The longer bridge and stroke acceleration?

[mnorwood]

I have noticed over the years that the pinoy players and snooker players use a longer bridge and have a longer back stroke. I know the pivot point plays a role in the longer bridge but I believe there is more to it. I have been experimenting with it over the last year and I find that it is useful when trying to time the peak acceleration of my stroke. Am I on the right track in my thinking on this?

 

[Siz]

I have noticed over the years that the pinoy players and snooker players use a longer bridge and have a longer back stroke. I know the pivot point plays a role in the longer bridge but I believe there is more to it. I have been experimenting with it over the last year and I find that it is useful when trying to time the peak acceleration of my stroke. Am I on the right track in my thinking on this?

Probably mainly a function of the size of the table. English billiard players playing on a 12' table also have a long bridge, tho they play different types of shots.

I doubt that it is connected with the pivot point (assuming that you are thinking about back hand english here), since to my knowledge snooker and english-billiards players do not use bhe. Certainly in my case:my bridge length varies as I switch between different size tables (ranging from 6' to 12') and it always has done - since long before I had even heard about bhe.

What's pinoy?

 

[muddawg]

What's pinoy?

The OP was referring to the Filipino players.

pinoy = Filipino

 

[Siz]

The OP was referring to the Filipino players.

pinoy = Filipino

Thanks

Well, that blows my table size theory out of the water.

 

[Tbeaux]

It may also have to do with most Pinoy players being shorter than average and using normal to extended length cues.:shrug:

 

[teedotaj]

It may also have to do with most Pinoy players being shorter than average and using normal to extended length cues.:shrug:

I'm 5'9. Does that make me short? I think I'm average for Filipinos

 

[ArizonaPete]

I trust that pinoy is not a derogatory term. I really enjoy watching the players from the Phillipines in action. What I wouldn't give for a stroke like Bustamante.

 

[teedotaj]

I trust that pinoy is not a derogatory term. I really enjoy watching the players from the Phillipines in action. What I wouldn't give for a stroke like Bustamante.

Nah we call ourselves that. I think some of us use it to endear ourselves too.

 

[Tbeaux]

I'm 5'9. Does that make me short? I think I'm average for Filipinos

I don't know if that's average or not. In the US average for men is 5' 10" to 5' 11. I'm 6' 3 1/2". The few players from the Phillipines I know personally are short but then Alex may not be very representative of average height.

 

[randyg]

I have noticed over the years that the pinoy players and snooker players use a longer bridge and have a longer back stroke. I know the pivot point plays a role in the longer bridge but I believe there is more to it. I have been experimenting with it over the last year and I find that it is useful when trying to time the peak acceleration of my stroke. Am I on the right track in my thinking on this?

Longer than what????? 20 inches or 5 inches???? SPF=randyg

 

[mnorwood]

Longer than what????? 20 inches or 5 inches???? SPF=randyg

20 inches, sorry for being vague. Many of the snooker players use a long bridge. Shane has a really long bridge. I am just trying to establish why. I have heard many snooker players talk about how critical timing is when trying to draw the cue ball over a 4 feet or longer distance.

Oh by the way I use the term pinoy because I see it on this board all the time. IF it offends anyone I am sorry.

 

[dr_dave]

I have noticed over the years that the pinoy players and snooker players use a longer bridge and have a longer back stroke. I know the pivot point plays a role in the longer bridge but I believe there is more to it. I have been experimenting with it over the last year and I find that it is useful when trying to time the peak acceleration of my stroke. Am I on the right track in my thinking on this?

Marcus,

See "Advantages of a longer bridge" starting on page 3 of my December '08 article.

Also, I have other pertinent posts, articles, and videos on this topic here:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/stroke.html#acceleration
http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/stroke.html#follow-through
http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/bridge.html#length

Check them out.

Regards,
Dave

 

[Cornerman]

I trust that pinoy is not a derogatory term. I really enjoy watching the players from the Phillipines in action. What I wouldn't give for a stroke like Bustamante.

Definitely not a derogatory term.

Fred

 

[mnorwood]

Marcus,

See "Advantages of a longer bridge" starting on page 3 of my December '08 article.

Also, I have other pertinent posts, articles, and videos on this topic here:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/stroke.html#acceleration
http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/stroke.html#follow-through
http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/bridge.html#length

Check them out.

Regards,
Dave

Thanks Dave, that was a really GOOD article! I really appreciate you and your work.

Best,
Marcus

 

[dr_dave]

Thanks Dave, that was a really GOOD article! I really appreciate you and your work.

Best,
Marcus

Thanks Marcus. Keep up your good work with your forcefollow YouTube collection also. You apparently have lots of followers (based on the numbers of video hits).

Regards,
Dave

 

[accustatsfan]

I tried a longer bridge based on the late Jay Swanson's advice that is great if I'm in stroke but I notice if I haven't played in awhile the "standard 6-8 inch bridge is easier to use after a layoff.

For whatever reason on force follow shots I have to use a short (4-6 inch) bridge otherwise I mishit the cueball but all other shots a longer bridge works well.

 

[conetip]

Marcus you bring up a very interesting topic.
I am in New Zealand at the moment,and went to a bar watching a guy play. He has quite long bridge for most of the shots and played fairly good. I asked him why does he use a long bridge. His reply was, he found for himself, that if he bridges at the pivot point ,he makes more shots than if he bridges at a point shorter than the pivot point. He has 3 cues, 1 he uses on the full size or 12 ft tables that has about a 10 inch pivot point,the others have shorter pivot points,the one he used when I saw him was at about 9 inches which he uses for bar tournaments.The last que was the 1st cue he ever bought and did not know what to look for in a cue. He said it was terrible and has about a 7 inch pivot point.
He has what best looks like a thumb nail ring on the shaft at the pivot point.
I asked him where did he learn about pivot points and he said a guy from a tournament in Las Vegas told him about it.
I have been trying this myself, and I think there is an advantage in knowing the pivot point of your shaft.
Neil Lickfold

 

[TWOFORPOOL]

The big advantage of a longer bridge is that it allows you to have more time/distance to accelerate the cue. A very short bridge requires a "Jab" or "punch" to accelerate the cue therebye loosing stroke and feel.

The disadvantage of a longer bride is that its harder to hit the cue ball exactly where you are aiming due to the longer pivot point on the bridge. If you play all the time your stroke is so straight you can maintain hitting the cue ball exactly where you are aiming even with a longer bridge. This allows for a smoother stroke and better feel of stroke and speed which equals better cue ball control.

 

[tom mcgonagle]

The books written about pool tell you to use a bridge that's six to twelve inches behind the cue-ball.

What the books, fail to state, is that they were written by people that grew up playing straight-pool. Straight-pool is a game that requires more cue-ball control and less movement of the cue-ball.

Today more people are playing nine-ball. A game that requires more movement. I suggest a bridge hand that is eight to ten inches behind the cue-ball. By doing this you will be more comfortable following through the way you need to to get the action your looking for from the cue-ball.

Example: If your using a battering ram to knock something down. If you only pull it back a little it will only do a little. Pull it way back and it will do a lot more. Same device. That's how the cue in your hand, also works.

 

[lady9ball]

I have noticed over the years that the pinoy players and snooker players use a longer bridge and have a longer back stroke. I know the pivot point plays a role in the longer bridge but I believe there is more to it. I have been experimenting with it over the last year and I find that it is useful when trying to time the peak acceleration of my stroke. Am I on the right track in my thinking on this?

I find that I get quite a bit more action with a longer bridge, but my accuracy suffers. Now I'm going to go back a few posts and read the articles to see if they support my personal experience.