BILLIARDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 867, 10 January 1930, Page 7

BILLIARDS

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RISO LEVI

Author of “Billiards: The Strokes of the Game.” and “Billiards I'or The Million.* 9 ICorT&iauT] HOW TO SCREW. 111. ] 111 mv last article I stated tliui atI though the cue should l>e held quite ; lightly while addressing the cue ball. it must be gripped at the moment it | meets the ball when playing screw I strokes, strokes with side, and for all | kinds of fast or forcing strokes. Without this clinching of the cue, strokes played with screw or with strong side would inevitably result in misc.ues, and the cue would be jerked out of the player’s hand in a big forcing stroke. If von want to make quite sure that this clinching of the cue at the moment of its striking the ball must necessarily take place not only for screw shots but for various other strokes, j you have only to watch the player’a hand the next time you see Willie Smith at the table or any other good player, professional or amateur, who holds the cue loosely in the palm of the hand. Wait until liiS back Is turned, or partly turned to you, and then watch his cue hand. If the shot happens to be a &crew of any kind, or a connon or an in-off played with side, or even a plain-ball fast stroke you will quite easily observe that unmistakable closing or contracting of the hand round the cue which denotes the gripping of it at the precise moment of its striking the ball.

If you are seated at the baulk end of the table or at either side not far from the spot end,, the player's back will frequently be turned to you, and you will thus have many opportunities of observing the working of his cue hand. If you are watching Smith you will discover that hti plays very few shots indeed iu which this clinch fng or gripping of the cue is nol plainly disceruable. Even in delicate little screw cannons or gentle can lions off a cushion played with side, some little shutting of the hand which denotes a tightening of the cue hold is so very noticeable that it is quite un mistakeable. And Smith is not the only player who tightens his cue-hold at the moment of cue contact. Without exception, every professional and every capable amateur does exactly the same. Indeed, most players even though they may be quite ordinary do this. The only exception to the rule Is afforded by the men who grip the cue like grim death even while taking aim and addressing the cue ball. Although it is quite possible to get any stroke on the table with a cue gripped tightly from the very beginning, such a hold is quite wrong, firstly because it is inimical to delicacy of play, and to good judgment of strength, and secondly, and this Is the more important point, because true cueing, the one great thing in billiards —difficult enough, in all conscience, when the cue is lightly held, becomes still more -difficult when the cue, as it slides backward and forward in its single or several move-