Premium Chalks – Are They Worth It?

Nice work Dave.

Thanks. I always appreciate your positive feedback.


Many players don´t see skids because they dont´t nesessary play with clean balls and good equipment.
I noticed then every cut is more or less little heavier than clean balls.
I did not see little skids earlier too but after using Taom for years now skid is so rare you see even smaller ones right away. What I mean is : People that say they don´t have skids normally just don´t see them.
I remember when playing a lot 14.1 with old style chalks you kinda knew what shots were risky to skid and avoid them. Now you can use more slow roll and even inside without fear to skid.

Agreed. Many players, especially league players, don’t even know what throw and skid are.
 
What happens if you use Taom chalk, and your opponent uses Master chalk. Do you clean the cue ball every time you get to the table? How does that work?

I always clean the CB every chance I get in league. There are always chalk marks on the ball, more with some chalks (especially the older Kamui chalks) compared to others.
 
Does the "cleanliness" of the chalk matter if the pool balls in use are filthy? Will the latter not be as much a concern for skids?
The pros get to play with a pristine set of balls, every time...
Yes. Filthy balls seem to hold chalk marks even more, so a cleaner chalk could definitely help reduce chances for skid.
 
I would like to see if the chalk that ends up on the cloth over 10-20 games also contributes to skids. Is it just the chalk transfer from tip to cue ball, or does the chalk on the cloth transfer enough to contribute also? Similar to the days when white hand chalk was commonly used and ended up all over the cloth.

I don’t think chalk dust on and in the cloth causes a greater frequency of skid. The chalk marks on the balls are the culprits.
 
Good video, the only thing I think you were missing is the effect of the amount chalk left on the table after hours of playing. My table is a lot cleaner with V10 versus Master chalk. But how do you measure table dirtiness 🤣.

Agreed. I should have mentioned this.
 
FYI, I just posted a new video that objectively tests the most popular new “premium” chalks to see how they compare to traditional Master chalk. The chalks tested are the medium hardness Predator Pure, Kamui Roku 6, and Taom V10. They are tested for miscue limit, persistence on the tip, persistence on the CB, and cling/skid/kick. Check it out:


Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:49 - Miscue Limit
3:22 - # of Shots Before Miscue
5:17 - Chalk Mark Persistence
---- 5:38 – cling definition and demonstrations
---- 6:19 – FSR and SVB cling examples
---- 7:07 – chalk tests
8:42 - Cling/Skid/Kick
10:56 - Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!
Bless your patience heart...
 
Great video, thanks for sharing.
I’ve been using Kamui Roku 6 and I like it because my table, hands and cue stay cleaner at home.
Where I play half the people put their chalk upside down on the table, so what I’m using doesn’t really matter!
 
I’m not sure what you mean. Could you explain?
I called John once and talked to him of the expense, and last ability of the expense... Talked to him of the mixing of the chalk with Masters and could this work, John told me at that time yes this could very well work, So from that time on with my Kamui SS Clear and blk and brown tips , I experimented when shooting 8 too 10 hours a day the mixed chalks for follow, draw, sides, masse's. All ball placements and reactions. I don't do jumps, for me that went out with the drunks... I learned through John at Kamui, How to mix and make these work... In my world of pocked pool if residual bothers me I wipe it off as I have watched pool players do for many years... My idols were real stickers for clean CB and OB'S ... Again thank you Dave for all you do... Guy
 
Great video, thanks for sharing.
I’ve been using Kamui Roku 6 and I like it because my table, hands and cue stay cleaner at home.
Where I play half the people put their chalk upside down on the table, so what I’m using doesn’t really matter!
Looks like that pan has some deep D rings on it, do you know what I mean ? ... Guy
 
so dave your tests prove to me that using master chalk is just as good as the premium ones. plus can have an advantage.

here is why.
1. it is cheaper. a factor for some
2. it is just as good for preventing miscues. most important

3. it makes for a more dirty ball and can cause skids. since both are playing with the same cueball, one person using it makes it the same for both players. so the one using it should have an advantage as he can use outside spin on his cut shots that apply, where as the other player who practices with the premium chalk won't be thinking of it.
 
I must be ultra lucky because i think in 40yrs of playing i can count the number of skids i've had on basically one hand. I can't remember the last time i had one. Chalks used has been 90%+ Master with some Triangle, BlueDiamond and Russian Magic tossed in.
I always thought Skid was something your mom said was in your underwear, I played so many years that I don't even remember swerve/skid, I thought we had to use them in order to winn a game... Guy
 
Good video, the only thing I think you were missing is the effect of the amount chalk left on the table after hours of playing. My table is a lot cleaner with V10 versus Master chalk. But how do you measure table dirtiness 🤣.
I agree about Taom (Pyro) chalk. I started using it when I had my table recovered, and rarely have to clean it. I view it as an investment because it will extend the life of the cloth. It seems to last a lot longer than Master.
 
Nice work Dave.
Many players don´t see skids because they dont´t nesessary play with clean balls and good equipment.
I noticed then every cut is more or less little heavier than clean balls.
I did not see little skids earlier too but after using Taom for years now skid is so rare you see even smaller ones right away. What I mean is : People that say they don´t have skids normally just don´t see them.
I remember when playing a lot 14.1 with old style chalks you kinda knew what shots were risky to skid and avoid them. Now you can use more slow roll and even inside without fear to skid.


Skid or extra throw were both pretty much guaranteed with certain shots with the filthy old tables and cheap filthy balls in bygone days, no doubt still in a lot of places of types I no longer frequent. When it wasn't a necessity for shape, spin was often adjusted to affect the collision of the balls. That was one of the tricks of the trade that made me a lot of money back in the day and was something I very very rarely talked about! Granted I had never heard the names skid and throw back forty or fifty years ago but we certainly knew the effects!

Hu
 
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