53. Tips on Tips - Handy hints

Continuing from the video showing how to change the tip on a cue, Barry shares some more handy hints including maintaining and making a tip last longer, and advice on the wear of the tip with relation to cueing.

[@sundowner62james69]

I have to admit, I would never have even thought about the Chevrons and Cue use! Thanks again for another excellent clip!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

sundowner. Some players prefer to use the chevrons, others do not, at the end of the day its a matter of personal choice.

[@TE_53349]

i use a maple cue and when i forget my cue and pick up an ash cue from the club. its so much easier to see where the shot is going with an ash cue, may be down to me being used to a maple cue

[@shreyaspuri]

Sir, You indeed seem to have a lot of experience and understanding , for a newbie like me it is very helpful and beneficial . Thanks for your effort to make these videos.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Shreyas. Glad to be of help.

[@davemorley85]

Thanks for the reply about making the bottom of the tip smooth or not Barry, at least I know now! Many thanks, all your advice is much appreciated.

[@mocheford]

You are such a jedi master. I listen to each one of your words as if it was gospel. Even your breathing pauses make them sound like music. Many thanks, from France, ô master.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

mocheford. Glad you like the videos.

[@CharlesJohn3DArtist]

Thanks for these wonderful videos Barry Sir. I am an aspiring Snooker player wanted to become a professional player. I have seen all of your videos yesterday at a go continuously and will now be applying them in while I play. Thanks again, looking forward for more videos this year.

[@23CoSo]

Another excellent and useful video. Many thanks, Barry.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Garth. My pleasure, glad you found it useful.

[@mannygujjar]

just want to say, thank you so very much and happy new year, looking forward to see you soon.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

usman. many thanks, happy new year to you also.

[@Kirab220]

Thanks for your guide on tip maintenance 👍. Finally after 3 months of time the tip looks like yours.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Kiran. Keep trying, you will learn to get it right quicker. Good luck.

[@robertconnell5302]

love the coctail stick idea, will b using it, glad i found your channel. Happy new year.

[@TheMimetolithman]

they are called tooth picks in Canada'

[@danwebb9296]

I just tried this for the first time as age is taking its toll on my eyes and wow, it was so easy. My method going forward, thanks Barry Stark!!

[@bobsnooker.3950]

Happy New year Barry. Love the respect you have for the cue and the table . Wish more members in my club understood that the equipment needs respect.

[@Mrphilharmonic]

Cocktail sticks? Masking tape? BRILLIANT!! If ONLY you'd been around when I started doing tipping! Superb 'tips'. Thanks Barry!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mr. I always use the masking tape but only use the cocktail sticks when, for example, I am fitting a 10mm tip to a 10mm cue. Generally I will fit an 11mm tip to a 10mm cue and trim it.

[@zeroggamer24]

Thank you Barry, I started Snooker about 12-13 weeks ago starting off at once a week for a school sport going down to the local club and playing snooker for a few hours for about 10 weeks, now it is the Christmas holidays and I have been bugging my parents to take me down to the club every 2-3 days so we can play snooker for a couple of hours, I'm really enjoying it. I've been watching your tutorials and they have been helpful to me. I am hoping to buy my own cue soon and your tutorials have been helpful so now I know more about cues and cue tips. Again thank you Barry, and I wish you were my snooker coach because I don't have one. Happy New Years wishes from Australia.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

ZeroGGamer. Glad you are enjoying your snooker and the channel. You won't go far wrong if you study how Neil Robertson plays, one of the best players in the world and a nice guy. Happy New Year to you also.

[@zeroggamer24]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Will do, thank you Barry.

[@JackY-fd1vy]

ZeroGGamer WHAT! In Australia you get to play snooker in your SCHOOL!

[@BoarderBoys]

Whats the biggest break u have made so far? :) Happy New Year btw

[@zeroggamer24]

Master Yang. Not 'in' my school, my school lets you choose it as a school sport to take you down the the local club and play snooker for a few hours. They only teach you the basics and tell you the rules, the rest is for you to figure out. But thanks to Barry Stark and watching other snooker videos and tutorials I have learned a much greater deal than what the instructors told me when I first started out.

[@hope-pp1ns]

Thank you sir for your effort in giving us the information.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Manendra. My pleasure, I hope it helps.

[@gintautasnik5214]

Thanks Barry, I will certainly look after my tip

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Gintautas. When you consider that the tip is the only thing in contact with the cue ball it really is important to look after it. Well done.

[@geoscho4705]

Hallo mr stark. All the best for next Year to you. best regards from 🇩🇪

[@proboxers3033]

Thank you for the tips.. Great help 👍

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Happy to help!

[@bullsnutsoz]

Your a champ; thanks Barry

[@davidrobinson4118]

Ah, fountain pens. What a class act! Seriously though Barry, I have only just started playing at the grand age of 63 and find your videos so helpful. Now, what's the quick way for me to do a 50 break!!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

David. When you make that 50 break I guarantee that you will be asking me how to make your first century. Let me say this, there is only one thing that has got hold of that cue, there is only one thing that delivers that cue and that is the hand that holds it. If you want to improve please have a look at my video that covers the grip, in nine out of ten cases the answer lies there. As for a quick way I pass, if you are changing anything, particularly the grip, it is difficult and frustrating. We are all worried about going backwards in our standard of play but that is what must be done to progress as long as we are on the right lines.

[@davidrobinson4118]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Hi Barry, only joking about a quick way, I know there isn't one. I am going through your videos and I love them. Stay safe my friend.

[@jasonnieuwenhuis335]

Thank you again for sharing your knowledge Barry. This is speeding up my improvement. The old guys aren’t rushing over to play me money matches like they were last year anymore. I’m either improving or I have a foul smell😂😂🤔.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Jason. Well done, lets go for the former, you have sweated to improve but now the perspiration has gone and you are improving. Glad that the videos are helping.

[@ihaabomr890]

Happy new year BARRY

[@bicivelo]

I like the nib analogy :-)

[@shakeelmuzaffar2789]

You have good experience in snooker , i learn lots of tricks from your videos, God bless you, we'll Don sir

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Shakeel. Glad to help, many thanks.

[@NilsonJSilva]

muito bons estes vídeos

[@TheFlyingdeuces]

I just got a beautiful cue and on knocking the first tip in I try and hold the cue differently so as to rotate the tip impact hence prolonging it's life and finding the sweet spot and also where not to hold the cue.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

David. I am sorry but I don't believe this is the right way. You may be prolonging the tips life but you are restricting your playing ability. Professionals will always use the cue the same way, not only because of habit but because the tip wears down in relation to how they hit the ball. You can relate it to a person who writes with a fountain pen, the nib will wear in relation to how it is used and its owner will not allow other people to use it. The tip of a cue is rather similar, so please try to use the cue the same way consistently, your game will benefit from it.

[@imranjoziph890]

thanks I like it in hint.

[@davemorley85]

Thanks so much for replying to my questions Barry, I really do appreciate it. Would you be able to do a video on how to brush, block and iron a table correctly ? Also, what is the best way to restore a badly scratched ferrule without actually replacing it? Maybe 0000 wire wool first and then a nail polisher to finish maybe? Or do you need extra fine sandpaper I.e. 2000 grit or 2500 grit wet and dry? I'm just not sure on the different stages to get the scratched ferrule to a decent looking ferrule. Many thanks Barry.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

dmor. Be very conscious of wearing the metal away on the ferrule and with this in mind I would just use the very fine wire wool. If it is very badly scratched it may require a little patience but I do believe its the best way. The nail polisher may be necessary but you will have to use your judgement on that one.

[@harryhillman8239]

Hi Barry As a begginner snooker player, I'm loving your channel and finding it really useful. would you be able to do a small video on how to chalk your cue? Tips on how to apply it, how often, and when you need more chalk in certain situations Thanks Harry :)

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Harry. Have a look at video with Kyren Wilson, we cover that topic in the video.

[@harryhillman8239]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach. Thanks Barry :)

[@salaaman14]

Hi Barry really appreciate your knowledge & passion to teach others key tips & tricks to help improve, very kind of you thanks. I am quite new to snooker but quickly became quite addicted highest break just under 30....my wife getting quite upset as i'm spending more time down the club & watching snooker videos. The other day she threw my queue at me & now it's slightly bent, any advice to straighten will be much appreciated. Smile 😉

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

salaaman. Sounds as if you are going to have the same problem I have had over the years, I turned round on one occasion after cleaning my cue and the wedding ring was threaded on it. As for straightening the cue, my advise is to leave it to the experts.

[@yzer]

Q2q322222. Www22

[@alanwells7379]

mr stark the ferrule [brass] on my adams cue sounds like its loose if I remove it and reglue it what type of glue would you suggest

[@TheAgent4125]

Barry, thanks. How about a video on how to chalk the cue properly? I know it may sound silly... but if you don't chalk correctly you can end up damaging the ferrule or the top of your cue (something that happened to me before), and even making the tip lop-sided. Info on how much/often would be handy too. Thanks again, great videos.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

The Agent 125. Some players allow the indentation in the cue chalk to get a little too deep and as a result catch the wood of the cue when applying the chalk. They will do well to remember that the chalk is a grit and it will wear the tip away. It will also wear the cue away if used incorrectly. I talk about chalking the tip correctly in my video looking at Kyren Wilson practise.

[@TheAgent4125]

Thanks I'll go watch!

[@atiflone1902]

Awesome

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Atif. Glad you like it.

[@vcmc6299]

Hi Barry just a quick question, does the harder generate more spin in the cue ball? As I'm from a tropical weather country, I find it very difficult to play with softer cue tip as the humidity of our atmosphere makes our table slower and harder to pot a long ball with screw. I do find that there are ppl on the Internet that says softer cue tip generate more spin in the cue ball. So which is true? Hope you can shed some light on this. Thanks!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Victor. There is no doubt that a softer tip will grip the cue ball better and therefore generate more spin. However, this also depends on the skill of the player, for example a good player will generate more spin with a hard tip than a poor player will generate with a soft tip.

[@vcmc6299]

Thanks Barry, I however find it hard to generate more spin with the softer cue tip compared to the hard one. I guess my skills are to be blamed unfortunately.

[@RhysTucker2603]

Hello Barry thanks again for a fantastic video 👍 quick question, i see on ebay a lot that there are some very cheap tips for sale e.g. 50 leather tips for about £3 from china. Do you think these are inadequate for snooker and what kind of problems may they present? Thanks a lot 🎱

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Rhys. Even with good quality tips there is often some variation in the feel when shots are played. Good players are very fussy about their tips, they generally like one to be firm yet holding but to achieve this they will nearly always have to spend a little time playing the tip in, so to speak. Although I cannot speak from experience I doubt that tips at that price will be consistent throughout the entire 50.

[@RhysTucker2603]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thank you very much for your reply, very grateful for your advice as always, thanks again Barry👍🎱

[@davemorley85]

Barry, what is the best way to polish the ferrule so that it's nice and smooth & shiny?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

dmor8579 Be careful her, if it is a brass ferrule it will wear away quite rapidly with frequent polishing, Look at my video on tips and how I polish the ferrule. I do it with very smooth emery paper, it cannot be too smooth, there is no abrasive qualities on it of any significance.

[@harryhillman8239]

Hi Barry I have recently got a brand new cue and the tip (elkmaster) is rather flat and bumpy. Is this just a bad tip that has been put on the cue or does it take some time for the chalk to build up and for it to take it's shape? Thanks Harry

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Harry. All tips need a settling in period but they do need you to shape them a little.

[@harryhillman8239]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Thanks for your reply. To shape it, should I use a tool such as the Peradon Tip Mate or does it need something more like cutting into shape?

[@gerhardfaber8699]

Hi Barry. I got an old Peradon Joe Davis cue from a guy for free. But it was made to receive a screw in tip. Is there an easy way to convert the cue tip so that I can glue my tips on? I thought of maybe filling the screw hole with a small dowel and gel super glue? I look forward to your response. Thanks for your amazingly informative videos!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Gerhard. It is not a big job for a reputable cue manufacturer to alter this and replace the ferrule with a new one. I wouldn't try this yourself because you will probably need a lathe for the alterations. The method of dowel and super glue is obviously possible but to be honest it is a bit amateurish and I wouldn't recommend it.

[@gerhardfaber8699]

Hi Barry. Thank you for your prompt reply. Unfortunately we do not have any cue manufacturers where I live in South Africa. At least not in my area. Just to clarify, this seems to have been a diy job gone wrong. The ferrule is a normal one for glue on tips, but it seems someone just drilled a small hole in the tip of the cue and then glued in a screw in tip. The hole in the wood is about 4mm in diameter, that is why I thought of using a small maple dowel and then leveling it of with a hand plane blade. I appreciate you taking the time to give me your advice. Thank you, have a nice day.

[@mohdfairuzahmad5091]

@@gerhardfaber8699 hey m8 just simply place a glue on tip ontop of old screw on tip and work on.. If the old tip was gone including its screw also you can just filled that screw hole with glue and retip it with glue on tip.. Itw work much better because it will be much lower deflection.. Due usually screw on tip hex screw made of brass..

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

Barry, I'll be back in England on or about Nov or December of 2022. Really looking to get my new cue while I'm visiting. I was certain that I'd be going to John's shop and purchasing an in stock model. Now that I've re-watched your cue craft video, I'm uncertain. Would you say there's a discernable difference between the 2?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Bee. Both these company's make a good product, obviously John has the name because of his association with the top players but as a result you will generally pay more. As I understand it Judd Trump used a CueCraft cue for a long time, he didn't do too bad with it, did he. At the end of the day choosing a cue is an individual thing, if it suits you it is right.

[@davemorley85]

Also Barry, is it best to burnish the sides of the tip and what can you use to do this?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

dmor8579. I believe it is a good idea to slightly burnish the side of the tip, I have done it with a beer mat, a piece of leather and even a nail polisher. Some recommend slightly dampening the edge of the tip. The intention is to firm the side of the tip up to stop it collapsing around the edges.

[@CaptMorteza]

Hi. HNY. What type of tip should a player choose? What to consider when choosing between soft, medium or hard tips? Thanks Barry.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mortada. If in doubt about which tip to use I would always go for the middle of the road so choose a medium tip. Some players prefer a hard tip, others a medium but few would opt for a soft tip. In my experience firm but holding is the best option

[@monkeybreeksjov9574]

Hello again Barry, what size tip is best = 9mm or 10mm? How do I know if I need soft, medium or firm tip? Kind regards B

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

monkeybreeks. This is down to personal preference but in my opinion 9.5mm is the ideal tip size for snooker. On my cue I always fit a 10mm tip and then trim it to the cue size. I prefer a medium tip in terms of its hardness.

[@CallumH3ard]

Hey barry would you be able to include links in the description as to where we can purchase the tools used in this video.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Callum. Some of the tools are home made but others such as the tip scuffer are available from most cue manufactures.

[@ANDYD655]

Hi Barry I normally use either blue diamond or elk master tips but I’ve found recently that they seem very inconsistent with regards to hardness and longevity. I was thinking of trying the Kamui tips but I’m not sure which one to get. Could you offer any advice please. I’m a regular 50 break player with a high break of 76 if that helps on which one to choose, thanks

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

ANDYD655. I am afraid that I have never tried the Kamui tips so I can't really offer sound advice. I do know however that John Higgins uses Kamui tips but which one I could not be sure. I am afraid it has got to be a little bit of trial and error but may I suggest you start with medium firmness in the knowledge that most tips tend to firm up a little with use.

[@ANDYD655]

Thanks for the reply Barry, that’s what I was thinking of trying first but wasn’t sure actually how firm they were. Keep the videos coming !

[@LeCharles07]

@@ANDYD655 If you ended up using that Kamui tip, I would be interested in what size and hardness you went with and your opinion on it.

[@ANDYD655]

LeCharles07 hi I’ve started using the kamuii black medium 10 mm which means I need to trim off just a little. Best tip I’ve had In ages. I think they play in much quicker than the elk master tips I normally use ( my first session playing against a team mate I managed to knock in a 82 break which is now my highest break). Possibly one downside is they might not last as long as more conventional tips as they do seem to get harder quicker than elk master or blue diamond. Mine lasted about 3 months then I felt like it was getting too hard for my liking (playing about 3 times a week for an average of 2 hrs each) hope this helps.

[@chrisdoy1963]

Barry Should I use a soft medium or hard tip when playing snooker thanks chris

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

chrisdoy. I prefer a medium tip myself. It should be firm but soft enough to grip the cue ball. Some professionals like the tip to be hard but very few go for the soft option.

[@shanekemp2002]

I usually use a medium tip too, as I find that the soft tips hold chalk better but will flatten out quicker with the constant striking of the cue ball, hard tips on the other hand, hold their shape better but the chalk sometimes doesn’t stick very well, also the hard tip may need roughing up a bit more often than a softer tip. It’s all down to personal preference, on my 9-Ball break cue the tip is extremely hard, this according to the manufacturer, helps to impart more force into the cueball on the break shot. As far as my snooker cue I tend to go for medium as it seems the best of both worlds, holds shape well and holds chalk well too.

[@tomalex4806]

Just a quick question. I've seen loads of players rub the tip against a mortar joint on a brick wall to roughen the tip more. Would u recommend people do this

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Tom. Have not heard of this method of roughening the tip, I'm afraid it sounds a little harsh to me.

[@malikshahrukhzafar9024]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach . hy sir your all videos are awesome and teach us sir have you any club for live coaching I wana to teach from you

[@brianbalme3488]

Hi Barry, we had a discussion few weeks ago about pocket sizes don't know if you remember, I used to be coached by steve prest a lot of years ago, the question i have is , I started to use the super glue gel to put my tips on with few months ago, but also have changed from the old blue diamond ( which you can't get now ) to elk, I now only play around 6 hrs a night 1 night per week, but i am finding the tip is going really hard after only around 3 - 4 weeks of playing. Never before have I had this problem, my tip used to last a few months and this was when playing 4 to 5 times a week with practice and league matches , could you give me any idea what maybe causing this ?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Brian. Any tip will become harder due to time and compression caused by continual striking of the cue ball. The Blue Diamond tips tended to have more depth on them so also tended to last longer provided some of that depth wasn't removed during fitting. Elk Master tips have less depth and I find that they do not last as long but I prefer the playing qualities, however, even though I like to think that I can select a good tip from a box of them I still get it wrong on occasions and find that I am taking it off in a very short time. I cannot really give a sound answer to your question but scraping the side of the tip with your nail, listening to the sound, feeling the fibres before you select the right one and coupled with experience you will learn to pick one that lasts a little longer. Incidentally, I was very good friends with Steve, we worked together for a while, he is sorely missed from our game.

[@brianbalme3488]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks for your reply Barry, will try your suggestions with picking tips, I was playing last night and someone mentioned a company from the states that make blue diamond like they used to ? apparently you can buy them from ebay, may look into this also, thanks again Barry and yes he is also missed from all his old students around here .

[@LONpaulDON]

Hi Barry I was told when changing a tip I need to change the ferrule also what is your opinion on that

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

@LON. Whoever told you that is talking rubbish. Change the ferrule only when it is damaged or needs changing for some other reason. e.g. Changing to a titanium ferrule.

[@emd9129]

In some clubs they doesn't care of the tables as they should do and this uncaring makes the table cloth comes harder to accept the balls action .. So I've to use more power to play but while doing that I got more and more of miss-cueing specially with screw back on 5/6/7 clock on the white ball but when I miss I see my tip and I find that a big part of it comes smooth that mean the white ball deliver a big part of the tip and still missing .. I'm using Buffalo cue 3 pieces with 9.5 tip + Elkmaster tip + Elkmaster blue chalk and I chalk the tip every single shot .. these things take off my confidence while playing .. and make me scuffing the tip every day before play and I make the tip flat shape instead of dome shape(more miss-cueing) to try avoid miss-cueing .. I don't know is my way to play can cause that?? because its not always happen .. some days everything goes very well and some not .. and can you please tell us what is the deference between good chalk and bad chalk .. I think my chalk not stay on the tip and my fingers always comes blue after play .. Thanks Barry

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

eM D. I am sure you would like me to be honest rather than give you false information. There is nothing wrong with Elkmaster tips or chalk, I use them myself. Some Elk tips can become hard and cause the odd mis-cue but I find that the majority of mis-cues are caused by poor technique. Having to scuff your tip regularly will wear it away too quickly and you will become frustrated with continually changing it. You should have a nice dome shape on the tip to start with and then regular chalking and the way in which you personally hit the ball will add to it. Try to keep the cue parallel during your shots, relax and stroke the ball, even on slow tables it is possible to get the desired action without resorting to brute force.

[@juliandonaldson696]

Hello Barry I love watching your videos may I ask when I play snooker I've been told I hold the cue to far away from the cue ball missing to many simple shots what's the easiest way to rectify this please my highest break is 48 years ago so I'm not very good many thanks Barry from julian

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Julian. This is easily rectified providing you give it a little time in your solo practise,. Just take up your normal position then ease the cue forward until you touch the cue ball, get up and repeat the process a few times, your brain will soon start to adapt and make the necessary adjustments telling you where the cue ball is relation to the cue tip. This is particularly a problem for some when using the rest, the player doesn't realise how far he is away from the cue ball until it is pointed out to him, the solution is just the same, move the cue tip forward until you touch the cue ball, don't forget to adjust your overall position as well though.

[@walterwhite6928]

Barry, are elk master tips only available in one firmness ? And how firm are they ?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Walter. As far as I know Elk Master tips are only available in one firmness. However, if you buy a box some will be harder or softer than others. this is because they are made from a natural product. Players try to predict how hard or soft they are and develop their own methods of doing so. Some will dig their nails into the side of the tip, others will scrape their nails along the edge of the tip and listen to the sound made , still others will drop the tip onto a hard surface and listen to the sound. Whichever method is used no player gets it right 100%.

[@bobbyjaybeaumont]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach If you purchase elkmaster pros, you can also select between hard, medium and soft

[@JackY-fd1vy]

Barry, where do you get your outfit for your videos that professionals wear?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Master Yang. Any gentlemen's outfitter will sell waistcoats and bow ties. Even a full evening suit if required.

[@JackY-fd1vy]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach thank you Barry :)

[@thegrimreaper4915]

Great. I now know how to change a tip, but there are no examples of what a tip looks like when it needs changing

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

The Grim. Tips vary so much that there is no definitive guide to this, the player, through experience will know when the tip needs changing. Some will become hard causing lack of feel or mis-cues. Others will start to fray or chip at the edges, the best will last until there is not enough material left to maintain the domed shape that is essential.

[@DaveInBridport]

I bought a new tip for my cue. It's rock hard and last night, on first use, I found shots skipping off the cue ball. Does tip need any sort of conditioning? The one I replaced seemed a lot softer....

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Southmead. Sounds as if you have picked a bad tip which happens from time to time. You don't mention the make of tip you have used so my immediate reaction would be to replace it.

[@shanibutt6633]

Hello Barry stark , I need help for cue tip ,mostly I used blue diamond 10 mm but when ever I retiping my cue some of weeks I can not play well because too much cue ball spin and I could not hit on right angle, so I should go for a hard tip ??

[@shanibutt6633]

Or used to cue tip pressure

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

shani. Generally most players do not like a new tip because they need a certain amount of playing in time. Blue diamond tips do tend to have a lot of depth on them and can need longer to play them in, during this time they can play a little on the soft side. I would try a slightly firmer tip and see the difference, may I suggest an Elk Master tip which has less depth and shorter playing in period.

[@imcovancampfort3475]

Hello, First of all, very helpfull video's! I was searching for a new tip and i came across a 14mm medium tip. Is it too big? Most of the things i find are around 9.5mm ? Thanks in advance.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

imco. I don't know the diameter of your cue but for snooker 14mm is far too big, you will be trimming an awful lot of the tip off. A 10mm cue is fairly normal and it would be acceptable to put an 11mm tip onto it and trim to size but to put a 14mm tip on a 10mm cue is rather silly.

[@dude4game1]

Hello Sir What to do if my cue is bent, I reckon it when i roll it on the table.??????

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Ashish. Rolling a cue on the table is not a true test to see if a cue is bent, a better way is to look along the cue at eye level. If it is slightly bent there are ways of straightening it but I would not advise you to try and do it yourself. Take it to a reputable cue maker and ask his advice.

[@elizabethclarkson9834]

Barry what does it mean when I chalk the tip but the chalk does not cover the tip no matter how long I chalk it for ??

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Elizabeth. Don't want to sound horrible but it seems to me that you may be using an inferior chalk or tip or indeed both. If that is not the case it could be that your tip may need a little attention. Get someone to roughen the playing surface very slightly for you or look at my video on tips for tips, it should help.

[@elizabethclarkson9834]

Thank you Barry I was using elks and triangle chalk

[@michaelpeake7801]

The plastic tubing is called Clear Vinyl Tubing. (C.V.T)

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Michael. Many thanks for that information, I didn't have a clue.

[@michaelpeake7801]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach No Barry, thank you for all your lessons, tips and advice! Your tutorials are excellent!!

[@firstandlast669]

What are your thoughts on CUESOUL Snooker Tips?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

First and Last. Sorry but I have never heard of or used this product.

[@tomalex4806]

I look at my tip of my cue an its like the chalk don't really stick on it it's really smooth. What's wrong with my tip Barry? :(

[@thebibblechannel]

Tom sometimes the problem migth Be on the chalk the chalk is maybe dry

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Tom. As Aleksi says it could be a problem with the chalk. It could also be that the tip has become hard and perhaps needs replacing or just scuffing up a little, please note I said a little.

[@simdhn]

Hi Mr. Stark, I'm currently looking for a cue to buy, so I don't have to use the club's crappy cues... But being a 21yo student, I don't have much cash to invest in a cue... Could you please let me know from what amount on can I expect to find a cue that's decent enough, and that wouldn't feel like a child toy? Thank you

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Sim. This is rather difficult to answer but I have heard of reasonable cues for sale for as little as £40. You don't say where you live but if you search the internet I'm sure you will find cue manufacturers somewhere in your area. My advice is to go along and view their selections. If you are a beginner it may be advisable to take someone along with you who has a little more experience and can guide you in what to look for.

[@simdhn]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach First, thanks for taking the time to answer! I live in Belgium, and I'm and experienced 9- and 8-ball pool player that's always been passionate about snooker, and I recently started playing it... There's a pool/snooker/pub games/... store not that far from my place, but it's not easy to get along with the owner who's very antisocial! A person I know who's a snooker player told me you can't find a good cue under 100€/£... but I was affraid I'd have to pay more than that to get something reliable, that'd last me a very long time and that'd improve my cueing.. Thanks again for your time and your videos!

[@newmovies7612]

Which tip is best for snooker??? Sir i mean that which tip is used by professional players??? Plz tel me the brand name

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Total. This is down to individual preference, there are so many types on the market these days. But since you ask I suppose the most commonly used would be the Elk Master tips.

[@newmovies7612]

Bundle of thanks but there is a elk master pro version also in market and have much difference in prices which is mostly used by professionals???

[@shanekemp2002]

I would say th best tip to use is a leather one! This is personal preference as after using any tip for a while you will adapt to how it plays, I have used Brunswick Blue Diamond, and have started to use the Kamii (laminated tip), all tips are different even those made from the same company, it will depend on the quality of the leather used in the manufacturing process, so it’s an unanswerable question as to which is the best, they all have different characteristics. Try out a few different brands and hardness to see what works for you.

[@HassanRaza-dz2lq]

The plastic tube is just a gas pipe.

[@Fkla-wz5rg]

What tip would you and Kyren use?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Fiachra. Presently Kyren is using Century tips, I flit between Century and Elk Master tips.

[@danilojosedejesus4712]

Os vídeos são perfeitos, dicas muito úteis, mas tem um problema o idioma, pois não falo inglês e compreendo as dicas, pelo conhecimento que tenho de snooker e por deduções do que o mestre fala, se os vídeos fossem legendados seria muito mais proveitosa as aulas, mas valeu, mesmo com minha limitação do idioma os seus vídeos são os melhores!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Luna. Glad you like the videos and I am sorry that language presents something of a barrier, not sure that we can do subtitles but I will ask my cameraman if it is possible. In the meantime Google Translate will help you with any written text. Good luck.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Here is a link for people to contribute subtitles to videos in their language: kzbin.info_cs_panel?c=UCDQiSi2iaA-FWw1J-cf8c6Q&tab=2

[@mikemitchell2070]

omg, as of late I'm missing all kinds of easy shots. the only change is I'm readjusting and changing my hand holding the cue as to not hold the cue the same for every shot which has also been playin mind games when feathing the cue before shotting

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mike. Sounds as if you are varying your grip too much, the position of the grip hand can vary because of the position of the cue ball, also where you need to put the bridge hand, but the formation of the grip should remain pretty much the same.

[@Jack-jf2gz]

On my Parris cue the chevrons slant off to the left which is a bit annoying, especially when you spend £570 on it aha

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Jack. Don't quite know what to say about that but certainly if you have a genuine complaint then I would be contacting the supplier.

[@Jack-jf2gz]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Just something that happens I guess, it being a natural product and all.

[@j.jarvis7460]

That is A YUUGE table..

[@syedakbar9860]

Wich best ques in india

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Syed. Sorry I cannot help but I am not familiar with cues made in India.

[@rishuraj7711]

Why is it that the tips on the cues of most professional players are a bit over-sized that the ferrule?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Rishu. There are a few players who prefer an over size tip but not many. Mark King certainly is one, John Parrot and Peter Ebdon used to use one that was larger than the cue but have now returned to normal flush tips. What tends to happen is that because they are playing every day and hitting a lot of balls the tip does tend to flatten and fan out a little over time. Another trend is that the tip is flush with the cue at its base but when trimmed is cut at a slight angle giving the impression that they are using an over size tip. Stephen Hendry used a tip like this because his cue was on the thin side but the angle trimmed tip gave him a larger striking area.

[@rishuraj7711]

Thank you!

[@montadhralsafi7985]

ليش محد يتجمه

[@user-zt1hs5ho3f]

My speaking eng so bad i want to learn more but in my country we have nothing no Akademik not just playe and take experience I go to leran eng just for Leraning but thanks for free teaching

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

savitar. Please don't apologise for your English, I cannot speak a word of your language so you are doing fine. Hopefully you continue to learn snooker from the videos. Good luck.

[@moneygivemenowplease]

What glue guys? An old snooker guy used to swear by contact adhesive but everyone I know use super glue

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

serial. Contact adhesive is the best in my opinion but you do have to clamp it and leave it overnight. The real beauty of it though is that the glue can easily be picked off when the tip needs changing and the machined surface of the ferrule is maintained. Super glue is fine because the cue is ready to use in minutes, but when the tip needs to be replaced lots of people are a little careless when removing any old glue.

[@abdulmalikmalik280]

i think hard

[@slippyg]

Tape removes grain filler... Don't use tape

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

slippyg. Partly because of this possibility I always use a low adhesive masking tape and have never had a problem, but it is a point worth thinking about.

[@shakeelmuzaffar2789]

I'm from pakistan

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Shakeel. Lots of good players from that part of the world.

[@OGKill]

You blew on your tip! I’ve heard that’s bad.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

The Killtactical. Can you give me the reasons that you think it is bad.

[@OGKill]

The moisture causes the leftover chalk to harden and then you have to reshape it sooner than later. I’ve always been told, never tested it.

[@usman8194]

Ronnies tip lasted 3 years

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Usman. I don't know where you read or heard that but I'm afraid I doubt it is true.

[@mattrowntree3359]

I've just spent over £200 on a new cue ,do I need to do anything with the tip or do I just start playing as it is ?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

MATT. That sometimes depends on the manufacturer but obviously can also depend on the type of tip you like. If the cue is handmade you should be able to specify the tip type you like, if not I would suggest you try it and change it if you don't like it, e.g. it may be harder or softer than you like.

[@youtubesux6361]

In American pool. You never play the cue in 5he same spot like that. The tip wares in unequal.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

@youtube. I really do appreciate the skills involved in American pool but in snooker potting skills need to be a little more precise, using the cue the same way certainly helps.

[@youtubesux6361]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach do people use carbon fiber in snooker?