Tyro (Eastbourne).—The only time when the point of aim and the point of contact actually coincide is when you play to hit a ball full in its centre, a dead straight six stroke, for instance. In every other case, there is a difference between the point of aim and the actual point of contact. This difference varies according to the kind of stroke, and one could not attempt to give a variety of carefully graded examples. But the principle is quits clear. Take the familiar half-ball stroke. Here, it is necessary to aim so that the centre of the cue-ball progresses in a straight line towards the outside edge of the object ball, but as it is a case of two spheres colliding it is easy to understand that the point of contact is not on the extreme edge of the object ball. So, in every other stroke, excepting the one already referred to, it is necessary to allow for the difference between the point of aim and the point of Contact, to know that it is necessary to aim at one spot to hit another. This knowledge can only be gained by practice, but it must be gained to obtain proficiency at billiards.
E.B. (Brixton).—The present John Roberts had two brothers, both well known in billiards. One, Charles, is the famous tutor; the other, Herbert, was a great exponent of finger billiards. He died in 1887, when only 33 years of age.
Beginner (Huddersfield).—The cue must be gripped tightly the instant it touches the ball when a screw stroke is attempted. In pique and masse strokes the weight of the cue does practically everything in most cases, but before practising strokes of this type it is far better to have a few lessons from a first-class coach.
Gunner (Bulford).—Col. Sir Edward Ward, Permanent Undersecretary of State for War, distributed the prizes when the final game for the first Army Billiard Championship was decided. The event took place at Thurston's Grand Hall, Leicester Square, on March 14th, 1908, when Sergeant-Major Briggs, R.E., defeated Q.M.S. Harverson, R.M.L.I.
Club Marker.—H. W. Stevenson, the present champion, first played for the title in 1900, when Dawson defeated him by 2,225 in a game of 9,000 up. The following year he won the title for the first time by defeating Dawson by 2,594 in 9,000. The final for the championship is now 18,000 up, and the event is governed by the Billiards Control Club.
Enthusiastic (Golder's Green).—It is a fact that billiards on an ordinary small table is apt to make a player feel strange when playing on a full-sized table. Thurstons "Proportional" tables have been introduced on purpose to meet with this objection, and practice on one of these tables is the easiest and most convenient way to learn billiards.
Dubious (Manor Park).—Either a coup or a miss made by forcing the ball off the table without striking another ball counts three to the non-striker, but in either case the stroke only counts as one miss so far as the B.C.C. rule limiting consecutive misses is concerned.
J.E.M. (Birmingham).—Local variations in rules, commonly known as "rules of the room," are seldom met with nowadays at billiards, but are by no means infrequent in pool games, especially at snooker. More often than not, the points of difference are but slight, and are never detected except in actual play. Then you must either accept the local rule, or else decline to continue except under the recognised code—it requires an individual with considerable force of character to adopt the second course.
Ceylon Reader.—Pleased to hear from you, and glad to learn that "Billiard Times" is appreciated in your part of the Empire. Spot-stroke play was restored and legalised by the Billiards Control Club. It provided that players may mutually agree to include the stroke before commencing a game. But the stroke has not crept back into professional billiards, and shows no signs of doing so. The last occasion on which the stroke was played by a professional in public was a few seasons back, when W. J. Peall was specially engaged to exhibit the stroke during a few short exhibition games in London.