A Few Cue Tips.—XXVII

• Quick play is better than unduly slow play, if only for the reason that it engenders confidence instead of nervousness and indecision, but a stroke should never be made, however quick the play, until a clear decision has been taken and the proper body attitude assumed.
• The very best class of private practice is to place the balls in a given position and endeavour from that position to make as long a break as possible. This compels attention and care with every stroke, apart from which good billiards cannot be played.
• If inclined at any time to believe that you can strike a ball accurately, try the following experiment. Place a white ball on the pyramid (or even the centre) spot and put one of the other balls on each side of it. Now get a thick postcard and, with your finger on the spotted ball press the card gently down on each side of this ball so that, when the central ball is removed, the distance between the remaining two balls is 2 1/8 inches or slightly more. Now try how many times you can send the cue ball through this space without touching either of the balls.
• It is usually believed that the angle of incidence on a billiard table cushion equals the angle of reflection. It does not, however, even with gentle strokes. To prove this make two marks on a bottom side cushion, one exactly midway between the centres of the two pockets and one an inch below it. If you aim at the lower mark the ball will strike the upper one—or the exact centre of the cushion — but it will reach the lower shoulder of the opposite corner pocket instead of its centre.
• In thick run-throughs with side the tendency is to deflect the cue slightly, but if apparently central aim is taken the side corrects the inaccuracy. Central striking and accurate aim are, however, preferable, as slight differences in angles can be provided for in this way.
• When in the cross in-off the cue ball is anywhere below the lower shoulder of the top pocket running side is much better than check side. The stroke is easier and the subsequent middle pocket position is surer and better.
• A treacherous stroke is the quick thin in-off designed to bring the object ball out of baulk. The quicker the stroke, especially at short range, the finer must be the contact, or the near shoulder of the pocket will inevitably be taken. These strokes are better taken without side unless the pocket is very blind.
• Occasional practice should be given to short gathering cannons off a cushion. Put two balls near together, a couple of feet from a cushion and try to preserve a series of cannons by sending the object ball to the cushion and back to the other two.
• A stroke to be much cultivated is the short stun stroke, by means of which an object ball can easily be sent two table lengths, whilst the cue ball travels but a few inches and disturbs the cannon ball only slightly. This gathering stroke is quite simple, although viewed with some awe by many players.