The Biggest Cannon in the World

One of the uncertain delights of playing in many competitions, is the large number of tables that are encountered. Conditions can vary from very good to very bad. In bad conditions, the cloth is sometimes so worn that you can hear the balls rumble as they travel the table, and the joints in the slate are clearly visible. This doesn't seem to bother the better players too much and I once saw Mike Russell make a 300+ break on such a table. I remember one that I played on some years ago that had perished rubber on the top cushion which made the return of the red ball totally unpredictable. Fortunately such tables are the exception.

If, like me, you like to see a ball hit a large number of cushions, try the biggest cannon in the world, the nine cushion cannon shown in the diagram. I always have a go at it - especially on strange tables. Many readers will recall that this cannon is shown as the frontispiece of Tom Reece's, "ainty Billiards. "t is quite difficult to score the cannon when the object balls are just below the left hand spot as shown in the diagram. I have found that the cannon is still quite on if the balls are placed much nearer the left hand baulk pocket. It is then necessary to adjust the first point of cushion contact. A little experimentation will soon enable you to find the correct point of first contact. I have also found that the cannon is possible on tables which are not particularly fast say, from four-and-a-half - five-and-a-half lengths. Right hand side helps, and using a looped bridge aids control in the necessarily powerful stroke that is needed.

On the smaller Carom table, with larger balls, and a faster napless cloth, this shot is not quite so difficult. It is a standard shot in the Artistic Discipline worth 6 points. The most difficult shots are rated at 11 points. Have a go.