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.

As to the advantages and disadvantages of the different densities, at its most basic level, the softer the pool cue tip, the more likely it is to mushroom or flatten out with each hit of the cue ball. What this means is that a soft tip will require more maintenance than a harder tip.

Players that prefer a soft tip believe there is a relation between tip softness and English. The theory is that softer tips allow for more English and control over the ball. In addition, softer tips are typically easier to scuff and have better chalk retention. Harder tips on the other hand, require far less maintenance than soft tips. They hold their shape and don't mushroom as quickly, so you'll be replacing your tip far less often when you go with a hard tip over a soft.

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.

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

 

Tip Brand Tip Size     Hardness Price
Zan (Soft) 14mm 66.3 Click for Price
Elk Master 10-14mm 66.8 Click for Price
Kamui Black (Super Soft) 14mm 67.5 Click for Price
Da Vinci (Soft) 14mm 68.7 Click for Price
Black Heart (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
Morakami (Super Soft) 14mm 72.0 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
Fuji (Soft) 14mm 74.2 Click for Price
Morakami (Soft) 14mm 74.3 Click for Price
G2 (Soft) 14mm 74.8 Click for Price
Hirano (Soft) 14mm 75.2 Click for Price
Predator Victory (Soft) 14mm 75.3 Click for Price
Moori (Medium) 14mm 75.5 Click for Price
Flying Pig (Medium) 14mm 75.5 Click for Price
Tiger Everest 14mm 75.7 Click for Price
Aramith Laminated (Medium) 14mm 75.8 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
Tiger Laminated (Soft) 14mm 76.7 Click for Price
Zan (Medium) 14mm 77.8 Click for Price
Tiger Sniper 14mm 77.8 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
Talisman Pro (Soft) 14mm 79.6 Click for Price
Great White 14mm 79.6 Click for Price
Predator Victory (Medium) 14mm 79.8 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
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
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
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
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
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
Le Pro* 10-14mm 88.2 Click for Price
Black Heart (Hard) 14mm 88.2 Click for Price
WB Water Buffalo 13-14mm 88.2 Click for Price
Talisman Pro (Extra Hard) 14mm 88.7 Click for Price
Blue Elf (Hard) 14mm 90.4 Click for Price
Hirano (Hard) 14mm 90.6 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
Tiger Jump 14mm Cow/ pig
laminated
Click for Price
Mezz Ingot 14mm Buffalo Click for Price
Tiger Ice Breaker 14mm Laminated Leather
w/Phenolic Jacket
Click for Price


*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.
 

 

< Back to Buying Guide Choose the Perfect Pool Cue Case >