Let's Talk Chalk...

[Agent 99]

:thumbup:

So, just being clear, the chalk that ABSOLUTELY SUCKS (masters) is made
by the same guys who make his exclusive favorite, Blue Diamond.
Is it possible they're the same chalk in a different wrapper? That'd be hilarious.

Most miscues are user error.

If there's a special flavor of chalk that can save you the 1% of the time it's not, I need scientific proof,
not "Well I've been using this and I never miscue and I really like it".
I can find someone saying that about any (EVERY) brand. So that's not proof of anything.
Opinions like that are about as helpful as telling me your favorite color is purple.

Scientific testing could certainly be done. It would be time consuming but density, adhesion and friction testing would reveal the truth.

It's easier to simply try it. Like yourself I only used Masters for a long time and thought that chalk was chalk, but I discovered I was wrong.

Blue Diamond is softer, seems to have a higher moisture content than Masters. It covers your tip more like lip stick would. I find the Masters to be more like black board chalk, it's much dryer and harder compared to Blue Diamond. You will notice the difference immediately, it's really that different, and has much higher adhesion properties as well.

It makes sense that Tweeten is the manufacture of all this chalk, but by no means does that mean all the chalk is the same. When you have a manufacturer private label a product for you, they make it to your specifications. I suppose Tweeten most likely makes the Kamui chalk too. :thumbup:

 

[lorider]

:thumbup:

Scientific testing could certainly be done. It would be time consuming but density, adhesion and friction testing would reveal the truth.

It's easier to simply try it. Like yourself I only used Masters for a long time and thought that chalk was chalk, but I discovered I was wrong.

Blue Diamond is softer, seems to have a higher moisture content than Masters. It covers your tip more like lip stick would. I find the Masters to be more like black board chalk, it's much dryer and harder compared to Blue Diamond. You will notice the difference immediately, it's really that different, and has much higher adhesion properties as well.

It makes sense that Tweeten is the manufacture of all this chalk, but by no means does that mean all the chalk is the same. When you have a manufacturer private label a product for you, they make it to your specifications. I suppose Tweeten most likely makes the Kamui chalk too. :thumbup:

let me share 2 tips with you,,,they are not scientifically proven ...but they do work.

1. take a cube of chalk and place it in the bathroom and take a long hot shower. close the door and leave the vent off building up plenty of steam. afterwards take the chalk and place it in a ziplock sandwhich bag getting all the air out then ziplock it. it will hold the moisture in and when it does dry out repeat the process again.

2. when you are using house chalk and it is real dry and gritty do this. make sure your tip is entirely free of chalk, scuff or use a tip pick which ever you prefer. run your finger over a sweaty beer bottle and apply the moisture to your tip..again make sure your tip is clean or you will have a mess on your hands.

work the moisture in your tip so it is damp..not wet.. there is a difference. apply your chalk and you will find it goes on smoother and sticks better. not exactly like lipstick but a lot better than dry and powdery ( is that a word ? ).which happens to get all over your hands.

 

[Mitchxout]

Man, please. Stay away from my tip with your wet chalk. :yikes:

 

[lorider]

Man, please. Stay away from my tip with your wet chalk. :yikes:

i am not talking about the spit on the cube kinda wet. just saying how to have a higher moisture content instead of that dust flying all over the place.:grin-square:

you know....keep it on the tip where it belongs.:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[runwav]

First Longoni does not make chalk, they label and market it. Tweeten makes the Blue Diamond for them on contract. Second go to world class tournaments and see what they players choose to use.
You'll find the vast majority are playing with Master's.
The great thing Longoni did was the marketing and the little two cube box is perfect for a case. I asked Tweeten about the boxes at the trade show where they had some on display and they said it just cost too much to package that way.

yes, you're right, the cube label plainly shows "Masters".
that's advertising.
the chalk compound behind that masters label is not the same masters you and i know.
example - alison fisher plays a crappy 19.95 walmart cue.
do you really think she's holding one of those whats the brand? cues

 

[spktur]

And the moon walk was filmed in Arizona. Tweeten does not sponsor any players and the chalk is just the house chalk. I've played in many tournaments myself with some of the best and the Master's chalk is just the same. And is what the majority prefer.

 

[runwav]

And the moon walk was filmed in Arizona.
Tweeten does not sponsor any players
and the chalk is just the house chalk.
I've played in many tournaments myself with some of the best and the Master's chalk is just the same. And is what the majority prefer.

sure i agree, except... you've never played world pro on a nationally televised program.

 

[spktur]

The biggest event I have played is the DCC one pocket. Have played it seven times and the Southern Classic twice. Other than that just a bunch of regional events with players like Jose, Earl, Buddy, Nick, Efren, Shannon and most of the rest of that group. And for the most part the chalk was standard Master's. I have occasionally seen a little Blue Diamond.
I'm curious in your post when you stated at the start 'I Agree' what were you talking about?

 

[runwav]

hey, glad to have you back

another thing - KAMUI
i'd like to know the effect a super sticky chalk as KAMUI and the effect it has contacting object ball.
someone please dont say none.
also - i've recently purchased a 5 cube pack of 1080 chalk.
will post expierence and opiinion soon.

 

[fastone371]

let me share 2 tips with you,,,they are not scientifically proven ...but they do work.

1. take a cube of chalk and place it in the bathroom and take a long hot shower. close the door and leave the vent off building up plenty of steam. afterwards take the chalk and place it in a ziplock sandwhich bag getting all the air out then ziplock it. it will hold the moisture in and when it does dry out repeat the process again.

I have Masters blue and green chalk. For some reason all of the green chalk, from 2 separate boxes, seem much more adhesive or moist compared to the blue which besides being drier and more powdery it also seems gritty compared to the green. The only thing I don't like about the green is the lighter color which shows up much more on my tournament green Simonis but isn't too bad on Diamonds blue cloth. I am going to try the steam thing with one of my blue chalks.

 

[Bob 14:1]

I have a few pieces of flagged, and pre flag Master in a ziplock with a humidifier, which I also very successfully use to maintain the moisture in my pipe tobacco. It's been in there since c. the 1st of December.

Still nothing worth mentioning or earth shaking.

I had occasion to shape the tip on a new cue last week. I also took the time to reshape my Schon playing cue.

I used a 20 year old Willard tool with a nickel radius. I was totally astounded at how both each, Master and Blue Diamond, covered. So far, now a week in, I've yet to miscue off the rail, or doing a long draw shot.

Give it a try. I'ts amazing how it helps. I think sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees. I mean, at this point, there's not a chalk on the planet that could coat any more evenly and thickly than another after this careful tip adjustment.

I think we grab our shapers and tappers and picks right after a seriously miscue. We're so intent on fluffing up the tip, that we lose sight of how irregular our tip becomes after repeated fixes. It took a good 15 minutes to get my playing cue to where I thought it already was...

 

[eprince]

I can tell you I use Predator chalk, but being the amateur that I am I still miscue from time to time. Almost all of my miscues are because I am trying to overcompensate for something, wrong stance, bad shape, perceived need for extreme english, etc. I have only miscued in the center of my tip once, which I found really strange. So I used the carpet on the floor to get the chalk off my tip and saw my tip had essentially been polished, probably from over chalking. Since, I have switched to a) chalking less frequently, b) checking the shape of my tip before every match I play, and c) scuffing and/or using a tip poker on my tip before every match I play. Scuffing if I need a little more shape, tip poker if I don't.

I still miscue from time to time, but it is much less frequent now that I am doing certain things to help ensure a more consistent hit from my tip. I am in the process of working on my fundamentals in such a way that I get down on each shot the same way and keep my cue as level as possible for every shot. I hope, in time, to never miscue again. But, I am not holding my breathe. All I can do is hope that when I miscue, I can be wise enough to figure out what went wrong in my fundamentals rather than blame the chalk.

 

[hang-the-9]

I can tell you I use Predator chalk, but being the amateur that I am I still miscue from time to time. Almost all of my miscues are because I am trying to overcompensate for something, wrong stance, bad shape, perceived need for extreme english, etc. I have only miscued in the center of my tip once, which I found really strange. So I used the carpet on the floor to get the chalk off my tip and saw my tip had essentially been polished, probably from over chalking. Since, I have switched to a) chalking less frequently, b) checking the shape of my tip before every match I play, and c) scuffing and/or using a tip poker on my tip before every match I play. Scuffing if I need a little more shape, tip poker if I don't.

That's not from "over" chalking, it's from just regular use. It's a good idea to check your tip every few days to see if it needs to be roughened or picked to create a rougher surface.

 

[Agent 99]

Nice job everyone .. this thread has turned into 'Everything you always wanted to know about Chalk but were afraid to ask.' .. lol

The recommendations in regard to adding moisture to Masters chalk by taking it with you for a hot shower really works. I did it last night, and this morning, after spending a night in a plastic bag, the Masters took on a noticeable improvement in cover and adhesion. Really did make a positive difference.

There have been many comments that Masters chalk is every where, it is used by more players, therefore it must be the best chalk.

Hold on one moment there Kemosabie.

More people drive 4 cylinder economy cars than there are people driving V8 luxury cars. The four cylinder economy cars are every where. 'I saw Mario Andretti driving one once' ... well you get the idea.

Thanks to all who contributed in this thread ... I will be trying some Predator Chalk for the first time tomorrow because of the comments made about it here.

Good rolls, and what ever you do, don't miss the 9

 

[CokerFan82]

A close friend of mine saved my game from miscues x10
regardless of which brand chalk I happen to be using!

He suggested the following 2 tips for each session of play:

1. Clean the Tip and lightly scuff at the start of a session
W/ my Kamui Gator grip tool.

2. Deliver the cue on as straight of a line as possible while using
Only the wrist and forearm (not dropping my elbow).

 

[osama]

let me share 2 tips with you,,,they are not scientifically proven ...but they do work.

1. take a cube of chalk and place it in the bathroom and take a long hot shower. close the door and leave the vent off building up plenty of steam. afterwards take the chalk and place it in a ziplock sandwhich bag getting all the air out then ziplock it. it will hold the moisture in and when it does dry out repeat the process again.

I have Masters blue and green chalk. For some reason all of the green chalk, from 2 separate boxes, seem much more adhesive or moist compared to the blue which besides being drier and more powdery it also seems gritty compared to the green. The only thing I don't like about the green is the lighter color which shows up much more on my tournament green Simonis but isn't too bad on Diamonds blue cloth. I am going to try the steam thing with one of my blue chalks.

That exactly what I'm facing with my tan master chalks. Thanks man, I'm going to try your method out.

Cheers,

 

[osama]

Just adding some more controversy :grin-square:

http://youtu.be/OONIf5UwDZY

 

[hang-the-9]

Nice job everyone .. this thread has turned into 'Everything you always wanted to know about Chalk but were afraid to ask.' .. lol

You can also search these other threads with identical info. Only a few from the past year. Now you too can be added to the history of AZB next time a newcomer asks "What chalk is good?" without using the search feature. The best part about chalk/tip/shaft threads is that the replies are nicely distributed with 1/3rd being sarcastic "OH WOW, good thing you posted this here or we'd never know!", 1/3 are unbelieving "Heh?? Another thread about this??!" and 1/3 are more or less straight replies.

I like to mix in all three types in my posts.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=322239&highlight=Chalk
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=346863&highlight=Chalk
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=322943&highlight=Chalk
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=318796&highlight=Chalk
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=275924&highlight=Chalk
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=297313&highlight=Chalk
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=300560&highlight=Chalk
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=279624&highlight=Chalk
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=126352&highlight=Chalk