A Few Cue Tips

• In running-through at short range with composition balls play a little fuller than you would do with ivory balls and strike your own ball higher.
• Always take aim at the object ball over the centre of the cue ball, and in applying side take care that the cue is parallel with the line of aim. The eye insensibly guides the cue into the line of aim. To prove this in a run-through stroke, aim dead at the centre of the object ball and then, without moving the cue, glance at the second object ball or pocket, and strike. The cue ball will effect the cannon or enter the pocket.
• Do not regard differences of balls or of nap with indifference.
• Utilize every available opportunity of perfecting straight and easy cueing, both with and without the use of side. Play first along the baulk line; then up and down the centre of the table; and finally at the red ball when placed on the centre spot of the table and played at from the centre baulk spot. Whether side is used or not, the object ball should depart and return straight.
• Good practice with slow side is to be gained up and down the table. If the billiard spot be thus aimed at from the centre baulk spot, the ball will go wide of it on the side struck, but if the centre spot of baulk be aimed at from between the billiard and pyramid spot, the ball will travel wide on the opposite side to that on which it is struck.
• Do not confuse gentle play with uncertain and nervous play. When the cue ball is only sent a foot the stroke should be as firm and crisp as when it is sent a table length, but the cue swing should be proportionately shorter.
• The better the all-round player the shorter are the distances travelled by the balls and the easier the recurring positions. To scatter the balls or use unnecessary strength is deliberately to make the game difficult.
• Don't let the feared impatience of your opponent prevent you from having your next intended stroke fully in your mind in all its bearings. Presently this will become instinctive and you will then be able to combine proper contact and positioning with quick play.
• Thin cross losers into a top pocket are rather puzzling, but a good general rule is to use check side from quite near to the lower shoulder, and running side when still finer.
• The great thing is so to adjust the contact that the red ball is always left for an easy middle-pocket loser from hand.
• When playing the drop cannon from hand from the white on to the red, widen the angle a little so as gently to cut the red over to a corner pocket, but when playing from the red on to the white, get full on the red, still guiding the latter to the corner pocket. It is really not difficult, and confidence and firm and gentle cueing are what are chiefly needed.