Instinctive long bridge distance

[denja]

I have been playing with a bridge distance from the cue ball of approx 9 inches however I find that on many shots by instinct 1 move my grip hand back and make a longer bridge of approx 12 inches dont know why but the cue appears to sort of flow better ! I was told a shorter bridge distance gives less error, is there a reason that the cue feels better balanced and more flowing with a longer bridge distance and grip nearer the butt.

[Particle Physics]

I have been playing with a bridge distance from the cue ball of approx 9 inches however I find that on many shots by instinct 1 move my grip hand back and make a longer bridge of approx 12 inches dont know why but the cue appears to sort of flow better ! I was told a shorter bridge distance gives less error, is there a reason that the cue feels better balanced and more flowing with a longer bridge distance and grip nearer the butt.

I played with 13", and it wasn't good. I'm trying to cut it back and 12 is the max. I'd love to have a 9" gap to ball; solid.

[Terry Davidson]

Anywhere between 9" to 12" is fine, and most players unconciously adjust this for the shot (although some are anal and keep it at a fixed distance, but that's just one more thing to worry about). For long pot accuracy a longer bridge is better for checking the aiming easier and for shorter shots a shorter bridge is better as it tends to give more control.

This is just another thing to NOT worry about (unless your bridge distance from the 'V' is really too short or really too long.

Terry

[billabong]

Anyone know if it's true or not that Bill Werbeniuk played with about 18" from bridge hand to ball ?

Certainly looks far away on a lot of the shots on this clip
( even playing a lot with the bridge hand on the rail when there seems to be room on the table ).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_SQ3mHm7Fc

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[Terry Davidson]

I don't think as much as 18" but he did use a 60" cue and he did have a long bridge, although it was years ago when I saw Bill and my memory might not be that accurate. There are quite a few players in Canada who learned with 60" Brunswick Trophy cues and they all had very long bridge lengths. Don't see so much of that these days with the British 57-58" cues taking over

Terry

[GRooney166]

Anywhere between 9" to 12" is fine, and most players unconciously adjust this for the shot (although some are anal and keep it at a fixed distance, but that's just one more thing to worry about). For long pot accuracy a longer bridge is better for checking the aiming easier and for shorter shots a shorter bridge is better as it tends to give more control.

This is just another thing to NOT worry about (unless your bridge distance from the 'V' is really too short or really too long.

Terry

while practicing recently my practice partner pointed out that he thought my bridge distance was too close to the cue ball!
what distance would you say is too close? i've always subconsciously just played that way at both pool and snooker (unless obstructed by the cushion) thanks for any feedback!

[Terry Davidson]

I would say anything less than 9" is not too good for anyone of average height. If you happen to be short with shorter arms then perhaps 8" at a pinch but remember you do need something to confirm the aim with and 9" is about the minimum. (This measurement is from the 'V' of the bridge to the BACK OF THE CUEBALL - not the ferrule/tip which with some players could be up to 2" behind the cueball and they lose that distance directly off their follow-through)

Terry

[GRooney166]

Thanks Terry i'll try correcting it.

[LittleMissAlexa]

how did you know the distances normally instinctive things are normally subconscious

[GRooney166]

how did you know the distances normally instinctive things are normally subconscious

Honestly i would never have noticed that my bridge was so close to the cue ball if it wasnt pointed out to me, after correcting it however it has made aiming a bit easier on long straight shots!

[DandyA]

just to note that 9" from your bridge V to the cueball isn't actually that far ... I would have guessed I bridged too close but when I checked it, I was fine ... assuming average length fingers (say about 4") it's just another fingers length or so ... so there should ideally be a finger's length gap or so between the cueball and the ends of your fingers ...

repeating advice from coaches, the easy way to check is to put a pencil mark on top of the shaft of your cue at 9" from the tip ... if the pencil mark is over your "V" at front address, you're fine

[cris0000food]

Does sighting play a role in bridge length in relation to different shots?

[Particle Physics]

just to note that 9" from your bridge V to the cueball isn't actually that far ... I would have guessed I bridged too close but when I checked it, I was fine ... assuming average length fingers (say about 4") it's just another fingers length or so ... so there should ideally be a finger's length gap or so between the cueball and the ends of your fingers ...

repeating advice from coaches, the easy way to check is to put a pencil mark on top of the shaft of your cue at 9" from the tip ... if the pencil mark is over your "V" at front address, you're fine

And stick one at 11-12" also, so you don't go too long.