| Tips and Timings
For years, I've been using German tips. The reason is simple ... they have a smoother action that helps to produce more hits. A simple graze, or a poorly executed flick to the back is still likely to set off a light.
However, these hits are no longer good with the new timings. Hits must now be planted to a greater degree. My question is: Should I switch to a French tip?
Argument #1: There's no longer any difference when it comes to scoring. A French tip will result in fewer mashed screws.
Argument #2: A French tip will result in more hits under the new timings ... the argument goes as follows:
There are basically three types of hits -- grazes, solid hits, and bounce-offs.
The first type are the ones for which the German tips help ... the smooth action makes them more likely to register. The new timings cause these not to register, so it doesn't matter what kind of tip you have.
The second type will register regardless of the type of tip -- the point depressed, blade bends (but not too much). Hand and distance are good.
The third type are the other hits that aren't registering. Distance closes too fast -- a solid hit is made, but the point bounces off due to a combination of manplate and compressed distance. In this instance, would the smoother action of a German hit be a hindrance? The tip is depressing, violently, regardless of the make. How much faster will a German tip bounce back than a French with a similar spring? We know it's easier to depress, after all. Might that give an extra 2-3 ms of contact time -- enough for a light to go on, under some circumstances?
This is just me musing -- someone explain to me why I'm way off base.
(Argument 3: Go for a screwless tip! This is under investigation.) | 
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