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The Billiard Monthly : February, 1912
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.