Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-02-03
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 1t was Hopes exhibition of a n
cy shots which pleased President Taft
most. He closely followed the geomet-
ricai problems which Hoppe solved
with his deft touch and wal not salts
fed until he tried several himself. II
was after he had found how really DIFF
ncult they were that Mr.. Taft express-
ed his establishment.
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 aimlessly 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.
LIVELY HAL HtdA tiiA6 " Goa N1V
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 rop uses of tho
bridge and strokes Hoppe said:
IT have often been asked why such q
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 ave an average game OF
billiards, making a correct bridge for
all shots. holding the hand properly on
the table with knuck1es elevated and
thumb extended. The cue. slipping
easily between the hand end thumb.
inds a solid resting place. This bridge
/ use most for the balk line nurse hen
the balls are close together and q deli
cate stroke il needed. A few minutes'
practice will serve to show how simple
and effective il his manner of holding
the cue. II gives perfect freedom Of
action and prevents = crampsd move
ment
Then there II the draw stroke
bridge. 1t IL made with the hand lying
fat on the table. with the index finger
around the cue shaft and touching he
thumb In q very Arm anncr 30 as to
prevent the cue from taking an irTegu-
lar stroke. which is ofttimes cHaseS ~
the executing hand. It viii give the
hand . Arm setting and hold the cue in
position for q terrific drive or a very
| heavy drawn shot strike. used for
gathering the balls into position In
most Of the round the table shots.
"In addition 10 the bridge I use for
| close drawn shots when tiie balls are
SO near together that q broader bridge
Is impossible. Only q few inches Of
space are required. yet a strong, frm
resting groove for the cue is attained.
while all of the bridges I aye mem
toned are regularly used by the adj
vanced player. the third and fourth
will serve the needs OF the beginner.
Never allow the bridge hand 20 be-
come cramped. Never start q shot
through or over the bridge hand. The
whole game Of billiards depends upon
.-se Of movement"