BILLIARDS REFORM

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1930, Page 7

BILLIARDS REFORM

POTTING THE WHITE.

MAY BE MADE ILLEGAL.

LONDON, June 19,

The governing body of the billiards world will shortly have to consider -he desirableness or otherwise of making illegal a- shot which has caused more trouble and broken up more friendships than any other in the game. That is potting the-white. The authorities are already considering the advisableness of still further limiting the loser, which now stands at 25, or rather enables a player to score 75 with the red ball. The new suggestion is a far more drastic one and strikes at the root of the game. In the recent championship Davis, having scored a thousand, made a deplorably bad shot, but promptly potted the white and left his opponent n double baulk. In the amateur chaih-ni-onsltip players closed Up the game by the same method, and in ordinary nlnv. “White, ha-ne-1.” as the shot is called, is c/ten adopted to prevent the opponent from making any score.

As billiards is a three-ball and not a two-ball game, the suggestion is now made than potting the white, whether by accident or design, should be regarded as a foul stroke and that the opponent should then be allowed to have the balls spotted or play them from wh°n they lay. The’same principal is found in snooker, when a player pots a- ball and goes in off, be is penalised. Old olnyers who have had the new suggestion brought before them are of the opinion that it should be put in force at the earliest moment and thus remove one of the blots upon the king of Indoor games.