Die Back on Acers

i have a batch of Acer senkaki, a lot of the shoot tips are black, is it possible to prune off the bad bits, or is it something in the plant.

 

Japanese maples prone to various pathogens causing dieback problems, especially in greenhouses. See Vertrees (Gregory), JAPANESE MAPLES for discussion.

 

Could be dieback from cold on wood that had not yet hardened-off in the fall which is a problem on that cultivar. OK to prune it off.

 

Could be some kind of fungal rot from too-wet conditions, try a mild fungicide.