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.