The "30 Dollars Chalk"

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Espartaco_7

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I, Me, Myself was (and still) surprised about the price when I saw the ad. As a coincidence two months ago a friend of mine quited playing and gave me some chalk, among them was a piece of ".98 chalk" and decided to save it for "special ocassions".I´ve been a fan of Blue Diamond since I first know them, and they´re great chalk, IMHO a little better than masters.

The fact is that I play for drinks, just to get "experience". Usually we play nine ball for a bottle of wine or whiskey, race to 7.

I´ve always been afraid of extreme english shots, but they appear very often. I was using kamui black med tips, and was miscueing very often, changed to soft and the same story, changed to SS and the same. So I assumed it was my mechanincs and stroke.

One night I started to used the "30 dollars chalk" and did not miscue at all, even on full table draws and extreme english shots. Since that night I started to use the "cube of gold(for the price)" and my confidence have improved a lot.

The question is Why brands like masters and blue diamond don´t make a cheaper alternative to the kamui chalk? I mean the kamui chalk is better for me for being more plummy (without the issue of having the cue ball turned to blue each night), but I still consinder 30 dollars to be very expensive. Is there another chalk that have the same consistence of the kamui?

I preffer to spent 30 dollars monthly for a cube of chalk, and not to loose it on a bottle of wine due to miscues. I wonder if the pro´s have the same issues on tournaments or the gamblers when gambling. I think a miscue can cost you a match, and affects your psichology in the game.

Any opinion on the topic?
 
My opinion is that your miscues are not caused by your chalk but more likely from a stroke error. But that is just one man's opinion.
 
I prefer Blue Diamond for the main chalk, not to soft and not to hard. It'll stick even on phenolic, that's the +1 for me. I use kamui .98 for a moment but the smooth feel when chalking seems take time to adapt, and after all not chalking (even if the tip is fully covered) on every shot make me rushing for the shot as chalking is the "Moment of Thinking" for me. :). $20+ for one chalk doesn't feel right, it just right when I'm in speed pool tournament. Just my opinion.
 
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My opinion is that there are shots that are right on the line where a miscue will happen unless plenty of good chalk is right in that spot. My opinion is that using Kamui chalk will last 10 times longer and prevent more miscues. Totally worth it.
 
Luxury said:
My opinion is that there are shots that are right on the line where a miscue will happen unless plenty of good chalk is right in that spot. My opinion is that using Kamui chalk will last 10 times longer and prevent more miscues. Totally worth it.
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Well I agree with you. Tested (not being paid by kamui, but they should) hitting the cueball on the limits. Miscued with masters and blue d., not with kamui. I still stand that masters and b.d., should make another formula that sticks more to the cue tip. You really have to pay attention when you're chalking your jump cue. Me, at least, use it in average 4 or 5 times in a night, but I have to scuff them daily or they won't keep chalk.

If I could, i'd make a chalk more dense and "oily" I'm pretty sure it would be a great product if I could make it in the 3-5 dollars range.
 
samiun said:
I prefer Blue Diamond for the main chalk, not to soft and not to hard. It'll stick even on phenolic, that's the +1 for me. I use kamui .98 for a moment but the smooth feel when chalking seems take time to adapt, and after all not chalking (even if the tip is fully covered) on every shot make me rushing for the shot as chalking is the "Moment of Thinking" for me. :). $20+ for one chalk doesn't feel right, it just right when I'm in speed pool tournament. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

That's the problem, I chalk on every shot, even with kamui, and that hurts my wallet a lot. OUCH!!!!
 
The question I have that I've not heard answered by players that have gone to Kamui is - if you no longer chalk after every shot (I've heard some say once a game, once a set, etc.), then how do you know when it IS time to chalk up? I mean, no matter how good the chalk is, at some point aren't you running the risk of a miscue?

Thanks.
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
The question I have that I've not heard answered by players that have gone to Kamui is - if you no longer chalk after every shot (I've heard some say once a game, once a set, etc.), then how do you know when it IS time to chalk up? I mean, no matter how good the chalk is, at some point aren't you running the risk of a miscue?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I chalk when i need to apply a fair amount of spin, if i have to draw a table length two shots in a row then i chalk before 2 shots in a row, if i have 5 easy center ball shots in a row then i dont chalk for 5 shots. If i have a difficult shot and need to check angles and walk around the table i'll pull out my chalk then too.

It does seem difficult for some people to remember to chalk with kamui though, i bought a few cubes last Xmas and gave a couple to people i play with and some of them end up not chalking at all for 4 racks and then miscue at a bad time and get frustrated...lol.

It's not for everyone that is for sure, absent minded people who can't adjust their preshot routine should stay away.
 
Espartaco_7 said:
I, Me, Myself was (and still) surprised about the price when I saw the ad. As a coincidence two months ago a friend of mine quited playing and gave me some chalk, among them was a piece of ".98 chalk" and decided to save it for "special ocassions".I´ve been a fan of Blue Diamond since I first know them, and they´re great chalk, IMHO a little better than masters.

The fact is that I play for drinks, just to get "experience". Usually we play nine ball for a bottle of wine or whiskey, race to 7.

I´ve always been afraid of extreme english shots, but they appear very often. I was using kamui black med tips, and was miscueing very often, changed to soft and the same story, changed to SS and the same. So I assumed it was my mechanincs and stroke.

One night I started to used the "30 dollars chalk" and did not miscue at all, even on full table draws and extreme english shots. Since that night I started to use the "cube of gold(for the price)" and my confidence have improved a lot.

The question is Why brands like masters and blue diamond don´t make a cheaper alternative to the kamui chalk? I mean the kamui chalk is better for me for being more plummy (without the issue of having the cue ball turned to blue each night), but I still consinder 30 dollars to be very expensive. Is there another chalk that have the same consistence of the kamui?

I preffer to spent 30 dollars monthly for a cube of chalk, and not to loose it on a bottle of wine due to miscues. I wonder if the pro´s have the same issues on tournaments or the gamblers when gambling. I think a miscue can cost you a match, and affects your psichology in the game.

Any opinion on the topic?
Click to expand...



Since you asked for an opinion I will give you one!!!!:grin-devilish: Now I am not putting down your opinion and if it works for you buy it. But, while a miscue can cost you a match so can a poor stroke, poor pre-shot routine or a tip that is not properly maintained. I learned to play pool in the late 60's, and I was taught in the very beginning how important it is to take care of your tip, and what a pre-shot routine was.

Tip Maintenance - Keep the tip to the roundness you prefer, many players use a nickle or dime shape. Next you can not allow a tips surface to become shiny, and all tips will have this problem over time if not Scuffed or Picked. A tip will pick up dirt from the table when you hit the cue ball, so the dirtier the table you play on the more you need to scuff your tip. Last a mushroomed tip is the biggest cause of miscues outside of a poor stroke. I own a pool room owner, build custom cues, and do a great deal of repair work, and see the problems I have listed above on at least a daily basis.

Pre-shot Routine - The most important part of your pre-shot routine is to make sure that you Chalk your tip before ever shot. I was taught that while I am walking around the table deciding what I am going to do next I should always Chalk my tip before I get back down to make my next shot. Sounds pretty easy doesn't it, but the next time you go out to play watch other players and see if they do it. I think you may be surprised how many people don't do these simple things and then when they miscue they just do understand why.

While I do understand that not all Chalk you will encounter is something that should be used on a pool cue, but Masters, Triangle, or even Blue Diamond will work just fine if you follow the above and you have a true stroke. I can honestly say that I do see a need for a Chalk that allows you not to Chalk up after every Shot, but to each his own and I am certain that the maker of this $30 piece of Chalk is laughing all the way to the bank!!!!!!!!!:grin-devilish::grin-devilish:
 
Luxury said:
My opinion is that there are shots that are right on the line where a miscue will happen unless plenty of good chalk is right in that spot. My opinion is that using Kamui chalk will last 10 times longer and prevent more miscues. Totally worth it.
Click to expand...

My opinion is the same as your opinion. It is also my opinion that everyone should ignore what everyone else's opinion is, and try things for themselves.
 
Espartaco_7 said:
The question is Why brands like masters and blue diamond don´t make a cheaper alternative to the kamui chalk? I mean the kamui chalk is better for me for being more plummy (without the issue of having the cue ball turned to blue each night), but I still consinder 30 dollars to be very expensive. Is there another chalk that have the same consistence of the kamui?
Click to expand...

I suspect there will be a competitor to Kamui in due course. Tweeten etc will be waiting to see how well Kamui sells - if it sells well, alternatives will be produced. But don't get your hopes up that the competition will be much cheaper - if there's a market for a $30 chalk, why pitch an alternative at $5?

I suspect the long term implication of Kamui chalk is a rebranded Blue Diamond for $15, or Masters Plus at $10. Prices of existing chalks will drift up, not much cheaper Kamui alternatives.
 
I like to chalk every shot too. I put a good layer of Kamui on then my Blue Diamond sticks right to it. I chalk with blue diamond every shot for the rest of the game and then re-apply the kamui.

The Kamui will last for years. My tip is always well chalked. There are certain shots that would have miscued if my tip wasn't well chalked.

Miscueing is the worst thing that can happen to me in pool. Obviously if you have a bad stroke you will still miscue. Just less.

If you have a pro level stroke you will still miscue. Pros definitely miscue. You will just miscue less.
 
manwon said:
Since you asked for an opinion I will give you one!!!!:grin-devilish: Now I am not putting down your opinion and if it works for you buy it. But, while a miscue can cost you a match so can a poor stroke, poor pre-shot routine or a tip that is not properly maintained. I learned to play pool in the late 60's, and I was taught in the very beginning how important it is to take care of your tip, and what a pre-shot routine was.

Tip Maintenance - Keep the tip to the roundness you prefer, many players use a nickle or dime shape. Next you can not allow a tips surface to become shiny, and all tips will have this problem over time if not Scuffed or Picked. A tip will pick up dirt from the table when you hit the cue ball, so the dirtier the table you play on the more you need to scuff your tip. Last a mushroomed tip is the biggest cause of miscues outside of a poor stroke. I own a pool room owner, build custom cues, and do a great deal of repair work, and see the problems I have listed above on at least a daily basis.

Pre-shot Routine - The most important part of your pre-shot routine is to make sure that you Chalk your tip before ever shot. I was taught that while I am walking around the table deciding what I am going to do next I should always Chalk my tip before I get back down to make my next shot. Sounds pretty easy doesn't it, but the next time you go out to play watch other players and see if they do it. I think you may be surprised how many people don't do these simple things and then when they miscue they just do understand why.

While I do understand that not all Chalk you will encounter is something that should be used on a pool cue, but Masters, Triangle, or even Blue Diamond will work just fine if you follow the above and you have a true stroke. I can honestly say that I do see a need for a Chalk that allows you not to Chalk up after every Shot, but to each his own and I am certain that the maker of this $30 piece of Chalk is laughing all the way to the bank!!!!!!!!!:grin-devilish::grin-devilish:
Click to expand...

I agree with you on everything. I keep my tips in good shape always. Shaped and scuffed every single day. I don't have your experience, but with your 40+ years in pool you should know there certain shots that need you to go to the limit. I'm talking about three tips of english or more. Hitting the edge of the cue ball. If you have a more "pasty" chalk you'll have more friction and less miscues.

I dare anyone who has the Rempe cueball to do the test and see how far they can go with each chalk. My complain is that you don't have another option with kamui, is just that and nothing else. I've seen some pro's like archer miscue with a perfect stroke, in that case is not the stroke, is just the limit of the cueball. I hope you get what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNRCcsGrprE see it on min 2:10
 
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