BILLIARDS

NZ Truth, Issue 602, 30 December 1916, Page 11

BILLIARDS

(By "Spider") s Those who have witnessed George Gray's displays of trick and fancy strokes were no doubt enlightened by him m his instructional discourse on How to Hold the Cue Correctly. The junior professional and amateur alike would do well to pay close heed to the advice tendered m this connection, as the holding- of the cue correctly is of primary importance m the value of the play as a pupil advances m the gome. It may prove of some interest and of much service to enthusiasts of the game to quote the advice given by some of those who are very fully qualified to speak on the subject, and so we begin with: "When the game was m its infancy Edmund Kentfield wrote some useful hints In regard to the position m which the cue should be held. "The cue should be held m the right hand, nearly horizontal, about four or five inches from the butt end, although this must m some measure be regulated by the length of the cue. It must not be gTasped tight, but held moderately loose m the palm of the hand, with the wrist turned a little outward." The players of to-day hold the cue m the fingers,, and not m the palm of the hand. ' ' • ■' ■ • ■ '■'. . • ; John. Roberts was simply perfect In his holding of the cue, and m his advice he does, not depart from the orthodox to any appreciable extent. His advice to beginners, or, In fact, any who are beyond that stage and still requlre\jidvlce, is to hold the cue lightly, ftcv too far from the butt, and he lays do^rri the dictum that when it is necessary to hold the cue firmly for certain strokes, the player will do what is required of his own accord quite naturally. • • • That celebrated billiard tutor, John Fatrick Mannock, is always worthy of attention m anything he may have to discourse upon bUliordly, and tho very excellent advice given by him is that "The cue should bo embraced by tlui hand, but never gripped before striking." Those who have watched George Gray play will not need to be told that he is a firm believer m holding the cue between the thumb and forefinger, and it seems that the wonderful flexibility of his cue delivery is inseparable* from the beautifully delicate, yet firm and accurate, manner m "which he poises his cue. The same may bo said of Freddy Mndrum, although he delivers with much more freedom, and, if anything, a little more delicacy. • • • In his book on Billiards, Joseph Bennett, as might be expected from one so qualified as a teacher of the game, gives concise and complete hints on holding the cue. "The cue should be lightly grasped,, with the right hand close to the butt end, the thumb and first finder just meeting, and the other fingers being well under the cue. The fingers should be all free, anil not held stiffly." Charlie Dawson, In his manual on billiards, also insists on the necessity for holding the cue lightly without gripping It, and says it should be "held by the first two fingers and the thumb," and Charlie should know something about holding a cue. Tho Apostle of/ Touch, Harry W. Stevonson, who so frequently crossed cues against Pawson, says practically the same. Like John Roberts. Stevenson at the table, holding the cuo and m stance, Is letter perfect. • • • When George Gray passed through Auckland he played an exhibition game of 1500 up m a specially fltted-up saloon m Vulcan-lane. His opponent, W. Abotomoy, started off the 600 mark. Gray, who started quietly, gradually overhauled his opponent, and at one stage of the game the scores stood 2204 all. Finally Gray ran out with an unfinished break of <5 when Abotomey was 1370, The champion 1 * play was not of tho sensational order, but he made breaks of 70, 54, 4s, S3, and 106. The latter was compiled almost entirely oft* the red, tho white resting In biuilk. He opened the game with & break of 88, his first score being v nicely executed screw olt the white from a po«l---tloa which many a good player would regard as hopeless. Abotomey, who showed a nice variety of strokes, kept scoring at an even pace. He reached the 1000 mark, which ended the afternoon session, when Gray's score stood at 629. At the conclusion of each session Gray gnve an exhibition of masse, trick, and fancy shots, exhibiting; a I wonderful control over the ball. In tho evening he attempted a variety of shots suggested by onlookers. In par> tlcular demonstrating the "nursery" or ! "anchor" cannon. • • * In v recent match played In London, Recce managed to beat champion Inroan m a game of 16,000 up by 841 points, aftvr receiving »Q0 to start. Tom Reeee has so frequently cracked up In the final siago* of his different encounters with tho champion, that it Is quite a pleasure to Hoe him come out on top. Ho Is a true sport, and so K*nlal that he is a great favorite with the audience. The abovt> game Is one of a series, ond of the live that have

Note: Alcock's 'Wellington address iv Baker's Building, opposite Union Bank boon played, the champion has secured thrco wins. *•♦ ' ' ♦ Big Bill Stevenson (or Auckland), ia playing an exhibition gunw shortly against Abotomey, the Australian, wh;» contested with George Gray. Ulg- Hill, who la self-styled "The , Big Muj? Marker" will do his best to make. iht> nuvn fw>m tin? other sUlf g*> muter, ami from appearances, the game is likely to be keen and interesting. The Alcoek match table at the Sports' Club wltli crystallite balls will ho used. .Anyone going to Auckland should always look up "Stevio" ul hla rooms lv the Royal Hotel. The ex-champkm delights to elucidate player's perplexities, and if tiiero Is anyone who can simplify any dtfttculty In the matter of either billiards or snooker, .It certainly U* big William. This scrlho used to find a great delight m watch* Ing Willlo run tho Civic Parlors, and there was almost certain to be some* tiling particularly funny. Will's repartee is exceptionally clever, and hlii smllo Illuminating enough to almost dispense with the gas- bill, WUU« would never submit to any playet abusing the tables, and nil regular clients' would use the rest instead ol leaning on the cushions. Occasionally, however, a stranger would attempt to cllmp up on the table, when Bill would saunter up. give him ti light tap on the shoulder, smile genially and Bay, "I wouldn't do that If 1 were you, you might ruin your clothes!" Of course, with the remonstrance bo nicely pui. the stranger would take the rest next time and would not feel the- leaat bit hurt at having boon corrected. • • • In the room at Waltora, run by McGonagle, there is a very neat Uttso placard Illustrated by a canary singing, undernoath which aro the. words: "A bird is known by hla song — a man by his language" Rather a neat roralnder to users of cubs words,