Does anybody think those magnetic chalk holders allow you to keep your focus on the table when you're playing? I'd agree they certainly cut down on the amount of chalk that hits the table which keeps things cleaner but do they allow you to focus on the upcoming shot better?
Do chalk holders allow you to keep your focus?
- Thread starter steffi
- Start date
it shouldn't matter either way as long as you incorporate it into a lengthy preshot routine. i'm not a sox fan but the reason nomar is one of the best hitters in baseball is because he has the most mechanical routine of anybody. if your busy doing your routine and focusing on the shot, you dont have time to think about other distractions.
DougT
Illustrated Principles
Funny, but yes!
I have found, especially if there is a variety of conditions in the chalks on the table, that choosing one of the good chalks is a slight break in my concentration. Especially if one is 'mushy', or has been drilled deep.
Those are the times that I grab a chalk holder to keep consistency in the chalk, and it's location. It DOES help.
Steffi, I can't believe you thought about this, but I have to say yes. Seems like I should have less going on up there between my ears, tho! It's a good thing no-one else can hear my conversations!steffi said:
I have found, especially if there is a variety of conditions in the chalks on the table, that choosing one of the good chalks is a slight break in my concentration. Especially if one is 'mushy', or has been drilled deep.
Those are the times that I grab a chalk holder to keep consistency in the chalk, and it's location. It DOES help.
steffi said:
I don't know if they allow me to concentrate more, but I know why I uses one. If I use table chalk I often forget to chalk or just don't want to walk down the table. Using the chalk holder I NEVER forget to chalk, it is a standard part of my routine to reach around and get my chalk and chalk.
drivermaker
Banned
steffi said:
Not if you happen to look down and see blue all over your light colored clean pants or whatever you're wearing. Then you get pissed off and keep looking at the mess you made.
drivermaker said:
I did that the other day with some khaki shorts on and did'nt see it til some lady was looking at my pants at the super market. I was thinking hey, I'm not into the grey hair type lady, then I look down, and I'm all chalked up!!..........
On a side note, the place I was practicing in always gives you 50 year old chalk with a hole going almost all the way through to the bottom. I'm kinda anal about my ferrules, and hate when thiers chalk on them. So last time I went in she handed me the rack of balls, and I did'nt want to sound like a dik, so I asked if they "sold" masters chalk. I was trying to give the hint without being harsh, so she sais yea, how many you want? Being stuck, I said 2 and had to pay a buck!
....oh well....so much for being nice.....Gerry
I use one all the time. A couple of weeks ago, I lost the magnetic holder. We were playing a friendly game and I couldn't believe how much that little missing piece of chalk on my belt disrupted my game. I struggled all night long. Chalk is a big part of my pre-shot routine, and reaching down to my side to get it is an automatic motor function when I stand up after a shot. I went out the next day and bought another one.
Steve
Steve
Chalk holders...
I have two 'Original Pocket Chalkers' from Beads & Billiards, (one for each kit I carry). I think they help you in the since of flow, I only have to reach down to my pocket, and not look around the table for chalk. But I agree with others, that if you have a solid PSR it shouldn't matter. The biggest reason is to have Masters Blue, with my chalk style pattern in it, and not a 1/2" hole. Before I got them I carried the chalk around the table with me. I'd chalk, setup, place the chalk next to my shooting position on the rail, shoot, pick up the chalk and continue...one of my peeves about chalk is people who tap it on the rail everytime they use it!, really makes for a dirty session.
my 2c-
I have two 'Original Pocket Chalkers' from Beads & Billiards, (one for each kit I carry). I think they help you in the since of flow, I only have to reach down to my pocket, and not look around the table for chalk. But I agree with others, that if you have a solid PSR it shouldn't matter. The biggest reason is to have Masters Blue, with my chalk style pattern in it, and not a 1/2" hole. Before I got them I carried the chalk around the table with me. I'd chalk, setup, place the chalk next to my shooting position on the rail, shoot, pick up the chalk and continue...one of my peeves about chalk is people who tap it on the rail everytime they use it!, really makes for a dirty session.
my 2c-
pooltchr said:
LOL... yeah, I was going to bring that up, Steve! I was in Charlotte two weeks ago and Steve lost his chalk holder and, as he said, it was an integral part of his preshot routine. When it was lost, his preshot routine was altered and his game fell off a little.
Steve... btw, look behind the Miller Lite Dart Board backing in the corner by the tight table for your chalk holder! Just kidding... but if I'd known it would effect your game so much, I would have stolen it!
Later,
Bob
pooltchr said:
This is the exact reason why I won't get a magnetic chalk holder or even chalk up every single shot....
I think these things(and others) become a crutch and if you put too much faith or use too much, then if it is missing then suddenly your struggling...
I say keep your game as internal as you can, so no matter what cue/chalk/table you have you can play fine.
Cane said:LOL... yeah, I was going to bring that up, Steve! I was in Charlotte two weeks ago and Steve lost his chalk holder and, as he said, it was an integral part of his preshot routine. When it was lost, his preshot routine was altered and his game fell off a little.
Steve... btw, look behind the Miller Lite Dart Board backing in the corner by the tight table for your chalk holder! Just kidding... but if I'd known it would effect your game so much, I would have stolen it!
Later,
Bob
Bob, The day after I bought a replacement, I found the one I lost out in the parking lot. The chalk was all wet, but that's not a problem. Now I have a spare. We'll have to have a rematch next year!
Steve
If having to pick up the chalk off the rail to chalk up is messing up your concentration/focus...........I'd say its time to take up ping pong.
VAP
VAP
steffi said:
I don't think so. I personally hate those things. For me...picking up the chaulk off the table, chaulking my cue, and setting the chaulk down is all part of a rythym I have when I shoot. Others' rythyms may inlude the magnetic chaulk. I think it is all in what you are used to or have adjusted yourself to be comfortable with.
PopAndSlop
Registered
Chalk Holder
I've used a chalk holder now for over 10 years. I find that if I play without it I chalk less, table chalk usually sucks and people sometimes walk off with the chalk the house provides. I like having my own chalk so I don't have to rely on what the house wishes to provide. I find it is a distracting to have to search the table for a piece of chalk and then find that it's not there because your opponant is standing at the other end of the table chalking his own cue while you shoot.
I've used a chalk holder now for over 10 years. I find that if I play without it I chalk less, table chalk usually sucks and people sometimes walk off with the chalk the house provides. I like having my own chalk so I don't have to rely on what the house wishes to provide. I find it is a distracting to have to search the table for a piece of chalk and then find that it's not there because your opponant is standing at the other end of the table chalking his own cue while you shoot.
drivermaker
Banned
9balldiva said:
There are better ways out there than the "rythm" method.
drivermaker said:There are better ways out there than the "rythm" method.
I don't look at having a rythym as a "method" persay. My focus, approach, stance, shot, chaulking, and reapproaching are all part of that rythym. All players have a rythym, weather it is effective or not is the question. If it isn't then it should be tweaked to gain a certain rythym that will become habit...