billiards

D

driven

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was rereading my very old book titled "billiards How to play and Win"
Written by Melbourne Inman. Professional champion of England 1912-1920.
Anyway there was one particular paragraph I read a couple of times thought you all would like to read it as well. Plus I need typ[ingg practice.
here it is:

" Bear in mind that all the skill and knowledge you are possessed of are expressed in your striking the cue-ball. Your aim, steady stance, and true delivery and strength of stroke will show exactly how correct or incorrect they all are by the action of your ball. Every one of the details mentioned must be executed without a flaw for the ball to properly carry out its task-the slightest wobbling will be revealed: the truth or fault of the delivery, and the power of the shot will easily show themselver. If you look at a player's ball for a few different strokes,moving over the cloth slowly at medium or top speed, there is really no need to see the player himself. The expert eyewill soon place the striker in his right class. From first to last billiard playing depends entirely upon the manner of hitting the cue-ball. I know of no nicer comparison than golf, whrer, of course, nothein else matters. Biliards means practically the same thing."

Happy new year
steven
 
You'll notice the prose of that period is much more flowing, and poetic than what you might find today. Pretty cool. And, I do like the golf comparison.
 
While we're on the subject

Here is one of my favorite quotes from perhaps the greatest of all time

"I am ruthless in cutting out everything which has no direct playing application. That is why I fail to see anything at all, except mere waste of words in the everlasting discussion about transmitted side. Quite a big book could be filled with what has been written for and against the possibility of transmitting side from the cue-ball to the object-ball, but I have yet to meet a man who can play any better for all this spilling of ink.....But get away from theory, put the balls on the table and I will prove to you that the influence of side on the cue-ball is transmitted to the object ball to such an extent that you cannot play billiards without allowing for it."

-Walter Lindrum 1949
 
He was speaking of 'throw', of course, but it took me a bit to realize it.
His word use is exemplary of his time. It's dramatic, picturesque, yet straight to the point.
And, I most certainly prefer his use of the word 'spin' instead of english. Great stuff that.
 
Tramp Steamer said:
He was speaking of 'throw', of course, but it took me a bit to realize it. ...
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure he was talking about putting some side spin on the object ball. While this is related to throw (in the usual US usage), it is a separate part of the same situation, and has its own special results. Lindrum was one of the best at nursery cannons, and it is difficult to do those well without the use of transmitted side.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I'm pretty sure he was talking about putting some side spin on the object ball. While this is related to throw (in the usual US usage), it is a separate part of the same situation, and has its own special results. Lindrum was one of the best at nursery cannons, and it is difficult to do those well without the use of transmitted side.
Click to expand...

Re-read it Bob. He speaks of using 'spin' on the cue ball to impart 'spin' on the object ball. When an object ball is spun it 'throws'.
 
randyg said:
A real nice way to say:

Whitey doesn't lie"

SPF=randyg
Click to expand...

and much easier to type

Cameronsmith you said
I am ruthless in cutting out everything which has no direct playing application. That is why I fail to see anything at all, except mere waste of words in the everlasting discussion about transmitted side. Quite a big book could be filled with what has been written for and against the possibility of transmitting side from the cue-ball to the object-ball, but I have yet to meet a man who can play any better for all this spilling of ink.....But get away from theory, put the balls on the table and I will prove to you that the influence of side on the cue-ball is transmitted to the object ball to such an extent that you cannot play billiards without allowing for it."

-Walter Lindrum 1949
__________________
I had to read it a couple of times to see what side of the fence he's on. That is just plain old fashioned good right there.
steven
 
Tramp Steamer said:
Re-read it Bob. He speaks of using 'spin' on the cue ball to impart 'spin' on the object ball. When an object ball is spun it 'throws'.
Click to expand...
I have reread that section of Lindrum's book (pages 22-27), and it's not clear to me that he distinguishes between those two effects of ball-ball contact with sideways friction: spin on the object ball and throw of the object ball. One cannot occur without the other, and they enter into play in similar but different ways. It is easy to confuse their effects.
 
Tramp Steamer said:
He was speaking of 'throw', of course, but it took me a bit to realize it.
His word use is exemplary of his time. It's dramatic, picturesque, yet straight to the point.
And, I most certainly prefer his use of the word 'spin' instead of english. Great stuff that.
Click to expand...

I'm a little tired tonight and maybe I missed something.

Where did he mention "spin"?

JoeyA
 
Side, I believe, would be his reference to spin to one side or the other. English.

Do you guys actually think about this stuff consciously while you are playing a 9-ball race? :grin:
 
Underclocked said:
Side, I believe, would be his reference to spin to one side or the other. English.

Do you guys actually think about this stuff consciously while you are playing a 9-ball race? :grin:
Click to expand...

The only reason these discussions are brought up is to get under the skin of people who play better than we do. :D

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
The only reason these discussions are brought up is to get under the skin of people who play better than we do. :D

JoeyA
Click to expand...

Well, to be honest with you Joey, I chose the word 'spin' instead of 'side' so that you wouldn't confuse it with a small salad or some french fries.
 
Tramp Steamer said:
He was speaking of 'throw', of course, but it took me a bit to realize it.
Click to expand...
I'm sure he was talking specifically about transmitting spin to the object ball. He wasn't discussing throw, although the two are very related. It's a subtle discussion, but he was talking about transmitting side spin for sure.
And, I most certainly prefer his use of the word 'spin' instead of english. Great stuff that.
Click to expand...
Well, he was Australian playing English Billiards. There wasn't any reason why he would call it "english" which was a term born in America.

Fred
 
Tramp Steamer said:
Well, to be honest with you Joey, I chose the word 'spin' instead of 'side' so that you wouldn't confuse it with a small salad or some french fries.
Click to expand...

Oh, "my bad", I thought you just accidentally transposed the word side with spin. :rolleyes:
JoeyA
 
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