El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-26
Three Things Must Be
Learned First in Billiards |
By Beginners.
BY Willie Hoppe.

have often been asked, why such
persons who find amusement and
recreation playing different styles of
billiards ever attain proficiency at the
game. The answer is simple-they
start wrong And once having &C
quired an incorrect style it is a diff
ficult thing to unlearn bad habits and
begin Alright
There are three things one must
learn to play even an average game
of bilIiards-making a correct bridge
for all shots, holding the cue prop
erly with the hand, and stroke Each
OF these three depends upon the other
and / believe the bridge is the most
important of the lot, although some
biIIiardists may disagree with me-
1 have ofttimes been criticised be-
cause I did not attempt to master the
game at the three-cushion carom style,
but as the two strokes vary so great
" 1 will not attempt injuring the
delicacy of my balkline stroke to
please a few curious people who
would like to see me attempt that
style of game Hence 1 would suggest
that all beginners at billiards take up
one particular style. and stick to It
Effective Bridges.
language the bridges 1 have found to
be the most effective and easiest to
master
The offhand masse bridge-pictured
In the left side Is used very seldom in
championship matches, but is shown
more il fancy and exhibition work,
which will enable the executor to get
force on the cue ball for a driving
masse. such as could not be obtained
by holding the bridge hand in any po-
sition on the table
BY using the offhand masse stroke
the player can hit the cue ball with
such force as to drive the ball the en-
tire length of the table and return
without striking cushions or any OBJ
5ect balls.
The close masse bridge stroke.
shown on the right side is most diff
ficuIt for the novice. 1t is used only
when the balls are lined up" The cue
Is held perpendicular by the stroke
and grasping the cue with the thumb
and first two fingers
Little Practice Only Necessary.
Only the tips of the fingers on the
bridge hand touch the table, the cue
merely resting on the side of the hand
II seems an Isecure method of guild
ance, but little practice will show
how serviceable it is. Beginners will
do well to either pass up the masse
stroke for a time or try it out on an
old table. A slight slip means a torn
tablecloth- For this reason many
firstclass rooms bar the shot, except
for experienced players
In the upper middle photograph is
the bridge most often called into play.
It is used for the delicate nursing
stroke The heel of the hand and the
finger tips rest firmly on the bed Of
the table with knuckles elevated and
easily between the hand and thumb
finds q solid resting place. This
bridge 1 use mostly for the balk line
nurse when the balls are close togeth-
er and a delicate stroke is needed. A
few minutes practice will serve to
show how simple and effective is this
manner of holding the cue. It gives
perfect freedom of action and prevents
a cramped movement
The Draw Stroke Bridge
Directly below the nurse bridge IL
1uStratiOn will be found the draw
stroke bridge. It IS made with the
hand lying flat on the table with the
index finger around the cue shaft and
touching the thumb in a very firm
taking an irregular stroke, which is
ofttimes caused by the executing
hand, and the other three fingers of
the hand should be In position exactly
as that shown in the illustration,
which will give the hand a firm set
ting and hold the cue in position for
a terrific drive, or a very heavy draw
shot strike, used for gathering the
balls into position in most of the
round the table shots.
In the lower illustration is seen the
bridge I use for close draw shots when
the baHs are so near together that a
broader bridge is impossible Only
few inches Of space are required, yet
a strong firm resting grove" for the
cue is attained
While all of the bridges ] have men !
toned are regularly used by the ad- |
vanced player, the third and fourth |
viii serve all needs of the beginner. |
Never allow the bridge hand to be- |
come cramped- Never start a shot un-
less the cue is travelling easily through |
or over the bridge hand. The whole |
game Of billiards depends upon ease |
Of movement.
don't believe there is any other /
medicine so good for UhOOOiue cough l