Spotting for the Long Loser

Following on my friend Eddie Dibsdale's comments on concentration at billiards, may I make a point that has puzzled me over many years. Why, when playing long losers from hand, do I find the half ball angle by instinctively focusing on a point about midway between the object ball and the pocket when positioning and addressing the cue ball. I am sure I am not alone in doing this and would be pleased to hear observations from other players on this matter.

Thank you Peter. I know what you mean. I do something very similar myself and I can claim to play the long loser reasonably well for an amateur. I cannot say for certain, but my own theory is that that the eye rests on that point of the line which is the widest part of the swing of the cue ball from the object ball. It is from that point that the cue ball starts to travel in a straight line to the pocket. It would therefore seem that the eye sees the line to the pocket not from the object ball but from the -widest point of the half ball curve. It seems possible that the target you are aiming at is the widest point of the half ball swing as indicated at the point 'a' in the diagram. The eye, of course, must be focused on the object ball as the stroke is made.

I also think that the long loser is such a difficult stroke for beginners for the very reason that the cue ball does not travel in a straight line to the pocket. As players become more experienced then they adjust the spotting to allow for the throw. The long loser, when played to bring the object ball round the angles to the middle of the table is something of a forcing stroke and due allowance must be made. It is an interesting experiment to play long losers at strengths ranging from very slow to very fast and note the difference in the spotting of the cue ball.

Peter goes on with some kind remarks about the magazine making the point that many players - and particularly in his part of the world -have limited opportunity to play or watch the game, and the BQR keeps them in touch with the, "ame of games. "hanks again Peter Denham.

The line from the red to the point 'a' represents the swinging curve of the cue ball in a firmly played half-ball stroke. It is at about this point that the cue ball starts to run in a straight line to the pocket. It is possible that many players focus on point 'a1 as the target when positioning for the stroke.