We will suppose that the beginner has now fairly learned how to play losing
hazards in the top pockets, and also how to spot his ball for the natural
angle. In playing losing hazards into the middle pockets, it is quite as
important that this angle, and this only, should be used. In Fig. 5 we give
two illustrations of simple hazards into the middle pockets. The hazards
themselves are, comparatively speaking, easy; but the chief point to be
borne in mind is position--that is, having made the hazard, how can we
leave the red ball so that there shall be another easy hazard next time?
The endeavour should be to keep the red ball _in the centre of the table_
as much as possible. As a rule, the game is to play to bring down the red
ball over the middle pocket again. Now, in Fig. 5, suppose the player at H
tries to go into the right-hand middle pocket off a ball at D, the proper
play would be to strike the red ball so that it goes up the table, and,
following the dotted lines, returns to D_1. If the player hits the red a
trifle too fine the red ball would travel to the left of this dotted line,
and a losing hazard would be left off the red into one of the top pockets.
If, however, in playing the stroke, the player hits his ball a trifle too
full, the red ball would then probably travel along the dotted line
terminating in D_2, and there would be no score left next time. {306}
[Illustration: FIG. 5.]
{307}
A similar stroke is shown in the left-hand middle pocket. The striker spots
his ball at B, and goes into the middle pocket off a ball at A. The
endeavour should be to send the red ball up the table in the direction
shown by the dotted line A C.
If the red is sent up the table to the left of this line, unless very
accurate strength is played, there will be probably no score left next
time. If, however, the player is careful not to hit the ball at A too full,
the ball will travel rather to the right of the line A C, and then, being
in the middle of the table, if the strength is insufficient to bring the
ball over the _middle_ pocket, there will still be a losing hazard left
into one of the top pockets. This is the chief point to be considered in
making losing hazards in the middle pockets, and naturally introduces that
all-important subject for consideration in learning to play Billiards,
viz.--