Don't hate the powder, it's the abusers of powder who make a mess of pool tables.
There's nothing terribly wrong with powder. It's how powder is used that's the problem. Most people buy a bottle of Johnson & Johnson, poor a pile of it on a table like it's going to be some kind of crazy coke party, then dip their fingers or hands in it. That creates a mess.
The enemy:
If one must use powder, the best is those little talcum powder bags, where the powder is sewn into a small cloth baggy. The powder comes out through cloth in small, thin increments. It's enough to make the hands and cue nice and slick, but doesn't ever leave finger prints, or smears of powder on the table if you just grab it or lightly pat it on hands or the shaft.
A solution?
I don't like powder, but it's a necessary evil at times. I prefer to just wash my hands more often, and then use the damp paper towels to wipe down the shaft (amazing the dirt that gets on there). And it plays slick. But there are times there's no time for that, or can't do it in a match for whatever reason. When that happens, I wipe my hands and shaft often, and go to the powder bag very sparingly. It works great, and there's no mess at all. I've never left a finger print, smear or any visible powder anywhere on any table ever.
It doesn't take much to get the desired effect. The amount of powder most players use is total overkill. That's why people hate the dreaded powder. I've seen people abuse it so badly, the table looks like a winter wonderland. With all the grunge on the table already, the oils and sweat from hands handling the balls, there are a lot of skids, and the stack doesn't break open as easily.
When used properly, a person coming to the table after you're done shouldn't be able to tell if powder was used at all.
Those talcum powder bags are cheap ($1 or so) and last a long time. I've given them to powder abusers before. Made converts of some. Progress through education. :grin-square:
There's nothing terribly wrong with powder. It's how powder is used that's the problem. Most people buy a bottle of Johnson & Johnson, poor a pile of it on a table like it's going to be some kind of crazy coke party, then dip their fingers or hands in it. That creates a mess.
The enemy:
If one must use powder, the best is those little talcum powder bags, where the powder is sewn into a small cloth baggy. The powder comes out through cloth in small, thin increments. It's enough to make the hands and cue nice and slick, but doesn't ever leave finger prints, or smears of powder on the table if you just grab it or lightly pat it on hands or the shaft.
A solution?
I don't like powder, but it's a necessary evil at times. I prefer to just wash my hands more often, and then use the damp paper towels to wipe down the shaft (amazing the dirt that gets on there). And it plays slick. But there are times there's no time for that, or can't do it in a match for whatever reason. When that happens, I wipe my hands and shaft often, and go to the powder bag very sparingly. It works great, and there's no mess at all. I've never left a finger print, smear or any visible powder anywhere on any table ever.
It doesn't take much to get the desired effect. The amount of powder most players use is total overkill. That's why people hate the dreaded powder. I've seen people abuse it so badly, the table looks like a winter wonderland. With all the grunge on the table already, the oils and sweat from hands handling the balls, there are a lot of skids, and the stack doesn't break open as easily.
When used properly, a person coming to the table after you're done shouldn't be able to tell if powder was used at all.
Those talcum powder bags are cheap ($1 or so) and last a long time. I've given them to powder abusers before. Made converts of some. Progress through education. :grin-square:
LOL!
