Chalking; yes again.

What do you do and what do you use? Pick as many as you want.

  • I chalk after I shoot, every time

    Votes: 11 10.1%

  • I chalk before I shoot, every time

    Votes: 37 33.9%

  • I chalk sometimes before and sometimes after or both

    Votes: 28 25.7%

  • I chalk for most shots

    Votes: 42 38.5%

  • I chalk for some shots

    Votes: 8 7.3%

  • I don't know my chalking habits

    Votes: 1 0.9%

  • I don't have to chalk every time because I use Kamui

    Votes: 6 5.5%

  • I use Kamui but still chalk every time

    Votes: 3 2.8%

  • I use Master chalk

    Votes: 61 56.0%

  • I use some other brand, diamond, Lava, Silver Cup etc.. or I just use whatever is there

    Votes: 22 20.2%

  • This is a really bad and/or stupid poll

    Votes: 11 10.1%

  • This poll is redundant, it has been done too many times before

    Votes: 9 8.3%

  • My option(s) are not listed

    Votes: 3 2.8%
  • Total voters
    109
PGHteacher

PGHteacher

John Fischer
Silver Member
Ok so this has probably come up before but now that we have Kamui it is a bit of a game changer. I hope I word this poll well and there are enough options, I have allowed multiple choice because there is actually more than 1 question here.

Please read all the options before you vote there may be one that "better" describes what you do and why. I always like to put the last options there for the venters. I am particularly interested in the people that chalk up before or after they shoot and to those of you that answer that if you wouldn't mind explaining why; thanks everyone in advance.
 
I was just thinking about my chalking habits yesterday.

I was watching a 147 break by Ronnie O'Sullivan and noticed that when he chalked: he just swiped the tip once or twice. I, on the other hand, grind away as if I'm digging a hole. So last night while I was playing my league match, I made a conscious effort to just swipe a couple times between shots.

I don't think it made a difference but it may preserve my precious, precious Master chalk a little longer. :grinning-moose:
 
Before every shot; it's part of my pre-shot routine.

Other brand of chalk; Balabushka (with a base of Kamui applied at the start of the session)
 
I use Master chalk. I will use the same piece for a long time. All chalk is not the same though. I will pick a piece that feels like I'm brushing my tip with 400 grit piece of sandpaper. If it feels like 600 grit, I will not use it.


If someone happens to use my cue and use Silver Cup chalk on my cue, all the chalk needs to come off before I use my own piece. Mixing different kinds of chalk on the same tip does not work for me.

And how often I chalk...LOL...well I'll chalk while waiting to shoot, then I catch myself chalking again after I already chalked. I just keep chalking even when there is no need to.

I use every bit of one piece of chalk. I use a belt sander to grind it down to make it like a new piece every month or so to protect my ferrule.
 
Chalking before every shot is a reminder to back up, sight from the standing position, and walk into the shot placing my foot on the line.

I have been using Blue Diamond for a few years and there really doesn't seem to be any difference as compared to Master's so I am going back to Master's when my last cube of Blue Diamond is used.
 
poolguy4u said:
I use every bit of one piece of chalk. I use a belt sander to grind it down to make it like a new piece every month or so to protect my ferrule.
Click to expand...

I like my angle grinder for that if I get horns on the corners.
 

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I catch myself not chalking before every shot, now and again. I am try to instill that into an every shot routine, but still I find sometimes I am too intent on the next shot. A work in progress.

Additionally, I find myself chalking after my shot, when I have missed. Probably a nervous habit, trying to keep busy and still focused on the game at hand, as opposed to sitting there and getting distracted. I guess. (Don't worry, I have my own chalk, cuz I'm a lowly league player and I have the goofy pocket chalker, so I'm not taking the chalk away from the player shooting...hee hee.)
 
Well, here is where I make enimies again. If you don't chalk, which shot will you miscue on?

If Kamui, your example, did not think you needed to chalk why did they develop around a 30 dollar a cube chalk? If they did not think you needed to chalk why did they come out with about a 30 dollar a cube chalk and special tool to rough up your tip?

If you need to rough up your tip and chalk why pay around 30 dollars a cube to chalk?

I like Diamond chalk but Masters is good and if I am chalking before shooting it does not matter that much.
 
I found that taking a piece of chalk with a deep hole outside and scraping it on cement works quite well to set a reasonable small hole.

Quick and easy :smile:
 
Ghosst said:
I like my angle grinder for that if I get horns on the corners.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

Very good! I also wrap my chalk with return address label stickers to hold it all together. I use three labels per piece.


LOL...if I lose my chalk, people will know where to send it.
 
Other:

Ok, so far I am the only other candidate in this poll>(I know I'm unique) :smile:
I chalk about once a rack. I do it for 2 prime reasons. 1- I use premium tips from Kamui,Moori,or Tiger,..... they hold chalk just fine when taken care of. 2- I never had an instructor or other "mentor" tell me to chalk my cue while I was thinking,(preparing) for the next shot. Do I use chalk more often? On occasion I get a certain shot usually got played on defense, and I wanna make sure I've got a good full tip of chalk on the tip. Honestly, being a chalk-grinder is like having OCD to me, but I kinda understand why others do it.
 
poolguy4u said:
:thumbup:

Very good! I also wrap my chalk with return address label stickers to hold it all together. I use three labels per piece.


LOL...if I lose my chalk, people will know where to send it.
Click to expand...

I like electrician's tape.

This tape also works well when placed inside a wooden rack to help get a tight rack every time.
 
Just thought I'd point out that "before every shot" is not really any different from "after every shot".

And what, sanders? I use cement. On the ground.
 
JoeW said:
I found that taking a piece of chalk with a deep hole outside and scraping it on cement works quite well to set a reasonable small hole.
Click to expand...

Then those damned kids won't be on my lawn, they'll be on my sidewalk, playing hopscotch.
 
PGHteacher said:
How so? I am considering the end of ones inning, are you sure you are?
Click to expand...

After every shot is on your way to sit down.

Before every shot is a physical trigger that can be used to initiate the PSR. It is a reminder to "stop and think" while you are chalking this is a good time to do several things related to the PSR as indicated in my post above.

I like these types of physical triggers that are related to the behavior that should follow.
 
If I am using center ball, I do not usually chalk up. The reason is that I don't want any more chalk marks on the cue ball than necessary. If I'm using anything other than center, I chalk it.
 
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