14MM Elk Master Cue Tip - Set of 25

The Good: Elk masters are great tips. Made from elk hide. Soft enough to grip the balls for deep spins, draws, minimize miscues.The Bad: These are not exactly 14mm as advertised but most cues are a 13mm max so if you are just buying it oversized to be able to glue it then trim the tip on the lathe to match these will work well.

These tips are good quality tips. I installed one on one of my cues. Once the glue is dry, I cut the edges to make it fit my 13mm ferule. Before cut, it looks flat. I used to thought it was pressed already. But once I cut it, it became thicker. It plays like super soft too. Next time, I will press it before I install it on other cues. What I usually do with Elk Master tips is to use them to make my own milk buds, i.e. soak the tips in the warm whole milk for at least 24 hours, and then use presser to press them for another 24 hours to make them to medium hardness. Before I have my tip presser, I wrap soaked tips in a piece of cloth and put them under a heavy furniture. Milk fat can make tip fiber more durable and somehow prevent mushroom according to more experienced old school players (Nowadays players more likely choose expensive layered tips). Personally, I do think Sniper or Kamui tips are good tips, but their quality doesn't justify their sky-high price. I can make one from $0.50 Elk Master that plays almost same good, at least for many players like me if not all. The legendary player Effren Reyes uses milk buds during all his prime time.

These tips are sturdy and depending on how you want them shaped are either already to function as they are, but if you use a Cuetec Bowtie tip shaper, you will be grinding quite bit of the sides off. I have found the best glue is LocTite Gel Control super glue (It is fast curing and easy to control the amount - two small drops). I sand the bottom of the cue tip flat and use a Tweeten Rapid Cue Tip Sander on the cue to create two flat surfaces. A billiard tech suggested scratching both surfaces with a razor blade (utility knife) to ensure good adhesion.The cues are used in a Community Center and get fairly tough usage, and since I have been carefully preparing the tip and cue and using the LocTite Gel I have had great success with the tips staying put.