Play to be made from ball 3 to 4, 5 to 6, etc., etc.
PLATE VII.
PHILOSOPHY OF THE ENGLISH OR TWIST STROKE.
When “English” or “twist” is applied to the cue-ball in its course, it is forced from a straight line and diverges to an extent that it will pass around a ball placed in a direct line before it. The line of aim in the diagram is a ½ ball right on the object-ball, cue-ball ⅝ left and ⅝ below; stroke, “medium.” This stroke is the application of the extreme English and extreme draw, and is of such force as permits the combined motions—impelling, rotating, retrograde, and diagonal—applied to the cue-ball to act upon it. The distance from the starting-point of the greatest point of divergence of a cue-ball is, of course, governed by the strength of stroke applied.
The point e is the natural destination of the cue-ball struck at centre, upon ½ object-ball, and the difference in space between points e and f may be made by striking the ball, as shown in the diagram, for the reason that the cue-ball, diverging as it does from a straight line, takes from the point e a new direction, effecting a ½ stroke upon the object-ball and rolling, as we have said, to point f.
The dotted line d shows the direction in which the ball is forced by being struck on the side, but the ball rotating in the opposite direction to that which it is impelled, in consequence of the twist and draw imparted, aided by the resistance through friction of the nap of the cloth, serves to bring it back to the original point of aim, as shown by the curved loop-line, b, which denotes twist.
PLATE VIII.
ILLUSTRATING CUSHION TWISTS.
This diagram illustrates the three principal strokes of the cue-ball on the cushion, showing the effect of twist after contact of ball with the cushion: