"Shortening The Cue"

[nullsys]

Hi all!
I have always shortened the length of my cue for cushion shots (hand on rail).
And by that, I mean - Moving my grip further up to the cue, towards the tip. Sometimes as much as a hand length.

Im 5'9 and using a 58' cue.

Is this normal, should I do it, are there better ways to feel comfortable in those kind of cushion shots?

I just watched Trump do some rail shots, he never once shortened his cue. I just wondered if I'm wrong (probably lol).

Thanks all!

[flame]

if you are thinking about where you place your right hand (right handed player) you will get confused.It is purely instinctive(natural)how to hold the cue in this situation, imho.

[NorthWestJunior]

My old coach used to teach me to do it and it certainly improved my shots from tight against the cushion. I feel as if I can cue straighter and it gives me a little more confidence. Only problem I've come across is that it causes you to snatch at shots when played with a little power.

[nullsys]

My old coach used to teach me to do it and it certainly improved my shots from tight against the cushion. I feel as if I can cue straighter and it gives me a little more confidence. Only problem I've come across is that it causes you to snatch at shots when played with a little power.

Thats just how I feel.
Thank you!
Glad to get some feedback

[vmax4steve]

Depends on your definition of 'cushion shots'. Simply playing a shot with your hand on the rail does not mean that you need to shorten your cue as you describe if the cue ball is between six to twelve inches off the cushion. However if the cue ball is within a inch or so or tight on the cushion then yes, shortening your cue is correct in order to keep the cue arm at 90 degrees to the floor in the address position, allowing yourself to have a normal backswing albeit very short.
I see many players playing shots with the cue ball tight to the cushion still holding the cue right at the end of the butt, with back arm extended at the address position, in what would normally be the end of their backswing just playing the cue forward from there and snatching as a result.
If you need to play such a shot with power then rest the tips of the fingers on the outside edge of the table to give yourself more backswing.

[Terry Davidson]

The Terry Griffiths' method when frozen (or nearly so) on the cushion is to not only shorten the grip hand but ALSO to get it a couple of inches IN FRONT of the vertical and make sure you drive the grip hand through to the chest as per normal.

I've found this really helps to complete the shot and stop the 'stabbing' of the cueball that a lot of players will do when playing off the cushion. You can even use a bit of power with this method.

Terry

[Particle Physics]

The Terry Griffiths' method when frozen (or nearly so) on the cushion is to not only shorten the grip hand but ALSO to get it a couple of inches IN FRONT of the vertical and make sure you drive the grip hand through to the chest as per normal.

I've found this really helps to complete the shot and stop the 'stabbing' of the cueball that a lot of players will do when playing off the cushion. You can even use a bit of power with this method.

Terry

Great tip for not only playing the shot, but for potting the ball also. I find myself too long in the cue on many cushion shots, and swing the hand out, go offline and miss the shot. Number 1 priority is potting the ball PP!

[throtts]

My hand use to be right on the end of the butt for all normal table shots. However, since moving my hand further towards the tip ( around 5 inch) I am now getting the cue right through the cue ball. The accuracie and spin now is very good considering I am on only month 5 of table ownership.

Must be what Terry stated then ,,,, my hand is now hitting the chest how it should...