Technique - Grip ????

[snooker_wiz]

Does how you grip the cue matter ? Alot of people say that the grip doesnt matter at all, as long as you cue straight.

Is the grip something you must get right ?

Is the proper way to grip the cue, the way you would pick it up off the table ?

[elvaago]

Most important is to not grasp the cue too tightly. Hold it loosely and you'll do much better.

[snooker_wiz]

i think i might be holding it too tightly

should you have your wrist in a dead straight line with you forearm ?

[MikeWooldridge]

i mentioned in another post that grip is THE key to good snooker.

it MUST be loose, and what you MUST NOT do is 'grab' the cue as you hit the cueball which is what causes the well known term 'snatch/snatching'.

of course, on power shots, deep screw etc., you need to keep hold of the cue to stop it flying off after the cueball has been struck.

but a strong grip is NOT required during the playing of ANY shot.

it is very hard to describe it exactly. and even harder to learn....

the wrist should pretty much 'hang'. don't try to hold it in a certain way. just keep it relaxed.

all in all, it's easier said than done. but there is the key to good snooker my friend.

[snooker_wiz]

thanks mike

Would you say it is possible to hold the cue too loose ?

[JParrott1]

You should hold the cue reasonably firmly with the first two fingers and lightly with your second 2. My advice is next time you watch snooker either on the internet or on television, watch how they grip the cue. Also Coach Gavin has some useful advice on his homepage at:

http://www.snookercoaching.net/

[MikeWooldridge]

thanks mike

Would you say it is possible to hold the cue too loose ?

actually no i don't. the looser the better cos that's how you make the cue do the work.

virtually all players make the mistake of using the hand to compensate or 'make' the cue do what is required.

however, like i said before, there does need to be some amount of gripping going on at some stage or the cue would fly off. which can only be learned from experience. and even the best players still fall down at this hurdle occasionally. power shots and deep screw usually....

gripping with first two fingers or even one is fine, but still should be loose.

in itself, the complete answer does not lie in precisely how much of your hand actually holds the cue.

it's all about the 'gripping' hand NOT affecting the backswing or follow through on the shot in an adverse way.

it would be nice if the answer was clear and simple but it is something that must be learnt over time, and possibly something you will never actually get right.

but trust me, if you master this technique you will 'feel' the difference and you will become a better player and break builder all round. much more so than if you change ANY other part of your game.

[Erwan_BZH]

I agree with you Mike...because I know the problem by heart! lol Grip has been one of my main problem for a long time and I still struggle to find one which is successful to me. And down the road, it's really frustrating to have a good one one day, and a rubbish grip the following day. It's very difficult to master...Maybe if we can find some pictures to illustrate the debate, it would help.

[CueAntW147]

Good advice Mike grip is the key to improving your game, i experimented with my grip a few years ago and am now knocking in 70 plus breaks fairly regular. Basically i used to snatch so many shots it was crazy, in the end i held the cue with my first finger and thumb straight down , or just first finger straight so not gripping the cue ( similar to what Alex Higgins did ) this meant you couldn't grip the cue tight with your other fingers and made it naturally loose i found doing this gave me better 'feel' and made generating spin very easy, letting the cue do the work, and reduces snatching.
Hope this makes sense worth a try to anyone who grips the cue to tight, not sure a coach would recommend this but it worked for me....

[JParrott1]

Maybe this will help....

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5644/gripnh5.jpg

[CoachGavin]

starting grip

Whats has been said above is right. The cue must do the work and you must not force it so the grip must be light. A good starting grip is to use just the first finger and thumb as a ring around the cue. The wrist can then be used to bring the cue back. When the cue is brought forward this 'wrist cock' will then snap shut again, creating the power needed for the shot. There is more advice at www.snookercoaching.net and at frank callans website.

[Semih_Sayginer]

http://www.fcsnooker.co.uk/coaching_...n/coaching.htm