A Few Cue Tips

• It is possible to avoid the push stroke in a follow-through
  with the two balls very near together, but the cue ball must
  be struck high and the cue curved upwards the instant that
  the cue contact takes place. This stroke should be freely
  practised as nothing is more annoying to a decent player
  than to make an unintentional push.
• The two things that should be practised most persistently
  at the outset are the cue swing and the light holding of the
  cue. These are of even more importance than the practising
  of specific shots After a while the two actions, become
  crystallized into a habit and an excellent start has thus been
  effected.
• In judging cushion cannons the eye should glance past
  the edge of the first object ball to a point on the cushion
  which makes an equal angle from that point with the part
  of the second object ball that it is desired to reach. If it is
  seen that the cannon can be made without side it is better
  not to use side, and the only point then left to consider is
  whether the contact with the object ball shall be fine or full,
  according to the course that it is intended that the object
  ball should take.
• When losing hazards are on, a cannon should, as a rule,
  only be played when it is desired to gather the three balls at
  a specific point. This is especially the case when it is seen
  that the second ball will also provide a good losing hazard
  position when the first ball has been played off sufficiently.
• Although the striker’s face should be broadside with the
  cue in striking, the body itself should not be so placed, but
  should take a distinct turn towards the right in order to
  ensure free play of the cue arm.
• A little practice with a single ball against a cushion will
  be found to be instructive, and surprise may be experienced
  that such infinitesimal strength is needed to send the ball
  two or three feet. This may be remembered with advantage
  to the player when it is desired to disturb an object
  ball very little after playing it against a cushion and making
  an in-off.
• Top should not be put on the cue ball when a follow-through
  can be obtained without. Follow really means
  good rotation of the cue ball and often this is to be obtained,
  even at near range, by light cueing and natural striking
  A great argument in favour of central striking of the cue
  ball is that strength can be better controlled in this way.
• Billiards consists almost as much of the art of leaving
  things alone as of doing things If a learner, after noting
  a mistake never made the same mistake again, he would
  achieve rapid advancement. “Side” is one of the things
  that should be left alone as much as possible.
• When playing losing hazards (screw or otherwise) at anything
  approaching speed into an open pocket side is useless.
• When a player becomes conscious of a fault a good plan
  is to exaggerate in an opposite direction. Thus, if he finds
  that he is playing too fine in a follow-through he should play
  more thickly than he thinks is necessary, and if he thinks
  that he is playing the half-ball stroke too narrow he should
  play it seemingly too widely. He will presently settle down
  to the right contact.