Chalk on The Rail

Couple years back a friend and league teammate gave me a piece of Taom. That got me to spend the next few weeks working on ingraining carrying my own chalk to and from (that was the hard one) the table. It definitely took a bit to get into the habit but I’m glad I did it.

I too am a chalk grouper, if there are multiple pieces on the table they will end up grouped together after I’m done shooting most likely. And if there are more than two pieces of community chalk on the table I’m pulling the extras.

Thankfully a lot of people are now using their own chalk and I love that because they too take it with them, really should become a universal practice I think. So much nicer not having to move it from your shot line and having the habit of always grabbing my chalk before moving to the next shot means no distractions of having to move around the table to get to the piece of chalk.
 
OMG, just saw a pick of SVB with his knees on the table, at Buffalos, and the chalk was on the rail. LOL
 
Couple years back a friend and league teammate gave me a piece of Taom. That got me to spend the next few weeks working on ingraining carrying my own chalk to and from (that was the hard one) the table. It definitely took a bit to get into the habit but I’m glad I did it.

I too am a chalk grouper, if there are multiple pieces on the table they will end up grouped together after I’m done shooting most likely. And if there are more than two pieces of community chalk on the table I’m pulling the extras.

Thankfully a lot of people are now using their own chalk and I love that because they too take it with them, really should become a universal practice I think. So much nicer not having to move it from your shot line and having the habit of always grabbing my chalk before moving to the next shot means no distractions of having to move around the table to get to the piece of chalk.
Rec players will never do this, they pay the rent.
I think everyone at a bowling alley should bring their own ball, and the owner should not have to supply balls. :)
 
Not putting or leaving chalk on the rail is not a new thing -- maybe a century old.

At the top level of snooker, the only time players put their chalk on the rail is when it would be crushed in its usual resting location, such as a front pocket. A snooker referee training manual says chalk on the rail can be construed as marking the table as part of planning the shot and should not be done, but there is no explicit rule against it.

Carom players typically leave the chalk on the table during their inning, but take it back to their seat when they miss. They are mindful of not marking a rail location involved with the shot. Sang Chun Lee, many times US Champion at 3-cushion, usually placed his chalk on a diamond.

A local carom player, who can be a little touchy, once reminded his careless opponent not to leave his chalk on the table. On a second occurrence, he threw the chalk at the opponent.
 
i want to know what chalk SVB uses. that is about the only thing i can do that he does at the pool table. this way i can at least be a little bit like him.
now who knows what tip is on his cue? and what brand of glove he uses?

and i go fishing a lot. so maybe he will be my friend.
 
When I come to the table, I place 2 pieces of my chalk on the top rail. So I don't have to walk around the table to get one chalk.
I had an opponent telling me that I should pick up both pieces before I sit down.
Well, I ain't goin' there.

bm
At one time I placed the chalk on the rail in location for access on next shot. Of course it gave me a visual target for the line as well. 🤷‍♂️ Stan figured me out and remove the chalk and politely handed it to me, I haven't done it since.
 
all chalk left on the table when you leave is open to use or move by your opponent as he sees fit.
 
I skimmed some SVB clips and detected he might be laying the chalk sideways. (try that with a cube) Stopped looking past that...
 
Couple years back a friend and league teammate gave me a piece of Taom. That got me to spend the next few weeks working on ingraining carrying my own chalk to and from (that was the hard one) the table. It definitely took a bit to get into the habit but I’m glad I did it.

I too am a chalk grouper, if there are multiple pieces on the table they will end up grouped together after I’m done shooting most likely. And if there are more than two pieces of community chalk on the table I’m pulling the extras.

Thankfully a lot of people are now using their own chalk and I love that because they too take it with them, really should become a universal practice I think. So much nicer not having to move it from your shot line and having the habit of always grabbing my chalk before moving to the next shot means no distractions of having to move around the table to get to the piece of chalk.
You're forming good habits.
 
At one time I placed the chalk on the rail in location for access on next shot. Of course it gave me a visual target for the line as well. 🤷‍♂️ Stan figured me out and remove the chalk and politely handed it to me, I haven't done it since.
I use to know people that do this. Quite a few but I don't want to call them out for it.
 
I use fancy chalks because it keeps my shaft from premature bluing. Sadly it will get blue because our hands are touching the filthy tables from the cheap chalk they use. One recommendation is to buy the expensive chalk because its better and cleaner. More importantly if you care about your cues from bluing. One last thing, because its expensive for something that is free, it will teach you good habits of chalking your cue than grinding and make you more aware of your chalk. Not many places have good chalk so coming prepared is a plus.

Before I was unaware of all these things. Just chalk. I kept chalking and chalking while thinking about shots and my hands would be filthy after playing pool. Now I just apply the chalk gently and move on.
 
yea he always puts his chalk down chalk side sideways, never up or down
Putting it down sideways means when you pick it up you only have to spin it 90 degrees. Putting it face down you will have to flip it at 180.

Makes sense. It's probably habitual for him since humans tend to do what is the easiest.
 
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