Hi guys and gals , I'm trying to decide whether to buy a gross ( 144 piece) of master or a couple tubes (10 pieces) predator chalk. I've never tried predator but I liked blue diamond and heard it's similar. I like master fine, but my reasoning is that I. Can keep myself in the zone little better if not chalking after every single shot. Am I over thinking or is this good logic?
master vs predator vs blue diamond chalk
- Thread starter oldschool2791
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I'm a fan of the pred. It's a good middle ground. I have a habit of chalking between each shot. Gives me time to look over the table every time and keeps me in my zone. When I don't need to, I can run a good 20 low english shots without chalking. Blue diamond is great, but I rarely need to chalk and throws me off my pattern.
Tried them all, including kamui, magic chalk and balabushka, to me the bushka chalk is the best.
I'm good with the master chalk just thought I could be a little safer with a chalk that if I forget to chalk. Or am feeling a groove I would be ok.....hate to lose money if gambling by a miscue though
Probably forgetting between one or two (or a couple more) won't matter with any of the chalks. If it's part of your routine get the Masters, it's been working for you so far. What I found with the Predator, Blue Diamond, Balabushka, NIR, and othe premium chalks is that the cube just didn't last as long. I had to consciously try to make the effort not to chalk between each shot. It eventually became a pain in the ass, so I use the premium chalk, and usually chalk between each shot. If I do forget or I'm in a rhythm it's really just one less thing to worry about
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I like Kamui .98 for not having to chalk up much. With a nicely-surfaced tip (i like the Kamui Gator Grip tool, rolling it not scraping with it) I can easily run a full rack or two before needing to touch it up. Topping the Kamui with Masters or Blue Diamond while at the table occasionally works fine, too - and is a hard habit to break.
I currently use Predator, and have for the last year or so. It is better than Master, but it's marginal. Master is still great. You certainly don't need a gross if it's for personal use compared to a few tubes. That said, I chalk after every shot, even with Predator. I've went thru two and a half tubes in a year's time. It holds very well and I continually taper off my chalk as it develops edges from the 'brushing' technique I use. End result is I use easily well over half of an individual Predator before moving on to a new piece.
I agree that I don't need a gross either but the price isnt much more than 2 tubes of predator....and the price of 12 master vs a gross isnt much .10 bucks vs 26 bucks but 144 pieces
Take the Master it's everything you need.
25 years of playing this game and not once did I think man I wouldn't have miscued there if I was using different chalk. If your tip is properly chalked with any chalk It's gonna be the indian causing the miscue not the arrow. lol predator seemed no better or worse then the masters I've been using forever...just made in an annoying octagon shape
I have used those chalks and "NIR"......while I agree that predator chalk is better than masters......if you drop the predator chalk on the floor, be ready to look half way up the pool hall because of it's shape! :angry: for that reason alone I would go with the blue diamond as it is a little more "creamy/sticky" than masters. NIR is a little more creamy than BD but not by much. I do not use kamui any longer as it got me in the habit of not chalking every shot and that was part of my PSR and "thinking" time,,,,,,
Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking i'll go with the master , just a hard sale to buy premium when I miscue so far and few between anyway... just looking for every edge, you know what I meen.
I've never loved Masters chalk, didn't really know of good alternatives before though. Recently tried Blue Diamond and I love it. Goes on nicer and stays on longer. It's a lot more expensive than Masters but it's still chalk, I've been using my first two cubes for a couple months now so I certainly am not going to sweat about the $7 or whatever it costs over the Masters. It's such an insignificant expense that I'd say if you have any preference for the nicer stuff, just do it.
love Kamui
I love Kamui, but it is very messy. It is the only chalk that i have seen a difference in. I think Predator, Masters, and Blue Diamond are all the same. If you blind folded someone, I bet they couldn't tell the difference. Probably be the same if you blind folded me and added the Kamui
I love Kamui, but it is very messy. It is the only chalk that i have seen a difference in. I think Predator, Masters, and Blue Diamond are all the same. If you blind folded someone, I bet they couldn't tell the difference. Probably be the same if you blind folded me and added the Kamui
Chalking actually helps me a bit to focus, it's a good way to pause and clear your head and look over the table a bit. A bit like a reset button, especially if you are down on a shot, then change your mind. If you look at even top players, many of them start to chalk up again after doing that, even though the tip was chalked just seconds ago.
After trying a lot of chalk, Predator is close to Masters IMHO. If you want to try some really good stuff, find some Magic Chalk. And Blue Diamond is very good as well. I've never tried Kamui but that is sharply divided into people to love it and those that don't like it (especially if you take the price into consideration). Very few are neutral about it. I'd spend the money on 3 boxes of Magic Chalk or Blue Diamond over a piece of Kamui.
If you don't lose the stuff all the time, you may as well use something you like, even if it ends up being mostly in your head. What's in your head is your reality. If you think the chalk is better, it will be better for you.
Slide your making me reconsider, ggggrrrrrr. I'm just gonna go for the predator . When I gamble it's only 10 bucks or so a game but i figure if I win 1 more in say 50 games it'll pay for it's self