In a Book written by the old billiard champion, John Roberts, senr., the following occurs with regard to the middle pocket losing hazard:—
"It can be scored with the butt of the cue just as well as with the point. The only difficulty lies in setting the ball played with at the correct angle; that once done, the stroke is, I might almost say, bad to fail at. In the case given the player's ball must be struck in the centre and the led on the right side, so that the white will slide from it into the pocket. The object then goes to the top cushion, and rebounds according to the strength with which the stroke has been effected. So long as any player can continue scoring into either of the middle pockets with any certainty of forcing the red back into a place from which he is likely to make another hazard, he need try no other stroke, wish for no better break. Many professionals have made twenty consecutively into the middle pockets, but, as in the case of the spot hazard, the stroke becomes trying after a few times, and players generally break down at the position; hardly ever at the hazard."