33.—What constitutes a professional at billiards?
"Any person who, wholly or in part, earns, or has earned, his living by playing or scoring games upon a billiard table, is, for the purposes of The Billiards Association and Control Council, deemed a professional."
34.—Should not the title of your magazine be The Billiards Player rather than The Billiard Player? Or, if you are correct, why is the game governed by The Billiards Association and Control Council instead of by The Billiard Association and Control Council?
We regard "Billiard," when used as an adjective, as more euphonious in sound than "Billiards," and on the orthographical side we are fortified by the best dictionaries. Perhaps "Billiard-Player" (printed with the hyphen) would be better still, but that is not the usage, and, upon the whole we have decided, in all references to the game in this journal, to eliminate the "s" whenever the word qualifies or describes the noun.
We make an exception however, as regards the title of the Association.
35.—Is it better in playing a long in-off to bring the object ball round to the middle pocket or only to the pyramid spot?
The game is to open up middle pocket play, or, if the white is on the middle spot, to leave a drop cannon on to the red. The play for the pyramid spot position is, in our opinion, much more precarious.
36.—Against whom did Inman first win the championship?
He won it by default in 1908 under the old Billiards Association, other players not entering. But he was coming on rapidly as a prolific scorer, and had made a 500 break in one match and 100 consecutive losers off the red ball in another. He has since added the top of the table game and other things to his scheme of play.
37.—Can a player know where his ball strikes the object ball?
If aimed correctly the cue ball strikes the object ball midway between the point of aim and its centre.
38.—Are you of opinion that side can be imparted direct to the object ball by the cue ball?
If a ball is spinning horizontally even so much as several thousand times a minute, and another ball is rolled gently (or in any other way) so as to touch it, not the least fraction of a spin is imparted to it. We think that this is conclusive.
39.—As a somewhat temperamental player I think I have a legitimate grievance. A frequent opponent of mine, who is in about the same class as myself, has a habit, when he is ahead, of conversing aloud with someone near the table, although he never does this when he is behind. Ought I to protest?
It would be better to train yourself to take no notice and to keep on scoring. He would soon become quiet then.
40.—Will you please settle a controversy by stating why a half-ball aim at billiards is so called?
We do not know what have been the exact points of the controversy to which you refer, but we should say that a half-ball aim is so called because the point of aim (i.e., the edge of the ball) is a half diameter from the centre of the ball. By some it is urged that "halfball" refers, not to the aim, but to the point of contact, which is half way between the edge and the centre; but this is a quarter, not a half, diameter.
You give a short article on "Slosh" by Mr. Bridges. Would you allow me to add a little information on the subject. "Slosh" was first played at White's Club, St. James's, and introduced by a well-known member.
Where he got it from I do not know. Of course, it was a little different in those days (about 14 years ago). It had three names: "Slosh," "Toad-in-the-Hole," and "Indian Pool," and when I wrote the rules and took them to Messrs. Burroughes & Watts they called it "Toad-in-the-Hole."
In those days everything counted for or against you.
If two balls went in the right pocket, and one went in the wrong in the one stroke, the whole of the three balls' value counted against you. Now it would count the highest ball only.
The reason it was called "Slosh" was that the members used to hit for all that they were worth, i.e., they used to "slosh" them all over the place.
Now I will tell you a remarkable thing that happened at "Slosh." There are plenty of witnesses. The balls were placed in position at the commencement of the game, when, as you know, you aim at the red and try to make a cannon on the blue. Well, Colonel E. aimed at the red, made a cannon on the blue, and the whole five balls disappeared in pockets. Some went in the right pockets, some went in the wrong, and he gave, in all, 35 points away.
I read Mr. J. P. Mannock's article in The Billiard Player with great interest, and agree with all that he has written. No doubt lessons for the would-be billiard player are desirable at the beginning of his or her billiard career. These can easily be obtained in towns, but in country districts it is different.
If Mr. Mannock will tell me how to get lessons in billiards in a country district 50 miles from London I shall be much obliged to him. There is, I believe, a large and profitable field open to the man who will undertake this work, and go out and visit provincial towns and give lessons to amateurs at a reasonable charge. The standard of amateur play is lamentable.
A 20 or 30 break is a rare occurrence, and generally due to the balls running into scoring positions by luck.
Personally I am very keen on the game, but have never had a lesson, as I have not had the opportunity. I have never made a 50 break, because, when I have been playing for position I have lost the white, or missed the stroke, or made a double baulk, or left the balls in an impossible position.
I may say that when I go to London I always make a point of going to professional matches, but this has not helped me very much.