BILLIARDS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 July 1927, Page 3 (Supplement)

BILLIARDS

RULE REVISION NECESSARY ENGLISH OPINION. Although there are still several billiard matches to be played, the season having been prolonged owing to public demand to patronise the game, all of the chief matches in England have been decided, say-s a Avriter in an English paper. A review of the general situation brings satisfactory reflections, and particularly in association Avith utlie greater general interest which is beingtaken in the game, and also Avith the general improvement made by that large body of amateur players. Yet it is obvious, in view of recent happenings, that the controlling body cannot lose sight of the fact that the game and its laws are in need of some re-\-ision to enable it to be further developed on the right lines. In recent times certain changes have been made, and certainly- made for the good of all, but the ingenuity of the modern professional player is so pronounced that it is periodically made clear that further alterations are necesasry to prevent specialisation being carried too far. Revising the Rules.

The suggestion that has been made that there might be two sets of rules, one for the professionals and another for the amateur class, will not appeal to all, and, in fact, to very few. In English games generally there is always a pronounced antipathy to anything of the sort, and however indifferent the standard of play may be, there is always a very strong desire in favour of making the laws of the game applicable to all. The introduction of the stroke known as the “pendulum” cannon is not calculated to do the game any harm, as it may be taken for granted that before another season comes round the stroke will have been restricted sufficiently to reduce the value to a minimum. Exactly what is the right line of conduct in connection with a general overhaul of the rules is a matter which, no doubt, is being dealt with by the powers that be. The restriction of the red ball loser came at a time vv-hen there was a big danger of the stroke reducing the game to a lower scientific standard than should be rightly aimed at, and although for the time being it had seemed a little unjust to a certain ty-pe of play-er, there can be no doubt that it was a wise move, and one appreciated by the general 'body- of players. Now that the hazard has been brought into line with the close cannon, and restricted to 25 consecutiv-c strokes, there seems to be no reason why a similar attitude should not be adopted in connection AA-ith every different method of scoring. The top of the table game has been dev-cloped to such an extent that in the hands of some of the professional players it may become as easy, though not necessarily as monotonous, as any other form of specialist scoring. Tho spot stroke AA-as restricted years ago, though perhaps a little too harshly, and there seems to be no real antagonism to a suggestion that the various methods of ‘scoring should all be treated alike.

Tlie Spot Stroke. The reappearance of W. J. Peall, the old spot stroke champion, in a series of purely exhibition matches, has aroused a considerable amount of interest, as it might have been expected to do. When it is remembered that the stroke has been restricted for many, years, it can be understood that there are generations of players who have never seen a run of hazards made by means of tho spot stroke. The shot plays such a big part in the game generally that a modern v-iew might be expressed in terms of regret that the limitation of allowing only- two strokes off the billiards spot was a little too severe. Iff an endeavour were made to bring all these methods into line the game would not lose anything in the nature of attractiveness. If hazards of any type were restricted to 25 in succession, after which another type of stroke altogether had to be made, and the different forms of cannons were dealt Avith in the same way, the game generally would be made more open than it is ev-en to-day. The pendulum cannon cannot easily be dealt with by- restricting it to a given number and then compelling a different stroke to be made, or altering the rule, making a cannon from ball to cushion, and then to the second object ball imperative. It is doubtful whether it would be wise to make any further alteration in connection with ordinary nursery cannons, as this method of scoring is alway-s a most attractive feature with the public, and has a fascination which no other phase of the game excels.

Spotting the Ball. It has ibeen strongly urged recently that the present rule Avliich compels the ball to be spotted Avhen the cue ball is touching either object is not a sound one, on account of the fact that it often gives an undue advantage to the player Avho has been responsible for the mistake, if such it can be called. In many professional matches it often occurs when a player is engaged on a run of close cannons or is endeavouring to retain position at the top of the table. The balls are spotted, and the result is that the player opens up the game again by means of a long losing hazard, and a drop cannon Avill then often give him the position he has just lost. It is a reasonable argument that when a player has committed a technical fault lie should be penalised rather than assisted to recover by the easiest possible means. If he Averc made to play away from the ball he would still have an optional cushion cannon to deal with. Although certain rules may act a little harshly on some amateur players, they arc the last to complain of any alterations Avliich are likely to improve tlie all-round standard of play. The more variations Avhich are introduced

the better it must be for the game, and it is bound to lead to development, and what the professional is able to do with comparative ease the amateurs endeavour to copy. Since the red ball game A\-as restricted there has been an improvement in the standard of amateur play, for the simple reason that other methods have had to be eniline of least resistance than to adopt other measures which may not be so fruitful at the time, but which will bring their own reward Avith‘ a little further consideration and application. In some of the matches played in the amateur championship there'was a refreshing tendency to Aviden the scope of play and to engage in more all-round methods than sometimes has been the case. The success of A. Prior, the South African competitor in the Empire Championship, Avas mainly due to his all-round knoAviedge of the game. There Avas never any suggestion of actual specialisation, and in all his games he shoAved that it is just as easy to progress by all-round methods as it is by continually going in off the red ball. ■The success gained by NeAvman in the professional championship, his sixth in the course of his career, clearlv proved that he is one of the best allround players the game has ever seen. The competition was robbed of some of the value it Avould have possessed other-AA-ise by the absence of Smith, and for this reason there was just that measure of inconclush-eness about the championship Avliich leaves one -of the most important points undetermined. For all that, Newman is to be congratulated on his success aud on the great service he has done the game by his repeated appearance in the competition and the character of his play.