BILLIARD NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 18, 16 July 1920, Page 5

BILLIARD NOTES.

A FINE iAND FAST IN-OFF. A position from which an in-off can be made by -means of a fine stroke. The object ball, is, however, in baulk, and a slow or even a medium-paced stroke will most certainly leave it there, provided that the contact between the balls has been as fine as the making of the shot demands. The in-off must therefore be played at a high pace, and by this means the object-ball will be brought out of baulk without using any side at all, for as the cue-ball must enter the pocket at a very high speed indeed, side would be of little or no assistance, inasmnch as should the ball strike either angle of the pocket to any apprecia.ble extent, the force of the contact would causo the ball to he thrown away from the pocket, and by playing without any side it will generally be fonnd easier to take that true and exact aim which is required for the accomplishment of all fine and fast strokes. _ Naturally, the finer the stroke has to be played, the higher must the pace of the cue-ball he in order to bring the object-ball out of baulk. Although strokes of this nature are by no means very easy, especially when the balls are a consicterable distance apart, any moderate player should, with a little practice, get them fairly often. Played at a high speed, they are really not much more difficult that when played gently, and when the pocket is a pretty open one, it will accept a ball at lightning speed. SPEED TO ENSURE POSITION. Various positions occur when fine and fast strokes should be played in order to bring the object-ball out of baulk. Of course, when the same position occurs at the top of the table, the great pace is not as a rule required; nevertheless, it will often happen that by playing the in-off at

top speed good position will be left, whereas a slow stroke would leave anything but a nice position. CENTRE POCKET CUSHION IN-OFF. A cusliion in-off into a centre pocket, a stroke that John Roberts nsed to play oc. casionally. Strokes of this nature are always anything but easy. In fact, all cushion in-offs into a centre pocket must will tend to keep the cut-ball away from ball is some little distance above or below the pocket, as when this is the case, the though the in-off can be got without any must perforce enter the pocket at an angle that makes the pocket a very blind one, and consequently great judgment is required when playing these in-offs. Alalways be difficult whenever the objectside, the stroke will be found easier if played with left-hand side, as this side cue-ball, after contact with the object-ball, the lower shoulder of the pocket after striking the object-ball. A COMPARATIVELY EASY STI JKE. Both balls are a little way from the cushion, bnt in a line parallel with it, and a line passing through the centres of the balls would, if continued, meet the lower angle of the pocket at a point close to the fall of the slate. The in-off is not by anv means a difficult one, even for a very ordinary player. All that is required is a very full aim on the object-ball, the cueball being struck above the centre and with pocket side. In this stroke, if a full aim be taken, there is no possibility of losing the white, and therefore no very strong stroke is necessary, The full coru taoi will send the object-ball on the lower angle of the ,pocket, whence it will be thrcwn on to the upper angle, and rebounding again, will travel down the tabla.