chalk with opposite hand...why?

trob

trob

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was reading George fells top 30 pool tips and he said for immediate improval in your game chalk with the opposite hand. He said he won't go into why right now...just do it. 25 years of playing and I've never heard of this. So can anyone tell me why?? and is he right? I like george fels a lot. One of the main things I miss about billiards digest.
 
trob said:
I was reading George fells top 30 pool tips and he said for immediate improval in your game chalk with the opposite hand. He said he won't go into why right now...just do it. 25 years of playing and I've never heard of this. So can anyone tell me why?? and is he right? I like george fels a lot. One of the main things I miss about billiards digest.
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not sure
i chalk with my left hand.
 
opposite is what exactly? is it the one you use your bridge with hand? or is it the one that you grib the cue with?

I personally chalk with my hand of which I grib the cue with, I just got used to that.
 
I don't know for certain why, but I've seen quite a few GOOD players in the league do exactly that. Never occurred to me to ask them.

The only reasons I could think of is that, by using your 'butt' hand to chalk your cue, you :

A) Chalk properly, and not a 'swipe' like one might do with only three balls left in the runout (the temptation to hurry up and get out)

B) Similar to the above, but with your stance. If you chalk with the 'butt' hand, you then have to go through your ENTIRE pre-shot routine, instead of simply bending over and shooting the last few balls

Makes sense. I can't count the number of times I've got two of mine and the 8 left, and either miss the shot, or snooker myself out of the win.

I'm gonna start trying that 'chalk with the other hand' thing... Thanks, George
 
It had nothing to do with chalking your cue better...I would think it's one of those forcing the opposite side of your brain things lol I'll try it tomorrow anyway.
 
trob said:
I was reading George fells top 30 pool tips and he said for immediate improval in your game chalk with the opposite hand. He said he won't go into why right now...just do it. 25 years of playing and I've never heard of this. So can anyone tell me why?? and is he right? I like george fels a lot. One of the main things I miss about billiards digest.
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You mean right handed players chalking with their left hand? I thought most of us do.

Chris
 
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I shoot RIGHT handed and I chalk right handed and
it keeps my bridge hand clean and my shaft clean ....
This is important to me ...
Bud
 
I'm right-handed and I've gotten myself to chalking with my right hand on purpose. I have to use some powder now and again to be able to keep the stroke smooth (especially in this current heat wave!) and I try to not touch anything with my left hand while I'm playing. (Don't like the feel of a glove, either.) Don't want to have to use any more powder than necessary, and don't want to get powder on anything un-necessarily. I've had to learn to make myself pick up my drinks with my right-hand as well.

That, and I think I chalk "better" using my natural hand. More control, less grinding.
 
Hmmm....I am opposite of most replies so far on this thread....


I am left handed but I chalk with my right hand...(bridge hand)

First I don't have to swing the cue around my body to get in position to play a shot....

Second I like to keep my "grip" hand clean...I use a leather grip and prefer a tacky feel......I have dry hands though...from time to time I will grab a cold glass with my grip hand to pick up some of the moisture...or I will lick the end of my fingers...similar to what some football quarterbacks or Pitchers do.....I can't stand the feeling of the chalk on my grip hand.

Chalk on my bridge hand or shaft has never bothered me....In fact I never clean my shaft......well...not my pool cue shaft anyway...:wink:
 
I shoot with either hand, so I guess I should hold the chalk with my teeth. Yeah, that sounds about right. :grin:
 
Rhythm

trob said:
I was reading George fells top 30 pool tips and he said for immediate improval in your game chalk with the opposite hand. He said he won't go into why right now...just do it. 25 years of playing and I've never heard of this. So can anyone tell me why?? and is he right? I like george fels a lot. One of the main things I miss about billiards digest.
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Mr. Fels is right, you should chalk your cue with your bridge hand, because it slows your Rhythm down if your walking around the table looking over the layout and stop to chalk your cue with your shooting arm hand.

This way you can walk and chalk at the same time you are looking over the table.

Just think about it, just for the few seconds you stop to chalk you are nolonger focusing on the shot that is coming up, you loose concentration momentarily for those brief presious seconds, which in turn takes you out of a subconsious Rhythm.

There is nothing wrong chalking with your shooting arm hand, but that it's a time to do it that way , and a time not too.


David Harcrow
 
sometimes a little bit of time is a good thing. Like if you're rushing your out, it gives you a little bit of pause.

and most people I see who chalk with their bridge hand chalk for squeak and not to actually apply chalk to their tip.

If its important, I'll look at it like when I chalk my jump cue.



another thing.... if you want to use hand chalk, but not use hand chalk... run your bridge hand past your tip and sneak some chalk off the very edge of your tip. ;)
 
What do you mean by oppisite hand?? Personally I hold the cue with my bridge hand and chalk with my stroking hand. This is how i started doing it since i began playing. Is this what you mean by "oppisite."
 
One of life's lessons I picked up

catpool9 said:
Mr. Fels is right, you should chalk your cue with your bridge hand, because it slows your Rhythm down if your walking around the table looking over the layout and stop to chalk your cue with your shooting arm hand.

This way you can walk and chalk at the same time you are looking over the table.

Just think about it, just for the few seconds you stop to chalk you are nolonger focusing on the shot that is coming up, you loose concentration momentarily for those brief presious seconds, which in turn takes you out of a subconsious Rhythm.

There is nothing wrong chalking with your shooting arm hand, but that it's a time to do it that way , and a time not too.


David Harcrow
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It's strange the things we do via subconscious habit. Like chalking. I'm a righty and usually chalk lefty. But not always... Pool is like making love to a woman... Bare with me, mmkay? I don't think I'm alone in utilizing this moist effective, spiritual process.

Sometimes, when I've stroked one in the hole and come to notice my next one is going to be a sticky wicket, I realize I need a moment to analyze twats before me. So, I place put my butt down on the ground and hold my shaft with my left hand. I proceed to apply the friction modifier with my right hand, afterwhich I get focused on the task at hand. Then, an in-out.. a few more in-outs.. and BAM! I let 'er go without abandon. I find this process to be boneficial to not selling out. It keeps me in tall cotton. That'll be $69.99 please.

What's that story about the young bull and the experienced bull up on the hill? :)
 
I play right handed and chalk right handed. When I first started playing I chalked with my left hand. After I started watching some videos of Earl, I noticed that he chalked with his right hand, so I tried it and liked it. It stuck with me ever since.

The way I look at it, since I'm right handed, I like using my right hand. It feels more comfortable.
 
trob said:
It had nothing to do with chalking your cue better...I would think it's one of those forcing the opposite side of your brain things lol I'll try it tomorrow anyway.
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Wait let me get this straight. He ISN'T saying chalk with a particular hand, he's just saying chalk with the hand you don't chalk with now? That will make you play better?:confused:

$hit maybe I'll try it. Either he knows something or he's tripping on something. Can't hurt.:shrug:
 
I think..

opposite hand=off hand.

For a right handed person the off hand or opposite hand is the left hand and vice-versa.

I am right handed and chalk with my left hand most of the time.When I need a little time to compose myself or if I just need to check my tip and make sure it is holding chalk I will take some time and chalk right handed.
 
Actually, what you do is chalk with the hand you bridge with. It is just another way of keeping more of your brain stimuladed by giving it a simple task during your pre shot routine or set up. The shooting hand has a job it strokes the cue back and forth, chalking with the other hand actually keeps involved, other than just being a guide, keeping more of the brain involved in the shot. It will seem a little awkward at first, but I guarantee you, you will see a difference. The easiest way to get use to it, is just carry the chalk back to your seat when you are waiting to shoot, and hold it with your finger tips of that hand, it will soon feel natural. If you think this sounds corny, give it one day at the table and then see what you think. I was told it keeps the other side of the brain involved ( I don't know) but I do know it definately improved my game.
 
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