The New York herald., 1922-01-08
HANDS OF BILLIARD
CHAMPION A STUDY
Nature Shapes and Exercise
Develops Peculiar Forma-
tiOn Of Digits.
Ey THOMAS J. GALLAGHER.

hy IhOMAo De tALLhehbhs
Billiard champions' hands are phys
ical study No matter what their con-
formation. by constant practice they be-
come strong, firm and specially adapted
to the pastime in which they are en-
ployed. Primarily nature shapes the
digits. Exercise develops them and in
some cases gives peculiar forma tons.
While the cue hand must be steady and
coordinate with mental functions to
degree that Will make for almost per-
feet control, a flexible yet solid bridge
hand is an important requirement for
, billiard expert, be he amateur or pro-
fessionaI
Coordination between mind and mus
Gle Is an essential condition that en-
ables q player to combine correct CAL
culation and execution. On It depends
masterful control of the cue. the ad-
Justment that regulates the application
of force, the variations from delicacy TO
power OF stroke. The bridge hand is
passive. Nevertheless. on its strength
and riSidity depends the accuracy OF the
cue action. An unsteady bridge hand
disarranges aim and causes faulty ex-
ecution.
Some famous players have been COM
parat.yely ambidextrous, played well
with either hand and ignored the equip
| ment which Englishmen call "the rest"
and Americans 'the bridge The late
Wizard" Schaefer. father OF the presen.
champion. and the late Frank c. Ives
/ were the most conspicuous examples OF
| this pecuEarity ever known in Billiards.
Ives Most MethodicaI.
The Schaefer who IS now at the head
, of his profession Is facile with either
hand. but. although considerably taller
than either his father or Ives were, oc-
casionaily uses bridge. Ives. the most
rlethodical player who ever lived. was
extremely sensitive about the steadiness
OF his hands. Whenever they did not
bridge solidly and steadily, despite the
fact that. having been professional
baseball catcher his fingers were some
what knotted. lie exercised them per-
sistently until their condition became
| satisfactory.
! AS will be observed in the accompany
| Ing pictures. Champion Jacob Schaefcr
! has long hand, his fingers being un-
usually long. Playing n long shot he
usually stretches his bridge hand at
full length on the table. When addreSs-
ing the cue ball for n short draw or
masse the fingers of his bridge are
drawn back or clinched. Note the pic
ture in which he is polsing his cue for
masse stroke.
| Edouard Horemans. the Belgian cham
pion. weighs only 145 pounds, out has q
big hand. II Is broad and thick, while
his fingers are of more than average
length. When playing well he has firm
| clutch on his cue and, being left-handed
places his right almost fiat on the table
Employing the uasse stroke, with which
q m hA "a n M Ia
that is individual and peculiar. Instead
of looking down the cue he holds IL far
out from his head, bends his right hand
backward. with every finger excepting
the little one knuckled on the table
Observe the picture. Maurice Daily says
II can't fathom how any fellow can
from such 4 position. make the shots
Horemans does" Horemans says
When learn English ! write Il Ia tn.
book"
No BODILY Vibration.
Roger Cont, the youthful champion
Of France, who Is now in this country
the playing partner of Champion Schae
fer. has strong, we'll balanced hands
either OF which he uses deNterOusly. IL
ore respect he Is remarkable beyond any
billiard expert of the past or present
When in action only the arm that guides
the cue moves. Tnere Is not trace 81
vibration of his body. From head q
foot he is rigid. rlotionless.
The hands OF these billiard expert!
are not insured. They can be insurof
IL the owners so desire. for Lloyds will
for n premium based on a calculation
OF chances OF slight or serious injur!
take risks on athletes. boxers, dancer
and pianists. SO will accident insurance
companies.
But what Is the Use OF insuring tn
hands OF billiard players? George sut
ton OF Milwaukee ia minus hands, ye
everybody who ;s familiar with the ca
pahllities OF cue artists knows that II
the whole world there are not twenty
five who can beat Handles sutton
However. he may nave his stumps In
sured.