Taom Cue Chalk
Taom is a Finnish chalk that works differently to a traditional cube. Instead of coating the tip in loose grit, it leaves a thin, even layer that grips hard and stays put, so far less of it ends up on the cue ball, the cloth and the inside of your case.
It costs considerably more than a standard cube and it lasts a long time, because you use much less of it per shot. Players who switch tend to stay switched.
Which one to buy
Taom V10 is the one to start with, and the one most players stay on. It grips well across every shot without being fussy about how you apply it. It comes in green and blue. The colour makes no difference to how it plays, so pick whichever shows up less against your cloth.
Taom Pyro grips harder than V10 and is aimed at players who use a lot of side and want the extra bite on extreme cueing. It is available in blue and pink. If you rarely miscue with V10, Pyro is more chalk than you need.
Taom 2.0 is the original low residue chalk and still a strong performer. Worth considering if you have used it before and got on with it.
Taom Soft is formulated for softer tips, which hold chalk differently to a hard laminated tip. If you play with a soft tip and find standard Taom does not bed in, this is the one.
How to use it
Chalking Taom is not the same motion as chalking a traditional cube. Brush it lightly across the dome of the tip, two or three passes, and stop. Grinding the tip into it does nothing useful and wastes chalk.
You will notice the cube stays flat rather than developing the deep crater a traditional chalk gets. That is normal and it is a sign you are applying it correctly.
One thing to know: Taom works best on a tip that can hold it. A glazed or polished tip will not take chalk of any kind, so if you are still miscuing, scuff the tip lightly before blaming the chalk.
Holders and pouches
A Taom cube is a different size and shape to a standard cube, so a holder made for Triangle will not hold it properly. The Taom specific holders here are sized for it, including magnetic versions that clip to a belt loop and let you chalk one handed between shots.
The Taom Magnetite holder and the Taom chalk pouch both keep the cube protected in a case. Loose Taom will chip if it rattles about, and a chipped cube is harder to apply evenly.
Worth knowing
If you play on your own table, the reduced residue is the strongest argument for switching. Traditional chalk builds up on the cloth and on the balls, and that build up changes how the table plays long before anyone gets round to cleaning it.
There is a fuller breakdown of every colour and model in our complete guide to Taom chalk.
Traditional cubes and the rest of the range are in Cue Chalks.
