A Few Cue Tips
- Never take the immediate pocket merely because it looks
easy. Where should the object ball be left? That is the
question; or, if potting, "Where should the cue ball be
left?"
- In playing fine from well above the object ball into a
middle pocket running side is useful as it both cuts the ball
(in and out of baulk) and enlarges the pocket
- Even good players are sometimes unnecessarily apprehensive
of a kiss when running through into a corner pocket
If both balls are against the cushion at only six inch intervals
the object ball has time to clear away if the cue ball
be retarded by slightly lower cueing, and when both balls
are transverse across the table the substitution of running
for check side often effects the required clearance.
- With the two object balls close together and just out of
baulk by the side cushion it is often better to play from
hand back on to the baulk bottom cushion rather than
direct out of baulk This seems obvious, but it is not
always remembered
- One of the most paying strokes in billiards, with the red
on the spot, and the other balls near the top, is a thin cut
across the table off the white into the top corner pocket
instead of a fuller contact. The former nearly always leaves
good position and the latter only when the other ball is on
the player's side
The divergence caused by slow side increases with the
length and slowness of the travel, and the aim must be
varied accordingly. If the same allowance is made for
half-length and full-length travel the result will be all wrong.
- Great respect should always be paid to the nearer shoulder
of a pocket in playing in-offs, especially when the pocket
is a trifle blind. There is a certain margin for the ball
that gets safely past this shoulder, but none for the ball
that collides with it Consequently the striking angle
should always be adjusted towards the open shoulder.
- So much is said of the follow-through of the cue that
there is danger of forgetting the equal necessity of drawing
the cue well back, instead of giving a short dig. This is
especially necessary in screw backs and the effect upon the
rippling-like return of the cue ball is remarkable.
- It is especially necessary to take the striking angle on to
the more open shoulder of a pocket when the object ball
is near to the pocket as the angle under these circumstances
appears wider than it really is
Although "top" usually makes a ball travel more, it has
the opposite effect when the top-laden ball encounters a
cushion broadside, and particularly so when an object ball
has first been struck rather full. Under these conditions it
will even stop dead on the cushion and is sometimes a useful
stroke when potting the red in a top corner pocket and
retaining the cross-loser position
"Top" has three distinct uses. It facilitates "run-through"; it preserves the half-ball angle at near range;
and in fine quick in-offs it helps the cue ball into a pocket
just as topping a croquet ball helps it through a hoop.