Choose the Right Cue Tip Size: Snooker, American Pool & English Pool (2024)

FAQs

Choose the Right Cue Tip Size: Snooker, American Pool & English Pool? ›

For American Pool, a ferrule and tip diameter of at least 11.2mm to 13mm is required due to the larger ball size. American cues often feature a different type of ferrule, which initially may seem like a gimmick but significantly impacts play.

For American Pool, a ferrule and tip diameter of at least 11.2mm to 13mm is required due to the larger ball size. American cues often feature a different type of ferrule, which initially may seem like a gimmick but significantly impacts play.

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.

Snooker Cues and English Pool Cues

The key difference between them becomes apparent when looking at the finer details between them. Both cues are made from Ash timber, giving them their noticeable grain. However, the difference lies in the tip size, and the ferrule's material.

Elkmaster Cue Tips are the best selling snooker cue tip and the choice of most professional players. Elkmaster is the finest cue tip that “know how”, skilled workmanship and high quality materials can produce. Impregnated with chalk dust to reduce mis-cueing.

English Pool: English Pool cues have tip sizes between 7mm and 9mm. Smaller tips, around 7mm to 8mm, provide greater accuracy and are preferred by advanced players. A larger tip, around 8.5mm to 9mm, offers more control and spin for beginners and intermediate players.

Riley Ronnie O'Sullivan 2 Piece North American Ash Snooker & Pool Cue - 145cm - 9.5mm tip with Soft Cue Case.

Medium tips are favored by many professional players for their versatility and consistency. Hard Cue Tips: These tips are more durable and less prone to wear, but they may provide less grip and spin control. Hard tips are suitable for players who prefer a more direct and powerful strike.

The starting rule of thumb is the tip should have a nice rounded dome to it. Your idea of what is a “nice rounded dome” is up to you! One way to understand that is if you read about this product, the QCard Multi-tool which allows you to see what shape of tip you want on your tip…

Break shots are usually struck close to the center of the cue ball so Phenolic tips, which are just as hard as the balls themselves, can still put a smooth, solid hit on the cue ball without miss-cueing. Phenolic tips are very popular because they transfer the most power and require almost no maintenance.

What size cue tips do the pros use? ›

Professionals in Europe, Australia, and the USA watch out for cue tip size, hardness, durability, and consistency in delivering powerful shots. These tips across regions start from 11.9mm, 12mm to 13mm, with varying benefits and advantages. American pro pool cue tips range from 12.5mm-135mm.

Professionals generally prefer smaller tips, as they provide greater precision for the intricate shots that snooker demands. However, amateur players may opt for a slightly larger tip to enhance control and consistency. In pool, cue tip sizes are usually larger, ranging from 11.5mm to 14mm.

Additionally while the tip is only slightly smaller the difference in ball sizing means that using a snooker cue to hit pool balls increases your chances of miscuing and imparting unwanted spin on the cue ball (and ultimately object ball as well).

Peradon cues are of the highest quality and Peradon have more experience than anyone and Peradon are the oldest cue makers in the world, so if they don't know how to do it no one does. So if you're looking to buy a quality snooker cue then you can't go wrong choosing a Peradon Cue.

While snooker and pool share some similarities, they are two distinct games played on different tables with different rules and equipment. Snooker is played on a larger table with smaller pockets and smaller balls. The balls used in snooker are also numbered differently and have a different colour scheme.

Tips shaped to a dime have a smaller contact point with the cueball, so in theory they can create more spin, but the smaller “sweet spot” can be slightly less forgiving. I prefer a nickel shape, personally, because I find that a nickel is more forgiving and versatile.