THE BEST WAY TO BECOME A BILLIARD PLAYER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 941, 19 March 1908, Page 13

THE BEST WAY TO BECOME A BILLIARD PLAYER.

An old-time expert is said to have answered the question put by a learner as to the royal road to proficiency in billiard playing in these words: —“ I can tell you a dozen rules. If you follow them out, and always bear them in mind, you cannot help making a fairly good player of yourself.” He reeled them off one by one in the following order: — 1. Get a good straight cue, and learn how to hold it lightly and swing it easily. 2. Learn to stand firmly, to make a solid “bridge,” and look along your cue for your aim. 3. Learn to hit your bail in the middle —that is, halfway up as it faces you. This is the first step in sound playing. The “ side ” and “ screw ” strokes can be experimented with later on. 4. If you can throw a straight cue at your ball, then try different

strengths of stroke, from the s.owest to the most speedy striking of the cue-ball. But keep on hitting your ball in the middle, or as near there as you are able. 5. Keep playing the easiest cannons and hazards until you feel pretty certa n of getting any of them. 6. Play with and watch better players than yourself. Go and see the leading professionals as frequently as possible. 7. Practice. 8. Practice. 9. Practice. 10. Practice. 11. Practice. 12. Practice.

Harry Gray, the Queensland champion, and his boy George, the bi.liard prodigy, will shortly make a tour of New Zeaand, playing in every town of importance throughout the Dominion. • * . «■ * In a match at Calcutta, Stevenson attempted to concede Inman 2500 in 9000, but failed, being beaten by 778. The winner’s highest breaks were 489 and 301. Matches ujider similar handicap conditions wefe-played in Sydney and Melbourne, each man winning a game, so that Inman has won the rubber.