Billiards is a popular sport that tests not only your mental fortitude but also your pool playing skills. Because of this, continuous training and practice are essential if you are going to perfect your skills. However, in this sport, the choice of equipment, especially the type of tip you use can be a significant impact on whether you are going to improve your overall skills to the next level or not.
In this article, you will be taken through an in-depth comparison between the Tiger Everest tip Vs Kamui Clear Black. Both these cue tips are considered to be one of the best choices if you are looking to enhance your overall game.
These types of tips are excellent and I would recommend both. But, if you want to know which one to choose and the differences between them, then this article is for you!
A closer look at Tiger Everest tips and Kamui tips
Maybe you have checked out some of the best cue tips around and most likely these two cue tip heavyweights are in that article. You may have even checked out my Best cue tips on the market article, that i wrote.
Both these tips feature there because they really are two of the best cue tips out there. There are other heavyweights to consider, such as Zan Hybrid max, Predator victory and Moori IV to name a few. But Kamui and Tiger are arguably the most popular of the big cue tip names out there so it’s only right to take a detailed look and compare a Tiger Everest tip vs Kamui cue tip.
Before I directly compare the two tips I think it’s useful to take a look at them individually to see what their merits and downfalls are. By doing this we can then use that information to build a composition table that will aid us further in comparing the two cue tips. I will start with the Tiger Everest cue tip first.
Tiger Everest Cue Tip
This cue tip is one of the most preferred cue tips among most pool enthusiasts due to the all-rounded performance it delivers. It is made from 10 layers of pigskin, each layer selected for its durability and exceptional quality.
The sophistication of this tip is extreme. This makes it among the most advanced, durable as well as sophisticated cue tips on the market.
The selection and the split process is carried out slowly and cautiously to ensure the everything is of fantastic quality. This is evidenced by only ten of the sturdiest and uniform layers being used in making the cue tip.
This tip undergoes the VACULAM process, which is Tigers’ very own process. where it undergoes vacuum laminating, thereby making it be one of the most desirable tips ever made.
It’s said that this cue tip’s shape is that of a hard tip, but controls similar to a soft tip and hits like a medium. Therefore, its hardness level is usually regarded as a medium. It also undergoes numerous tests to check for quality, hardness as well as consistency.
Because of the nature of this tip they usually just have it in one hardness, unlike other tip makers who produce different tips with a range of hardness.
The hardness of this laminated leather tip is 75.7 using a durometer, meaning it fits in the medium level of the spectrum leaning towards the hard medium side of things.
A nice feature of this cue tip is the fact there is a handy red layer which indicates when the tip has worn down too much and is needing to be replaced. How long a cue tip will last really depends on a few factors. Properly looked after you can get more life out of them, but it’s always nice to be alerted when a replacement is needed.
Because of the way its made it is a very good tip that has good longevity. It holds its shape very well and doesn’t miscue that often.
I always found it provided a nice contact with the ball and could produce good levels of english effortlessly. Draw shots also could be achieved with little extra work on your end.
Pro’s for Tiger Everest
- The installation of this tip is simple and straightforward.
- Delivers impressive and consistent shooting performance.
- Its build quality and longevity are impressive.
- High quality 10 layers of pigskin leather
- Laminated using VACULAM process
- The grip and control of this cue tip are superb.
- Red indicator when tip is too worn out
Con’s for Tiger Everest
- It doesn’t come cheap!
- Only one style and hardness
Kamui Clear Black (M)
If you are not concerned about price, then the Kamui Clear Black is, without a doubt, a big player in the market. This tip by Kamui, a famous Japanese company known for making chalks and cue tips and should be the go-to option if you are a professional pool player.
It is available in different hardness levels, which range from super-soft, soft, medium, and hard, so it all depends on your preference.
Nonetheless, if your goal to achieve an extra spin, you should get the soft tip as it offers you improved control over the cue ball, hence making it an excellent pool tip for english.
The Kamui Clear Black is 100% made out of Japanese Pig leather which comes arranged in eight layers. Each of these layers is then laminated even further to minimize any possibility of mushrooming.
The tip is made using high-quality porous leather, so it does a better job holding chalk in comparison to many other cue tips.
Installation of this cue is a little more tricky as it requires a different approach to most cue tips, but once installed it’s usually very strong a sturdy.
When choosing between the hardness levels of this cue tip, you need to know that;
- Hard tip: More force is applied with a harder tip, making it an ideal choice for breaking and jumping. With the leather being harder, less maintenance is usually required. A lot of pro players opt for harder tips as it spends less time and has less contact with the cue ball when struck, resulting in less deflection.
- Medium tips: are perfect if you want to achieve an ideal balance between speed, spin, and control.
- Soft tip: Is ideal for generating extra spin on the cue ball as the tip will “grip” better to the ball causing it to spin. Great if you like playing with a lot of english and draw. The downside is it produces more deflection and the tip will require more maintenance.
The Kamui clear black comes in a few different hardnesses, but to keep it comparable, I will look at the medium tip. The hardness of the Kamui clear black is 73.4 which makes it considered very much in the middle of the medium range on the hardness scale.
The Kamui has a couple of nice features, one being that there is a clear flat surface that is supposed to be glued. The clear surface on the tip also acts as a shield, preventing any glue being absorbed into the tip and hardening it, which does happen with other tips. Because of the clear surface on the tip, no sanding is required when installing.
One feature that stands out against other Kamui cue tips is the clear blacks not only has the “shield” protecting the tip from glue absorption but also its has extra elasticity compared to other Kamui tips.
Having a higher elasticity means more bounce force is generated when the cue ball is struck. The higher elasticity, the more time the cue tip will spend on the surface of the cue ball, resulting in extra spin being produced. That’s what gives Kamui clear black tips the edge over its competitors when producing extra english.
Personally, I’ve always found the clear blacks to be great tips, they have a lovely contact with the ball. The extra spin generated needs some getting used to but once mastered, its a charm to play with.
I found maintenance is needed when playing with this tip, but overall its very good.
The price of this cue tip is just below $25, meaning it is quite pricey. Nevertheless, if you factor in the durability as well as the improvement in performance it delivers, then this investment appears to be worth it.
I did a comparison between Kamui black vs clear you might also be interested in.
Pro’s of Kamui Clear Black Tips
- Outstanding durability
- Holds chalk excellently
- Delivers amazingly consistent performance
- Produces a lot of spin
- Makes use of high-quality 8 layers of leather
- Comes in a range of hardness’
- Higher elasticity
Con’s of Kamui Clear Black Tips
- Pricey!
- Some maintenance required
- The extra spin produced takes some getting used to
Detailed comparison of the Tiger Everest tip vs Kamui clear black
So, let’s take a look at Tiger Everest tip vs Kamui Clear Black cue tips and see which one is best for you. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what each tip offers you and your game. Let’s check out a comparison
Tiger Everest tip vs Kamui Clear Black medium tip comparison table
| Tiger Everest | Kamui Clear Black (M) | |
| Material | Pig-Skin | Japanese Pig-skin |
| Laminated | Yes, VACULAM | Yes |
| Layers | 10 | 8 |
| Hardness score | 75.7 | 73.4 |
| Durability | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Elasticity | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Hold chalk | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Cue ball grip | 4.5/5 | 5/5 |
| Special features | layer indicates to replace tip | Layer stops glue absorbing into tip |
| Location | USA | Japan |
As you can see from this table Tiger Everest cue tips and Kamui Clear Black cue tips are pretty evenly matched, apart from a few differences.
Personally, I would slightly give Kamui the edge if the price wasn’t a factor. They are both fantastic tips and if you can adjust for the extra elasticity and bonce Kamui produces then I feel its a slightly better cue tip overall.
From my experience, I would say the Tiger tips are more durable than the Kamui’s and require less maintenance which results in them lasting a little longer. With Tiger’s handy red maker to indicate when a replacement is needed you are always sure to play with a fully optimized tip.
Based on a durometers assessment, Tiger tips are slightly harder than Kamui’s. Also, Kamui’s extra elasticity allows for a better grip, which results in an exceptional spin of the cueball and i found less miscues.
As mentioned earlier, it does catch you off guard at first how much draw and English is produced but its something you can adjust to.
Both cue tips are made with exception sophistication, using premium grade layers of pigskin leather which is what you would expect from a couple of heavyweight cue tip manufacturers.
I love the thought Kamui put into shielding their tips from glue absorption. The problem with some types of glue is they can seep through the tip and harden it, giving undesired playing results. By adding a clear protective layer it avoided this issue.
Another thing I like with Kamui Clear Black tips is you can choose which tip hardness you would prefer, depending on your play style.
Tiger Everest comes in one tip hardness, which they clam acts as all the hardness levels combined. To an extent that’s true, I felt more comfortable breaking with my Tiger Everest than I did with my Kamui Clear Black tip and the Tiger did perform well with grip too, but personally I think having a break cue would be the wisest if you want your cue tip to last longer.
Conclusion
After reading through this article, you are now well-versed on the features of the Tiger Everest tip vs Kamui Clear Black. My personal preference is that the Kamui Clear Black is a slightly better pick as it provides you with better performance, and you can get it in different levels of hardness depending on your preference.
This is still the case despite it being more expensive compared to the Tiger Everest cue tip.
It’s important for me to note that this was my experience playing with each tip over a number of months, other people may experience different results. Both cue tips are exceptional and whichever you choose, you’ll be playing with a remarkable cue tip.
Rob is an avid player and fan of all cue sports, particularly 8-ball, and snooker. He has competed in a few local 8-ball tournaments and although he is not a professional, he can compete with the best of them.
