Billiards

by William Broadfoot

Several matters of importance to the game and in need of reform are discussed, the opinions of experts, amateur and professional, being occasionally quoted; sometimes opposite views are stated, and efforts are made to consider duly those of all shades.

It is usual, and most of the contributors have not failed to conform to the fashion, to insist on the fact that more can be learnt from a player in an hour than from a book in a year, that an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory, or some similarly original sentiment. Certainly no man can be made a billiard-player solely by the study of books any more than skill in shooting, fishing, or other sport, can be so attained; but much may be learnt from a good manual, both by a beginner and by his instructor. By conforming to the arrangement of a book a system of teaching will be followed, and this, if sound, must help master and pupil.

The amateur who has played for years and acquired a bad style is more difficult to assist; he is apt to find, whilst trying to correct faults and to play breaks, that he has lost his old certainty, and scores worse after than before instruction—a result which causes many to lose heart. But there is no need to do so; the chance of improvement depends greatly on modesty and perseverance, whilst the case is hopeless in proportion to the presence of presumption and conceit. Some give in at this stage and revert to their former methods, others more resolute persevere and improve; but it is hoped that both classes will find this book of service. Those who devote their whole attention to making the immediate stroke will be assisted by the practice recommended; whilst the more ambitious will find advice which may in time enable them to play real breaks and thus derive fresh pleasure from the game.

Personal qualifications have so important an influence in billiards, that too precise definition of the stroke to be played for is avoided. What is the game for one person is not necessarily the game for another, and each must use his own discretion. The qualities usually found in fine players are good nerve, quick and sound judgment, resolution, and temper under control, accompanied by fair sight, a fine touch, and sympathy between eye and hand. Of these some are the gifts of nature and cannot be acquired; others may be improved by careful training. Nerve is little understood, but is strengthened by gaining certainty of play, which creates confidence; yet there is always that which we cannot explain, but may call the ‘personal equation.’ It is perplexing, but must not be ignored, and persons of the most slender experience will admit that they play better with one man than with another, though they cannot always account for the fact.

Much care and time have been spent on the diagrams and figures, but absolute accuracy is not to be expected; indeed, it cannot be attained, for the size of the table must be limited by that of a page, whilst for the sake of clearness the balls are shown on a larger scale, a consequence being some imperfection in the delineation of their indicated paths. In the final chapter many matters connected with billiards are briefly noticed, amongst which are: the suitability of the game for ladies; the French or cannon game, which possesses advantages on account of the smaller size of table on which it is played; and the duties of marker and referee. The observations about etiquette are specially commended to the careful consideration of readers. It is beyond doubt that the vastly inferior play of amateurs compared with professionals is in no small measure owing to laxity in behaviour, whereby attention is distracted from the game. If billiards is ever to be played finely in ordinary clubs, as strict order must be maintained as is usual in the card-room.

Obligations must be expressed to Mr. Boyd, Colonel Allan Cunningham, R.E., Mr. Dudley Pontifex, and Mr. Russell Walker for assistance in various ways; and to M. Vignaux, whose admirable manual of the French game has been of special service. To a less extent the volume is indebted to the works of Joseph Bennett and of other players; but beyond all it owes much of whatever merit it may have to the assistance and advice of Mr. R. H. R. Rimington-Wilson. It is indeed impossible to overestimate the value of this aid, for his knowledge of the game and practical skill are united to a singularly sound judgment, and his help is enhanced by the kindness and courtesy with which it has invariably been accompanied. Acknowledgment is further due to Messrs. Burroughes & Watts and Messrs. Peall and Walder for practical help of great value.

The preparation of this manual was a difficult task which the writer would not have attempted without the co-operation just acknowledged; and readers are besought to recollect, if disposed to resent an air of authority in giving advice, or a too evident want of respect for their knowledge and skill, that on every question of importance the recorded conclusions are the result rather of careful consideration by experts than an expression of personal opinion.

Passing on from these preliminary observations and acknowledgments, it should be at once said that no laborious compilation of the results of research is here given on the subject of the origin of the game of billiards, for the reason that this is obscure in the extreme. Many attempts have been made to trace its ancient history, but little success has resulted. In most books about it, reference is made to the well-known quotations from Spenser and Shakespeare; whilst in ‘Modern Billiards,’ the American text-book, the historian plunges deeper into the mystery of the past, and tells how Cathire More, King of Ireland, who died A.D. 148, left ‘fifty billiard balls of brass, with the pools and cues of the same materials.’ Besides this, he refers to ‘the travels of Anacharsis through Greece, 400 B.C.,’ during which a game which might have been early billiards was seen.

We may, perhaps, safely assume that the game is of considerable antiquity, a development from some primitive form played with balls on the ground. It may, therefore, have been evolved simultaneously in many countries, and have assumed minor differences as it grew older. Then, as intercourse became easier, one country may have borrowed from another what was thought desirable, with the general result that the similarities of the games of various countries are greater than the differences.

Undoubtedly, in 1896 the two great games are the English and the French, and each is indebted to the other.