BILLIARD NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 13, 11 June 1920, Page 5

BILLIARD NOTES.

VARIOUS IN-OFES, CHIEFLY WITH ' THE WHITE AS THE OBJECTBALL. A rather difficult run-through in-off into a centre pocket. The balls are intended to be in a straight line with the farther part of the upper angle of the pocket. The stroke should be played By striking the cue-ball above the centre-— to give the following-on impetus— and with . pocket side — aiming full at the object-ball. Played in this manner, the object-ball will strike the angle and rebound into the centre of the table, leaving a fairway for the oncoming cue-ball, which will enter the pocket either directly or off the angle. Eor in the event of the cue-ball striking the angle, instead of its beipg thrown off like the object-ball, the side with which it is laden will pull it into the pocket. It may be pointed out that in all these run-through strokes which are played on to the angle of a pocket, the cue-ball never strikes the angle at as quick a pace as the object-ball does, and this clifference in the speed of the two balls is a very impqi'tant factor in the making of the stroke. A centre pocket run-through, the balls . being in a straight line across the table — that is, at a right-angle to it, and so situated that a line passing through their centres would, if continued, meet the lower angle of the pocket at a point just past the commencement of the angle. The stroke is a moderately easy one, all that is necessary for its accomplishment being a free following-on stroke. The object-ball must be taken quite full, and the cue-ball should be struck above the centre, and with pocket side off the angle. The objectball, after striking the angle of the pocket runs up the table more or less. The cueball, following on after its full contact with tlie object-ball, strikes the angle gently, and the side takes it into the pocket.

A very similar stroke to the one given, the only difference being that the balls in this case are in a line with the upper angle of the pocket' instead of the lower one. The stroke is played in exactly thf same manner, but as the object-ball', afte[ striking the upper angle, rebounds towardi baulk, care Inust be taken to play th® stroke quite igently, otherwise, the object hall will go into baulk. When the objectball is comparatively near the pocket, it is easy to keepdt out of baulk, but tbe farther from the pocket the ball is, the more difficult does this become owing to the necessity of playing the stroke with strength sufficient to enable the cue-ball to travel the distance to the pocket. With the two balls at a right-angle to the table and in a line with a centre pocket angle, the in-off is only on when a line passing throught the centre of the balls meets that part of the angle close to the fall of the slate. Should the balls instead he in a line with the part of the -angle farthest from the pocket, the inoff is not on owing to the kiss which would ensue. In the former case, the angle throws the object-ball out of harm's way ; • in the latter case it throws it straight back on to the cue-ball. A similar stroke from a position abov® the centre pocket. The stroke is played in exactly the same manner, but as the object-ball, after being struck, travels towards baulk, care must be taken that it does not go over the line. When the cue-ball is comparatiyely near the objectball, it is not by any means difficult to prevent the latter from going into baulk. When, however, the cue-ball is some distance away, the object-ball can very easily be lost owing to the shot being played a little too strong ; and in a stroke of this nature, unless absolute reliance can be placed in the table and the balls, a slow; stroke is a very unceTtain one.