To the Editor.
In your very interesting article entitled "The Ivory Ball Controversy," you say: "Short run-through strokes are infinitely more difficult with composition balls than they are with ivory on account of the greater and less certain throw off."
With all due deference to you may I be permitted to say that this is not correct? It is true that the throw-off angle in run-through strokes is greater with composition balls than it is with ivories, but it must be just as constant.
Were this not so two strokes played in the identical manner— the contact with the object ball being, of course, the same in both cases —would give different results. It is perhaps hardly necessary to instance George Gray's breaks in proof of the constancy of the throw-off angle of composition balls.
Short run-through strokes into a centre pocket are, of course, far more difficult and uncertain with composition balls when the player is used to ivory balls, but on the other hand these same strokes are just as difficult and uncertain with ivory balls to the player who is used to composition balls.
In my opinion Gray is quite capable of making four-figure breaks with ivory balls. The wider throw-off angle of composition balls is, however, all in favour of big breaks off the red. With all his marvellous precision Gray every now and then fails to bring the red ball quite far enough down the table. One inch may make all the difference between having to play for a top pocket or continuing with a centre pocket. In every one of Gray's four-figure breaks several centre-pocket in-offs were played which would not have been attempted with ivory balls. The percentage of failures at top-pocket in-offs is. even with Gray, very much greater than it is at centre-pocket in-offs, consequently the oftener Gray has to play for a top pocket the greater the likelihood of his breaking down before reaching four figures.
Riso Levi.
80, Murray Street,
Higher Broughton, Manchester.
To the Editor.
I see under "Jottings of the Month," in your issue of February, 1914, that Inman thinks that if Gray wins the championship, 33 consecutive red losers should in future involve the placing of the red on the billiard spot irrespective of the position or presence on the table of the white ball. Stevenson's suggestion is that after 20 red losers have been made the next stroke should be played from the centre spot in baulk.
I would suggest, if any alteration is made in the game, to defeat Gray, that that alteration should affect all other players.
How is this to be done? Why not allow all players to play their respective methods, and when a break reaches say, 100 points, the balls should be spotted and so on at every 100 points scored in that break. Should the opponent's ball be in hand that ball would not be spotted.
G. D. Morrison.
New Westminster, British Columbia.
March 11, 1914.