109.—"Is it always better to play the object ball in and out of baulk or with extra strength across the table when there is danger of the gentler stroke destroying position?"
The principle is a sound one, but occasionally a finer contact, with or without screwing, at less pace also conserves position.
110.—"Is the method of scoring adopted by Stevenson or by Gray the quicker?"
Stevenson's, is the quicker method, especially when it includes close cannons. Last season Stevenson, playing against Diggle, scored 750 in 57 minutes, and Gray, playing against Nelson, scored the same number in 60 minutes.
But Nelson only had one stroke in the 60 minutes, whereas Diggle made 71 and 11 during the 57. The spot stroke is, of course, a quicker method of scoring than the red in-off game, and Peall, off May 3, 1884, scored 1,000 and won the game against Mitchell in 44 minutes. On February 23, 1906, John Roberts scored 1,486 points in 90 minutes, and on May 25, 1909, 519 in 27 minutes.
On November 11, 1908, Stevenson scored 733 in 38 minutes, and on January 9, 1909, he made 477 in two hands in 21 minutes.
111.—"Could you tell me how many books have been published by Riso Levi, in the shilling edition, entitled "Strokes of the Game"?
We believe the number is nine.
112.—"Could you give me any idea as to what 5s really the right way of holding a cue? I have read many books on billiards, but each one seems to vary on this subject, and the consequence is that I am continually altering my way of holding the cue and my game suffers in consequence."
The three essential matters in the use of the cue are: (1) That the cue should not be gripped or pinched, but just supported between the thumb and forefinger, or in a loop formed by them; (2) that it should be held at such a distance from the end of the butt that the forearm is vertical and the upper arm horizontal when the tip touches the ball; and (3) that the cue tip should pass right through or beyond the ball the same distance that it is drawn back from it, and vice versa. This last point assumes, of course, that the cue is working, as it should do, quite horizontally; and another extremely important point is that the full face should always be exactly addressed to the intended line of aim. This sets the correct position of the body for the stroke, which is: Right foot turned a little out, with cue working across it, and left foot pointing towards the object ball. The chin must be exactly over the cue. If you do these things until they have settled into habit we think you will be gratified with the result and we shall be pleased to hear from you again.
113.—"How could I enter a handicap for markers, or a markers' championship?"
The difficulty seems to be that you are a long way from London, otherwise the thing to do would be to join the Billiards Professionals' Association, the address of the secretary of which is 18, Linom Road, Clapham, S.W. The annual handicap and championship of the Association referred to commences on February 26, at Messrs. Orme & Sons, 16, Soho Square, W.C. Only members are admitted to this and the entries (5s.) close on February 19. Consequently if you came up to London all that you would have to do would be to (1) joint the association and (2 enter for the competition.
114.—"Can a player having his ball in hand (both other balls being out of baulk) give a safety miss by playing against a baulk cushion leaving his ball in baulk? If the two other balls, or one of them, are in baulk, can he give a safety miss by playing in the same way?"
The only way in Which such a safety miss could be legally made into baulk from hand would be the quixotic method of playing against the bottom cushion with sufficient force to bring the ball back into baulk after it had traversed two lengths of the table.
115.—"Should side be used in playing the middle pocket stroke?"
As a rule, no. If a little above the half-ball or fine cutting running side, but if there is the slightest doubt the plain long loser into a top pocket is better. Some players use check side for middle pocket strokes with bonzoline balls, as the object ball then takes its normal course, which, of course, it cannot do if a fuller or finer stroke is taken to neutralize the extra throw-off.
Very high cueing, giving extra rotation to the cue ball, is another way of overcoming the bonzoline throw-off.
116.—"If equal position is to be gained do you consider that fine or run-through strokes are preferable?"
Position is much better maintained by the run-through than by fine contacts, but the half-ball contact with central striking of the cue is best of all and should be more cultivated than anything. One of the great lessons of Diggle's play, amongst many others, is the use that he makes, even in top-of-the-table intricacies, of the plain half-ball stroke. The reason why run-throughs are better than thin strokes is that in this way the cue ball retains more command over the object ball, and the likelihood of leaving it under a side cushion is lessened. At the same time, fine strokes have their special positional advantages at times.
117.—"Can you kindly say exactly why the long in-off is always regarded as such a good practice stroke and also why 'top' is recommended for this?"
In the long in-off there is almost the maximum amount of distance between cue and object ball and between object ball and pocket. Consequently inaccuracy is almost fatal for the stroke and quite fatal for position. The stroke has also to be made at something approaching forcing strength, and if "top" be not used the cue ball may be stunned.
Furthermore, the "top" helps it into the pocket. The stroke should be practised from two positions in baulk so as to bring the object ball a little below the middle pocket and 15in. away from it in the one case, and towards the centre spot for the drop cannon in the other. This last, of course, means spotting a trifle narrower and aiming a trifle finer.