Taom "Pyro" Chalk reveiw

AlienObserver

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello all!

I was in the market for a new chalk and decided to give Taom a try. When I got to the shop, they told me that they had a new version, a "Pyro" blue one. I decided to take this one. That was almost 2 month ago, November 1st.

During this time, I played from 2 to 5 times a week for at least 1 hour at a time (except one time, I will talk about that time below), and maximum 7 hours (average time I would say 2,5 hours), most of these times I was playing alone, so 100% table time. I am a chalk-before-every-single-shot kind of player. The chalk has hold up amazingly well so far. I am legitimately baffled of how little it has gone, it's basically new, 2 months later. (Photos were taken today, so you are looking at the current 2 month old chalk. It still sticks out way past the sticker, basically to the same height as I got it.)

The color is very nice IMO, it's almost the same as the Tournament Blue cloth (my samsung's phone camera is known to be hyper sensitive on saturation of the colors and looks like the chalk is way brighter than the cloth, to my naked eye the difference is much smaller).

The feel of chalking is nice, it's not as "dysty" feel as a new masters, but not close to pasty as a kamui, it's a nice in between.

The round shape is really nice. I actually had a bit of a problem adjusting to it at first and it was slipping from my hand for the first week or so, but now my hand is totally adjusted and I prefer it to a cube. I feel like the round shape is much more natural, and I think it contributes to be able to chalk wherever, so it worns out more naturally.

The cleanliness of it is just what I was hoping for. My hands are 100% clean. This was the main reason why I wanted to switch. Masters is so messy, at least for my chalking action, my hand was turning blue in matter of minutes. I then tried Blue Diamond and it was a lot better, but as the chalk loses the "brand new" feel, it started to make my hand blue too.. Taom 2 months in and not once I've seen it in my hand.

Now, as I said I'm a chalk-before-every-single-shot kind of player. But only one time I got to the pool hall 20 minutes before they closed, and I wanted to play so bad that I just crew my cue and started shooting as fast as possible. I was in such a rush that I didn't even take my chalk out and didn't chalk once, and I had my first misscue when I was already told that they are closing and I should go... I don't play with extreme side spins, but that was really nice to know that the chalk could take it, and if I forget to chalk some times it won't fail and misscue.

So my review for this chalk is a solid 10/10. Easily the best chalk I've ever had. Seemed a bit expensive (15€), but if what I've seen so far continues to be true, it will last me for the whole 2019!! (I don't think that it will, but again, so far 2 months in and it's like new)
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Hello all!

I was in the market for a new chalk and decided to give Taom a try. When I got to the shop, they told me that they had a new version, a "Pyro" blue one. I decided to take this one. That was almost 2 month ago, November 1st.

During this time, I played from 2 to 5 times a week for at least 1 hour at a time (except one time, I will talk about that time below), and maximum 7 hours (average time I would say 2,5 hours), most of these times I was playing alone, so 100% table time. I am a chalk-before-every-single-shot kind of player. The chalk has hold up amazingly well so far. I am legitimately baffled of how little it has gone, it's basically new, 2 months later. (Photos were taken today, so you are looking at the current 2 month old chalk. It still sticks out way past the sticker, basically to the same height as I got it.)

The color is very nice IMO, it's almost the same as the Tournament Blue cloth (my samsung's phone camera is known to be hyper sensitive on saturation of the colors and looks like the chalk is way brighter than the cloth, to my naked eye the difference is much smaller).

The feel of chalking is nice, it's not as "dysty" feel as a new masters, but not close to pasty as a kamui, it's a nice in between.

The round shape is really nice. I actually had a bit of a problem adjusting to it at first and it was slipping from my hand for the first week or so, but now my hand is totally adjusted and I prefer it to a cube. I feel like the round shape is much more natural, and I think it contributes to be able to chalk wherever, so it worns out more naturally.

The cleanliness of it is just what I was hoping for. My hands are 100% clean. This was the main reason why I wanted to switch. Masters is so messy, at least for my chalking action, my hand was turning blue in matter of minutes. I then tried Blue Diamond and it was a lot better, but as the chalk loses the "brand new" feel, it started to make my hand blue too.. Taom 2 months in and not once I've seen it in my hand.

Now, as I said I'm a chalk-before-every-single-shot kind of player. But only one time I got to the pool hall 20 minutes before they closed, and I wanted to play so bad that I just crew my cue and started shooting as fast as possible. I was in such a rush that I didn't even take my chalk out and didn't chalk once, and I had my first misscue when I was already told that they are closing and I should go... I don't play with extreme side spins, but that was really nice to know that the chalk could take it, and if I forget to chalk some times it won't fail and misscue.

So my review for this chalk is a solid 10/10. Easily the best chalk I've ever had. Seemed a bit expensive (15€), but if what I've seen so far continues to be true, it will last me for the whole 2019!! (I don't think that it will, but again, so far 2 months in and it's like new)
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how does it compare with Magic Chalk?
 
No mention in your lengthy review about how noticeable the chalk marks show up on the cue ball and on the table cloth after use, and whether or not they are hard to rub off the cue ball or brush off the table cloth? I would be very interested in knowing the answer to both of these questions as opposed to other chalks. - Thanks
 
You should try it, it's like magic, you'll never miss a shot again. It's good chalk and provides less cling.

The problem with Magic Chalk is that no one is selling them where I live, and if I order it online I will be paying for shipping almost as much as the chalks cost.... Don't you hate to pay 7,5€ for shipping for a product that costs 10€??

Plus, as I said on my review, Taom chalk does exactly what I look for on a chalk and could last me the whole next year, so I'm not in a hurry to try another one...

If I will try another chalk it will be the Perri chalk. I've only tried it once and it's the king of chalking and then shooting for half hour without chalking... Plus, it is sold where I live, cheaper than Taom and cheaper than Magic chalk...
 
I made my own test with 6 brands chalk, including first version of Taom, Magic "Russian" chalk, Predator, Masters, Blue Diamond and a Chinese brand chalk. Playing for 40 minutes, same drill with each chalk, chalking before each shot, vacuuming the cloth after each 40 min session.
My conclusion is that all brands I tried left the same mess on the cloth, the hand is stained the same way, some of them left more visible marks on cueball.
Now I'm playing with Master and don't believe anymore in magical chalk.
 
I don´t yet have Pyro myself but normal Taom 2.0.
I was non-believer when Taom came out and asked some test pieces directly from developers and got couple of Taom chalks free. After that I always played with them. I think around 75% of Finnish players use it.
It is really good chalk but I heard Pyro is just a tad better.
If I practice I (basically)never get any "clings". Also cloth and hands are staying a lot cleaner than any other.
 
The problem with Magic Chalk is that no one is selling them where I live, and if I order it online I will be paying for shipping almost as much as the chalks cost.... Don't you hate to pay 7,5€ for shipping for a product that costs 10€??

Plus, as I said on my review, Taom chalk does exactly what I look for on a chalk and could last me the whole next year, so I'm not in a hurry to try another one...

If I will try another chalk it will be the Perri chalk. I've only tried it once and it's the king of chalking and then shooting for half hour without chalking... Plus, it is sold where I live, cheaper than Taom and cheaper than Magic chalk...

I was only having some fun with the magic chalk and the less cling part. Hell, I had to Google to see what cling was. lol Magic chalk is what I've been using and like it. Mezz chalk isn't bad either, but cost more then the magic chalk. I have a big box of masters for backup. If you like it, that's all that matters.
 
So is this Pyro Taom chalk different than than Taom 2.0 light blue chalk showing up on Seyberts right now? If so, how long until Seyberts starts selling this version?
 
I'll give the pyro a try, as my current Taom is about 1/4" tall. It's about time they updated to blue.
I've gone through 2 pieces in about 6mo. My biggest complaint was the round shape. I still don't like it, but I've tried them all, and imo, it's the best. It stay's on longer, and last longer than any of the above mentioned. I was a Magic user for years.

But, when you drop it on a hard floor, you better be quick, cause that sum***** will ROLL, and ROLL.
 
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