The Washington herald., 1911-01-29
Willie HOPES STRONG HOLD
ON HIS BILLIARD TITLES

more brilliantly than in the game with
his manager, Burton Mank, when he
ran 100 points, 1872 balk line. Congress-
man Nicholas Longworth, son-in-law
Of Colonel Roosevelt. was Hopes next
opponent, and, although the Ohio
statesman plays a good game. he prov
ed an easy victim for the champion.
But it was Hopes exhibition of fam,
cy shots which pleased President Taft
most. He closely followed the geomet-
rical problems which Hoppe solved
with his deft touch and was not satis-
fed until he tried several himself. 1t
was after he had found how really diff
ficult they were that Mr.. Taft express
ed his astoniShment.
Miss Helen Taft and Mrs. Longworth
also tried several of the fancy shots
and seemed unwilling to believe that
the worries. which seemed to do Hopes
every bidding. rolled aimlessiy about
when they tried to send them down the
side rail in a single procession.
In speaking OF the game of billiards
recently Hoppe declared that the
bridge Is the most important part of
the sport.
Every man starting to learn the
game, he says. should first study his
bridge and learn to use it so that the
bridge hand never will become
cramped.
In telling of the proper uses Of the
bridge and strokes Hoppe said:
Il have often been asked why such
small minority Of the vast army of per-
sons who find amusement and recrea-
ton playing different styles of billiards
ever attain proficiency at the game.
The answer is simple. They start
wrong. And, once having acquired an
incorrect style. it is a difficult thing to
unlearn bad habits and begin Alright.
There are three things one must
learn to play even an average game OF
billiards, making a correct bridge for
all shots. holding the hand properly on
the table with knuckles elevated and
thumb extended. The cue. slipping
easily between the hand and thumb.
| finds a solid resting place. This bridge
I use most for the balk line nurse when
the balls are close together and deli
cate stroke is needed. A few minutes
! practice will serve to show how simple
\ ana eHeCtlNe Is llilS iIidhiCA VI AoioAAiS
the cue. It gives perfect freedom of
action and prevents a cramped move
| ment.
Then there is the draw stroke
bridge 1t is made with the hand lying
fat on the table. with the index finger
! around the cue shaft and touching the
thumb in very firm manner, so as to
| prevent the cue from taking an irregu-
lar stroke, which is ofttimes caused by
the executing hand. 1t will give the
hand a firm setting and hold the cue In
position for a terrific drive or very
heavy drawn shot strike, used for
gathering the balls into position In
! most of the round the table shots.
I'm addition is the bridge I use for
close drawn shots when the balls are
! so near together that a broader bridge
! is impossible. Only few inches or
space are required. yet strong, firm
resting groove for the cue is attained.
while all of the bridges have mem
toned are regularly used by the ad-
vanced player the third and fourth
will serve the needs of the beginner.
Never allow the bridge hand to be-
| come cramped. Never start a shot
through or over the bridge hand. The
whole game Of billiards depends upon
e-se of movement"