Shortening Your Bridge

[genomachino]

You don't use all of that stroke.......

i've been trying shorten my bridge lately because it's pretty long and i think i can be more consistent with a position closer to the cb.

The problem is every time i slide my bridge closer to the cb, it feels awkward as hell. I have a pretty long stroke and when i get close, it feels like i'm poking the cb instead of coming through it smoothly.

Long story short.... I play a few racks with a shorter bridge but then i revert back to my old style when i get frustrated that i'm not playing as well as i should be.

For me, this is a hard adjustment / transition to make!! Do any of you have advice on being successful with a shorter bridge? My bridge is almost bustamante-long and it's prob unnecessary.

Let me know how to get over this hump?

Thanks,
dave

hi there,

i needed to put in my .02 cents as joey says. All the players that have that big long shaft out there only use about 4 to 5 inches of it. It's more there kind of like visual as though you have a rifle your pointing versus a pistol. It gets you started right so you can be where you need to be.

Don't trade in your rifle for a pistol if your trying to shoot accurate or shoot a long ways. Our eyes need all the help they can get.

Short bridge pistol. Long bridge rifle.

Now some shots you need to use a short bridge.

The reason it looks so bad for you spidey is your trying to use a pistol when you really can see better with the rifle.

Just don't use the whole 12 to 16" and you'll be ok.............

Unless you need it.

That's what she said :rotflmao1::shrug::scratchhead::killingme:

 

[Ponytail]

I've been trying shorten my bridge lately because it's pretty long and I think i can be more consistent with a position closer to the CB.

The problem is every time I slide my bridge closer to the CB, it feels awkward as hell. I have a pretty long stroke and when I get close, it feels like I'm poking the CB instead of coming through it smoothly.

Long story short.... I play a few racks with a shorter bridge but then I revert back to my old style when I get frustrated that I'm not playing as well as I should be.

For me, this is a HARD adjustment / transition to make!! Do any of you have advice on being successful with a shorter bridge? My bridge is almost Bustamante-long and it's prob unnecessary.

Let me know how to get over this hump?

Thanks,
Dave

As with any adjustment, the best way to change a habit is to change it in practice.
This is what practice is for.
As boring as it is, set up some stop shots, either down a rail for how ever you want to do it. Make sure it's where the cueball is in the same place every time.

Make the adjustment you want. Have your bridge a diamond away. (or what ever length you wish to make it.)
Do 20, 40, 50 (what ever number you want to be your practice session) and then stop.

When you play.. don't think about your bridge.. just play. If your bridge is long, then you have more practice to do.
If your bridge is shorter, and the length you're wanting.. practice the next thing you want to improve.

Don't mix changing something in your game with when you're playing. Only bad things well come of this and lead to frustration. This is because you're distracted by what you're trying to change, and not focused on playing.. or when you focus on playing, your body wants to do what it's been doing all along.. so you don't change the things you're wanting to change.

Any other sport you see.... this is how you train. Tennis players practice serving. If they want to change something.. they don't try it during an actual game.. they do it when practicing. Same with golf. Same with baseball, football... ad infinitum.

Best of luck....

 

[pooljunkie4ever]

I have encountered the same problem. Maybe it doesn't have anything to do with shorting you bridge hand, but the positioning of your head. What I have found myself doing is getting to low. By getting to low, I feel crunched and I have also found that this will restrict my follow thru. Just my 2cents, hope this helps.

 

[lfigueroa]

I've been trying shorten my bridge lately because it's pretty long and I think i can be more consistent with a position closer to the CB.

The problem is every time I slide my bridge closer to the CB, it feels awkward as hell. I have a pretty long stroke and when I get close, it feels like I'm poking the CB instead of coming through it smoothly.

Long story short.... I play a few racks with a shorter bridge but then I revert back to my old style when I get frustrated that I'm not playing as well as I should be.

For me, this is a HARD adjustment / transition to make!! Do any of you have advice on being successful with a shorter bridge? My bridge is almost Bustamante-long and it's prob unnecessary.

Let me know how to get over this hump?

Thanks,
Dave

It depends on so many things peculiar to each individual player, and how they approach the table, that it's difficult to make a suggestion. But if I had to take a stab in the dark, I'd suggest altering your footwork.

I believe most players have a natural spot, position, distance that they favor and take before they launch into whatever machinations they employ to get into shooting position. Whatever that particular spot, position, distance from the shot and table is, there's undoubtedly some footwork used to set up. Sooo, if you're trying to get to a shorter bridge, then it could just be as simple a matter as, ferinstance, taking a slightly longer first step with whichever foot you move first in your sequence. Or, if need be, or it feels more comfortable, you can change your approach to the shot with one or another change to your footwork, like maybe moving the foot you would normally move second, first. It doesn't really take much of a change in your footwork to accomplish what your trying to do -- maybe just a few inches difference.

Lou Figueroa

 

[HitHrdNDraw]

As with any adjustment, the best way to change a habit is to change it in practice.
This is what practice is for.
As boring as it is, set up some stop shots, either down a rail for how ever you want to do it. Make sure it's where the cueball is in the same place every time.

Make the adjustment you want. Have your bridge a diamond away. (or what ever length you wish to make it.)
Do 20, 40, 50 (what ever number you want to be your practice session) and then stop.

When you play.. don't think about your bridge.. just play. If your bridge is long, then you have more practice to do.
If your bridge is shorter, and the length you're wanting.. practice the next thing you want to improve.

Don't mix changing something in your game with when you're playing. Only bad things well come of this and lead to frustration. This is because you're distracted by what you're trying to change, and not focused on playing.. or when you focus on playing, your body wants to do what it's been doing all along.. so you don't change the things you're wanting to change.

Any other sport you see.... this is how you train. Tennis players practice serving. If they want to change something.. they don't try it during an actual game.. they do it when practicing. Same with golf. Same with baseball, football... ad infinitum.

Best of luck....

So does the change naturally insert itself into your game?? how do you transition from what you practice to what you do in real games?? I can practice one way, but when I start playing I revert back to my old habits?

 

[donny mills]

I've been trying shorten my bridge lately because it's pretty long and I think i can be more consistent with a position closer to the CB.

The problem is every time I slide my bridge closer to the CB, it feels awkward as hell. I have a pretty long stroke and when I get close, it feels like I'm poking the CB instead of coming through it smoothly.

Long story short.... I play a few racks with a shorter bridge but then I revert back to my old style when I get frustrated that I'm not playing as well as I should be.

For me, this is a HARD adjustment / transition to make!! Do any of you have advice on being successful with a shorter bridge? My bridge is almost Bustamante-long and it's prob unnecessary.

Let me know how to get over this hump?

Thanks,
Dave

I don't know. I do know this though- My bridge has become longer over the last 3 years or so and I have become a better player in that time period.

Seems like the top elite players all have really long bridges.

 

[i4pool]

...
Someone else made the comment that I'm not giving myself enough time. I KNOW they're right. I was just curious to hear others' thoughts on the subject to see if there's something I could incorporate into my game that could help with the "uncomfy phase."

Good luck with this Dave! Hopefully it won't take you too long to reach your objective. 8-inches or bust! :grin:

-Abe, i4pool

 

[Underclocked]

Spidey, just use a 52" cue for awhile.

 

[mm4pool]

I don't know. I do know this though- My bridge has become longer over the last 3 years or so and I have become a better player in that time period.

Seems like the top elite players all have really long bridges.

i am glad to hear someone who is doing the opposite. i have been working on lengthening my bridge for about 2 months now and can see definate improvement, especially on longer shots. i am guessing that everyone is unique and needs to find their own optimum bridge length. JMHO

Mike

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Just don't use the whole 12 to 16" and you'll be ok.............

Unless you need it.

That's what she said :rotflmao1::shrug::scratchhead::killingme:

OK - I won't use all 16", I'll just fold it in half and give her 8" twice.

Problem solved.

 

[jay helfert]

I play 14.1 exclusively and have been told by a lot of great players that I'm too far away from my shots and I'm not playing short-position. Bridging far, as they call it, is great for 9-ball - but crap for 14.1.

For me, I slide into CB for every shot - I don't drop on it. That's something I'm not going to change. For me, sliding into position is the most accurate way to address the CB - and it works for me. When I drop down, it feels too random.

I think I'm close to 12". If I could get down to 8" and still play well, I'd love it.

Someone else made the comment that I'm not giving myself enough time. I KNOW they're right. I was just curious to hear others' thoughts on the subject to see if there's something I could incorporate into my game that could help with the "uncomfy phase."

12-15" is a good bridge distance. If you play like Francisco then it's different. But guys like him are freaks. He can do un-normal things and get extraordinary results. I would suggest that you might try choking up on the butt as well for better control. Basically you are now shortening your entire stroke, and moved closer to the cue ball. Not such a bad thing for 14.1. Look at some good 14.1 players and observe their strokes. Mostly short and sweet.

 

[jay helfert]

I don't know. I do know this though- My bridge has become longer over the last 3 years or so and I have become a better player in that time period.

Seems like the top elite players all have really long bridges.

In Rotation games, I think you may need to let out your stroke a lot more to move the cue ball around. In 14.1 you're mostly playing at one end of the table, similar to One Pocket. A lot of short, tight position shots.

 

[sugeknight]

If you shorten your bridge length, does that also mean that you should shorten your back swing?

I recently shortened my bridge length and back swing in an effort to straighten my stoke and help with accuracy. Ive given myself less room for error in the back swing.

My warm up stokes are merely half an inch at the very most and my back swing is much shorter, but my follow through is still just as long.

like donny said, it seems like the worlds greatest players have longer bridges and stokes, but like Jay said, most of them are freaks of nature.
it seems most people cannot execute such a long flowing stoke and bridge length with such consistent accuracy.

Many top players in east asia use very short bridge lengths and tiny warm up stokes. I have also noticed this trend in snooker fundamentals. And even seen some top philipino players employ this technique.

my teacher used to tell me, in the end all that matters is what holds up under pressure!

Good luck man!

 

[1on1pooltournys]

One reason the pinoys play so good with the long bridges is because on a lot of shots they are not taking the cue all the way back on the backstroke. This allows them to pull the cue back certain lengths depending on what type of stroke the shot calls for.

One of the problems is that since you do have a long bridge, there is more room for error when stroking the cue if needing to hit a soft, slow roll type of stroke.

However, on certain shots where aiming is key, I still use a long bridge and just try to adjust how far I bring the cue back. This takes very good precision and practice, because what can easily happen is one takes the cue to far back on the final stroke and then decelerates through the follow through ending in not so good results.

 

[SUPERSTAR]

It's a piece of cake.
I actually consciously do this all the time when i switch from most games to 14.1.
First, you will need to choke up on the butt end of your cue, moving closer to the forearm/top of the wrap area, moving away from the butt.
I suggest doing this and seeing approximately how much shaft you have sticking out after a stroke to where you feel comfortable.
This is the only way you will be able to continue stoking your arm like you are used to, without your stroke turning into one big check-swing, which will just destroy your elbow over time. (believe me, i know)

Secondly, you will need to adjust your footing, and move yourself closer to the shot so that with your new stroke, you can actually reach the balls and so you have an idea where contact at maximum speed is going to happen so that you don't whiff or duff on the shot.
With this, you will need to bend your bridge arm and tighten it up, otherwise, whenever you draw you cue back, it will slip out of your bridge and fall on the table.

Third practice it religiously as it is going to be uncomfortable and undoubtedly, you will want to revert to what is normal, especially if visually, you can't get used to being closer to the balls.

Typically, this is where i suggest the rubber band on the grip in front of your grip fingers and behind your grip fingers, at least while you are getting used to it so that you know where your hand SHOULD BE, so that you can keep it there, instead of letting it slide all over the place, back to where you unconsciously want it to be.

This will be a very difficult adjustment to your game, but personally, i don't suggest you abandoning your previous style.

The only other suggestion is to practice practice practice. Pretty soon, if your brain allows it (not everyone's does) you will be able to switch back and forth from both styles, depending on the game, or on the shot.

If you really want to torture yourself, pretend your cue is a trombone, and you are hitting different notes, by taking the same exact shot over and over and over again, while adjusting your grip an inch closer to the forearm every time, starting at the buttcap.
Given enough time, you will be able to play, holding the cue from anywhere.

I think that the thing that will have the most impact on you being able to adapt to this is the fact that it will all be using the same cue.
Right now, you are accustomed to a specific balance, so that by gradually moving forward on your grip, that effectively alters the balance and you automatically want to go back to where the balance is familiar. You need to be able to play through this and ignore it if you are going to continue using your cue, or you might have to go try cues till you find something that is more comfortable while playing.

I have had several sticks that were all weighted differently that i picked up second hand, and depending on the cue (butt heavy, forward weighted etc etc) my grip would vary from choked up to the front of the wrap, a la Mika, to gripping it on the buttcap, simply so that i could play comfortably and have a balance that i was used to, and the change in grips didn't have any impact on my game, only on the length of my stroke.
Having that experience, made it much easier to transition, when i was using just one cue. You just kind of ignore that whole weight balance feeling wrong and learn to adjust.
Worst case scenario, go out and try it with a different weighted cue to see if the transition might be easier.

Good luck.

 

[3kushn]

I don't know if this can help but watching videos always seem to give me that little something extra.

For those that have problems with the feel and doubt of control and precision, check out this link and watch Ceulemans playing caroms. Pay attention to how smoooooth that short stroke is. Also how much power he achieves with maybe 4" bridge. Left column Top and bottom vids.
http://www.billard-passion.fr/articles.php?lng=en&pg=159

 

[Ponytail]

So does the change naturally insert itself into your game?? how do you transition from what you practice to what you do in real games?? I can practice one way, but when I start playing I revert back to my old habits?

Yes.. exactly.. when it becomes part of your natural game, that's your habit now. That simple.

 

[Beware_of_Dawg]

I usta put a rubber band on the butt of my cue to remind me to hold the cue further back.... I thought of getting the same rubber bands used for people with braces (those really tiny ones)... Put a grouping of bands at the top and bottom of the max stroke length you want to practice, at first making it a very small area... when stroking you could technically stroke over or past the bands or your stroke may even hit he bands and force them back further but you will hit them and your mind will make a mental check mark... so, IM thinking this may work well to re-train your subcontious mind to shorten the bridge/backswing....

 

[CreeDo]

I was advised to shorten my bridge sort of early on in my pool career and it wasn't too much trouble adapting. It may have to do with the whole fast-twitch vs. slow-twitch muscle fiber thing.

Basically you're now asking yourself to generate just as much speed in a shorter distance. Maybe your muscles aren't built for that. Or they could be developed to do that, but only through tons of repetitions. Or maybe certain exercises could speed the process off the pool table.

To this day I don't feel like I have a big stroke and when I need to generate one, I definitely lengthen the bridge. So depending on what you're playing, maybe there's no need to change. As others have pointed out, it doesn't hold down all those top pros. Shane's bridge is like 23 feet long.

 

[12310bch]

how about that/ Brilliant minds

I usta put a rubber band on the butt of my cue to remind me to hold the cue further back.... I thought of getting the same rubber bands used for people with braces (those really tiny ones)... Put a grouping of bands at the top and bottom of the max stroke length you want to practice, at first making it a very small area... when stroking you could technically stroke over or past the bands or your stroke may even hit he bands and force them back further but you will hit them and your mind will make a mental check mark... so, IM thinking this may work well to re-train your subcontious mind to shorten the bridge/backswing....

When I changed from a linen wrapped butt to a Meucci with a
lacqeured wrap I used a rubber band as a guide for a few weeks.:idea2:
But on topic, I'm trying to lengthen my bridge somewhat. We're all
trying to tweak something for better performance.oke: