Practicing without chalk

cigardave

cigardave

Who's got a light?
Silver Member
I was recently test-hitting an unchalked cue that I was buying from a fellow-AZBer... and I ended up hitting several racks of balls with it... all the time without hitting whitey too far from center ball for fear of miscuing.

It was a very interesting experience... and caused me to wonder if anybody here has specifically practiced that way... in order to fully understand and get extremely proficient at natural position patern play. Not being able to draw and/or spin whitey sure makes a difference in how you plan your runout patterns... that's for sure!! ;)

Last week, I suggested to my practice partner that we play a set of 9-ball that way... but we haven't done it yet.

Anybody else try this?... I'm curious.

TIA, cd.
 
cigardave said:
I was recently test-hitting an unchalked cue that I was buying from a fellow-AZBer... and I ended up hitting several racks of balls with it... all the time without hitting whitey too far from center ball for fear of miscuing.

It was a very interesting experience... and caused me to wonder if anybody here has specifically practiced that way... in order to fully understand and get extremely proficient at natural position patern play. Not being able to draw and/or spin whitey sure makes a difference in how you plan your runout patterns... that's for sure!! ;)

Last week, I suggested to my practice partner that we play a set of 9-ball that way... but we haven't done it yet.

Anybody else try this?... I'm curious.

TIA, cd.
Click to expand...

Are you serious? You do realize someone extended their jail time so they could learn the game WITH chalk and you're going to throw it out?
 
Jude... I appreciate the fact that you're ribbing me a bit... but my point is... I'm willing to bet that most of us haven't mastered center ball position play... mostly because of the allure of spinning whitey and watching her dance to the tune of our violins... and that just maybe there may be something for us to learn by not using chalk during some of our practice sessions.

Take away the crutches (spinning whitey)... and we may actually learn how to walk without 'em. ;)
 
Ok what's the deal with someone extending their jail time??? I dont understand that. Maybe i'm just stupid or not up on my history but please 'splain lucy.
 
Vernon Eliot

cigardave said:
I was recently test-hitting an unchalked cue that I was buying from a fellow-AZBer... and I ended up hitting several racks of balls with it... all the time without hitting whitey too far from center ball for fear of miscuing.

It was a very interesting experience... and caused me to wonder if anybody here has specifically practiced that way... in order to fully understand and get extremely proficient at natural position patern play. Not being able to draw and/or spin whitey sure makes a difference in how you plan your runout patterns... that's for sure!! ;)

Last week, I suggested to my practice partner that we play a set of 9-ball that way... but we haven't done it yet.

Anybody else try this?... I'm curious.


TIA, cd.
Click to expand...


The one tip I received from Vernon Eliot was to throw the chalk away when you practice. Good advice. I chalk up only when I am practicing a draw shot.

the Beard
 
I actually make that my first warm-up practice. I throw balls out onto the table, usually six or seven, and just run them using only center ball. Let's me know I can control center ball, and that I'm stroking straight without muddling with english.
 
Interesting.

Does hitting with an unchalked tip damage the tip or balls in any way? I've heard of chunks ripped out of tips from a miscue, but I think that's from hitting way too low - not something you'd do without chalk.
 
Test hit a dozen cues without chalk

I recently test hit a dozen house cues I had just finished retipping and doing a little work on without chalking them. I think that there would be a lot of merit in practicing regularly without chalk. Most of us overuse english I believe.

Hu


cigardave said:
I was recently test-hitting an unchalked cue that I was buying from a fellow-AZBer... and I ended up hitting several racks of balls with it... all the time without hitting whitey too far from center ball for fear of miscuing.

It was a very interesting experience... and caused me to wonder if anybody here has specifically practiced that way... in order to fully understand and get extremely proficient at natural position patern play. Not being able to draw and/or spin whitey sure makes a difference in how you plan your runout patterns... that's for sure!! ;)

Last week, I suggested to my practice partner that we play a set of 9-ball that way... but we haven't done it yet.

Anybody else try this?... I'm curious.

TIA, cd.
Click to expand...
 
Interesting

No draw, follow, or english just speed control for natural shape.
The KISS principle at its finest.
Isn't this a basic building block and where everyone should start??

Andy
 
cubc said:
Ok what's the deal with someone extending their jail time??? I dont understand that. Maybe i'm just stupid or not up on my history but please 'splain lucy.
Click to expand...

I believe Jude is referring to Captain Francois Mingaud. Around 1807 he dicovered when he put a piece of leather on his cue he could do amazing things with the cue ball. Legend has it that he played some form of billiards while in prison. When it came time for his release he wanted to stay longer as he had also discoved chalk and wanted to keep playing undisturbed. In 1827 he wrote a book on trick shots, Noble Jeu de Billard. and traveled around performing exhibitions. Robert Byrne mentions him several times in his books. Evidently there are copies of Mingaud's book still in existence. Probably worth a few bucks.

Lunchmoney
 
Using natural angles is one of the best ways of getting ball position. By using natural angles instead of using english you eliminate extra variables. Basically you limit the amount of ways you can screw up, speed control is the only thing that really matters. I almost always use no english when I have ball in hand.
 
I have done some practicing with this also. It really helps out with your warm-up aiming and seeing how fast the cloth is. I would do this more often but instead, I just like to jump in and play with chalk :)
 
It's totally a waste of time using a cue with an unchalked tip. First of all, I think almost every player, that started pool, played pool without english. We all just learning how te pot a ball. If you want to learn how to runout a rack without english, just don't use english. The only reason what I can think of using an unchalked cue, is it will force you to hit dead center, because you will have no grip. But that aint true. With a unchalked tip you still got enough grip to apply spin and english. You just can't do extreem spin and english. So why using a unchalked tip?
 
I can't say I have practiced or shot with an unchalked tip, but I have practiced and shot with no chalk available. Especially when you are out and about, stop in a bar for a drink and play some pool, only to find there is no chalk. Some people find no chalk a crutch and even I will complain when at a pool hall or league event and there is no chalk (I don't always carry my cues/chalk). But learning to play with none available will come in handy. Just as others said, it will teach you to play more center ball and natural angles and english. The game may take a bit longer and you can't use all the tricks in your pocket but neither can your opponent. It's just a matter of who has more experience to know what can and can't be done with no chalk available. This actually happens very often in bars-missing chalk.

I also taught that if you are using a house cue(as example) with no chalk, you can scuff the tip with the side of a dime and get a lil more friction. Or if they have talc, put a lil of that on the tip vs an old dry or oily tip. Also, if there is a crack in the floor, grind the tip of the cue in the concrete crack as well. I never did that, but have seen in done with ratty house cues in bars and worked.

ez
 
I have tried this also. I think it is helpful in all sorts of ways. I think it is particularly helpful on the break. This is because when you know you MUST hit center, some part of your brain enforces extra control and care. This is a great thing to work into the break shot. Incidentally, this is a great way to destroy a tip-if you try breaking hard and miscue. Interesting idea.

Thanks for bringing it up and reminding me...

Kerry
 
cigardave said:
I was recently test-hitting an unchalked cue that I was buying from a fellow-AZBer... and I ended up hitting several racks of balls with it... all the time without hitting whitey too far from center ball for fear of miscuing.

It was a very interesting experience... and caused me to wonder if anybody here has specifically practiced that way... in order to fully understand and get extremely proficient at natural position patern play. Not being able to draw and/or spin whitey sure makes a difference in how you plan your runout patterns... that's for sure!! ;)

Last week, I suggested to my practice partner that we play a set of 9-ball that way... but we haven't done it yet.

Anybody else try this?... I'm curious.

TIA, cd.
Click to expand...
My view is that most of the time we can get around the table just fine with a little top bottom and centre hits. The purpose of chalks is actually to prevent miscues, maybe two tips or the extreme. So I think it's perfectly alright to not use any chalks if we're mostly hitting centre or near centre, little or no spins.
 
predator said:
Would make for a good spot agains pro's. Make them play you without applying chalk.:D
Click to expand...
Yeah right, then must have a cheerlady walk round the table holding a board "Chalkless".
 
I sometimes hit a few shots with a not-so-chaulked break cue w/ phenolic to help remind me where center is.

It doesn't take long! lol
 
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