$25 for a piece of chalk is ridiculous!

Strike First said:
In other news, the placebo effect is a known phenomenon sweeping the chalk world.

Dont worry, I used to think I shot better after a few beers at one point in my life.
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Fair point I meant to address in my original post. My expectation was not that this chalk would be better in any way; my expectation was that this chalk would be indistinguishable in performance and I would have wasted my money.

The 60+ shots without rechalking isn't placebo, that's as real as any miscue I start having with normal chalk if I try to hit two draw shots in a row.

Also, not having a fine mist of chalk cascading down on everything every time I chalk is definitely a fact, not an illusion.

Finally, I'm well aware of how much draw I normally get with a given stroke, and having the ball go further than expected I doubt is placebo effect, but this one is harder to prove so if you want to chalk that one up (har har) to placebo, be my guest...
 
Good report and thanks for taking the time to post the info. Regardless of what it does I don't care if one stroke lasted a life time I will not pay $25 for a piece of chalk. It is exactly the title ridiculous.
 
I like Green Chalk, but the Kamui tried was great, if it was $5.00 a Cube or 2 Clues 4-10 Bucks I would purchase it. I wish they made it in GREEN!!!!
 
So if I use Masters chalk and only chalk up once every five shots or so, (or ten or twenty but let's use five), and kamui lasts the average person 60 shots... I should be able to shoot 300 without a miscue. That's about a week's worth of matches... Anybody wanna let me borrow their Kamui chalk for a week? I'll only use it once :-)
 
Willie Mosconi & 526 Balls Pocketed (Sans Kamui)

Okay....here's the deal...anything I say is pire presumption since I've never used the chalk and don't intend to because I'll never pay $25 for a single smaller than normal size piece of chalk which has been seen on 2-Bay selling for $70 a cube.

I bought a carton (25 boxes - 50 pieces) of Blue Diamond chalk on e-bay froma seller six months ago for $75 shipped or $1.50 cube). I am still on the first box of chalk and have 24 new unopened chalk. I practice play several hrs day 3-4 times weekly and also local tournament play. In other words, I hit a lot of balls.

I typically chalk my cue every 3-5 shots using Blue Diamond...just a light application...it doesn't require a lot. The cube wears down pretty evenly when the chalk is applied properly. Now with Kamui, I am not going to chalk my cue once every 20-30-40 balls because I don't want to risk a miscue even during practice. So I'll probably apply it before it's needed according to the hype being written about how infrequently you have to put chalk on your cue with Kamui.

This chalk might be superior to others but in my opinion, it's more of a snobbery appeal...I don't want to say marketing gimmick... and people start thinking this is going to make me a better shooter....Hardly...you could go pick up a $5k Gina Cue or a Tascarella but the cue of and by itself is not going to turn you into a better shooter. Indeed, you might pick that cue up and be surprised that you do seem to be shooting better but it's not because the cue makes you shoot better, or the damn chalk for that matter. It's because you think the cue or chalk will help and subliminally you also try harder too.

Kamui chalk isn't going to make anyone a better shooter, except temporarily when they first start using it because you'll try harder...in the beginning...and rest assured, your game will plateau and you'll be shooting the same as before shortly. Any time to try harder...think of Kamui as a placebo....you'll usually get better results. But your skill and execution doesn't change.....I'll sum it up this way.

Willie Mosconi pocketed 526 balls in straight pool and it wasn't because he used Blue Diamond or Kamui or any special chalk. Willie Hoppe made 25 consecutive 3 cushion billiard shots (another world record) and Kamui didn't help him. They used plain old chalk....no hyped up special chalk...so maybe Kamui would have helped Mosconi pocket 600 balls? Probably noy...skill is skill and that what determines overall performance...not the cue in your hands or the chalk that's on the cue tip.


Buy whatever chalk you please but don't expect that your game will improve by buying a expensive chalk. Your game may improve but it's because you're trying harder and that's what it's all about. Keeping focued the whole time not just on more difficult shots.....Matt
 
Rocket354...A few clarifications, based on your observations...if you are miscuing, trying to execute two draw shots in a row, it is not the fault of the chalk...it is a poor quality stroke. The Kamui chalk will not make up for a poor stroke, no matter what people believe. If you are chalking properly, there isn't a "mist" of chalk anyway. You are using too much pressure on the chalk if this is happening. Brush the chalk on lightly, regardless of what brand you use. Lastly, drawing the CB farther is not a result of better chalk. It is the result of striking the CB lower. I'm not trying to denigrate your results or experience...rather just stating some facts. I've used it too. To me it didn't perform 100x better than Masters.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Rocket354 said:
The 60+ shots without rechalking isn't placebo, that's as real as any miscue I start having with normal chalk if I try to hit two draw shots in a row.

Also, not having a fine mist of chalk cascading down on everything every time I chalk is definitely a fact, not an illusion.

Finally, I'm well aware of how much draw I normally get with a given stroke, and having the ball go further than expected I doubt is placebo effect, but this one is harder to prove so if you want to chalk that one up (har har) to placebo, be my guest...
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hmmmm

Scott Lee said:
Rocket354...A few clarifications, based on your observations...if you are miscuing, trying to execute two draw shots in a row, it is not the fault of the chalk...it is a poor quality stroke. The Kamui chalk will not make up for a poor stroke, no matter what people believe. If you are chalking properly, there isn't a "mist" of chalk anyway. You are using too much pressure on the chalk if this is happening. Brush the chalk on lightly, regardless of what brand you use. Lastly, drawing the CB farther is not a result of better chalk. It is the result of striking the CB lower. I'm not trying to denigrate your results or experience...rather just stating some facts. I've used it too. To me it didn't perform 100x better than Masters.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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Yep :thumbup: sounds about right to me Scott !!

Also, 99% of miscues while drawing are because your tip hit the table first and not the cueball. If you have a good tip and chalk on the tip, you cannot miscue drawing (no matter how low you go) unless your stroke is completely whacked or you hit the table first with the tip.
 
well not to sound like a BCA instructor lol , just kidding ya Scott, but everyone needs to remember a good PSR will include chalking between each shot. I wouldn't suggest going and messing with what works in a PSR.
 
I bought a piece a month or so ago, used it exclusively for a week or two. It does work better than typical Masters etc., it is more chalky or sort of clay feeling where it sticks better and longer. I was easily able to shoot 5 - 7 practice racks of 9 or 10 ball, purposely shooting more extreme spin shots when I could to do the most damage so to speak. I'm sure if I had stuck to my normal game I could have even gotten a bit more out of it.

For actual play, I left the chalk up on the side table by my stuff so it wasn't lifted or ground into by random players, and I just lightly chalked every rack or two and never had an issue with miscues. Seemed a good balance between unnecessary over chalking and forgetting to chalk at all and ending up with an eventual miscue, because even the Kamui wears off after a while.

I went back to using good old Masters, I found I was thinking too much about where my cube of chalk was and keeping other people away from it... It did save me though, I was at a tourney a few weeks ago and the room had nothing but very worn out pieces of chalk. Unbelievable, large pool room with a large weekly tourney and regular leagues and no chalk! Everyone was asking for chalk, people were using nubs to chalk with or completly ground out pieces, personally I hate that. So I pulled out my Kamui, chalked quickly, and put it in my pocket, discretely chalking every 2 - 3 games throughout the day and never had a problem. Obviously I could have done the same thing with regular chalk if I had some extra in my case, maybe even a snooker style vest to keep my pants pockets clean?? :)


Do I think it's worth $25 - no. Will I buy another cube at that price? - No. But if it came down to a more reasonable price, a buck or two a cube or at most $5 a cube, I would probably buy a few and keep them in my case and use them. But even though it's a superior product IMO, I'm back to using good old free Master's chalk supplied by the pool room. And after that last tournament, I'm keeping a few fresh cubes of that in my case as well.

Scott
 
Scott Lee said:
Rocket354...A few clarifications, based on your observations...if you are miscuing, trying to execute two draw shots in a row, it is not the fault of the chalk...it is a poor quality stroke. The Kamui chalk will not make up for a poor stroke, no matter what people believe. If you are chalking properly, there isn't a "mist" of chalk anyway. You are using too much pressure on the chalk if this is happening. Brush the chalk on lightly, regardless of what brand you use. Lastly, drawing the CB farther is not a result of better chalk. It is the result of striking the CB lower. I'm not trying to denigrate your results or experience...rather just stating some facts. I've used it too. To me it didn't perform 100x better than Masters.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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Hi, Scott, the miscuing two draw shots in a row was a slight exaggeration, but the reality is if I don't chalk for a series of say 6 or 8 shots with normal chalk, and that last shot is, say, the 2nd or third power draw shot I've attempted, I will miscue the majority of the time. It is very likely due to poor stroke (as mentioned in the OP) but this was an issue that I most definitely did not have when using the chalk. I'm very familiar with when and how I miscue (generally draw shot or shots off the rail when I haven't just chalked) and those issues were not present in the slightest when I used Kamui chalk.

As for the mist, I chalk lightly, with the cue tilted sideways and I brush it on. That's how I've always been; I'm not one of those screw-it-on types. But I still have chalk flakes on my ferrule, my shaft, my hand. Over time, this chalk dust accumulates. Again, this was not an issue at all with Kamui chalk.

I repeat, I felt I got more action using this chalk. It might be a result of increased confidence causing my stroke to be more sure, but it was definitely there, even on throw shots. As someone who most likely has an excellent stroke already, it might not make a difference to your game, but for me, as a not-unintelligent banger, I'm very familiar with my own game and can tell a difference.

This is the same difference I can tell when I go from Silver Cup or generic chalk to master's/blue diamond. With the former I'm hesitant to attempt much in the way of any draw shots and I miscue much more often, even if I've just chalked, than with the latter (it must sound like I miscue all the time which is not true, btw). To me, Kamui chalk is the next step up in this regard.
 
:smile:when making a comment or evaluation please qualify it with how long u tried kamui chalk , it will help us all determine its value (your comment)

thanks
 
Scott Lee said:
Rocket354...A few clarifications, based on your observations...if you are miscuing, trying to execute two draw shots in a row, it is not the fault of the chalk...it is a poor quality stroke. The Kamui chalk will not make up for a poor stroke, no matter what people believe. If you are chalking properly, there isn't a "mist" of chalk anyway. You are using too much pressure on the chalk if this is happening. Brush the chalk on lightly, regardless of what brand you use. Lastly, drawing the CB farther is not a result of better chalk. It is the result of striking the CB lower. I'm not trying to denigrate your results or experience...rather just stating some facts. I've used it too. To me it didn't perform 100x better than Masters.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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You mean there is something called don't blame the chalk blame the playa? Nah couldn't be Scott, lack of proper fundamentals and execution couldn't cause miscues, are you sure you are qualified to give this assumption. :D
 
I personally laugh at this company, but I do understand to each their own, not knocking anybody for liking it, just don't like the company. What are they gonna make next, a $200 butt cap? Kamui rep response: "but it's the best butt cap there is." I mean, let me see here......

masters--free
kamui--$25

triangle tip--0.25
kamui--20 bucks.

Tough one.

And if these people ever get into the case making business or anything you can really count me out.
 
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The Chinchilla said:
I personally laugh at this company, but I do understand to each their own, not knocking anybody for liking it, just don't like the company. What are they gonna make next, a $200 butt cap? I mean, let me see here......

masters--free
kamui--$25

triangle tip--0.25
kamui--20 bucks.

Tough one.

And if these people ever get into the case making business or anything you can really count me out.
Click to expand...

Frankly, I prefer laughing at those that haven't seen the light...
 
Scott Lee said:
Rocket354...A few clarifications, based on your observations...if you are miscuing, trying to execute two draw shots in a row, it is not the fault of the chalk...it is a poor quality stroke. The Kamui chalk will not make up for a poor stroke, no matter what people believe. If you are chalking properly, there isn't a "mist" of chalk anyway. You are using too much pressure on the chalk if this is happening. Brush the chalk on lightly, regardless of what brand you use. Lastly, drawing the CB farther is not a result of better chalk. It is the result of striking the CB lower. I'm not trying to denigrate your results or experience...rather just stating some facts. I've used it too. To me it didn't perform 100x better than Masters.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Amen! All that needs to be said.

As far as more and better English, I think it's a confidence thing and you stroke through it correctly since you are no longer thinking about it. Me, myself will save $24.75 by chalking every shot instead of spending $25 not to have to chalk for 50-60 shots. I wish people would stop comparing it to buying a $1000 cue though, you will have the cue for decades and will take a small lose or gain profit when you sell it. I watch streamed matches as much as possible online and all I see the pros and AA players use is that little red cube which I could only believe is Masters. I'm still waiting for someone to leave theirs behind so I can try it. People around here must have it chained to their belts. :)
 
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