Why do snooker players use chalk

If you get an excessive amount of chalk onto the pool cue, then don't try and remove it, just be more mindful and try and use the chalk more sparingly in the future. If you try and bang your cue on something to remove the chalk you may damage your equipment, and if you try to blow it off, you may put moisture on the tip which will cause the chalk to cake and be virtually ineffective and even harder to remove.

In terms of pulling off a successful shot, chalking will usually not affect anything. Although, if you're attempting to strike the ball in a way the doesn't really need any spin, then you probably shouldn't chalk your cue.

However, it must be said that if you chalk too often then you run the risk of building up chalk dust on the table and the balls. Avoid chalking over the table for starters, so that you don't get any chalk on your equipment. If you have chalk all over the table and the balls, you can get unpredictable results, your shots might not travel as far as you want them to or faster balls may move after impact.

Alongside the cue and its tip, snooker chalk is another crucial piece of equipment that is vital to playing a successful shot. It can seem fairly insignificant due to how frequently it is used and how infrequently it is mentioned except in the occurrences of poor contacts however, I wanted to look a little further into the properties of snooker chalk and the effect that it has on the overall match.

In a nutshell, the effect that chalk has on a shot is simple. The application of chalk creates a barrier between them that increases the friction upon contact of the two surfaces. When striking the cue ball off-centre, you are aiming for a smaller portion of the total area. By creating a coarser surface with increased grip, you are reducing the chances of miscues. Top tip: there is a correct way to apply chalk. If you see a chalk that has an enormous hole in it, then it has been used incorrectly.

In the early 19th century, traditional chalk was used in billiards for the perceived benefits that we know of it today: improved grip and greater shot selection. If you can see a large hole in the chalk, this is a good indicator that the chalk should be replaced.

Call Us Shopping Cart. My Account. Welcome to Legacy Billiards! Login Create Account. How frequently should a player add chalk? Is there a disadvantage to chalking up frequently? What is the best way to chalk up?