I switched from the phenolic tip that came on the Predator BK2 to the Samsara leather break tip, and although they both hit very, very hard, the sound is completely different. I'd say the best way to determine if a tip was phenolic on the fly would be to listen to the sound it makes when it contacts the cue ball; there's a very specific high I am currently using a pressed water buffalo tip and would love to change to a harder tip that is leather as well. I am in dilemma as to choosing between Odega or Samsara. Have one on my Gilbert jump/break and just recently compared it to a phenolic tipped breaker and a g10 tipped jump and the Samsara held its own but takes chalk better Breaking hard can compress the tip and misshape it (make it harder) when using softer tips. That is the ONLY reason to use a break cue. And, for that reason, all you need is a house cue. When one uses their playing cue, they tend to be more accurate with it. It is a part of them, they know how to control it. Leave .020″ of the brown phenolic before gluing on the replacement tip. SHAFT MAINTENANCE. To clean your Poison shaft, use a towel slightly dampened with rubbing alcohol. After cleaning, use a leather burnisher or similar material to seal the shaft. Using a Carnuba wax may also help to seal the shaft and protect it from moisture. 2. BOING - This is the latest jump cue tip. We take a solid leather tip and hollow out the middle. We insert a spring (tension defined by customer) and fill the tip up with the residue we created. This bad boy can bounce a ball. In a pinch, one can also use this as a pogo stick to get out of a bad situation. 3. Grabby - The first Masse tip ever Navigator tips are made using 100% Japanese pigskin leather. They are laminated and pressed utilizing a specialized method, which features a proprietary adhesive that won't affect the leather's hardness. The Navigator Break Impact is a hybrid phenolic break tip. Most phenolic tips are designed to generate power, but at the cost of cue ball Aug 17, 2014. #1. I've just bought a cheap cue that has been converted to a break cue by adding a phenolic ferrule. This cue breaks incredibly well, but I'm slightly concerned by the ferrule/tip, which is practically flat. I'm not the original owner, so didn't see the curvature of the tip after it was fitted, but can't imagine it was as flat as I have been using the linen and canvas phenolic 1/4" tips for customers, but realize that most newer players are buying the cheaper import cues and tend to miscue with their "powerful" stroke and have had a few tips come back because they popped off with a miscue. For the past 6 months I've only used canvas phenolic ferrule/tip combos! Silver Member. Jun 16, 2009. #23. mrgoochio said: One would not need to argue As it is written, ALL phenolic tips are banned regardless of which cue it is on. True! but read the contradictory statement from Bill Stock, in which he said that "jump cues will not be affected." This exclusion needs to be inserted into the rule book. Chalk has grit in it. The grit is driven equally into the surfaces of two equally hard materials like phenolic-phenolic. For leather against phenolic, the grit goes mostly into the tip during tip-ball contact. But you don't have to take my word for it. Get a brand new ball and shoot a dozen break shots with a phenolic tip and then look at the OCoA.