Proper chalking technique:

I blame Paul Newman for thousands of pool players’ poor chalking technique. In The Hustler and The Color of Money, Fast Eddie holds the cube of chalk stationary in his left hand and twists the cue with his right hand like he’s revving a Harley. This is what I refer to as ‘drilling for paper’. If you examine a cube of chalk that has been used this way, it begins to develop a hole straight through the cube that will eventually reach the paper wrapping at the bottom of the chalk. This chalking method also wipes off the tip nearly as fast as it applies chalk. If you chalk this way, examine your tip. It should have an even coating of chalk and appear a consistent color. Many times with the drilling technique you’ll see some concentric rings of a darker shade. These are areas where the chalk is thinner or altogether missing.

The proper way to chalk is to apply it in a brushing motion where the cube is dragged across the tip from several different angles of approach. This will apply a more even coat of chalk and will prevent a deep hole from forming in the cube. Cubes that have been drilled will be harder to use and may damage your ferrule (the white part of the shaft right beneath the cue tip). Chalk impregnated into the ferrule can be distracting and unattractive to an otherwise beautiful cue.