Iron Sporting Goods · 2025
Corner Pocket Billiards Chalk Holder
by Tamas Fekete
- A' Design Award 2025 in Sporting Goods
- CLIENT: Openend Design Ltd.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 24,849
- Verification code 7A1B9B9AD2 · Verify this award
Colors
About Corner Pocket Billiards Chalk Holder
Chalk Tyme Corner Pocket is a wrist-worn magnetic chalk holder that keeps cue chalk constantly accessible during gameplay. The design features a housing that mounts to any standard 20 mm watch strap, with a detachable chalk holder that magnetically attaches on top. Two neodymium magnets ensure a secure yet easily releasable fit. Chalk is held in place by friction and can be replaced from the bottom using the tip of a cue. Interchangeable holders support a variety of chalk brands and diameters. It is customizable in material, surface finish, and color, offering a range of aesthetic variations.
About the A' Design Award
Corner Pocket Billiards Chalk Holder is an Iron A' Design Award winner, a prestigious recognition granted to good designs that meet the professional and industrial requirements expected from well-designed creations. Iron winners demonstrate great skill, high specialization, expert understanding, and creative capacity of their creators. Corner Pocket Billiards Chalk Holder is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished creation that is practical and innovative. This Iron A' Design Award-winning design integrates industry best practices and has competent technical characteristics linked with know-how and talent. Corner Pocket Billiards Chalk Holder is respected for its thoroughness and is designed to provide quality of life improvements that help make the world a better place.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Corner Pocket is an intuitive, wrist-worn magnetic billiard chalk holder designed to transform how players access and carry their chalk during a game. It accommodates various chalk shapes and offers a wide range of customization options in colors, materials, and finishes. Two strong neodymium magnets securely attach the holder to the housing, ensuring stability while allowing effortless removal by sliding the chalk holder sideways. The chalk is held in place by friction and can be easily replaced by pushing it out through a bottom opening using a cue stick. The housing is compatible with any 20 mm watch strap and features interchangeable holders to fit different chalk shapes and brands.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Housing Dimensions: 46 x 51 x 13 mm
Chalk Holder Dimensions: 33 x 33 x 19 mm
Assembled Unit Without Straps: 46 x 51 x 28 mm
Strap Compatibility: Standard 20 mm watch strap - Tags
- Magnetic billiard chalk holder, wrist chalk holder, 3D-printed chalk holder, pool chalk accessory, billiard equipment, cue sports gear, magnetic pool accessory, ergonomic chalk holder, billiard accessory, watch-style chalk holder
- Production Technology
- The design blends the aesthetics of wristwatches and pool tables, with a shape reminiscent of a watch housing and the corner pocket of a billiard table. 3D printing was chosen to allow cost-effective production without expensive tooling. Prototyping began with watch parts and magnets to refine functionality before aesthetic development. After testing various 3D printing methods, an optimal solution was chosen for cost efficiency and various color and finishing options, enabling scalable production.
- Design Challenge
- The biggest challenge was designing an assembly that securely locked strong magnets in place without screws or glue while ensuring easy assembly. Extensive trial and error led to a three-part interlocking system. The second challenge was cost-effective manufacturing, requiring an in-depth exploration of CNC machining and 3D printing. The goal was to find a method that allowed multiple finishing and coloring options, enabling the creation of different product ranges, including higher-end models.
- Research
- User-centered research revealed that players chalk less due to inaccessibility, affecting shot accuracy. Common waist-level holders had multiple flaws, including staining clothing and being knocked off during play. Observations and feedback highlighted the need for a wearable solution. Prototyping confirmed wrist placement as non-disruptive. SLS 3D printing was chosen for cost-efficiency, durability, and customization, enabling future product expansion and bridging sports gear with wearables.
- Inspiration
- This project was born from the desire to create an alternative, intuitive way to keep cue chalk within reach during a billiards match. Traditional chalk holders typically clip to the waist or pocket, which isn’t always convenient, especially when moving around the table or leaning over for a shot. Chalk often gets left behind, misplaced, or disrupts the rhythm of play. Corner Pocket offers a new alternative by relocating the chalk to the wrist, where it's always visible, always accessible, and never in the way. The design draws inspiration from the convenience and wearability of wristwatches, as well as the structural form of a pool table’s corner pocket.
- Project Duration
- The project started in March 2023 in Rotterdam and finished in January 2024 in Rotterdam
- Operation Flow
- Worn like a watch, the holder secures the chalk by friction. Simply push it in to lock it in place. To use, the player slides the holder to the side, effortlessly disengaging it from the magnetic pull. After chalking, place it back in the housing where the magnet attracts it to its position. Chalk can be replaced by pushing it out through the bottom opening with a cue stick. Interchangeable holders allow compatibility with different chalk sizes and shapes.
- Patents
- Patented. US12186650B2. Randy William Carville. 2022. United States.
Copyright belongs to Chalk Tyme Billiard Accessories, 2024-2025 - Image Credits
- Image #1: 3D Visualization by Tamás Fekete, Corner Pocket, 2024.
Image #2: 3D Visualization by Tamás Fekete, Corner Pocket, 2024.
Image #3: 3D Visualization by Tamás Fekete, Corner Pocket, 2024.
Image #4: 3D Visualization by Tamás Fekete, Corner Pocket, 2024.
Image #5: 3D Visualization by Tamás Fekete, Corner Pocket, 2024.
Video Credits: Animation by Tamás Fekete, Corner Pocket, 2024.