BILLIARD ART.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19902, 23 September 1926, Page 4

BILLIARD ART.

USEFUL KISS CANNON. LITTLE-KNOWN STROKE. By J. R. Hooper. My diagram this week illustrates a cannon which often comes into actual play at billiards. Yet I have seldom, if ever, come across a player who knew the stroke before I showed it to him. Indeed, it is so uncommon that I have had the same experience in showing it to more than one professional.

The reader will eee that the red bafi is touching the top cushion, and the cue hall is just so far out from the cushion that the run-through into the corner pocket would be impossible. By playing with a little right-hand side and striking the red full on thd front face, an absolutely natural angle kiss-cannon is obtained, and if missed direct is practically certain to be got off the side cushion as tho cue ball comes so straight across the table that it ia nearly impossible to go round the object while. I would here point out that a similar cannon can be made when the object white is situated anywhere along the side cushion right up to tho loft hand baulk pocket, by merely increasing the amount of right-hand side ou the cue ball. And now a word or two on more familiar strokes. THE RUN THROUGH. Running through a bail into tho corner pocket, when the red is placed as in the diagram (with tho cue ball nearer the top cushion), is a much easier stroke than the average player thinks provided ho understands the- I theory of it. This has always been known as one of my best shots, and when in London an enthusiast told me several times that he considered that I played it more perfectly than any player he had ever seen. The correct method is to put all the leit-hand side possible on tho cue ball, strike the red ball a shade on the righthand side of the dead centre, and then play the stroke quietly with the smoothest possible follow-through of the cue. This latter part is tho key-note of success, and if a really good cue delivery is made it will make no difference if the cue ball strikes the cushion after going through the red, ns the side will eventually take it into the pocket. However, if the cue ball is “stabbed” the least hit tho whole effect of the stroke is lost and the pocket will in all probability be missed. Another \o.v similar stroke is when the object ball is about three inches out from the cushion and tho cue ball, say, one inch away, with about a foot between the two balls. The same side is used, but, of course, the object ball has to be struck a shade on the loft hand side of tho dead centre to got the run-through into the corner pocket. Here, again, tho essence of the stroke is in the clean, follow-through of the cue, which carries the cue ball smoothly through tho object ball to the pocket, when the side imparted is sure to take it off tho side cushion shoulder. Without this clean follow-through the cue ball would spring out off the object ball, and strike the top cushion hard enough to ruin all chance of getting into the pocket. AGAINST THE NAP. Many players with enough knowledge of the action of side when going against the nap of tho cloth try to play both of Ihese run-throughs with the opposite side on the cue ball when so placed. This, however, is quite wrong, because they lose sight of the fact that by so doing the cue ball will have the wrong side on it when it roaches tho shoulder of the pocket, and will thus be prevented from going in unless the stroke has been played exceptionally •Teanly. The correct method is to hold up the one bad with the same side as employed at the other end of the table, but play the stroke a little faster, which will prevent the cue hall being carried out from tho cushion before it reaches the shoulder of the pocket, when the correct side will bo there to pull it in.