Chalk wars

Have you tried Russian Magic?
For me the advantage of RM is what you may be looking for. For those who chalk every shot most of these chalks will do.
The Russian magic chalk I have been buying from RJ is by far the cleanest chalk I have tried. Table,hands and pool balls are much cleaner.

Agreed and seconded!

Probably due to poor technique or not paying proper attention, my chalking hand would be rather blue by the end of the evening, when using Masters.

Not so with Magic Chalk. I still get some on my hand (which tells me part of the issue is with the way I do it) but its far, far less.
 
I have in my possession a piece of chalk that disproves the idea that any chalk applied correctly will serve its purpose. I stole it from my local bar, in part to get it out of circulation but also because I was so impressed by its miscue-causing properties. It was unbranded and originally had some advertising on it but that's been rubbed away. You're seriously better off with no chalk than with this chalk. It would be ideal for planting on a table for your opponent's use when you have your own chalk. $30 buys it (or whatever the going rate for Kamui, it's surely worth as much).
That's a piece of chalk that actually might be worth $30, assuming an opponent is actually dumb enough to use it multiple times (although, you probably don't need a dud chalk to beat somebody like that anyway).

But you make a good point ... I shouldn't say: "any" chalk, when applied correctly, is adequate. Instead, I should instead say: "all of the chalks that I have tested ..."

Regards,
Dave
 
I'd be happy to send it to you for analysis and appraisal :)
I appreciate the offer, but I think I have had enough chalk testing for a while. It was fun the first time, but it has been less and less fun with each additional test.

If you are really curious, you or anyone else can easily follow the same procedures I outline in the video to do your own tests. If you or others do, please share your results here.

Thanks again,
Dave
 
That's really interesting.

I use the Great White chalk, primarily because I love the magnetic holder. It leaves little white chalk dots all over the cue ball: I wonder if there are any downsides to that?

Chalk on the cue ball causes "skids". If the cue ball happens to contact the object ball at the spot where the chalk is, there is a clinging action that occurs. Any effects of throw caused by the shot normally, are greatly magnified by this, usually resulting in a missed shot.
 
Chalk on the cue ball causes "skids". If the cue ball happens to contact the object ball at the spot where the chalk is, there is a clinging action that occurs. Any effects of throw caused by the shot normally, are greatly magnified by this, usually resulting in a missed shot.
For those interested, much more info (including numerous online video demonstrations) dealing with cling/skid/kick is available here:

cling/skid/kick resource page

ball cleaning and surface treatment effects

Enjoy,
Dave
 
Skid

Chalk on the cue ball causes "skids". If the cue ball happens to contact the object ball at the spot where the chalk is, there is a clinging action that occurs. Any effects of throw caused by the shot normally, are greatly magnified by this, usually resulting in a missed shot.

I would like to see a slow motion video on that.
 
I would like to see a slow motion video on that.
FYI, a good example of cling/skid/kick with a follow shot can be viewed in super slow motion in the following video:

HSV B.46 - CB and OB hop and spin transfer during follow shots

Many people seem to think the balls actually "cling" together and stay in contact longer with shots like this, but that's not the case. The excessive throw comes from the extra friction created by the chalk mark. For more info, see the cling/skid/kick resource page.

Enjoy,
Dave
 
That's a piece of chalk that actually might be worth $30, assuming an opponent is actually dumb enough to use it multiple times (although, you probably don't need a dud chalk to beat somebody like that anyway).

But you make a good point ... I shouldn't say: "any" chalk, when applied correctly, is adequate. Instead, I should instead say: "all of the chalks that I have tested ..."

Regards,
Dave

This is right. We talked about this before and some things that resemble a cube of chalk are not suitable for use in pool. Basically any chalk you can buy at Kmart is not acceptable in my experience.
 
Some new additions to the Chalk Wars I just found at Turning Stone Classic XXV

Molinari chalk

And

Sang Lee premium billiard chalk. Which comes in its own air tight case with a package of desiccant to maintain it.

SangLeeChalk.com

 
spin

FYI, a good example of cling/skid/kick with a follow shot can be viewed in super slow motion in the following video:

HSV B.46 - CB and OB hop and spin transfer during follow shots

Many people seem to think the balls actually "cling" together and stay in contact longer with shots like this, but that's not the case. The excessive throw comes from the extra friction created by the chalk mark. For more info, see the cling/skid/kick resource page.

Enjoy,
Dave

Didn't ever even think about it. just wanted to see a video of it so I knew for a fact.

Explains allot of things that has happened to me at certain places where the balls are dirty , or just the whole pool room is dirty...

Thanks for the video ,
 
There's gonna be a new entry to the already crowded chalk market. I was at TS talking to Oscar Dominguez about chalk and he told me he and a friend where coming out with a new chalk. He said it will be a hybrid chalk that will be something between a makeup chalk like Kamui and good old Masters chalk. It will also be hydrophobic, so it will resist caking in humid environments. Sounds really interesting and should be available soon. I'm sure the Filipinos will love it.
 
I was hitting some balls today, checking the chalk marks on the cue ball for accuracy. I remembered taking a lesson a couple of years back and the instructor pulled out some Predator chalk. His reason was that it left marks better. So maybe some of these chalks could be helpful during practice.
 
I was hitting some balls today, checking the chalk marks on the cue ball for accuracy. I remembered taking a lesson a couple of years back and the instructor pulled out some Predator chalk. His reason was that it left marks better. So maybe some of these chalks could be helpful during practice.

I tried Predator chalk, and that's the main reason I decided not to use it permanently. The grit in that stuff must be metal. I just couldn't get it to wipe off the cue ball. I actually apologized to the room owner. Plus, when you drop it, it rolls under the table, and I am getting too old for that sh.....stuff.
 
I have been using Kamui .98 chalk at home for about 6 months. I think it's fantastic. I have better control over spin and CB control and am stroking more easily and consistently in general. I can see that there is residue on the rails of the table where chalk rubs off my hands and a bit of a sheen in spots on my cloth (heavily used Simonis 860, 5 years old). I vacuum the table and use a micro-cloth regularly, but the sheen doesn't all come off. Another thread on AZ talked about how hard it is to clean the cloth, but nobody really offered a method. I can't find any good recommendations anywhere else on the web, either (I'm not putting it in the washing machine or ironing it (YIKES!).

Does anybody have a practical suggestion?
 
I have been using Kamui .98 chalk at home for about 6 months. I think it's fantastic. I have better control over spin and CB control and am stroking more easily and consistently in general. I can see that there is residue on the rails of the table where chalk rubs off my hands and a bit of a sheen in spots on my cloth (heavily used Simonis 860, 5 years old). I vacuum the table and use a micro-cloth regularly, but the sheen doesn't all come off. Another thread on AZ talked about how hard it is to clean the cloth, but nobody really offered a method. I can't find any good recommendations anywhere else on the web, either (I'm not putting it in the washing machine or ironing it (YIKES!).

Does anybody have a practical suggestion?

Yeah, stop using it. No, really. I mean, I like to market MC, but I'd never, in a million years claim that MC could make stroking more easy and consistent. Not really sure how you believe you have better cue ball control either ??

Don't but MC, try another premium brand, just so you don't think I'm trying you to "sell" you on MC. I'd much rather you use MC competitors than keep using $30 chalk that makes a fuggin mess on the table and cue ball. Something I would not say about any other brand of chalk, ever. There are other premium brands for a fraction of the price, and make 10 times less mess. Some are sold here too. Try Blue Diamond, Try Great White, Try something else.
 
I'd never, in a million years claim that MC could make stroking more easy and consistent. Not really sure how you believe you have better cue ball control either ??
Chalk doesn't make all the difference, but I feel more confident lately. YMMV...
 
I like to use Kamui chalk so I can see exactly where I cued the ball 10 racks later.
 
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