Chalking Your Hand

[Snooker]

I know it sounds daft, but does anyone else chalk their bridging hand ?

The reason I ask is when I was in the US and played 9-ball, they had big blocks of chalk so people could chalk their hands. I tried it back here and believe it or not it does help!

[Sonny]

That sounds like one of Earl Stricklands tricks to me. Anyone see those finger extensions he used for a bit? Bloody amusing oddball!

[snazzydevil]

I used to do this, but I believe it is not the best thing for the cue. Hands sweat, and chalk coagulates.

I use a glove like Jeanette Lee style. It was inexpensive and works a treat.

[universal]

I do this all the time it stops the sweat. Also I believe it leaves a layer of chalk on your cue to stop moisture from getting inside you cue. Thats what I think any way.


J.

[chrissy]

Chalk on bridge hand

I used to play with a very open style bridge. After spreading my thumb out to the right (as far as it would extend), I used to rest the cue in the V - but very open and not the closed style all the players seem to have adopted over the years. And I used to chalk the entire V too, but although it helps in the summer, it just made me gunky, and changed my bridge style after about 2 years anyway.

It can help, but it's mostly a waste of good chalk - I found.

[Deejay]

I sometimes have problems, In the past Ive broken both my hands and fingers so my fingers are very bendy, I cant keep them straight so hence I have to adjust my style to the type of shot Im about to play.. I still whoop people tho hehe

[chrissy]

Bridge Hands

I had lessons from a ranked Professional (Dave Gilbert, once ranked 40 in the world) and he suggested get the basics first, and a good bridge is important, but your follow through is much more important. Controlling that cueball is the key to positional play. Smacking the ball makes the game harder, and doesn't give you much improvement in power anyway.

Broken hands. hmmmm, it must be difficult to play like that. But it sounds like you can cope easily enough. As you get older, it brings less flexibility, and you'll find that you'll have to alter your stance, bridge and more or less everything about your game. Can't really avoid it - I've tried lol !

So you'll have to adjust when hitting about late 20's. No, I'm not joking.

It's a harder game for Fat people, as the stomach interferes with any cue action, raising of the bridge etc. (I'm quite slim lol)

[phoenixraker]

Dont use chalk on your hand

I recommend buying a decent cue towel, I bought one from JJB's (which i was surprised as anyone) and it turned out to be very good, it has a rough side which i use to dry my hands and a smoother side that i use for the cue.

[cdh_england]

well at first i thought that sounds daft but i will give it a go lol

[russ_80_00]

Chalk on hand

Well I think chalking your hand is pretty bad, it leaves a great big blue smudge on your cue and tends to get clogged up. I am a big 9 Ball pool player and I tend to use Baby Powder that seems to work best. Give it a try.

[Pollita]

I know it sounds daft, but does anyone else chalk their bridging hand ?

The reason I ask is when I was in the US and played 9-ball, they had big blocks of chalk so people could chalk their hands. I tried it back here and believe it or not it does help!

Well after a long snooker session your cue do get "sticky" I can see how putting some chalk would help. I suggest wiping your hands more often and wiping your cue with a cloth. My friend he plays and eats burgers at the same time which I find gross and he gets everything dirty. he then bought himself a glove thingy and it worked fine except it looked ugly.

[Sonny]

gloves look poncy.

Did anyone else notice Jimmy White licking his hand before every shot? What was all that about?

[taz147]

The best advice I can give (have always done this) keep 2 towels with you. Have 1 just ever so slightly damp and 1 dry. Use the damp one for the cue and the dry 1 for your hands. I have had my cue now nearly 15 yrs and it is still in great shape

[Sonny]

damp and dry is the best way.

So did anyone else notice James Brown licking his hand?

[reverse_side]

Peter 'Sonny' Kay, "What's awl thad about!?". Jimmy had me'n'my partner in hysterics each time he did it Sonny; bit like the goalkeepers gobbing on their gloves as tho it helps too, yuck. Anyone wanna borrow Jimmy's cue?!

As for smooth cuing, a tip; when you nip to the toilet, get some toilet tissue/towel, fold it over a few times so it's about the size of a Smartie tube/small sausage roll, run one of the taps then swipe the paper bung through the water - gets damp but not too wet'n'soggy. You've already washed your hands HAVEN'T you! so your hands'll be clean and smooth too. When you get back to your cue, place the bung just under your tip and drag it down the shaft, if it's really dirty, use the other side of the bung. (*IMPERATIVE* that the bung isn't too damp as you'll soak your tip when you squeeze the bung) Clean hands, clean cue = smooth cuing. Varnish can give too much friction; fine grade sandpaper will sort that out.
I've fingered a bit of chalk in the middle of a long frame in desperation tho, makes you feel like you're doing SOMETHING, but if you're drinkin loads, then a trip to the mens' and collecting a bung sorts it out; you can even get a couple for your mates too without making them look poncey if you buy them all gloves for Christmas!
I found out to my cost on Sunday that too much linseed oil can wreck your whole technique - s'alright, only cost me £250! (a double on the rocks chaser took me over the edge!)
(PS Check out taz147's cuing down the kneck of a bottle tip. Also, Judd Trump's another Tony Meo - lefthander but uses his right for the rest!!??)