Chalk is the most important element in billiards, which allows us to have a perfect grip between the tip of the cue stick and the cue ball.
But if we do not put chalk, when we make the shot with effect or a strong shot, the blunder will occur.
The malfunction also occurs when the sole is very worn out, in that case you should replace it with a new one.
The soles come with different grades from very soft to very hard, which means that it can retain more or less chalk, the softer the tip, the more chalk it retains and vice versa.
Chalk is applied to the tip of the cue, ideally before each shot, to increase the coefficient of friction of the tip so that when it hits the cue ball on an off-center shot, no miscue occurs.
It is that sharp sound that the tip of your cue makes when it loses contact with the cue ball during impact, the ball goes out of the shooting line, it is produced by not applying chalk to the cue.
It is an involuntary slip between the tip of the cue and the struck ball.
Yes you can, in fact a billiard school in Germany teaches you to play without chalk, only hitting the cue ball in the center.
Their style of play is to just hit the cue ball in the center and that way control where you want it to go for the next ball.Â
It is the only way to play without chalk.
When you want to apply spin there will be a miss because your cue stick has no chalk.
Without a doubt and after reviewing hundreds of opinions of professional players, they say that the best billiard chalk is Blue Diamond.
Personally I use the Glygen Sniper.
It is made of silica and aloxite, which hardly gives off any dust and allows players to apply more effects.
You must pass the chalk on the tip of the cue or sole, two or three times without blowing afterwards, since with the tip you will make direct contact with the ball and you will be able to give it more effect, without misses.
It is to place your chalk without losing it, without someone else taking it from you, for convenience instead of going all over the table to get it, you have it next to you, it works with a magnet and thus avoid dirtying your pocket.
These objects are to hit the tip of the cue with these nails that will help you to better penetrate the billiard chalk, sometimes the chalk is not impregnated in the cue because it is missing that you push it or maybe it is the sole that no longer works.
In that case, the sole would have to be replaced.
Kamui (Japanese) has three types of chalk, the 0.98, the 1.21 and the Roku. The main difference between the two is that the 1.21 is harder, you can last a long time without throwing.
Therefore this chalk is as we spoke before, apply less chalk and last longer hitting and gives more effect to the cue ball.
Ball Teck, manufactured by Hanbat in South Korea, and are a real guarantee of quality and finesse. They come wrapped with cellophane paper to protect them from moisture. They are one of the top of the range in chalk, although more economical than Kamui.
The Predator 1080 Pure. This chalk will help you play with greater precision and consistency and with better retention in the sole. It is manufactured by Predator with the use of pure silica and a specific production process is also mid-range and widely used among players.
The Blue Diamond is one of the classics when talking about chalk, manufactured by Longoni, is one of the most used by players in tournaments and a favorite among most players.
The Frédéric Caudron chalk, the famous Belgian carom player, with a mid-range.
We asked a question and the chalks preferred by the majority + their specifications:
Balabushka Chalk is a super premium chalk, similar to Blue Diamond, it adheres well to the tip of the cue and prevents chalking, it seems to me that it only comes in two colors, blue and gold.
Magic Chalk, if you use it, you will hardly change for other chalks, it does not leave marks on the mingo, it stays on the sole, it does not dirty and does not make mistakes.
Taom, green in color, also available in blue, is handmade in Finland and is used by many of the best snooker players in the world.
It does not make a mess, does not leave marks on the balls, does not leave marks on the cloth, does not leave a lot of residue on the players’ hands and is Shaun Murphy’s favorite chalk.
GoldStard chalk is a very fine, high quality billiard chalk. Each chalk is wrapped in cellophane paper to protect it from moisture.
Triangle chalk, is a billiard chalk recommended by expert players in more than 20 countries as a useful chalk for attempting critical plays with the confidence of being able to finish with a miscue.
Silver Cup Chalk, is manufactured from the finest quality sand mined only in the United States. Just the right amount of moisture and additives produce the best quality billiard chalk.
Molinari chalk has a high silica content for maximum grip and control, is round, is widely used for tournaments and is one of the best on the market.
Brunswick Chalk is made of a velvety fine silica, guaranteeing maximum adhesion and friction qualities.
Master chalk, blue, red, gray, green, among other colors, is made by Tweeten Fibre of Chicago, is a soft chalk and uniform application to avoid the miscue, therefore it is made by crushing silica and abrasive substance of corundum or aloxite (aluminum oxide).
Some tips:
The two people who invented it over a century ago were William A. Spinks and William Hoskins who began mixing a base of silica and alloxite, thus producing the best chalk.
Which you too can begin to carefully mix your own formula with the chalk elements mentioned above.
And it is very likely that you will have a great product that we can use in the future.
How to make homemade billiard chalk?
I don’t guarantee it will work, if it worked for you, leave a comment.
To keep your chalk in your pocket or place a magnet on it so that you can access it at any time.
The answers vary from player to player as to how often to chalk the cue, but a good rule to follow is to chalk before every shot, if not every other shot.
If a shot requires additional spin on the ball, shoring is advised because it will provide additional friction during impact.
In addition, it also depends on the brand of your billiard chalk, the low end ones like the Master brand should be chalk every shot, however, the mid and high end ones, according to the manufacturer, you can average 10 shots without chalk.
You should always choose a chalk color that is the same color as the pool table mat or cloth to avoid soiling it or leaving chalk marks on the table.
Blue is recommended for most tournaments as it allows the referee and players to see the marks on the cue ball. The marks can be easily cleaned.
Here you will be able to develop as a great pool player no matter your level.
