Can you use chalkboard chalk as grip powder?

Discussion in 'Grip' started by Isleyofthenorth, Aug 7, 2012.

  1. Isleyofthenorth

    Isleyofthenorth Regular Member

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    I was just wondering if you could use chalkboard chalk as grip powder?
     
  2. cheesey7

    cheesey7 Regular Member

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    o_O
    I wouldn't...
     
  3. arfandy

    arfandy Regular Member

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    me neither! better use baby powder instead! or not use at all still wiser than use chalkboard.
     
  4. wilwat

    wilwat Regular Member

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    I think that's the wrong kind of chalk. Gymnasts and weight lifters use magnesium carbonate chalk. I am thinking about trying that as I used to use it for weightlifting back when I was younger. I'll try to remember to let folks know if it worked or not.
     
  5. Blitzzards

    Blitzzards Regular Member

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    Good information, sir. Magnesium carbonate is indeed one of the main ingredients in Yonex's Grip Powder. It has a distinctive smell/fragrance to it.
     
  6. gundamzaku

    gundamzaku Regular Member

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    just curious, what does it smell like?
     
  7. maxp74

    maxp74 Regular Member

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    Magnesium carbonate does work well to improve your grip. Bad thing is when it gets wet and dryes it turns into something that reminds of cement.
     
  8. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    IME chalk is used more for "traction" than "tack", but it should work reasonably well for a racket grip. Go for resin if you want tack as well.
     
  9. R20190

    R20190 Regular Member

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    I wouldn't use baby powder. Baby powder is designed to reduce friction to prevent rashes etc.
     
  10. wilwat

    wilwat Regular Member

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    So I have now finished experimenting with using magnesium carbonate chalk on my grip (towel). It seems quite effective in the short run for making the grip dry and easy to handle. However once the grip gets a lot of chalk in it, it dries very hard. After drying hard, you have to dispose of the grip; otherwise you might get blisters etc.

    In short it seems if the grip is on it's last legs, chalk is pretty useful. Otherwise it's not worth it as you will want to get rid of the grip.

    I'm not sure how it compares to grip powder. That is much to expensive for such a small quantity in my opinion. If it is pretty much the same I could see why pros like it. It keeps your grip dry in the middle of a game and they are going to dispose of their grip after the game anyway (all their equipment is free or close to it). So they get the benefits but not the cost.
     

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