New Balk-Line Rule Is Inimical To Beauty Of Billiards

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7031, 15 December 1932, Page 10

New Balk-Line Rule Is Inimical To Beauty Of Billiards

DELICACY OF MUCH OF THE PLAY • IS JEOPARDISED BY IT

HHE experiment which is being tried this billiards season, at least during the first part of it, has an interest which is beyond question (says a writer in a London paper). The point, however, arises whether experiments, unless they are constructive, can establish anything. The game in its history has experienced many changes, and the rules have undergone certain alterations to meet the exigencies of the case. At the present time the real science of the game, as an art, is in the hands of a few players. The difference in the standards reached by amateur and professional players is as wide as ever, although there was a suggestion not long ago that a balance had been established.

Under the temporary existing rule the player is compelled to play the cue ball through the balk-line at least once in every 100 points scored in a break. The conception is a good one, but the actual result may be pondered over. It is doubtful whether the game is benefiting at all or is likely to do so. The introduction of the rule is conveyed by a sense'that something ought to be done to curb the activities of the more highly skilled players. But why? The game, like all others, has been developed, and, in this case, to the detriment of the amateur, who simply cannot approach the artistry conveyed by his mentor. A line of argument may be suggested that since Lindrum came to England to show the extent to which this artistry could be developed, the game lias become one-sided in relation to his own efficiency to that of his contemporaries. It seems almost unnecessary to emphasise the exceptionally high skill established clearly by the Australian player. It is doubtful whether such a degree of superiority has ever been shown in any other form of sport. That may be a sweeping suggestion, but the impression remains. ‘ Greater Variety. The rule has been introduced as an expedient and not with any intention of handicapping one player more than another. It is being tried in an endeavour to introduce a greater variety of stroke play into the game, and to place some form of restriction on close cannon play. It may be interesting to analyse the effect the rule has had during the first five weeks of the season, and particularly since Lindrum began his first match. In his first two matches of the season Clark McConachy, the New Zealand player, made a break of 850 in his first game, and one of 1321 in his second match. That illustrated the point that, in spite of certain restrictions, big breaks could be made without the difficulties which might have been anticipated.

The public is the best judges of w'hat it really desires to see, and it may be suggested that long runs of cannons had become a little monotonous. As opinion on this point is divided, it remains open to doubt concerning the wisdom of pla-ing any restriction on this form of scoring, but at the moment the situation is • clear and players have to abide by a rule which does not permit them the same degree of licence they had' before. The point arises in this connection, what is the general effect on the game? As it is conveyed by the professionals, and particularly by the modern generation, the game presents an art, combining skilful manipulation of cue, a delicate sense of touch, and an almost bewildering suggestion of conjuring when the finer points of the game are exploited. More particularly is this the case when the close-cannon game is being played. The effect of the experimental rule is to place, not merely a restriction on this form of progress, but almost to prohibit it so far as runs of any liberal dimensions are concerned. The rule is not yet law, and may never bo incorporated as such, but the experiment is worth continuing at least until all of the leading players have been able to give it a thorough trial in serious match play. Whenever changes of rule are contemplated consideration has to be given to the probable methods which the more highly skilled players are likely to adopt to counter the alteration. McConachy, Davis, Newman, and Lindrum, who have engaged in serious matchplay under these conditions, have all shown that the chief method to be en> ployed is a type of specialist play which, in the end, may prove less attractive than it was before. Instead of making their play more varied the tendency has been to concentrate on what is known as the top of the table game, and to keep , the balls in position for a long run by this means. This form of scoring was prevalent enough before, but usually a variation was introduced by a series of runs of close cannons in which all the delicacy which is conveyed by this phase of the game was introduced.

It has been said that the public had grown tired of seeing long runs of cannons made, but as there are only about. 12 players known to the game who can

make them that is a little difficult to establish. There seems to be very little doubt that the modern professional will riot experience very much difficulty in overcoming any additional troubles which come in the wake of a change of this character. To veto the development of any special form of enterprise seems to present a policy of despair. It would seem better by far to place a definite restriction on any particular form of scoring which might become unwieldy, but not to run the risk of destroying it. The impression alter five weeks of play is that the danger is there.-

A Difficult Game. The change certainly has made the game more difficult from the point of view of the continuity of a break, but it has introduced certain stroke methods which are a little foreign to the artistry of the game. The fact that it takes longer to make a big break may, or may not, have anything to recommend the experiment. It depends on

the point of view. Tire fact seems clear that the delicacy of much of the play is in jeopardy, and that if the scheme is persevered with it may result in much of the beauty of the game being lost. The few players who have become so highly skilled in the game and have developed it to its present high standard are masters of its various phases. The large majority of its adherents are not comparable, but they do exhibit a desire to find out how it is done. The way to educate them is to throw the game as open as possible in its interpretation, and, rather than place any handicap on the movements of the players, it would seem more advantageous to encourage them to still further develop their art. Under present conditions there would appear to be a danger of the game becoming more stereotyped than it was before. The impression seems to be growing that it would be hotter to place a limit of perhaps 75 on the number of consecutive cannons. If this were done the player would be encouraged to demonstrate his method of making them, and they all vary to some extent. Without these runs the game loses something it possessed before. At the present time there is less inducement to score by this process, and, although it can be overdone, iP represents one of the most difficult, and skilful, movements of all.

Very Fast Service A New Zealander who watched Ellsworth Vines, the world’s best amateur player of lawn tennis at the present time, in his matches in Sydney remarks that this tall and very lithe young man gives the impression of having many extra joints, which seem to come into play when and where required, with effect, devastating to an opponent, in the pace of his play and the speed of his hitting. He has a great reach. “When Vines decides to serve fast,” adds this correspondent, “his service is fast indeed, and it is nothing to see him win two out of three serves with his first serve, a clean ace, which hits the end of the court with a thump almost before you realise that it has landed inside the service court. It is easily the fastest service that has ever been seen here. Vines’s smash reminds one of Maurice McLaughlin’s, but it has considerably more pace.” # * The General Committee of the Amateur Athletic Association of England has approved, as British records, J. E. Lovelock’s 3.21 1-5 for 1320 yards, and 4.12 for a mile. The time for 1320 had previously been passed by the Internationa] Amateur Athletic Federation as a world’s record. * •» * In a cricket match played at Cairns, Queensland, recently, a batsman hit a ball so hard, right out of the ground, that when it struck a cow grazing on a railway-line enclosure it broke four of the animal’s ribs. It must have been what cricketers call a cow shot!