Chalk... Hate vs Love.....

Hmmm... I've used several brands of chalk in the past 8 weeks or so.

The local poolhall includes Masters blue chalk in your rack when you go to play and the chalk plays nice but doesn't hold very well (or so it seems).

I've also used Silver Cup chalk and it seemed to hold better than the Masters chalk and I had no miscues with it.

A brand new player came in with his Walmart Mizerak starter kit and we used his Mizerak chalk... which I'm sure every serious player knows is the worst stuff this side of pool.

Umm - my friend Matt is a die hard pool fanatic so he's always testing out new things - so I've actually used some Kamui chalk and some Lava chalk. The Kamui held incredibly and I seemed to get better draw more consistently. With the Lava chalk I seemed to get more cue ball control as well.

Now, if I had to choose between all of these - it'd actually be down to Kamui vs. Lava, and I'd take Lava because it's a cheaper and still has a great hold to the cue. The chalk hardly ever falls off =P
 
Hate: Kamui: sticky, does not have the sound when used like other traditional chalks. expensive

Love: Cosmo: performs at same level with Kamui, but does not have the above characteristics that I hate :p
 
PaulieB said:
If you could make a chalk somewhere between BD and Kamui .98 but keep the price reasonable, I would probably just use that all the time.
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I got a chalk from China that XTP had been advertising, or at least it had her pic on it.
This chalk seemed to be as you're discribing. Softer but not greasy, fine not gritty, spread well and covered, had some duribility and didn't stick to everything or leave lots of unsightly marks on everything it touched. This chalk came 2 to a little tin. One of the better one's I've used... IMO.
I've tried all the chalks mentioned in this thread and what I'm noticing here is different climates seem to be making a difference. I've gone to consistantly using the Predator, though to me it is a bit dusty it's what works best for me and is very similiar in most charictaristics to the NIR Super pro. I do like the Kamui but to me both kinds are very similar, too close to call and cost way to much. As far as the Magic Chalk, I don't see anything special about it, it was even a step below Masters. I liked the Lava, but it felt gritty. The lower level of "chalkdom" as far as I'm concerned, Silver Cup, Sport Craft, Triangle, and many others. To me these are all very similar in quality and feel and are only slightly a step above chalking with a piece of drywall. Balabushka, Blue Diamond, NIR, Predator, all surprisingly similar. Overall, if I could find a Predator that wasn't as dry and dusty I think thats what I'd be using. I can't imagine what the price might be. While I do use the Predator and will change up from time to time to the BD or Balabushka if I have it in my case. A chalk that I'll include in the group with the Predator, et al, is Brunswick and it is much more cost effective. About the price of Masters but to me it is steps above Masters and just slightly below the Predator
 
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I've been using Kamui 1.21 for the past year now. I'm fairly certain the issue with it sticking on the cue ball is a result of putting too much of the stuff on the tip. That being said, I'd be as guilty as the rest of you since I see it left on the cue ball every time I play.

I've used NIR and it works well but it's messy as all hell. To me, Predator works the best of non-Kamui chalks. Compared to Masters, it applies more consistently, seems a little less gritty, but grips just as well. It's also not as messy as NIR or Balabushka.

I'd really appreciate it you did something with the color. Something that doesn't blue your shaft but doesn't show on the felt at the same time.

Taek
 
Currently using both Kamui types, and Blue Diamond for my breaker, sometimes, if I remember to take it with me. Love the Kamui, Blue Diamond is also good.

Master seems to be the standard, but probably because it's always around.

Worst is silver cup. Utter fesces.
 
XmarathonX said:
It's called overkill & a waste of time. Name 1 pro who has ever talked about baking their Masters chalk? And no it's not some secret the pros will not share. As to the original question, Masters is just fine by me, no "pre-flag", no baked & none made with ground Unicorn bone. It does what it needs to do & does it well just the way it is made.
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Have you ever tried it?
 
Celophanewrap said:
I got a chalk from China that XTP had been advertising, or at least it had her pic on it.
This chalk seemed to be as you're discribing. Softer but not greasy, fine not gritty, spread well and covered, had some duribility and didn't stick to everything or leave lots of unsightly marks on everything it touched. This chalk came 2 to a little tin. One of the better one's I've used... IMO.
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I've been wanting to get some of this, as much for the novelty factor as to use it.
 
Celophanewrap said:
I got a chalk from China that XTP had been advertising, or at least it had her pic on it.
This chalk seemed to be as you're discribing. Softer but not greasy, fine not gritty, spread well and covered, had some duribility and didn't stick to everything or leave lots of unsightly marks on everything it touched. This chalk came 2 to a little tin. One of the better one's I've used... IMO.
I've tried all the chalks mentioned in this thread and what I'm noticing here is different climates seem to be making a difference. I've gone to consistantly using the Predator, though to me it is a bit dusty it's what works best for me and is very similiar in most charictaristics to the NIR Super pro. I do like the Kamui but to me both kinds are very similar, too close to call and cost way to much. As far as the Magic Chalk, I don't see anything special about it, it was even a step below Masters. I liked the Lava, but it felt gritty. The lower level of "chalkdom" as far as I'm concerned, Silver Cup, Sport Craft, Triangle, and many others. To me these are all very similar in quality and feel and are only slightly a step above chalking with a piece of drywall. Balabushka, Blue Diamond, NIR, Predator, all surprisingly similar. Overall, if I could find a Predator that wasn't as dry and dusty I think thats what I'd be using. I can't imagine what the price might be. While I do use the Predator and will change up from time to time to the BD or Balabushka if I have it in my case. A chalk that I'll include in the group with the Predator, et al, is Brunswick and it is much more cost effective. About the price of Masters but to me it is steps above Masters and just slightly below the Predator
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You're using the Magical series. PXT chalk has 3 series. Normal, Club and Magical.
 
leto1776 said:
I've been wanting to get some of this, as much for the novelty factor as to use it.
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This is pretty good stuff IMO. I got a bunch of shit because it was "gurl" chalk.
I think if it were more available here I'd use it all the time and it is a little pricy though not as bad as the Kamui. There was a cheaper version of it, or maybe just a cheaper imitation, that I also purchased that was also good, but not nearly as good. That came 9 to a box. The XTP chalk was a nice surprise, I didn't expect much from it, but I really liked it. I think I mainly bought it because if I should ever have a chance to meet XTP I want to have something open a conversation with until she finds me irresistible and charming. If Ga Young ever gets her own chalk I'd be all over that one too
 
i use masters, bc its free, bc it works for 100 years and bc the chalk trend will go away quicker than what carry-on chalk lasts me, 12 minutes, by losing it or getting stolen "accidentally"
 
Celophanewrap said:
This is pretty good stuff IMO. I got a bunch of shit because it was "gurl" chalk.
I think if it were more available here I'd use it all the time and it is a little pricy though not as bad as the Kamui. There was a cheaper version of it, or maybe just a cheaper imitation, that I also purchased that was also good, but not nearly as good. That came 9 to a box. The XTP chalk was a nice surprise, I didn't expect much from it, but I really liked it. I think I mainly bought it because if I should ever have a chance to meet XTP I want to have something open a conversation with until she finds me irresistible and charming. If Ga Young ever gets her own chalk I'd be all over that one too
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9 per box is club which is the light blue wrapper. Quite alot of my friends are using the Magical series.

I wonder is it actually known as Magic or Magical. :grin:
 
If you can get ahold of some Players Choice and figure out the forumla you will have a great chalk. That is what I use. I am glad I bought a couple of gross of it before National went out of business. I would have bought a lot more if I had known Silver Cup would not get the formula when they bought National out.
 
I have tried Masters, Predator, Blue Diamond, & NIR.

I agree with most that the Predator is too gritty. The shape is cool but if you drop it that cube will roll away from you, right to the very center of something large and low so it is difficult to reach as possible. WTF?

The Master chalk isnt bad, I have some light green that for some reason seems much more for lack of a better word "creamy" than the blue. Occasionally I will run across a piece of blue that feels similar to the light green but very seldom, I like the light green better but it makes a mess on my new tournament green Simonis. Probably the worst thing I notice with Master is inconsistency from cube to cube.

Blue Diamond I like, I have no real complaints with so far.

NIR I like the best, it seems to adhere better than Blue Diamond, seems a little more creamy, it will make a mess if you cant keep it off your fingers because of the bright blue color, still far & away my favorite.

Kamui I can not comment on, I will not spend $27.00 for 1 cube of chalk, its not that I cant afford it, I bought a new set of Centennials and Tournament Aramiths just so I always have a clean set of balls to rotate in if need be but it is just the principal of the ridiculous price for a single cube of chalk. If mis-cueing was a problem I would spend the money for Kamui, but the only reason for using anything other than what is on the table for free comes down to personal preference, not performance.
 
fastone371 said:
I have tried Masters, Predator, Blue Diamond, & NIR.

I agree with most that the Predator is too gritty. The shape is cool but if you drop it that cube will roll away from you, right to the very center of something large and low so it is difficult to reach as possible. WTF?

The Master chalk isnt bad, I have some light green that for some reason seems much more for lack of a better word "creamy" than the blue. Occasionally I will run across a piece of blue that feels similar to the light green but very seldom, I like the light green better but it makes a mess on my new tournament green Simonis. Probably the worst thing I notice with Master is inconsistency from cube to cube.

Blue Diamond I like, I have no real complaints with so far.

NIR I like the best, it seems to adhere better than Blue Diamond, seems a little more creamy, it will make a mess if you cant keep it off your fingers because of the bright blue color, still far & away my favorite.

Kamui I can not comment on, I will not spend $27.00 for 1 cube of chalk, its not that I cant afford it, I bought a new set of Centennials and Tournament Aramiths just so I always have a clean set of balls to rotate in if need be but it is just the principal of the ridiculous price for a single cube of chalk. If mis-cueing was a problem I would spend the money for Kamui, but the only reason for using anything other than what is on the table for free comes down to personal preference, not performance.
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You could try Xingpai Green chalk since you like the creamy ones.
 
fastone371 said:
Thank you, maybe I will. Is it readily available from online retailers?
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I don't think its available from online retailers.

I have some and I'm intending to thin my collection but the problem is shipping cost. I send quite a number of chalks to this friend of mine here, cost about USD30+ for like 30+ cubes of chalks. Both of us are chalk collectors.
 
The Renfro said:
No mention of the Balabushka or Magic chalk.... I have a cube of the latter RHATTEN gave me for testing and so far have just had it under the microscope and not actually tried it...... Think there was one more... NIR Tournament chalk?

Chris
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I really like both Balabushka and Magic. The Magic chalk is probably my favorite and about the only one I have not tried to compare it to is Kamui.
 
Pre flag Master, put a thread up here to buy & had 2 gross purchased within 20 minutes. Sooner or later supply will dry up & I'll have to use something else. I hope outsville comes up with something good.


Why am I the Colonel? Because I always get the chicken
 
Colonel said:
Pre flag Master, put a thread up here to buy & had 2 gross purchased within 20 minutes. Sooner or later supply will dry up & I'll have to use something else. I hope outsville comes up with something good.


Why am I the Colonel? Because I always get the chicken
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Been a ton of research and time on this... I won't release it until I feel like it's not just another chalk... Kind of like our "Solid" break tips... I already have leather single layered formula that outperform the Samsara but I am hoping I can tweak it a few more points and get something in the realm of a phenolic with the control of leather... As of now I am dead in between the Predator Phenolic and Samsara so I have a little bit of a hill to climb... If it's at all possible I'll get it climbed....

Chris
 
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