Questions about the Brits

alstl

alstl

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
They have a different way of chalking the cue. I've noticed the snooker players doing it and Peach does it too. She's not British, but Karen Corr has a snooker background and she also does it. They just softly wipe the chalk across the tip.

I wonder why. Does it have something to do with the smaller diameter of the snooker cues or is it a deal where one guy started doing it so everybody followed along.
 
alstl said:
They have a different way of chalking the cue. I've noticed the snooker players doing it and Peach does it too. She's not British, but Karen Corr has a snooker background and she also does it. They just softly wipe the chalk across the tip.

I wonder why. Does it have something to do with the smaller diameter of the snooker cues or is it a deal where one guy started doing it so everybody followed along.
Click to expand...
I think it's just a different way not to be a Borer. Most top players don't chalk like the C players. See http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2002-11.pdf
 
I chalk that way too...like a snooker player. Otherwise my hand gets all blue, and it gets all over everything. Ever notice snooker players aren't aloud to put the chalk on the table, or chalk OVER the table. Imagine how nice and clean everything would be if everyone did that.

Gerry
 
It's just something that everyone "does" here in the UK, like putting the chalk in your pocket. The chalk doesn't stay on a snooker tip as easily I think, but it is mainly just habit.
 
crappoolguy said:
It's just something that everyone "does" here in the UK, like putting the chalk in your pocket. The chalk doesn't stay on a snooker tip as easily I think, but it is mainly just habit.
Click to expand...

What happens if somebody puts the chalk on the rail?
 
crappoolguy said:
You get a look that says: "You're a beginner, aren't you?" :p
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great hustle then. Do they have hustlers in England or is it small enough that all the good players are known?
 
alstl said:
Sounds like a great hustle then. Do they have hustlers in England or is it small enough that all the good players are known?
Click to expand...



I don't really know but I don't think many money games are played.
 
i chalk that way as well. imho, it is a better way to chalk the cue, you get better and more even coverage. also wears the chalk evenly instead of drilling a hole
 
i also like putting the chalk in your pocket or anywhere that is not a rail. putting the chalk on the rail just makes things messy and you constantly have to move them out of your way. though i use a pocket chalker, it seems like carrying chalk in your pocket would get pretty messy
 
Another factor is that almost all current American style pool players in Uk started out playing either snooker itself or 8 ball pool on uk style 7 x 4 tables which have features and pockets which resemble mini snooker tables and in which they use cues/tips very similar in size and nature to snooker cues. No-one in uk other than drunks or bangers chalks a snooker cue or 8 ball pool cue in the '9 ball cue chalking' style favoured by most of the 9 ball playing world. Some uk based 9 ball players do, mainly those who have been playing 9 ball a long time, of which there aren't that many.

8 ball pool on uk style tables played to uk style rules (two main rule codes neither of which bear much resemblance to WPA/BCA 8 ball rules) is by a very very long way the most popular form of pool played in uk and there are at least twenty times as many players playing that type of pool than play 9 ball pool on American equipment.

9 ball pool is unfortunately still very much a minority cue sport in uk and bear in mind that many top uk players like Karl Boyes who made a splash in IPT before coming good again in this years WPC had never even played 9 ball or any other kind of pool on American style tables until a couple of years ago. The same general comment applies to Darren Appleton, Mick Hill and several others. The speed of some of their progress in the game has been amazing. The bad news for some of the rest of the world is that there are quite a few more Karl Boyes types in the wings who haven't even got round to switching codes yet;)

They may not know how to to chalk the bigger cues with American panache but the Brits who have given the American style game a go sure have picked it up pretty quick;) :)

Hopefully Mr Peach's win will now help pool in general and 9 ball in particular gain a higher profile in UK . It's current level of popularity as a pastime or viewing sport is realistically slightly below 'tiddleywinks' and slightly above 'connect 4':)
 
Last edited:
alstl said:
Sounds like a great hustle then. Do they have hustlers in England or is it small enough that all the good players are known?
Click to expand...

There are no real unknown below the radar 'hustlers' as such in uk and certainly nothing to resemble the American squads of 'road players'.

Big money matches are common but the abilities of both parties are usually well known in advance and in uk there are certainly more big money matches at uk style 8 ball pool than there are at 9 ball on american style tables. In uk style 8 ball pool on uk equipment/rules it is not unusual for there to be many money matches each year in which various top players and their backers stake anything up to the sterling equivalent of $100k each on matches played 'race to 30' or similar.

Giving up spots or any type of handicapping in money match-ups is quite unusual and when it does happen it's usually in the form of a few games on the wire.

A free piece of advice......never accuse 'Brit' WPC player Pat Holtz of coming from England:)
 
Last edited:
deleted....ham fisted duplicate post partly due repeatedly being logged out half way through posts.
 
Last edited:
I have only played 9-ball really i did play marbles(english pool)for a little bit but i can't stand the game, for some reason it really annoys me when people put the chalk in their pocket and i can't really think of a reason why..i also don't drill the chalk but do leave the chalk on the rail.
 
alstl said:
They have a different way of chalking the cue. I've noticed the snooker players doing it and Peach does it too. She's not British, but Karen Corr has a snooker background and she also does it. They just softly wipe the chalk across the tip.

I wonder why. Does it have something to do with the smaller diameter of the snooker cues or is it a deal where one guy started doing it so everybody followed along.
Click to expand...

To get back to the technicalities of the original question.......most uk players started on snooker tables or uk style 8 ball tables. It is of course personal preference how each player shapes his tip but fair to say in general that the tips on those cues tend to be given a more 'domed' profile than the tips on 9 ball cues and the Brit 'wiping' method enables the player to better ensure that the 'sides' are properly chalked and that any grain of the tip is being 'wiped' in a consistent outward from the centre direction.

The edges of the dome shape are of course the areas in which miscues mainly arise and mentally the players like to feel comfortable that they've been chalked properly.

These acquired habits are simply carried forward into 9 ball by many.
 
Last edited:
ukpooladdict said:
I have only played 9-ball really i did play marbles(english pool)for a little bit but i can't stand the game, for some reason it really annoys me when people put the chalk in their pocket and i can't really think of a reason why..i also don't drill the chalk but do leave the chalk on the rail.
Click to expand...

:D Know what you mean. Unfortunately leaving the chalk on the rail would now cost you a foul in uk 8 ball;)
 
crappoolguy said:
Really? :eek:
Click to expand...

No, not exactly:) The rules are that:-

If you leave the chalk on the rail randomly (ie not in a deliberate attempt to assist aiming) the ref will simply ask you to remove it the first time.

If you repeatedly leave it on the rail he may judge that you have breached the spirit of the game and award the frame to your opponent.
 
memikey said:
No, not exactly:) The rules are that:-

If you leave the chalk on the rail randomly (ie not in a deliberate attempt to assist aiming) the ref will simply ask you to remove it the first time.

If you repeatedly leave it on the rail he may judge that you have breached the spirit of the game and award the frame to your opponent.
Click to expand...



To be honest I think that's gone a little far...
 
Gerry said:
I chalk that way too...like a snooker player. Otherwise my hand gets all blue, and it gets all over everything. Ever notice snooker players aren't aloud to put the chalk on the table, or chalk OVER the table. Imagine how nice and clean everything would be if everyone did that.

Gerry
Click to expand...

My uncle is from england, and he ALWAYS. Keeps taking my chalk off my rails. Now I know why. I explain that in America the chalk goes on the rail, and since it's my table thats what we will go with. It almost offend's him. Which is OK, because I think it may affect his game, and I get in his pocket a little bit more. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top