I tried to be a little funny with my first response to this. As I was reading the rest of the responses I didn't really notice anyone mentioning my most important accessory. For a long time I was going through who knows how many containers of baby powder. I don't get it all over the table. Just a little between my first and second finger palm side up. Then a pinch between my thumb and first finger palm side down. Rub the cue, slap my hand on my pants to get any excess of and I'm ready to go. I've tried other methods such as washing hands and so forth, but the only thing that comes close to being as slippery as baby powder is a glove and I can't stand the clove. I have to be able to feel the stick. As I mentioned above, I had been going through baby powder containers like crazy because of letting them behind when playing somewhere till I found the travel section at Wal-Mart. They have these little ones that fit right in my pocket. Now I don't forget it, I just have to take it out of my pocket the next day and put it back in my pool case.
My other invaluable accessory is my denim Greek fishing cap. I guess it is a good thing I'm not good enough to go on tour because I understand that they allow no head gear. I just don't know if I could make a tough shot without going through the ritual of reaching up and adjusting my hat back a little for extra good vision just before taking my stance. 8>)
My hat: Let me tell you a short recent story involving my hat. For years I've been going to my daughters softball games and all the girls and parents are use to seeing me in my hat. This year, for some reason, the coach ask me to be his assistant coach. I, not being a baseball expert, didn't know why but I said yes anyway. So I'm going to coach softball. It hit me that I don't even own a baseball type hat. So I went to the store and found a baseball hat that had a anchor on the front. I decided to make a big deal out of it.
At the first meeting of the team when the coach told the girls that I would be helping out this year, I started to talk. "I'm not sure if you girls are old enough to know about the importance of a mans image he puts on. A males image is an important thing." (about this time my daughter roles her eyes and sort of backs away because of not knowing what I was going to say next. Afraid that I'd embarrass her.) Having my new baseball cap in a brown paper bag beside me I continued. "So I want you girls to know that I wouldn't do this for just anyone." Reaching down into the bag and switched from my Greek hat to the baseball hat. I got a pretty good laugh from everyone. I thought I had one more laugh coming yet because I knew the head coach had team hats there. "You see those team hats over there? If you want me to switch from this one to one of those, your going to have to show me you can play!"
My daughter (age 14) said later that she was so glad that I didn't embarrass her. I said, "The season isn't over yet!"
paper towel, and a dry chunk. Give the shaft a good wipe with damp, follow with dry, finish with 8oo or higher and your in buisness. I keep a cube of Master Blue in case the joint dosn't have good chalk, and a small cloth for my hands and cue, in case they don't have paper either. I curse those hot air blowers! I like the Porper Tip burnisher but only when my tip gets down to about half life. St.