Famous repetition Strokes

These strokes are no longer seen, of course, because of the limitation on ball-to-ball cannons, and the rule re touching balls.

The Rocker

At one time the rules stated that, if the cue-ball was touching an object ball, the player had to play at the ball which the cue-ball was not touching, or he had to play at a cushion before striking an object ball. This rule was not in force for very long, but for a time enabled some players to make very big breaks. As with all repetition strokes of this nature, after a time a groove forms in the cloth and the balls rest quite firmly in small indentations. For this reason, after a time a rocker cannon will leave the cue-ball touching the object ball (the one away from the cushion) The touching balls rule killed the rocker cannon but not before Willie Cook had made some very big breaks including a run of 400 rockers in a break of 1000 unfinished.

The Pendulum

Considerably more difficult than the Rocker. The cue-ball is played delicately across the face of both object ball, first from one side, and then the other. Tom Reece once made 40 consecutive pendulums.

The Jam Stroke

In 1891, Tom Taylor got the balls jammed in a corner pocket and scored 729 cannons in a break of 1467. The best known use of the jam was by Frank Ives in his famous match with John Roberts in 1893.(BQR. July '94.P10.) It is sometimes possible to get the position by accident. I have done this several times. In a Mini-Prix at Exeter a few years ago playing against Robby Foldvari, we both had the jam position in following visits but could manage no more than forty or so cannons between us. For two players to have the position in turn must be very unusual indeed.

The Cradle Cannon or Anchor

With the balls just resting on that part of the cushion which starts to turn into the angle of the pocket jaw and played as a gentle kiss from the furthest ball, sometimes with a touch of left hand side (In the diagram). This is, of course, the most famous of all the repetitive cannon strokes and the one with which Tom Reece is credited with a break of 499,135 which began on June 3rd, 1907 and continued until July 6th. It is often thought that Reece's break was made with the Jam stroke but this is not so. The cannon is said to have been discovered by J. P. Mannock and was first exploited in public by Walter Lovejoy, the 1904 Amateur Champion who turned professional. In 1907, Lovejoy made a break of 603 which contained 284 of these double-kiss cradle cannons. He soon began to make breaks of over 2000 by means of the Anchor (Originally known as the Cradle) whilst players of the calibre of Dawson and Cook made huge breaks (Dawson 23,769; Cook 42,746) After Reece's mammoth effort the stroke was banned but is nowadays legitimate enough under the rule allowing 75 consecutive ball to ball cannons. It is no easy matter to work the balls into position, but once they are there it is simple enough to keep the stroke going. In the case of Tom Reece, the balls became so grooved into position that it is said he could hardly have broken down even if he had tried!

When Robby Foldvari and Tom Terry got into a Jam

Talking of Jams and Anchors reminds me of a game I played with Robby Foldvari in the Exeter Mini-Prix of November 13th, 1988.1 had started quite well with a fifty break. Robby missed and after a shot or two I played a drop cannon which left the balls quite near to the top left pocket.1 played a cannon which should have brought the white back across the table near to the spot and leave an easy pot red. That was the theory. In practice I made a total hash tangling with the pocket jaws and leaving the object balls over the lip of the pocket. One more shot fluked the Jam position. I made some twenty or so cannons before my really delicate touch sank the white leaving the red on the lower jaw and my cue ball very close. I tried to make a very gentle in-off to leave the red right over the pocket for, hopefully a few more strokes. I played the red much too thickly and, would you believe it, both balls jammed in the pocket opening. Foldvari, in hand, played a great drag stroke up the table, made the cannon, and had himself the Jam position - in one! He did not make very many cannons but there must be something unique about players both getting the position in following visits. (Snooker Scene: January 1989, P26) I also remember that game for the fact that, very soon after the incident described, Robby got the balls into the,:"Postman's Knock," position and made a break of 306.

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