Master Chalk - Flag -vs- Pre-flag?

Billy_Bob

Billy_Bob

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I read that the flag appeared on Master chalk to be patriotic after 9/11 and that there was no change in the chalk formula at this time.

If this is true, how would you identify old Master chalk that was the "old formula"?

Also there is an old looking box of Master chalk for sale on Ebay (First link below) which does not have the silver "security" sticker on the box as shown on the second link below. Anyone know when they started placing the silver sticker on their boxes?

No silver sticker...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=75186&item=7102207400&rd=1

Silver sticker...
http://www.billiardwarehouse.com/accessories/twmcgg.html
 
When I heard that there was a difference between the OLD masters chalk and the new masters chalk I posted on the pool forums to hunt some down.One poster (at Billiard Digest) basically said he knows the owner and it's all BS as the chalk formula has never changed.

2 or 3 guys that post here say that there is a definite difference.It's got me curious...LOL.. so I will definitley be looking for a batch of the old stuff to find out for myself.RJ
 
You may have seen that I ordered "desiccant capsules" which will remove humidity when placed in a box with something.

I plan to use chalk with and without the desiccant capsules and maybe even place a piece of chalk elevated in a pan of water with plastic over it. Then see what effect humidity/dryness has on the chalk.

I'll let everyone know what happens...
 
chalk

I wouldn't worry too much about the chalk.Yes there are some better then others but the difference is very slight.Forget the chalk and concentrate more on your stroke.
Bob
 
The negative change to master chalk happened in the late 1990's. Long before 9-11-2001.
 
I don't know anything about the possible change in formula, but I can tell you from my experience at my local room that there is a difference in individual chalk cubes within the SAME box. Some chalk within the same box will have a gritty feel, and some will have a smooth feel when applying it. I don't know what causes this and if it makes a difference in the way the chalk adheres to the tip. So if someone wants to make a comparison between old and new Master chalk, make sure you test multiple cubes from both types for a valid test.
 
cueman said:
The negative change to master chalk happened in the late 1990's. Long before 9-11-2001.
Click to expand...

I've heard from 2 other sources that it was because their old chalk contained lead.In the past while, lead has been taken out of gas and paint etc, so it makes sense that Master was forced to take it out of their chalk.

I'm still activley looking for an Old Batch of the Master chalk as my curiosity about the stuff is freakin' killing me...LOL. I've also done an exhaustive search for the supposedly superior "Players Choice" chalk and have so far come up empty.I'm now looking for trades. RJ
 
There is NO difference in the pre-flag chalk to the flag chalk. The reason that they started putting a flag on the chalk was to identify it as genuine Master Chalk as opposed to the counterfeit Master Chalk that was being produced and distributed throughout Asia. At one time my company was the largest purchaser of Master Chalk for export to Taiwan. We requested a change in the packaging to distinguish the genuine stuff we bought from Tweeten's from the counterfeit stuff being sold there. Thus we were able to establish ourselves as THE SOURCE for genuine Master Chalk and did a pretty good business for a while. For your information, a 20 foot container holds 6500 gross of chalk. That is 936,000 pieces of chalk. :-))

John
 
Apparentley Tweeten stopped making Master chalk with lead in the mix in 1992 , twelve years ago.Any people that I have come into contact with that have some (are hoarding it) it say it is better and are not willing to part with any of it.My search for chalk supremacy continues...LOL, RJ
 
I wouldn't worry too much about the chalk.Yes there are some better then others but the difference is very slight.Forget the chalk and concentrate more on your stroke.
Click to expand...

Good advice, I see so many conversations and comparisons on this site about absolutely nothing. Deflection tests down the .0001 percent with different shafts by different companies. Yes some are different but none will make you play better, its all preference. This chalk formula thing makes me laugh yes some chalk is junk and it doesnt stay on the tip, some has been exposed to weather or whatnot, but the difference is so miniscule that if a lot of you put the time in to learning how to stroke the ball rather than finding the best batch of master chalk you would be better off. This is my first post so I dont want to come off as an a$$ but I have to laugh when I read things like this.
 
deeznutz said:
Good advice, I see so many conversations and comparisons on this site about absolutely nothing. Deflection tests down the .0001 percent with different shafts by different companies. Yes some are different but none will make you play better, its all preference. This chalk formula thing makes me laugh yes some chalk is junk and it doesnt stay on the tip, some has been exposed to weather or whatnot, but the difference is so miniscule that if a lot of you put the time in to learning how to stroke the ball rather than finding the best batch of master chalk you would be better off. This is my first post so I dont want to come off as an a$$ but I have to laugh when I read things like this.
Click to expand...

:D
That's funny...
Back to the stroke cause I guess it aint the chalk.
 
whats funny? The fact that I read in a post on here that chalk with or with out lead in it will make your game better or worse? All Im saying is that I can play to my full potential with a warped 20z dufferin with a junk tip and any old chalk kicking around the pool room or with my 1978 huebler with a layered tip, ivory ferrule, and pro taper shaft, or with my 10 year old mcdermott d1. I just giggle when I read that someone whos been playing less than a year buys a custom cue with a predator shaft a moori and 15 year old box of master chalk and asks how long until they can expect to see an improvement in there game... Thats funny.

Equipment isnt $hit, learn the basics then expect the improvement.
 
I was dry all summer around here. Recently it started raining. I've noticed that my chalk goes on differently now. Sort of cakes and harder to apply?

I'm not miscueing or anything, so half a dozen of one and six of another, but I am curious if it is the humidity which is causing the caking or whatever....
 
Triangle is Better

I stopped using Master about 5 years ago. I find it's quality is not as good as it used to be. I switched to Triangle chalk and I recommend it to everybody. It is like master used to be.....
 
deeznutz said:
whats funny? The fact that I read in a post on here that chalk with or with out lead in it will make your game better or worse? All Im saying is that I can play to my full potential with a warped 20z dufferin with a junk tip and any old chalk kicking around the pool room or with my 1978 huebler with a layered tip, ivory ferrule, and pro taper shaft, or with my 10 year old mcdermott d1. I just giggle when I read that someone whos been playing less than a year buys a custom cue with a predator shaft a moori and 15 year old box of master chalk and asks how long until they can expect to see an improvement in there game... Thats funny.

Equipment isnt $hit, learn the basics then expect the improvement.
Click to expand...

I agree with the vast majority of your post pertaining to cues, chalk and stroke.No doubt if you don't have a reasonable stroke with good basic fundamentals....NOTHING WILL HELP YOU!!!

Where did you read that someone said that lead in the chalk will make their game better???Some have mentioned that the old pre 1992 chalk contained lead, but absolutley no-one said that it was the lead in the chalk that made their game better.

As for me I practice 20 hours a week and work hard on my fundamentals and stroke.Every portion of that practice includes straight stroke check drills.I'm no pro and am just considered an A level player and by no means think that a piece of chalk is going to bump me up immediatly to A+ status.

Some of the people who swear by that old chalk have very good strokes and one of the guys who posted that has some of that chalk is a pro player.He loves it.Another post mentions that Earl Strickland likes it.

Every time someone is looking for something a little extra to add to their equipment, people get judgemental and an immediatly presume they have stroke problems, which isn't allways the case.Hello....maybe they are just looking for some better chalk.Some say there is very little difference from chalk to chalk, others notice a big difference, such is the induviduality of pool players.

As far as this freakin' lead infested chalk thing goes...LOL..I will aquire some and forum(pun intended) my own opinions.

Welcome to AZ Deeznuts and lets not turn this into an internet flame war,LOL, RJ
 
Well the first of May 2004 I pulled out a different cue, (cause I was in a slump with the one I had been playing with) and I started using it getting ready to go to Vegas. I pulled out of my case an old piece of Masters blue, the same brand of chalk I have been using for years, and I immediately started playing better again.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome RJ, again im sorry for coming off as an ass. Not the first impression I like to make, also this was stated in another thread. I look forward to many colorful and debateful conversations with you all.
 
Quote:
Well the first of May 2004 I pulled out a different cue, (cause I was in a slump with the one I had been playing with) and I started using it getting ready to go to Vegas. I pulled out of my case an old piece of Masters blue, the same brand of chalk I have been using for years, and I immediately started playing better again.

Hi Deeznut, When I see the (above) quote you referred to and I personally don't find it to be such an uncommon thing in the world of sports. Many a pro golfer has pulled out a different putter(when in a slump) and went on to post better results and sometimes win a tournament.Some pro golfers have over 50 putters.Superstitious hockey players change sticks and breakout of scoring slumps. Things like changing cues , chalk, putters etc can be pyscological and (sometimes) provide a change that can spawn better performance. Having said all that, any pool player who goes onto win after changing cues, chalk, etc probably did so because they had some skills(good stroke) to begin with. Like we both agree ... LOL, it boils down to fundamentals. and although better quality chalk might help, there are no magic equipment cures for a bad stroke

As far as you being an ass goes, I didn't think you were being one in any way shape or form.Other people also offered the advice "work on your stroke", (or it's all about your stroke) when all some of us really wanted to know about was the freakin' chalk. LOL.

As for me, if I wanted to learn more about the stroke(and I allways do) I know I could ask here and there's enough good people here who would offer me some good(or bad LOL) advice.Better yet I could go see a qualified instructor.

It just seems(on these forums) when people inquire about chalk, a different shaft, a video or book etc etc, that there is allways an individual (or three) that chime in and say forget the chalk, shaft, video, book etc etc and work on your stroke. They say that despite the fact that many people already work hard on their stroke or allready have strokes they are happy with.They have that uncontrollable urge to play teacher(even though many aren't qualified) when people already have a teacher or don't neccesarily want one.I see it happen on various forums all the time.

When I inquire about chalk, I want to hear about chalk and for me all the "work on your stroke talk" (for me) is unessecary.Just tell me about the freakin" chalk already!Such are the forums, however,LOL, ya gotta love it.Take care and looking forward to your posts.RJ
 
Chalk caking problem fixed!

I found one of those moisture absorption packets which are shipped with products and placed my chalk in a box with it for a day...

I chalked up today and no more caking problem! And there was even a bit of fine chalk dust flying around while I was chalking.

I forgot to place a piece of chalk in a humid environment, but I'll do that and see what happens.

As for why I am so concerned about chalk...
(This has nothing to do with improving my pool playing BTW.)
1. I am curious.
2. I like learning.
3. When I understand how something works, I know what it should be doing and instantly recognize the problem is when it is not doing what it should be.
For example: I know how a coin-op table works on the inside. If a ball gets stuck, I know what to do to get the ball out.
 
deeznutz said:
whats funny? The fact that I read in a post on here that chalk with or with out lead in it will make your game better or worse? All Im saying is that I can play to my full potential with a warped 20z dufferin with a junk tip and any old chalk kicking around the pool room or with my 1978 huebler with a layered tip, ivory ferrule, and pro taper shaft, or with my 10 year old mcdermott d1. I just giggle when I read that someone whos been playing less than a year buys a custom cue with a predator shaft a moori and 15 year old box of master chalk and asks how long until they can expect to see an improvement in there game... Thats funny.

Equipment isnt $hit, learn the basics then expect the improvement.
Click to expand...

I thought your post funny because you are correct. I wasn't trying to start crap so you really didn't a paragraph to back up what I already knew.
 
Leaded, Unleaded, Cornstarched, or Polyunsaturated Chalk

I'm the no stroke bozo who posted the statement about finding a piece of Masters chalk in my case that applies and gives a bite like no other chalk that I've seen or used. When applied to "any tip" it has a different feel just during the application that can be noticed by anyone, regardless of their stroking ability when playing the game. It without a doubt yields better "feel" of the cue ball, and now that my piece of chalk has worn out, I'm having to get used to the feel of today's powdery feeling chalk. There is no doubt to me or the people who have sampled this "old" piece of chalk of mine that this piece is different, be it in the formula or just that it came out of an odd batch. Rod posted up that in the 90's that the lead was removed..another said that cornstarch was removed.....I don't know. And I'm sure that some of you can punch a ball around a table with a broom handle and claim that it's the stroke not the equipment. I'll bet that we could take your "stick" and put this old piece of chalk on it and it'll do more for you than today's chalk.
My original post was that "Earl was right, again" when he said that he used to never have to scuff a tip, only use chalk. I've seen it with this cube.
And by the way, I'm not just some off the wall non-playing forum expert.
I did all of Earl's cue work for a year and a half and he won his last World Title with my work. And once again, I reiiterate, he was right about the old equipment (chalk and tips) in that they aren't what they used to be.
 
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