In billiards, the characteristics of the small head billiard cue tip have a critical impact on the ability to control the rotation when hitting the ball.
First, the hardness of the tip is an important characteristic. A harder tip can more accurately transmit power to the cue ball at the moment of hitting the ball, so that the cue ball can obtain a larger initial speed. This is more beneficial for some hitting methods that require a strong impact effect, such as power transmission when hitting the ball with a strong kick or a long distance. However, the hard tip of the small head billiard cue is relatively weak in generating rotation because it has a small deformation when in contact with the cue ball and the friction is not sufficient. On the contrary, the soft tip will have a larger deformation when hitting the ball, which can better fit the surface of the cue ball and increase the friction, making it easier to give it rotation when hitting the cue ball. For example, when hitting a high or low stick, the soft tip can "bite" the cue ball through its own deformation, so that the cue ball will produce obvious rotation while moving forward or backward, thereby controlling the movement of the cue ball after hitting the target ball.
Secondly, the surface roughness of the tip should not be ignored. The rougher the surface of the leather head, the greater the friction between it and the cue ball, which can play an advantage when strong rotation is required. For example, in snooker games, players often need to move through delicate rotation control, and the rough leather head can help them hit high, low or left and right spin balls more easily. However, if the surface is too rough, it may cause uneven friction between the leather head and the cue ball, affecting the accuracy and stability of the shot. Although the friction of the leather head with a smooth surface is relatively small, it can provide a more stable shot effect in some shots that require precise control of power and direction and do not require high rotation.
Furthermore, the elasticity of the leather head has an indirect effect on the ability to control rotation. The leather head with appropriate elasticity can quickly restore its shape after hitting the ball, reduce energy loss, and make the cue ball obtain more stable power. When hitting a side spin ball, the leather head with better elasticity can better cooperate with the swing direction of the club, effectively transfer the side spin force to the cue ball, and make the cue ball produce an ideal arc movement. If the leather tip is not elastic enough, it may absorb too much energy and recover slowly during the shot, which will greatly reduce the rotation effect and affect the continuity of subsequent shots.
Finally, the material and manufacturing process of the leather tip determine its overall performance. High-quality leather tip materials usually have good wear resistance, elasticity and friction properties, and through fine manufacturing processes, the shape and surface quality of the leather tip can be guaranteed to be uniform. For example, some leather tips made of multi-layer composite materials combine materials with different characteristics, taking into account the requirements of hardness, elasticity and friction, thereby providing players with better rotation control capabilities in different shot scenarios, and improving the performance level of small head billiard cues in billiards games.
