Do you need your pool cue tip replaced? If so, you can go to a local cue repair shop or you can try installing it on your own.

If you'd like to try to DIY it, then this video would be a good guide.  I'm not sure who posted this video, but it is very similar to how I used to install my tips when I was in college.  This is a good way to do it if you don't have access to a professional or don't want to spend the money.

I would recommend that you use a professional if you can. If you do try this, be careful!  It is easy to carve some material off of your ferrule when trimming the edge of the new tip.

The most difficult part of the install, IMHO, is prepping the end of the ferrule after removing the old tip.  It is crucial that you sand the end of the ferrule square and flat, while removing all of the old tip and glue.

In this video, it looks like he is using some type of two-part epoxy/glue.  I always used Super Glue in the past.  I think a lot of people still use that, but I think the best glue on the market today is Gorilla glue.  Tiger products has a special glue for tips that I haven't tried.

In the video, this guy is installing a Moori tip.  This is a great tip.  I highly recommend them.  One thing to note about layered tips.  A lot of people like to apply liquids or a sharpie to the edge of the tip to give it a "burnished" look or to keep it from mushrooming.  I would not recommend doing that.  Talisman makes a layered tip (another high-quality tip, BTW) much like Morri.  They warn that some liquids have chemicals that can interact with the glue in the tip layers, causing delamination.  They also recommend shaping with a tool like this... The Cue Cube

Talisman also warns not to use a tip-shaping tool with razor-cutters, because it could damage the layers. That is why they recommend using a tool like the cue cube shown above. Something that "grinds" the tip into shape, instead of cutting it. Talisman also advises not to make the new tip too high. It should not be higher than the tip's diameter. In other words, shape it down a little so it doesn't stand super-high, because the bottom layers could fail and the tip fall off at the base.  Also, don't use the needle-type tip-tappers, because they can cause layered tips to fray.

We have mentioned Moori and Talisman tips, but I should mention some other tips that are of very good quality and very popular. They include Tiger Sniper cue tips, Water Buffalo cue tips, Kamui II cue tips, Diamondback cue tips and Le Pro cue tips just to name a few. Anyhow, here is the video.  This guy does a nice job with his cue tip install.

Good luck with your tip replacements. Let me know if you try this and how it turns out.

Cheers,
Skippy

In this video, future Pro Player, Landon Shuffet, reveals what he keeps in his cue case.

Landon Shuffet is an up-and-coming young player.  He has a lot of talent and experience for someone his age.  I think he was 14 at the time of this video.  Listening to him, you might not realize that he is that young.  For his age, he is very knowledgable and tournament tested.  He is one of the future super-stars in the contigency of U.S. players.

So let's find out what secret weapons Landon has hidden in that beautiful Jack Justis Case of his....

Landon has a rather odd combination of butts and shafts.  He is playing with a Predator Butt and an OB-2 Shaft. He says that he had played with an
OB-1 Cue Shaft
for a few years and loved it a lot, but the new OB-2 shaft is even better, definetly an upgrade in his opinion. He plays with a
Moori tip (Medium Hardness)
.


That is the same tip that I have used in the past and liked very much. It is a pigskin tip with 11 layers of lamination. They are very popular tips.
His setup is the same for his break cue. He has the Predator BK2 Break cue (butt only) and he uses an OB shaft designed for break cues. He likes the feel of the OB shaft for breaking compared to the Predator shaft.



Predator BK2 - Break Cue with No Wrap

Landon carries a jump cue made by Steve Lomax who makes the Bunjee jump cues. Landon swears by these jump cues and thinks they are the best jump cue out there.



Bunjee Jump Cue - Ebony

One of the coolest pool gadgets to come out in recent history is the pool cue extensions. Landon carries one that is called the Cue Reach and I like it a lot, too, because they allow you to shoot "reach" shots much more naturally...without stretching and losing accuracy. Worth the small cost IMHO.



Cue Reach Pool Cue Extension

Everything else is sort of basic stuff...


a towel



Ultra Glide Hand Talc




Smooth Slide Burnishing paper similar to Nicks Edge shown here

...and a tip tool.
All of this stuff is held in a custom made Jack Justis case that is beautiful. Jack makes great cases that are very functional, too. Landon is a lucky guy to have that case.
Here is the video with Landon...thanks to InsidePoolMag.com for providing the interview.

Cheers,
Skippy

In the video below, professional player and pool playing legend, Johnny Archer, reveals what he keeps inside his pool case.

Johnny Archer, aka "The Scorpion", is one of the most successful professional players of the last couple of decades. He is about the same age as me, so I have enjoyed watching him play many matches over the years. He has won just about every major title and has amassed a long list of victories over the last 20+ years of competitive pool. He is a great player and an invaluable asset to the sport of pool IMO, so when he reveals what's in his cue case, I want to sit-up and pay attention.

So just what does he carry....

Obviously, Johnny has some Scorpion Cues in his case, after-all, he helped design them.  You should watch the video to get some more insight into Johnny's opinion about these cues. He carries 3 cues in his bag along with several extra shafts. Let's break-down his cue selection. I'll give you some more details about these cues, just in case you are interested in finding one.
First is his main playing cue. He is playing with the JA-03 model of Scorpion cue. Johnny mentions that he likes to play with a Triangle brand tip on his cue. Here are some links to this exact model of cue and the specs for it.



Scorpion JA03 - Johnny Archer Signature Pool Cue Stick

The specs...

Similar to the Cuetec shafts, the Scorpion cue shafts are coated with fiberglass to protect the cue. Johnny seems to play well with those shafts, so I guess that speaks for itself.
His second cue was a Scorpion Break cue. Here are some links to this cue if your interested along with the specs for this cue.



Scorpion Break Pool Cue Stick

Here are the specs for this cue...
Tip: 13mm Proprietary Extra Hard Leather Tip
Ferrule: Stainless Steel breaker ferrule
Shaft: Black 29" Hard rock maple with fiberglass power bonded to it. 12 - 14" pro taper
Collar: Black Composite
Joint: Black Composite
Pin: 3/8 x 14 stainless steel
Forearm: Solid black forearm
Rings: Exclusive Power Rings
Wrap: Exclusive Power Rings
Sleeve: Black
Plate: None
Bumper: Black rubber
He also had a Scorpion jump cue in his case, which he seemed to like. He mentioned that he worked with the manufacturer to develop the jump cues. Johnny is a great jumper, so I would give them a try. Here is the information on that cue...



Scorpion Jump Pool Cue Stick

The specs for the Scorpion jump cue...
Tip: Proprietary super-hard leather jump tip
Ferrule: Brass
Shaft: 13-14" pro taper
Collar: Stainless Steel
Pin: 3/8 x 14 stainless steel
Forearm: Solid black forearm with blue and gold scorpion logo
Wrap: Black Veltec
Sleeve: Black
Bumper: Black rubber

Other than the insight into his cues, he doesn't reveal to many secret weapons on his bag of tricks. If you ever seen him play, you know that he uses a lot of powder, so he had that. Oddly enough, he had a ton of chalk in his case...apparently, he likes to swipe the chalk cubes off of tables, so watch your chalk around him
I wish he would have mentioned who made his cue case. If you know, comment below, I'm sure others would be interested.
It looks like he's a bit of a minimalist, like myself, when it comes to his supplies in his case (unless he's holding-out on us). I never carry too many gadgets in my case, either.
Anyhow...here is the video...Thanks to InsidePool for making this interview available.

BTW, if you like Johnny's cues...you can get 20% Off Scorpion Pool Cues


Cheers,
Skippy