The new SMH-BT Medium Orchestral Hickory sticks with black nylon tips are the same stick as my medium orchestral model, but are enhanced with the addition of the black nylon tip. The black nylon tip does two things. It gives you a little added articulation in soft playing and the shoulder that is attached to the tip also aids in the feel and rebound of the stick. So it’s not just your average nylon tip that is molded on to a wood nub on the end like other companies do, it’s actually a very precisely CNC machined tip with a shoulder that serves a purpose and creates a unique sound and feel.