BILLIARD NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 24, 27 August 1920, Page 5

BILLIARD NOTES.

A SWERYING IN-OFF. A position that often occurs: The objectwhite is on the side cushion, ei'her dead or very nearly so, and in close proximity to a top pocket, but not near enough to at all block the entrance to the pccket. The cue-ball is in hand, and the in-off, wmlst not exactly a simple stroke, is by no means a very difficult one, for by playing from the D there is a fair amount of room by which to pass the object-ball and at the same time strike the top cushion sufficiently behind the object-iball to ensure the inoff being made. Of course, the same side must be used as in the precedin-g exampie — viz.-, running of medium strength will generally bring the object-ball side off the top cushion, which will be the right-hand side when playing for the right top pocket, and left-hand side when playing for the left top pocket. The method of playing tjpis stroke when ball in hand can be varied by striking the cue-ball in the same manner, but with the butt of the cue raised a few inches. At the same time, aim must be taken an inch or two farther away from the objeatball than when playing the stroke in the ordinary way. The upraising of the butt of the cue will cause the cue-ball, after being hit, ic travel in a slightly curved line. THe curve being somewhat exaggerated, " and though the cushion may be hit in exactly the same place as when played with a horizontally-held cue, yet, owing to the curve which the cue-ball has made, the ball will strike the cushion at a slightly more acute angle, and from this a double advantage will result, as, firstly, a shade more room, by which the object-ball may be passed, will be gained, and, secondly, the

angle of ieflection off the cushion will be a slightly better one for the in-off. Of course, the whole difference will be very little altogether, but in a stroke of this nat-ure a very, very little may make all the difference ; and in cases where the ob. ject-ball is so high up the side cushion that the entrance to the pocket is only just open, the assistance gained by playing the stroke in the way I have described may very likely bring off a stroke that, played in any other way, would result in failure. I do not for a moment mean to suggest that it will be easy for the ordinary player to play the stroke with an uplifted ;ue, but any player who can occasionally make a 30 or 40 break ought to practise this most useful stroke, which is just the faint beginning of the masse. When the in-off from the cushion is played with right-hand side, which is rtnning side off the top cushion, the bail must go clean into the pocket, for if the angle of the side-cushion be touched the side, on the ball, which is here check side, will tend to keep the ball out of the pocxifc. V lnn the stroke is played with right-hand side (running side off the top cushion) the cushion must be struck farther away from the ball than when played with >{t hin: J side, and it is perhaps easier to judge t>.« ang.e in the former case than in ihe 'atter; but the left-hand side has the ad vantage of being pocket side off the opposing angle. Of course, the stroke could ako he played without side at all. The stroke is also c n when the object-bali is considert'cly nesrer the top cushion than shown in the diagram. All in-offs of the nature just described are, hpwever, always more ot less difficult, and some practise Of t)iem is verjj advisable.