Transmitted Side

There is no doubt that transmitted side exists as Phil Davis' extract from Riso Levi showed in ABP No 5. In this the red is played only just out of baulk and made to return into it.

The transient nature of transmitted side makes its use as the cause of some observed effects is much more questionable.

As for instance in this extract from The Billiard Player for September 1936 entitled "Egyptian Wonder Shot" subtitled "Was Side transmitted to the Red Ball?" In this the red is played into baulk and made to return outside it! The text and diagram is given below.

The following interesting letter has come from Mr. R. B. Johnstone, of the Egyptian State Railways, Telegraphs, and Telephones, Cairo.

"I am enclosing a sketch of a position which cropped up in the course of a game here in Cairo. It will be observed that several strokes can be made. The cannon direct is on. The cannon from bottom cushion is on. Also the pot red in the bottom pocket with in off white afterwards. The player elected to play the cannon direct, which he missed. Now comes the point. What happened to the red? Its course can be followed by the straight line, which looks like a case of imparted side.

The table is quite level and was recently re-covered. The cushions are not new, but appear to respond correctly. An examination of the cloth failed to show anything in the nature of chalk which might have diverted the ball from its course.

To those who saw the stroke, the whole thing is a puzzle. Perhaps you may have some theory or explanation."

Did It Jump?

Major J. H. Hardcastle will be interested in this stroke. I am not over-confident about the "transmitted side" theory myself, and it looks to me like a freak happening which would be very difficult to reproduce or account for. Possibly, the cue-ball might have hit the red in such a manner as to cause the coloured ball to leave the bed of the table a little. If that was the case, anything might happen. I think this is quite likely, as, from the lie of the balls I should say that the shot was probably played with the short rest.

Is it just a coincidence that the baulk line was involved in both cases? Tom Newman, six times World's champion, could offer no real solution. Reasonable explanations are now invited—ie. those not involving supernatural entities, good or bad, magic or astrology.

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is not to be invoked!