Gray on the shaft?

[Cornerman]

Must be a really naive question but I'm wondering what exactly is the ''gray'' that you see on some shafts? Is it a special finish? Is it what it looks like when it's sanded down?

I'm just wondering.

It's chalk going into the wood pores as said. The first several inches of the shaft is normally finished (lacquer, polyurethane, cyano, posy, whatever). The rest of the shaft is at some point open once it gets used or sanded depending on how the cuemaker seals it. That's why you see the difference.

It's a refreshing question.

Freddie <~~~ and cleaning your hands has little to do with it