Short answer: The best cue tip is one that stays consistent: for most players, a layered pigskin tip in medium. Harder tips last longer and hold their shape; softer tips hold chalk better and feel softer. Re-tip when the leather is worn almost to the ferrule or won't hold chalk.
By Andy Gibson · Updated 18 October 2026
Does tip hardness change spin?
Not directly. Dr Dave Alciatore, a mechanical engineering professor at Colorado State University who researches cue and ball physics, finds that tip hardness within the normal range should not change how much spin you can put on the cue ball, and that the miscue limit is the same for soft and hard tips, as long as the tip is chalked and maintained. Spin comes from where you hit the cue ball.
What hardness does change:
| Soft | Medium | Hard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Softer, less impact in the grip hand | In between | Firmer, more impact in the grip hand |
| Sound | More of a thud | In between | Less of a thud |
| Holding chalk | Best | Good | Needs more scuffing or tapping |
| Shape and life | Compresses more and hardens with use | In between | Lasts longer, holds its shape |
| Cue ball speed | Slightly less for the same stroke | In between | Slightly more energy transfer |
Source: Dr Dave Alciatore's cue tip hardness research. His tests found hardness makes little difference to cue ball deflection; a tip's mass matters more.
Two things to know before you choose. Hardness grades are set by each maker, so compare grades within one brand rather than across brands. And soft tips get harder as they're played and compressed, so a soft tip won't stay as soft as it was new.
Layered vs solid cue tips: what's the difference?
- Solid (single-layer) tips are cut from one piece of leather. They are hard-wearing, but small flaws or uneven thickness in the hide can make one tip play differently from the next, or stop it holding its shape.
- Layered (laminated) tips are made from thin layers of leather, usually pigskin, glued and pressed together. Tip maker Chris Renfro, quoted by Dr Dave, counts consistency, each tip matching the last, among a good tip's core qualities, and says good layered tips largely have the edge on it. A laminated tip also plays much the same as it wears down.
Taom's range shows how layered tips are built. The Pro is 6-layer pigskin in snooker sizes (10 mm) and 9-layer in pool sizes (14 mm), in soft, medium and hard. The Heat uses the same layer counts and plays slightly firmer than the Pro at each hardness, built to feel the same from edge to centre. The Fusion, Taom's flagship, is seven layers of pigskin.
| Tip | Build | Hardness | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taom Pro | Layered pigskin (6 or 9 layers) | Soft, medium, hard | Playing tip, snooker and pool |
| Taom Heat | Layered pigskin (6 or 9 layers) | Soft, medium, hard; firmer than Pro | Playing tip, consistent edge to centre |
| Taom Fusion | Layered pigskin (7 layers), 10 or 14 mm | Not graded | Playing tip, Taom's flagship |
| Taom BJ3 | Single-layer cowhide on a pad, 14.6 mm | Hard | Break and jump cues |
| Kamui SAI Control Break | Laminated leather and resin, 14 mm | Not graded | Break cues |
| Brunswick Blue Diamond | Water buffalo leather, silica-infused | Not graded | Everyday playing tip, 9 to 11 mm |
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
Which cue tip suits you?
- Most players: a layered tip in medium. It balances chalk holding against tip life, and consistency matters more than the exact grade.
- You want a softer feel, or play mostly with spin: soft or medium-soft, and expect to shape and replace it more often.
- You play a lot and want fewer re-tips: medium-hard or hard, scuffed or tapped regularly so it holds chalk.
- Break or jump cue: a dedicated break tip such as the Taom BJ3 or Kamui SAI Control Break, not a playing tip.
- Club and pub cues: economical single-layer leather tips such as Elkmaster, or a six pack of screw-in tips for cues built for them.
What size cue tip do you need?
The same diameter as your cue's ferrule, the collar the tip sits on. Taom makes 10 and 11 mm tips for snooker cues and 13 and 14 mm for pool cues. Many snooker-style cues sold here have a 9.5 mm tip: the Powerglide Paramount and the Palko PX4 both do. If you can't match the size exactly, fit the next size up and trim it flush with the ferrule.
Glue-on, screw-in or push-on tips?
- Glue-on tips are the standard on good cues. The tip is glued straight onto the ferrule, trimmed flush and shaped.
- Screw-in tips attach with a screw thread, so they only suit cues built for them. They change in seconds with no glue or tools.
- Push-on tips, usually nylon, push into the ferrule. They're the quickest to change and are standard on club cues and rest handles, but nylon holds chalk less well than leather.
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
How do you know when to re-tip a cue?
- It's worn down. There's almost no leather left above the shoulder of the ferrule.
- It won't hold chalk, even after tapping and scuffing, and you're miscueing more often.
- It has mushroomed out past the ferrule and trimming no longer keeps it in shape.
- It's cracked, flattened or coming away from the ferrule.
- It's a travel tip. Palko cues, for example, ship with a protective travel tip that should be replaced with a playing tip before use.
There's no fixed timetable. How long a tip lasts depends on how much you play, the tip's hardness and how hard you scuff it.
How do you re-tip a cue?
You can do it at home without special tools. The usual steps:
- Remove the old tip and clean the top of the ferrule back to a flat, even surface without shortening the ferrule more than you need to.
- Glue the new tip with cue tip cement. Press it square on the ferrule and clamp it until the cement sets: without even pressure, a tip sits proud on one side.
- Trim it flush. Sand or trim the sides while turning the shaft, checking often, until the tip is exactly flush with the ferrule.
- Shape the dome with a tip shaper.
- Scuff or tap the face lightly so it holds chalk, then chalk up.
A tipping kit has the parts in one box. If your cue is valuable and you'd rather not risk the ferrule, a cue repairer can do it for you.
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
How do you look after a cue tip?
- Chalk before every shot. It's the most important tip care there is.
- Keep the shape with a shaper, and trim off any mushrooming as it starts.
- Tap more, scuff less. When the face goes slick and stops holding chalk, a tapping tool roughens it without taking much leather off. Sandpaper works but wears the tip down quickly.
- Keep the cue in its case between games so the tip isn't knocked or squashed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cue tip?
For most players, a layered pigskin tip in medium, such as the Taom Pro or Taom Heat. Consistency from one tip to the next matters more than the brand or exact grade.
Is a soft or hard cue tip better?
Neither gives more spin. Soft tips hold chalk better and feel softer; hard tips last longer and keep their shape. Medium is the usual starting point.
Are layered tips better than solid tips?
They're more consistent, because every tip is built from the same thin layers. Solid tips are hard-wearing but vary more with the leather.
How often should you change a cue tip?
When it's worn almost to the ferrule, won't hold chalk after scuffing, or has cracked or lifted. There's no fixed interval: it depends on how much you play and how hard the tip is.
Can I re-tip a cue myself?
Yes. You need a tip the size of your ferrule, glue, something to trim it flush and a shaper. A tipping kit has the basics.
What size tip does a snooker cue take?
Usually 9 to 11 mm, depending on the cue. Measure the ferrule, or check the tip size listed on the cue's product page.
Why does my new cue have a cheap tip?
Some makers, Palko for example, fit a travel tip to protect the cue in transit. Replace it with a playing tip before you play.
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