Chalk Habits and A Doozy of an AccuStats

[ShootingArts]

I get the chalk thing but it’s not the way I grew up playing pool. Talc, cigarettes, chalk, coins all on the rail. Pool was a bit of a mess. Some players even wore aprons.

I saw a few old timers wear aprons when I was young. Thought it might be a good idea to wear a nail apron with pockets. I think I tried it once or twice, didn't like it!

I did various things with excess chalk. Sometimes on the light, if it was worn out I might hum it at a wall! For awhile I thought two was the right number of chalk cubes on a table, then three. Then I figured out it didn't matter, no matter how many you put they were all coming together anyway!

There are good reasons for putting the chalk rightside up and upside down. Whatever! I generally wash my hands before starting play then I wipe down the rails with the damp paper towels I dried my hands on, mostly to get tar and nicotine off the rails where smoking is allowed. I tip well so fresh chalk and often a table wiped down are the norm where I am known. I am not an automatic tipper though, pisspoor service earns a matching tip!

Hu

 

[sudocrushms]

Would you make an exception for Efren? He is a known chalk-inverter.

SVB often sets his chalk on its side.

After a warning or two, maybe just toss the chalks under the table?

If you're playing on a ProAm just knock them into the pockets, never to be seen again.

 

[Bavafongoul]

I saw a few old timers wear aprons when I was young. Thought it might be a good idea to wear a nail apron with pockets. I think I tried it once or twice, didn't like it!

I did various things with excess chalk. Sometimes on the light, if it was worn out I might hum it at a wall! For awhile I thought two was the right number of chalk cubes on a table, then three. Then I figured out it didn't matter, no matter how many you put they were all coming together anyway!

There are good reasons for putting the chalk rightside up and upside down. Whatever! I generally wash my hands before starting play then I wipe down the rails with the damp paper towels I dried my hands on, mostly to get tar and nicotine off the rails where smoking is allowed. I tip well so fresh chalk and often a table wiped down are the norm where I am known. I am not an automatic tipper though, pisspoor service earns a matching tip!

Hu

I can’t come up with a single good reason for placing chalk face side down on a pool table rail. Apparently you’ve come
up with good reasons for doing it. I can elaborate why placing the chalk face up makes sense but can’t conjure up any
justification for placing chalk face side down. Perhaps you can enlighten me and other readers how or why it’s good?

 

[SBC]

An older fellow that I've logged many hours playing against has a chalk habit when he first arrives to play.
He grabs 5 cubes of masters chalk and walks around the gold crown table placing one on all but one rail sections.
Then as he plays, he chalks up abundantly and sets the chalk face down on the rail. After 6.5 hours of play, the rails are a mess.

My chalk stays in my pocket and I'm constantly moving one or many of his chalks out of the way of my shot.
Then he complains that the masters chalks end up all grouped together at one end and redistributes them.
It makes me laugh.

Then I watched this video where Mike Sigel and Earl Strickland do THE EXACT SAME THING:

Maybe not chalk upside down all the time, but why so many chalks?!? And they end up all together...

I had a guy doing the upside down chalk thing at my pool hall. He admitted he does it to F with people, mostly opponents. I told him it was Fing with me and as a room owner who has to keep table clean, he needed to stop or he'd be banned.

Never happened again.

 

[ShootingArts]

I can’t come up with a single good reason for placing chalk face side down on a pool table rail. Apparently you’ve come
up with good reasons for doing it. I can elaborate why placing the chalk face up makes sense but can’t conjure up any
justification for placing chalk face side down. Perhaps you can enlighten me and other readers how or why it’s good?

Put on a nice shirt. Then lean across chalk face side up and stretch a bit to reach a shot. Now you can tell me and the rest of us why placing the chalk face down can be good!

I bought a gross of Master chalk, seventeen cents a piece back then. I threw a couple of pieces of chalk in every vehicle for emergencies just like carrying a cue ball or two in my main vehicle.

When I had strayed off for a couple hours I would carefully use the top of the chalk to mark my t-shirt down by the belt line. My wife would greet me with a kind smile as she heated my supper, "Where the hell have you been??" Damn, that ain't a smile, she is baring her teeth ready to strike."

I would look at her kinda sad and apologetically, "Girl, I have to admit I have been making mad passionate love to a beautiful blond for hours!"

"Ha, in your dreams! I see those chalk marks on your shirt. You have been down at the pool hall with those other bums!"

"Damn girl, I can't get anything past you!"

That there is why you carry chalk in your vehicle and rub the face side into the shirt so she instantly identifies a chalk mark. If you can't be good, be smart.

Hu

 

[straightline]

I can’t come up with a single good reason for placing chalk face side down on a pool table rail. Apparently you’ve come
up with good reasons for doing it. I can elaborate why placing the chalk face up makes sense but can’t conjure up any
justification for placing chalk face side down. Perhaps you can enlighten me and other readers how or why it’s good?

In the Philippines, the powder tray used to be the rails next to the side pocket. they care about the chalk... It's the can't be bothered, gangsta fantasy - like shooting behind the back.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Put on a nice shirt. Then lean across chalk face side up and stretch a bit to reach a shot. Now you can tell me and the rest of us why placing the chalk face down can be good!

I bought a gross of Master chalk, seventeen cents a piece back then. I threw a couple of pieces of chalk in every vehicle for emergencies just like carrying a cue ball or two in my main vehicle.

When I had strayed off for a couple hours I would carefully use the top of the chalk to mark my t-shirt down by the belt line. My wife would greet me with a kind smile as she heated my supper, "Where the hell have you been??" Damn, that ain't a smile, she is baring her teeth ready to strike."

I would look at her kinda sad and apologetically, "Girl, I have to admit I have been making mad passionate love to a beautiful blond for hours!"

"Ha, in your dreams! I see those chalk marks on your shirt. You have been down at the pool hall with those other bums!"

"Damn girl, I can't get anything past you!"

That there is why you carry chalk in your vehicle and rub the face side into the shirt so she instantly identifies a chalk mark. If you can't be good, be smart.

Hu

That’s hilarious……you know the chalk is there…..and hopefully not more than 1-2 pieces
on a 9’ pool table and 1 piece of chalk on a 7’ version……so you approach the shot and
visually see this piece of chalk in front of you since it isn’t hiding and is in plain sight…but
it never dawns on you to reposition it or merely push it one Diamond over to avoid soiling
your shirt?

At least with chalk positioned face side up, you can easily spot the potential complaint before
it happens. You just slide the chalk over one Diamond. And all the rails still remain clean.

But the way you look at it, well, all that chalk dust and debris, and remember everyone
isn’t playing with the cleanest chalk around, I.e., TAOM V10, gets deposited on the rails.

So that clean shirt you are worried about getting dirty by letting it rub or touch the upright
chalk from leaning over to play your shot will also acquire chalk from your hands touching
the rails that pick up chalk and also from just coming into contact with the rails stretching
for a shot. And the chalk color matters a lot like Blue or that brothel color Red that’s hideous.

As far as your laundry routine, whatever idiosyncrasies seem to work for you, well, keep doing it

 

[ShootingArts]

That’s hilarious……you know the chalk is there…..and hopefully not more than 1-2 pieces
on a 9’ pool table and 1 piece of chalk on a 7’ version……so you approach the shot and
visually see this piece of chalk in front of you since it isn’t hiding and is in plain sight…but
it never dawns on you to reposition it or merely push it one Diamond over to avoid soiling
your shirt?

At least with chalk positioned face side up, you can easily spot the potential complaint before
it happens. You just slide the chalk over one Diamond. And all the rails still remain clean.

But the way you look at it, well, all that chalk dust and debris, and remember everyone
isn’t playing with the cleanest chalk around, I.e., TAOM V10, gets deposited on the rails.

So that clean shirt you are worried about getting dirty by letting it rub or touch the upright
chalk from leaning over to play your shot will also acquire chalk from your hands touching
the rails that pick up chalk and also from just coming into contact with the rails stretching
for a shot. And the chalk color matters a lot like Blue or that brothel color Red that’s hideous.

As far as your laundry routine, whatever idiosyncrasies seem to work for you, well, keep doing it

You wanted a reason for chalk face down, I gave you one you could test for yourself. Even explained nicely how you could find out for yourself.

I suggest that you might be happier with your thought there is no earthly reason to do anything any way but your way.

Hu

 

[Mensabum]

An older fellow that I've logged many hours playing against has a chalk habit when he first arrives to play.
He grabs 5 cubes of masters chalk and walks around the gold crown table placing one on all but one rail sections.
Then as he plays, he chalks up abundantly and sets the chalk face down on the rail. After 6.5 hours of play, the rails are a mess.

My chalk stays in my pocket and I'm constantly moving one or many of his chalks out of the way of my shot.
Then he complains that the masters chalks end up all grouped together at one end and redistributes them.
It makes me laugh.

Then I watched this video where Mike Sigel and Earl Strickland do THE EXACT SAME THING:

Maybe not chalk upside down all the time, but why so many chalks?!? And they end up all together...

I need 4 or it don't feel right. One for each side.

 

[Mensabum]

You wanted a reason for chalk face down, I gave you one you could test for yourself. Even explained nicely how you could find out for yourself.

I suggest that you might be happier with your thought there is no earthly reason to do anything any way but your way.

Hu

I saw a few old timers wear aprons when I was young. Thought it might be a good idea to wear a nail apron with pockets. I think I tried it once or twice, didn't like it!

I did various things with excess chalk. Sometimes on the light, if it was worn out I might hum it at a wall! For awhile I thought two was the right number of chalk cubes on a table, then three. Then I figured out it didn't matter, no matter how many you put they were all coming together anyway!

There are good reasons for putting the chalk rightside up and upside down. Whatever! I generally wash my hands before starting play then I wipe down the rails with the damp paper towels I dried my hands on, mostly to get tar and nicotine off the rails where smoking is allowed. I tip well so fresh chalk and often a table wiped down are the norm where I am known. I am not an automatic tipper though, pisspoor service earns a matching tip!

Hu

Guys have spit in my chalk B4.
Not saying this has anything to do with turning it face down tho.

 

[gregcantrall]

Wow! All the discussion about chalk on the rails. Different cultures have different customs regarding chalk. My favorite is Nothing is stored on the rails.
Chalk cube on the rail as a landmark was a method that I employed, long ago. A pro pointed out that he knew what I was up to as he handed me my strategically placed landmark chalk, before I could shoot the shot. I from that day forward kept My chalk in My pocket.
I have seen left behind chalk launched to the furthest corner of the room with a repeat offender. I on one occasion disappeared a high dollar piece of chalk that was on the rail when it was my turn. It was eventually returned to the offender after he went into distress searching for his $20 chalk. Shrug

 

[trob]

Not a problem with me. I started chalking once a game before each rack when I changed to kabuki and the chalk stays back with my cues.
How ignorant and uncaring do you have to be to put chalk upside down.. it’s just common sense to put the bottom of the chalk on the table I’ve with whomever saying you wouldn’t invite them back and yes that goes for Efren lol I don’t care how great you are or were in his situation. if your that disrespectful to my table in my home you won’t be making a return visit. lol

 

[fastone371]

You wanted a reason for chalk face down, I gave you one you could test for yourself. Even explained nicely how you could find out for yourself.

I suggest that you might be happier with your thought there is no earthly reason to do anything any way but your way.

Hu

But if you put the chalk face down you end up with chalk all over the pool table rails, not just one spot where you might lean over a cube of chalk face up. I would think leaning over a face up chalk would make less mess than leaning over rails covered in chalk.

 

[Frosty]

the cleanest chalk around, I.e., TAOM V10,

Can we put an end to this lie once and for all? All you people trying to justify the ridiculous purchase of $20+ chalk by saying “it’s the cleanest chalk around”, horse . It’s been banned in the hall I play in, as well as any chalk that isn’t Blue, as it makes little green marks ALL over the blue Simonis, it’s a mess. The guy that maintains the tables there told the owner he could ban any chalk other than that which is Blue in color, or find a new guy to maintain his tables for him.

 

[Quesports]

In the game of billiards it’s well known that leaving chalk on the rail is poor etiquette. Leaving it there upside down usually will earn the offender a lesson in the right and wrong way to behave while playing billiards.
I learned this as a youngster myself. Most players carry their own piece of chalk. Billiards has always been a game that requires respect for the equipment and the opponent…

Pocket pool, not so much…

 

[GideonF]

Can we put an end to this lie once and for all? All you people trying to justify the ridiculous purchase of $20+ chalk by saying “it’s the cleanest chalk around”, horse . It’s been banned in the hall I play in, as well as any chalk that isn’t Blue, as it makes little green marks ALL over the blue Simonis, it’s a mess. The guy that maintains the tables there told the owner he could ban any chalk other than that which is Blue in color, or find a new guy to maintain his tables for him.

Very strange. Every hall I play in has blue cloth, and many people (including me) use Pagulayan or V10 and I never see “all these little green marks all over”.

But let someone play with Predator 1080 or the old Kamui and there are visible blue marks everywhere!

 

[Bavafongoul]

You wanted a reason for chalk face down, I gave you one you could test for yourself. Even explained nicely how you could find out for yourself.

I suggest that you might be happier with your thought there is no earthly reason to do anything any way but your way.

Hu

I think the reality of this is how others view your remarks and my comments about this.
We just disagree about using chalk and leaving it on the pool table rails. The best way
to avoid chalk debates like this is carry the chalk on your person. IMO, a quality leather
chalk pouch, like Peradon, is a great way instead of using those goofy chalk sticks. But
that’s a matter of preference. Placing chalk face down on the rails is thoughtless & messy.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Very strange. Every hall I play in has blue cloth, and many people (including me) use Pagulayan or V10 and I never see “all these little green marks all over”.

But let someone play with Predator 1080 or the old Kamui and there are visible blue marks everywhere!

10-4……V10 does not do what the poster alleges unless the player applying it cores the chalk like way too many
players do because they were taught wrong or just copied bad role models. Any pool hall that bans V10 is not a pool
hall I’d want to visit. Why? Because if the owner is that stupid, there is bound to be other shit afoot at that pool hall.

 

[Sheldon]

Can we put an end to this lie once and for all? All you people trying to justify the ridiculous purchase of $20+ chalk by saying “it’s the cleanest chalk around”, horse . It’s been banned in the hall I play in, as well as any chalk that isn’t Blue, as it makes little green marks ALL over the blue Simonis, it’s a mess. The guy that maintains the tables there told the owner he could ban any chalk other than that which is Blue in color, or find a new guy to maintain his tables for him.

So they want chalk all over, but don't want it visible? To me, it makes more sense to have the chalk visible, so you know where and when to clean.

 

[lfigueroa]

I get the chalk thing but it’s not the way I grew up playing pool. Talc, cigarettes, chalk, coins all on the rail. Pool was a bit of a mess. Some players even wore aprons.

ah, cigarettes on the rail.

I'd come home after an evening session and my clothes would reek. As an added benefit, I end up with a black stripe across the front of my jeans from all the ash. At one room, you could literally see a cloud of smoke drifting over all the tables.

Lou Figueroa
dems was da days