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The Billiard Monthly : August, 1912
A Few Cue Tips
- It is no use taking aim unless your cue is aligned or
parallel with the intended ran of the centre of the cue ball. - Side is mostly useful for obtaining position for the cue
ball in the next stroke. For the making of the immediate
shot, except in slow, wide strokes, to enlarge a pocket, or
to neutralize increased throw-off, it is mostly a delusion. - Nine inches is quite enough distance as a rule between
the hand or rest and the cue ball. - A lot of rapid movements of the cue in addressing the
ball are not of much use. A mere quiver of the tip is more
serviceable if it makes you feel that you have got the right
touch or strength. - A nice little impulse imported to the cue in Its final forward
movement is a good thing, especially for the accentuation
of side or screw, but it should never degenerate into
a nervous thrust or poke. - At near range the ball need not be forced at rather more
than the half-ball angle. Absence of top on the cue ball by
dead central striking answers the same purpose. - Remember that just as striking the cue ball slightly below
the centre imparts to it extra throw-off so striking it a little
above the centre proportionately lessens the throw-off. - The worst possible foe to the young billiard student is
the tendency or temptation to chop and change about in
style, system, etc. Once the right method or stroke is discovered
it should be rigidly adhered to. - When a red ball score is as easy as a white ball score and
would leave as good position, the red should naturally be
selected, but it is a mistake to go for the easy red in
season and out of season. A slightly more difficult white is
often better. - There should be no hesitation about putting down the
white where more than two can be made in this way or the
opponent’s play hampered or the game won. But it is well
to remember that putting down the white gives the opponent
the entire latitude of the D to play from. - The cue contacts should be regarded as definite and not
vague. There are eight of them besides the centre and they
follow the points of the compass at a distance of half an inch
from the centre or exactly mid-way between centre and
edge. It is possible to get more side, screw, or top by striking
still nearer the edge, but it is tricky and often results
in an annoying miscue. - In playing for an all-round cannon when the other balls
are in baulk be careful of the cushion contact that results
in the cue ball catching the shoulder of the middle pocket. - With cue ball spotted on a corner of the D and running side
applied aim is taken about half-way up the opposite top side
cushion for the opposite baulk pocket and a few inches below
the top corner pocket for the middle of the bottom rail.
These are standing guides and intermediate positions must
be judged proportionately.