A Few Cue Tips
- Half-an-inch from the centre of the ball is the best average
point of contact for the cue tip in side, top, and screw
strokes.
- Always take the angle through the centre of the cue ball
to the extreme circumference (i.e., one inch vertically from
the table) of the object ball.
- It is better to tap the cue tip with a file when it becomes
shiny instead of sandpapering it. There is danger of wearing
the tip away unevenly with sandpaper.
- When the cannon ball is close to a pocket, spot to knock
it against the shoulder or cushion. Sometimes a smartish
stroke is useful as this accentuates the bump.
- A bent cue may be straightened after being heated
through in hot sand. This is the way in which walking
sticks are straightened and the handles of them bent.
- It is difficult in some lights to know whether the balls
are touching or' not. If they are really touching a small
strip of paper should not fall by its own weight between
them.
- The mere weight of the cue lying in a loop formed by the
thumb and forefinger and lightly swung is sufficient to send
the ball two lengths of the table. Then why grasp it or
force the stroke?
- Be keen in your play but never anxious. Keenness often
wins a game but anxiety never. Play easily and naturally.
- If you are not feeling comfortable and enjoying the game
there is something about you that needs control.
- When playing into a pocket from hand the loss of the
object ball in baulk may often be prevented and good position
secured by spotting wider, the result of which will be
fewer contacts with cushions by the object ball.
- It you begin to feel tired during a game it is a sure sign
that matters are not going well with you. Try stirring the
balls up, safety play, or anything under such circumstances
rather than allow yourself to become dispirited. To lose
confidence is to lose the game.
- The more amateurs deliberately forsake the top of the
table position the more points will they make there. When
two strokes offer, one returning to the open game and the
other not yielding a certainty of continuance at the spot,
the former should unhesitatingly be taken.
- When raising the cue and intending to strike half-ball,
aim fuller with running side and finer with check side. This
stroke is sometimes compulsory, as with the cue ball against
a cushion, and sometimes expedient as when substituting
extreme slow screw for force and so controlling the object
ball better.
- To decide whether you should look at the cue or object
ball last place the red ball on the billiard spot and the cue
ball on the centre baulk spot and aim to cut the red ball
into the top corner pocket. If you are much more successful
with one method than with the other, the argument in
its favour will be considerable.