I've been playing for almost a year now, and although I've only used three brands of chalk their qualities have been drastically different.

The first was Silver Cup, the only cubes a trucker bar I used to visit stocked. I remember it being less chalky and more runny, like a soft crayon. It did the job but I never liked the way it spread over a tip.

The second was Classic Sport, a brand of chalk no one should use for long, if ever. It was on the extreme side of chalkiness: dry, brittle, and never stayed on a tip for long. Applying before every shot was a MUST.

The third was Master, which has become my brand of choice. It's the balance of the product that impresses me; it has both a bit of moisture and enough dryness to create specks of chalk while it's being applied. It spreads evenly over a tip and lasts for either a few hard shots or many softer ones before it really needs another coat, and the way it helps a tip grip a cue ball feels exceptional compared to the two brands above.

Master is also incredibly affordable for its superb quality. A pack of 12 cubes will set you back a bit over $10, and if you chalk your stick correctly those dozen will last a good while.

But I also understand that there are other brands, some more expensive than others.

For those of you who've experimented with them, what brand reigns supreme?

Is there an objective best chalk?

Or does it all come down to player preference?