The St. Louis Republic., 1903-12-31

| er who finishes ahead of him in the COM
| ing tournament will have to break all
amateur records.
| However. at this stage of his prepara-
ton. Smith Is not playing nearly so well
as he will later on. For some months he
mas not devoted much of his time to bill
lards and he Will need considerable hard
| practice before his execution will be all
| that he desires
Cation has induced Smith to change his
| game entirely. He is now using a new
stroke. in which the wrist movement is
eliminated to a large extent. This new
stroke Is more accurate and although
smith has been playing it but short time
It has strengthened his game wonderful
Close nursing has been discarded by
Smith in favor of more open game,
winch always gives the player chance
for a comfortable shot and keeps him
from having to resort to rnasse shots. re
cause OF the balls lining up. OF course, the
balls are kept close together. three or
four inches apart instead of being bunched
as the PLAYERS tried to keep them under
the old system.
to some extent. Heretofore, he has played
with a free wrist. the strokes used bv
Jacob schaefer, who taught Smith muc:i
hr WIFI VICE he fles Ws q stS hs Eas aed Pa M
stroke. holding his cue several inches
from the tip. Now ne hchls II close to
the tip ard plays with sIanting stroke:
which gives the bail something of dig"
As soon as Smith masters this stroke he
will be a hard man for any player to
beat.
In his games with Cation. Smith aver
aged S and {. This is pretty good billiards
considering that he is following a new
system with which he is not yet thorough
ly familiar, Smith is now playing a. dead
draw ball by which his cue ball always
remains close to the second bal! and by
which the object bali is better controlled.
Playing the draw with the slanting or
quicker dig stroke is advantageous In
asmuch as the cue ball. being held close
to the second ball. is nearly always in
position for another draw shot if neces-
sary. Playing the draw with the fiat
stroke he was not able to control his
cue ball 10 the extent possible with the
new stroke
The New York tournament will be COM
menced February !. Smith will have
about four weeks for hard practice. Il
he he shows the Improvement tSd e expected his
good account of himself.
Speaking Of his chances last night,
II expect to make q much better show
ing than 1 did when last l played in New
York. know considerably more about bill
playing an improved game in every re
spect. Just now l am not playing near
my true form as l have changed my
style of play and there are some features
of it which I have not mastered to my
own satisfaction. / can see. however,
where 1t has improved my game and in
a week or two / will feel perfectly GER
tain OF my execution.
"Mr Cations coaching has done me a
world of good. / will have the benefit of
his advice end suggestions for some time
to come and that win be Of great benefit
to me. Cation knows as much about
billiards as any man in the world and ne
has the ability to impart what he knows;
that is something many great players
lack.
"My new stroke Is not as smooth as l
would like il. but this defect will be rem
edied by a few days more practice; In
another week / will have steadied down |
and doubtless will average UP in double
figures AT any rate l expect to average
in practice much higher than any of the
tournament averages and when do this
I will be satisfied with my game"