A Few Cue Tips
- Do not regard the question of nap as beyond you. It is of
extreme and everyday importance. A slow side stroke down
the table simply cannot be successfully treated in the same
way as one up the table.
- Judicious cue-chalking is an integral part of the professional
and good amateur game. It permits time for deliberation
without appearing to do so, and also minimizes the
risk of mis-cueing.
- Be very careful about the first few strokes of a game. To
begin with anything at all spectacular is suicidal. A short
game is often lost or wonlargely from the temperamental
standpointin the first few strokes.
- As a rule a little extra strength and fuller contact in
bringing a ball in and out of baulk when playing down the
table is preferable to the attempt to keep the ball above the
baulk line, but this does not apply to line and near strokes in
which the object ball need only be moved a few inches to
leave position.
- Be particular about the state of the cloth as regards gritty
substance due to neglect of brushing. A tiny speck will
sometimes cause a travelling ball to jump and deviate even
when travelling at a fair speed. Care in this respect is not
affectation.
- Try not to repeat errors. Weed them out one by one as
they appear, and as their results are noted.
- Probably the one outstanding requisite in good billiard
playing is the easy and even swing of the perfectly straight
cue. This must never be overlooked or forgotten.
- Never forget the extreme importance of allotting an approximate
alter position to the cue ball when potting and
to the first object ball when scoring off it. This is more
important than the stroke itself, and billiards cannot be
played without it.
- In playing to pot the red in the middle pocket from the
same side of baulk align the balls dead straight from the
top shoulder and adjust the aim the least trifle away from
the centre. This has the double effect of making the score
and leaving an easy loser from off the spot.
- In delivering a side stroke forget that it is a side stroke
after the intended cue contact and aim have been fixed and
the eye is turned to the object ball. Otherwise the cue
point may describe a segment of a circle away from the
ball instead of retaining its alignment until it reaches the
cloth.
- If you are used to ivory balls and haw to play with composition,
remember to play a little fuller or finer, or use
more top, or spot from hand a little wider. When changing
from composition to ivory the problem is best settled by
a slightly narrower spotting from hand, or a little side
or extra force from play.