WHEN THE BALLS TOUCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 947, 30 April 1908, Page 13

WHEN THE BALLS TOUCH.

As one of the guilty parties responsible for the new rule relating to the “ balls touching,” I am afraid to say that I was mistaken in extending my vote to it (writes the Editor of “ The World of Billiards”). At the first blush the old rule of picking up the balls, spotting the red and objectwhite, and allowing the player to go on from the “hand” appeared to err on the side of leniency. The losing hazard, which every self-respecting player would try for, is a moral certainty to the professional experts. They look around for sympathy if they fail to make it. Five times out of the six the cue-ball unerringly finds the depths of a top-corner pocket, and then careers about the upper part of the table, working off three cushions, and usually shapes up as it comes to rest the anticipated drop cannon. Certainly, it seems apart from the principles to handle the balls unless they are pocketed or some foul stroke has occurred. That feeling has prompted me from the time that its chief expounder, J. P. Mannock, first pointed out the discrepancy. It is, however, never too late to mend, and, in the words of the late Lord Salisbury, “ I backed the wrong horse.” The new rule received its initial and only thorough test in the course of the ReeceWilliams match at Manchester. It was tried and found wanting. On this point the two player^.' and. the referee are most cordially agreed. They declared that in the “ touching ” positions which occurred during the fortnight’s play something in the proportion of five out of six presented practically impossible scoring propositions. There is no more capable masse-stroke and general close cannon exponent than Reece, and, therefore, no better judge. He unhesitatingly condemns the new rule as more than unsatisfactory. And, as a firm believer that none but the best professionals can cater for the highest flights of billiards and billiard playing, I accept his opinion as authoritative. By the way, a very clever suggestion is that put forward by W. H. Jordan, the referee of the Burroughes and Watts’ tournament, and a walking encyclopaedia of billiard knowledge. It takes the shape of advising that only the cue-ball, as the offending or chief subject, be picked up when it touches. The object balls are not disturbed and the player goes on from the D. This is simple, and in all respects, as I see it, suitable to the occasion.