Cue Chalking Crutch
- Thread starter RicNic
- Start date
i would ask when do most players, Blind Chalk? They apply Chalk with out looking at Tip to see the outer most portion of Tip is chalked.
I do this as well. Short answer... it is my pre shot routine. Here is my take... My chalk is my brain. While I am holding it, and chalking, I am thinking about the shot. Once I have made up my mind, I put the chalk down and the shot is pure execution from there. No more aiming or thinking. Just practice strokes to be sure I'm on the shot and go. If it doesn't look good, I get up and think / chalk again.
It's just a mind relaxing automatic gesture, getting your mind on basically autopilot to keep from having the brain get in the way of performing. A bit like people do a bunch of stokes in mid air before getting down on the shot. It resets the focus.
Yes, it’s a habit. A good habit. The last thing I do before I get down on the ball is butter the tip. If I get down and back up, I re-butter the tip.
If I don’t it just don’t feel right and that leads to bad things.
I don’t have a number but maybe 1-20 times or 5% I won’t re-butter the tip if it’s a simple shot.
Pool is about consistency-simple as that. Before, during and after the shot.
The difference between a good player a great player is just a immeasurably small amount of consistency. When you get a good solid fundamental base of a skill set.
That’s why you see the chalk being used in such a fashion.
Best
Fatboy<———buttering his bread
NASA could have a receptionist look up synthetics suitable for cue tips. Would take a few seconds and research could begin within the hour. Product could be on sale in a month - out the inventor's trunk even.
Poolers would then have to find something else to do with their hands.
Poolers would then have to find something else to do with their hands.
Having a pre-shot routine that you understand, accept and embrace makes sticking to it easy.
In fact, if you don’t, it actually feels odd and out of sorts. The key is do the same thing all the time.
Apply chalk every shot. Brush it on, don’t twist it & use the same # of warm- up strokes before you
stroke the cue ball. Don’t just walk the table, shoot & chalk when the urge strikes you. Use a routine.
In fact, if you don’t, it actually feels odd and out of sorts. The key is do the same thing all the time.
Apply chalk every shot. Brush it on, don’t twist it & use the same # of warm- up strokes before you
stroke the cue ball. Don’t just walk the table, shoot & chalk when the urge strikes you. Use a routine.
It’s more about pre shot routine. I have always said people chalk to much. I started chalking my tip once a game when I started using kamui. My last piece of kamui is shot so I started using predator chalk And still only chalking once before each game and guess what not a single mis cue. I played for hours yesterday and never miscued once. So it’s not part of my routine anymore but I understand people who like that extra few seconds it gives them to stay on pace. Consistent Pace is important in pool for sure.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Chalking can do a few things.
1. Part of a pre-shot routine, it can let you reset when a shot doesn't feel right.
2. It can get you up higher and looking at the table from a higher vantage point. Especially true if you watch the end of the tip as you apply chalk. If you can see the end of a mostly vertical stick, you can see the entire table.
3. Lets you focus your mind and clear any bad thoughts. Focus can also be considered turning off your mind and doing the task at hand.
4. Gives you another chance to analyze the table.
5. Lets you get into stance correctly if that was causing the issue.
6. Gives you confidence you won't miscue if you have to put some juice to the CB for whatever reason. Also kind of a last check, "Am I asking too much of this shot?"
There's been times I have to bridge awkwardly, once I figure out how to get the bridge as solid as possible, I'll stand up and re-chalk and come back down onto the shot in a balanced/athletic pose.
This one may only come into play if you are exhausted. In 9B I noticed at about 60 games into the night that I was leaning/bracing myself on the table from exhaustion. I caught it, stood up and chalked and then started not laying on/polishing the table. If you're playing that many matches it might be smart to take a break half way through, we didn't. Chalk can be a good opportunity to reset when you catch yourself doing something that is off. If you can keep your focus on longer races you'll often catch yourself trying to play with less than ideal fundamentals or going back into old comfortable bad habits.
Could you imagine the cost though, hammers and toilet seats cost $20,000 there!
Willowbrook Wolfy
Going pro
I don’t chalk as a crutch. It’s habit. And a good one. I didn’t always have a nice cue or a nice place to shoot. Crappy tips sometimes require a lot of chalking. And crappy chalk requires a lot of applications. Now I use regular leather tips. If you don’t constantly rough them up they get a bit smooth and don’t hold it as well. Rather stay on the safe side and chalk it then risk a miscue. my $0.02….
Yeah but the english works from absolute zero all the way up to 4000 degrees kelvin.Could you imagine the cost though, hammers and toilet seats cost $20,000 there!
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In my experience, miscuing is due to a bad stroke, not anything to do with chalk.
xX-Wizard-Xx
Well-known member
i only chalk when needed and sparingly ....
Geosnookery
Well-known member
I’ve never seen a pro snooker player not chalk between shots. I chalk every time.
Well, then, you need to watch Ronnie O'Sullivan's fastest 147.
Both can contribute. An unchalked tip gets slick / burnished and slips off the ball for sure in my experience. Otherwise no one would use chalk at all.