Premium Chalks – Are They Worth It?

Bob Jewett said:
Skids are just one example of "equipment assisted" misses. Another is when there is a problem with the table, such as a dead rail or a side pocket point sticking out. Most people are happy to assign some of the blame for the miss to the equipment, and I don't blame them.

Balls also have problems. One of the most remarkable examples of a player being bitten by an equipment problem is this scratch...

Click to expand...

Bob,

In countless hours of play I have never seen a ball act like that on a table set up normally. I seem to recall you trying to duplicate it on that same table. Was it possible a blast of air from a fan, a central air and heat register, or opened door to have hit it?

That ball performance still seems impossible without some creative modifications somewhere.

Hu
 
dr_dave said:
FYI, I just posted a new video that objectively tests the most popular new “premium” chalks to see how they compare to traditional Master chalk. The chalks tested are the medium hardness Predator Pure, Kamui Roku 6, and Taom V10. They are tested for miscue limit, persistence on the tip, persistence on the CB, and cling/skid/kick. Check it out:


Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:49 - Miscue Limit
3:22 - # of Shots Before Miscue
5:17 - Chalk Mark Persistence
---- 5:38 – cling definition and demonstrations
---- 6:19 – FSR and SVB cling examples
---- 7:07 – chalk tests
8:42 - Cling/Skid/Kick
10:56 - Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the report. I tried the K brand a few years back, didn't care for it. I've used Masters Chalk, for over 50 years, that does it for me. I use to be a fan of the Green Chalk, but since since blue cloth is on everything, I use the Blue Chalk.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Skids are just one example of "equipment assisted" misses. Another is when there is a problem with the table, such as a dead rail or a side pocket point sticking out. Most people are happy to assign some of the blame for the miss to the equipment, and I don't blame them.

Balls also have problems. One of the most remarkable examples of a player being bitten by an equipment problem is this scratch...[/MEDIA]
Click to expand...

"The balls roll funny for everybody, kiddo." Eddie Felson

"Everybody loses in pool.". SVB

But in the end, the cream will always rise to the top, and good players will win more often than not. That is something that we, as pool players, simply have to accept, and have to be able to mentally handle. Having the ability to adjust to the various conditions seems like a good skill to have.

And, that cue ball has an awful lot of side spin on it, as it curves towards the pocket. Is that a factor? I don't know. But two things are for sure....the balls roll funny for everybody, and everybody loses in pool.
 
ceebee said:
Thanks for the report. I tried the K brand a few years back, didn't care for it. I've used Masters Chalk, for over 50 years, that does it for me. I use to be a fan of the Green Chalk, but since since blue cloth is on everything, I use the Blue Chalk.
Click to expand...

the kamui chalk you probably tested was the worst crap ever invented. the kamui roku is most likely a taom in different packing and nothing like the old kamui chalk
 
ShootingArts said:
Bob,

In countless hours of play I have never seen a ball act like that on a table set up normally. I seem to recall you trying to duplicate it on that same table. Was it possible a blast of air from a fan, a central air and heat register, or opened door to have hit it?

That ball performance still seems impossible without some creative modifications somewhere.

Hu
Click to expand...
ShootingArts said:
Bob,

In countless hours of play I have never seen a ball act like that on a table set up normally. I seem to recall you trying to duplicate it on that same table. Was it possible a blast of air from a fan, a central air and heat register, or opened door to have hit it?

That ball performance still seems impossible without some creative modifications somewhere.

Hu
Click to expand...

Pack up your bags and bags and hit up the bar box at Ruby’s Roadhouse in Mandeville - the thing plays like a miniature golf course.
 
True tale: i was at a bar not too long back and there was a guy using some hi-end chalk. He spent more time/effort guarding his precious chalk than playing. People were giving him shit about why they couldn't touch his chalk and what was so great about it. He played for about an hour and split. It was comical. Almost felt sorry for the guy. Almost. Don't think local beer bar tournaments are a great place to take your $20 chalk. Poolroom's one thing, bar's are another. Just an observation, nothing else. Carry on.
 
Justaneng said:
Pack up your bags and bags and hit up the bar box at Ruby’s Roadhouse in Mandeville - the thing plays like a miniature golf course.
Click to expand...

I have played on many a table like that but the tables did it consistently. I bought a used Sears and Roebuck eight footer when I was fifteen. Put it on a wooden floor on piers. It wasn't level to begin with and when I tried to level it I made it a lot worse. The leveling screws came completely away from the fake slate bed and left it hanging in the air, still needing to come lower. It was all downhill from there!

I wouldn't need bags to go to Mandeville, I live in Albany just the other side of Hammond these days.

Hu
 
garczar said:
I must be ultra lucky because i think in 40yrs of playing i can count the number of skids i've had on basically one hand. I can't remember the last time i had one. Chalks used has been 90%+ Master with some Triangle, BlueDiamond and Russian Magic tossed in.
Click to expand...
you must be because i see and hear them all the time
 
ShootingArts said:
Bob,

In countless hours of play I have never seen a ball act like that on a table set up normally. I seem to recall you trying to duplicate it on that same table. Was it possible a blast of air from a fan, a central air and heat register, or opened door to have hit it? ...
Click to expand...
I have the ball. (It helps to know the right people.) The ball is not round. I think the extreme side kept it on the non-roundness. The ball was spinning like a top and only a small part of the surface was touching the table as it rolled.
 
ChrisSjoblom said:
Dave, your skid testing gives me an idea for further exploration. If chalk at the point of contact can cause skid, can generally dirty balls cause it as well regardless of chalk spots? I would love to see a test of the frequency of skids using dirty balls compared to the frequency after those same balls have been cleaned and polished. This would be with no chalk at all at the contact point of the cut angle. It could also be done with chalk at the contact point on the dirty and cleaned balls to measure any difference in chalk-induced skid between clean and dirty balls.
Click to expand...

I and others have done tests with clean vs. dirty balls and balls cleaned/polished with different substances. Videos and info can be found in the 2nd and 3rd sections here:


Throw can be a little greater with dirty balls, but cling/skid/kick typically happens only when a fairly fresh chalk mark ends up at the CB-OB contact point.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Skids are just one example of "equipment assisted" misses. Another is when there is a problem with the table, such as a dead rail or a side pocket point sticking out. Most people are happy to assign some of the blame for the miss to the equipment, and I don't blame them.

Balls also have problems. One of the most remarkable examples of a player being bitten by an equipment problem is this scratch...

Click to expand...

For those interested, I analyze and discuss that and related shots in the videos on the OB swerve and "turn" resource page.
 
Badpenguin said:
So on a humid day you don't believe chalk on the cloth can transfer to the balls?
Click to expand...

This is probably possible, but I don't think it has ever been tested or demonstrated carefully. Every time I have seen cling/skid/kick personally, it was due to an obvious chalk mark on the CB that transferred (and embedded) a significant amount of chalk onto the OB (at the contact point).
 
dr_dave said:
How is it “operator error” if a chalk mark on the CB from some previous shot (by you or your opponent) ends up at the contact point between the CB and OB?
Click to expand...
Your choice of rotation on the ball at contact. 🤷‍♂️ If it's unavailable then choose another shot. Percentages of skid happens that ends up in a wreck can be cut significantly.
 
dr_dave said:
This is probably possible, but I don't think it has ever been tested or demonstrated carefully. Every time I have seen cling/skid/kick personally, it was due to an obvious chalk mark on the CB that transferred (and embedded) a significant amount of chalk onto the OB (at the contact point).
Click to expand...
Clean your table and balls real good. Play a nice long straight pool game to 200 with both players using premium chalk and run your same skid test. Re-clean the table and balls again real good, repeat with both players using master chalk... Might be fun!

I suspect on a 7' table it would be a lot more obvious though.
 
Badpenguin said:
Clean your table and balls real good. Play a nice long straight pool game to 200 with both players using premium chalk and run your same skid test. Re-clean the table and balls again real good, repeat with both players using master chalk... Might be fun!

I suspect on a 7' table it would be a lot more obvious though.
Click to expand...

It is your idea. Maybe you should do it. :geek:

I'm done with chalk testing for a while. I've already done my fair share of work on this topic.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top