | 70 | Click for Price |
| Caiden Warrior (Super Soft) | 14mm | 70.5 | Click for Price |
| HOW (Soft) | 14mm | 70.8 | Click for Price |
| Navigator Automatic (Soft) | 14mm | 71 | Click for Price |
| Bulletproof AIM (Medium) | 14mm | 72-74 | Click for Price |
| Kamikaze Black (Medium) | 14mm | 72 | Click for Price |
| Morakami (Super Soft) | 14mm | 72.0 | Click for Price |
| Ultra Skin (Medium, Silver Stamp) | 14mm | 72.1 | Click for Price |
| Kamui Black (Soft) | 14mm | 72.3 | Click for Price |
| Aramith Laminated (Soft) | 14mm | 72.6 | Click for Price |
| Moori (Soft) | 14mm | 72.8 | Click for Price |
| Da Vinci (Medium) | 14mm | 73.6 | Click for Price |
| HOW Titan (Soft) | 14mm | 73.6 | Click for Price |
| Caiden Fighter (Soft) | 14mm | 74 | Click for Price |
| Dr. V's Titlist Pro (Medium) | 14mm | 74 | Click for Price |
| Fuji (Soft) | 14mm | 74.2 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Eagle Eye | 14mm | 74.2 | Click for Price |
| Morakami (Soft) | 14mm | 74.3 | Click for Price |
| Caiden Warrior (Soft) | 14mm | 74.5 | Click for Price |
| G2 (Soft) | 14mm | 74.8 | Click for Price |
| ON Cyborg Black (Medium) | 14mm | 75 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Nitro | 14mm | 75 | Click for Price |
| Hirano (Soft) | 14mm | 75.2 | Click for Price |
| Predator Victory (Soft) | 14mm | 75.3 | Click for Price |
| HOW (Medium) | 14mm | 75.4 | Click for Price |
| Flying Pig (Medium) | 14mm | 75.5 | Click for Price |
| Kamikaze Black (Hard) | 14mm | 75.5 | Click for Price |
| Moori (Medium) | 14mm | 75.5 | Click for Price |
| Katana Tip by Tiger | 14mm | 75.7 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Everest | 14mm | 75.7 | Click for Price |
| Aramith Laminated (Medium) | 14mm | 75.8 | Click for Price |
| Bulletproof AIM (Hard) | 14mm | 76-77 | Click for Price |
| Navigator Automatic (Medium) | 14mm | 76 | Click for Price |
| Pechauer Jade (Soft) | 14mm | 76 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Emerald | 14mm | 76.0 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Onyx | 14mm | 76.4 | Click for Price |
| Black Heart (Medium) | 14mm | 76.6 | Click for Price |
| Ultra Skin (Hard, Red Stamp) | 14mm | 76.6 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Laminated (Soft) | 14mm | 76.7 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Sniper | 14mm | 77.8 | Click for Price |
| Zan (Medium) | 14mm | 77.8 | Click for Price |
| Kamikaze Black (Super Hard) | 14mm | 78 | Click for Price |
| Kamui II (Soft) | 14mm | 78.1 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Laminated (Medium) | 14mm | 78.2 | Click for Price |
| Fuji (Medium) | 14mm | 78.5 | Click for Price |
| Kamui Black (Medium) | 14mm | 78.7 | Click for Price |
| Ultra Skin (Heavy Hitter, Blue Stamp) | 14mm | 78.7 | Click for Price |
| Caiden Fighter (Medium) | 14mm | 79 | Click for Price |
| Caiden Warrior (Medium) | 14mm | 79.5 | Click for Price |
| Great White | 14mm | 79.6 | Click for Price |
| Talisman Pro (Soft) | 14mm | 79.6 | Click for Price |
| Predator Victory (Medium) | 14mm | 79.8 | Click for Price |
| ON Cyborg Black (Hard) | 14mm | 80 | Click for Price |
| Pechauer Jade (Medium) | 14mm | 80 | Click for Price |
| G2 (Medium) | 14mm | 80.1 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Dynamite | 14mm | 80.8 | Click for Price |
| Morakami (Medium) | 14mm | 81.3 | Click for Price |
| HOW Titan (Medium) | 14mm | 81.4 | Click for Price |
| Tiger Laminated (Hard) | 14mm | 81.7 | Click for Price |
| Da Vinci (Hard) | 14mm | 81.9 | Click for Price |
| Talisman Water Buffalo (Medium) | 14mm | 82.0 | Click for Price |
| Kamui II (Medium Soft) | 14mm | 82.2 | Click for Price |
| Dr. V's Titlist Pro (Hard) | 14mm | 83 | Click for Price |
| Talisman Water Buffalo (Hard) | 14mm | 83.2 | Click for Price |
| Tweeten Virgin | 12.5mm | 83.3 | Click for Price |
| Kamui II (Medium) | 14mm | 83.4 | Click for Price |
| Talisman Pro (Medium) | 14mm | 83.5 | Click for Price |
| Fuji (Hard) | 14mm | 83.8 | Click for Price |
| Caiden Fighter (Hard) | 14mm | 84 | Click for Price |
| Navigator Automatic (Hard) | 14mm | 84 | Click for Price |
| Predator Victory (Hard) | 14mm | 84.3 | Click for Price |
| Moori (Hard) | 14mm | 84.4 | Click for Price |
| Talisman Pro (Hard) | 14mm | 84.4 | Click for Price |
| Caiden Warrior (Hard) | 14mm | 84.5 | Click for Price |
| Hirano (Medium) | 14mm | 84.8 | Click for Price |
| Kamui Black (Hard) | 14mm | 84.8 | Click for Price |
| G2 (Hard) | 14mm | 85.5 | Click for Price |
| HOW (Hard) | 14mm | 85.6 | Click for Price |
| Pechauer Jade (Hard) | 14mm | 86 | Click for Price |
| Aramith Laminated (Hard) | 14mm | 86.6 | Click for Price |
| Scorpion | 14mm | 86.8 | Click for Price |
| Zan (Hard) | 14mm | 87.4 | Click for Price |
| Morakami (Hard) | 14mm | 87.5 | Click for Price |
| Black Heart (Hard) | 14mm | 88.2 | Click for Price |
| Le Pro* | 10-14mm | 88.2 | Click for Price |
| WB Water Buffalo | 13-14mm | 88.2 | Click for Price |
| HOW Titan (Hard) | 14mm | 88.7 | Click for Price |
| Talisman Pro (Extra Hard) | 14mm | 88.7 | Click for Price |
| Kamui Sai Control | 14mm | 90 | Click for Price |
| Blue Elf (Hard) | 14mm | 90.4 | Click for Price |
| Hirano (Hard) | 14mm | 90.6 | Click for Price |
| Zan Hybrid MAX | 14mm | 90.8 | Click for Price |
| Triangle | 12-14mm | 91.0 | Click for Price |
| Triumph | 14mm | 92.0 | Click for Price |
| Kamui II (Hard) | 14mm | 92.2 | Click for Price |
| Samsara Jump Break | 14mm | 95.5 | Click for Price |
| Mezz Ingot | 14mm | Buffalo | Click for Price |
| Tiger Ice Breaker | 14mm | Laminated Leather w/Phenolic Jacket | Click for Price |
| Tiger Jump | 14mm | Cow/ pig laminated | Click for Price |
— indicates a tip size not supplied in the updated data.
*Le Pro tips are extremely difficult to rate as the hardness varied quite a bit. The initial rating of 96.3 has been revised as the coating layer that comes on these tips were throwing off the hardness measurement. Once the coating was removed, the tips proved to be softer, however there was still a wide variance from tip to tip.
Please note that this chart is not meant to be authoritative. Rather, this is a reporting of our findings based on a small sample size.
Shore A vs. Shore D: Comparing Durometer Scales
A durometer measures the hardness of a material, but different durometer scales are designed for different hardness ranges. PoolDawg uses the Shore A scale because it is designed for softer materials and provides a more appropriate measurement for the range of hardness found in pool cue tips. Some outside testing uses the Shore D scale, which is intended for harder materials. Because of these differences, it is normal to see different readings between durometer charts without one necessarily being incorrect.
How to Choose the Right Cue Tip Hardness for Your Game
Most players do well with a medium tip in the 75 to 84 Shore A range, which balances feel, spin, and durability. From there, your playing style, stroke, and maintenance tolerance determine whether to go softer or harder. While there is no universal "best" tip, these steps can help narrow down the options:Decide how much spin control matters most to your game. Softer tips tend to grip the cue ball more easily, while harder tips generally provide a firmer, more direct hit.
- Consider your stroke speed and comfort with cue ball movement. Players with a smoother stroke often prefer softer or medium tips, while players with a firm, controlled stroke may prefer the feedback of a harder tip.
- If you're still developing your stroke, lean toward soft or medium tips. These tips are often more forgiving and can help newer players learn cue ball control and spin.
- If you prefer a crisper hit or play with a more powerful stroke, consider medium or hard tips. These tips generally require less maintenance and provide a more consistent feel over time.
- Check PoolDawg product pages and customer reviews before making your final choice. Reviews from other players can provide helpful insight into how a tip performs in real-world play.
Ultimately, it boils down to personal preference. Look at your own game and you should be able to determine which tip is going to work best for you.
Cue Tip Care and Maintenance
Proper cue tip maintenance helps keep your tip performing consistently and can extend its useful life. Softer tips generally require more frequent attention, while harder tips tend to hold their shape longer, but every tip should be checked regularly for changes in shape, surface, or feel.
- Scuff and shape soft tips regularly to help prevent mushrooming and maintain a consistent playing shape.
- Check for glazing, which can create a smooth, hardened surface that makes it harder for chalk to adhere to the tip.
- Watch for flattening or excessive mushrooming, especially with soft and medium tips.
- Inspect for chips or cracks, particularly on hard and extra-hard tips.
- Replace the tip when its shape or feel becomes inconsistent, regardless of its hardness.
FAQs About Pool Cue Tips
What do soft, medium, and hard pool cue tips mean for feel, spin, and control?
Soft tips generally provide more feel and grip on the cue ball, while hard tips offer a firmer, crisper hit and more efficient energy transfer. Medium tips sit between the two, offering a balance of feel, spin, and consistency.
How do Shore A and Shore D durometer scales compare in cue tip hardness charts?
Shore A and Shore D are different durometer scales designed for different material hardness ranges, so their readings are not directly comparable. PoolDawg uses Shore A because it is better suited for measuring the softer materials used in pool cue tips.
Which cue tip hardness should I choose for my game?
The right hardness depends on your playing style, stroke, desired feel, and maintenance preferences. Softer tips can be a good choice for players who prioritize feel and spin, while harder tips may suit players who prefer a firmer hit and less frequent maintenance.
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