grip

[KingJerryO]

I used to grip the cue with only my thumb and forefinger touching the cue. I have been trying to change it to where all of my fingers are on the cue. Since doing this I have noticed that towards the end of my backswing the friction from my pinky sliding up the cue causes it to rotate a little. And when my cue comes forward it reverses rotational direction. Is this normal.

 

[Cdryden]

I used to grip the cue with only my thumb and forefinger touching the cue. I have been trying to change it to where all of my fingers are on the cue. Since doing this I have noticed that towards the end of my backswing the friction from my pinky sliding up the cue causes it to rotate a little. And when my cue comes forward it reverses rotational direction. Is this normal.

I don't let my pinky touch the cue, I just use my thumb and first 3 fingers. I have noticed that when my pinky does come in contact that it cause my stroke to get a little crooked.

 

[walrus_3d]

I used to grip the cue with only my thumb and forefinger touching the cue. I have been trying to change it to where all of my fingers are on the cue. Since doing this I have noticed that towards the end of my backswing the friction from my pinky sliding up the cue causes it to rotate a little. And when my cue comes forward it reverses rotational direction. Is this normal.

No. Amputate your pinky and your problem will be solved.:thumbup:

Yes, it's normal but it's also one reason most people don't use all their fingers in the grip. Is there a reason you're trying to increase your contact with the cue? I tend to stick with index and middle finger with a really light touch from my thumb just to keep it from rolling out of my hand.

If the rotation doesn't bother you, I wouldn't worry about it unless you think it's throwing off your shot. I've seen players who open their hands during the backswing and close them again on the forward stroke, which may be a response to the pinky turn. I'm not wild about that idea but it seems vaguely workable for them.

Honestly, if your previous grip was working, I'd either stick with it or alter it less.

 

[Banks]

I used to grip the cue with only my thumb and forefinger touching the cue. I have been trying to change it to where all of my fingers are on the cue. Since doing this I have noticed that towards the end of my backswing the friction from my pinky sliding up the cue causes it to rotate a little. And when my cue comes forward it reverses rotational direction. Is this normal.

Very common to the point of expected. It sounds like you're in transition, so I'd suggest taking the pinky off or the last two off. Do a search for pinky and you'll probably pick up a few threads about this exact problem and it causing a twist during a stroke.

 

[sfleinen]

I used to grip the cue with only my thumb and forefinger touching the cue. I have been trying to change it to where all of my fingers are on the cue. Since doing this I have noticed that towards the end of my backswing the friction from my pinky sliding up the cue causes it to rotate a little. And when my cue comes forward it reverses rotational direction. Is this normal.

KingJerryO:

The action you describe is called "corkscrew" and is the natural result of your fingers opening and closing during the grip's transition through the stroke. Earl Strickland has a bit of a corkscrew motion via his wrist turn at the end of his stroke (but it happens *after* contact with the cue ball).

It can be both a good thing and a bad thing. If you can keep the corkscrew straight in-line with the cue's direction of travel (e.g. sort of like the way the "lands and grooves" of a rifle's barrel imparts desired spin on the bullet), but without wobble or yaw, there's no consequence to it.

However, any action imparted to the cue besides just straight back and forth motion, is UNNECESSARY motion, and is something "extra" that can break.

If you look at the architecture of your hand (hand placed in front of you as if you were a traffic cop issuing the "stop" signal), you'll see that all of your fingers are of different lengths -- your middle finger is the longest; your index and ring fingers are approximately equal in length; and the pinky is the obvious shortest finger. You'll want to adopt a grip that compensates for the different lengths of the finger. Most instructors will advocate either a two- or three-finger grip (we're talking just the fingers here, not the thumb -- we're taking the thumb for granted). "Two-finger grip" would be the thumb, index, and middle fingers. "Three-finger" grip would be the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. Very rarely will you see all fingers being used. (A notable exception would be Jim Rempe -- and the corkscrewing of his cue is readily visible.)

Personally, I use a two-finger grip. Once in a while, I'll use a snooker grip, which uses the rear fingers of the hand, and the index finger is loose, pointing somewhat straight down. A good example of this "rear-fingered grip" can be seen used by Ronnie O'Sullivan:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W2Ye61WiLMk#t=485

In either case (front-fingered or rear-fingered grips), not all the fingers are used in the grip. There's a reason -- because the cue surfaces itself do not change, you want the hand, instead, to adapt ("give") throughout the stroke.

Hope this is helpful!
-Sean

 

[sfleinen]

No. Amputate your pinky and your problem will be solved.:thumbup:
[...]

Yup, and then you can compare favorably with Jonathan "Hennessey from Tennessee" Pinegar.

 

[KingJerryO]

Previously my back hand was rotated off the cue in a counter clockwise direction(right handed) if that makes sense. After watching videos of many pros, it seems as if most have all four knuckles in line with the shot. This is what prompted me to change and get all my fingers on the cue. I'm trying to stop myself from rotating off of the cue.

 

[walrus_3d]

Previously my back hand was rotated off the cue in a counter clockwise direction(right handed) if that makes sense. After watching videos of many pros, it seems as if most have all four knuckles in line with the shot. This is what prompted me to change and get all my fingers on the cue. I'm trying to stop myself from rotating off of the cue.

I'm fairly certain my knuckles are in line with the shot, but I still only have one or two fingers touching the cue. Just do what either feels better or works better, don't worry about the cosmetics of your pool stroke.

 

[KingJerryO]

I'm not at all worried about how it looks. I just believe that the best way to deliver a straight stroke is to put your body in the easiest configuration to do so biomechanically. Thus I have been trying to make changes. Maybe I'm wrong. I dont know, I'm just a banger trying to improve.

 

[sfleinen]

I'm not at all worried about how it looks. I just believe that the best way to deliver a straight stroke is to put your body in the easiest configuration to do so biomechanically. Thus I have been trying to make changes. Maybe I'm wrong. I dont know, I'm just a banger trying to improve.

KingJerryO:

No problem at all -- you are welcome here! That's what these forums are all about.

Back to your question, you might find the following resource about proper grip fundamentals very helpful:

http://fcsnooker.co.uk/basics/the_grip/the_grip.htm​

-Sean

EDIT: Additionally, you might want to view this video, which displays some of the caveats with the "corkscrewing" action. It's a snooker product (soon to be available for pool, from what I hear) that specifically discourages corkscrewing:

Neil Johnson's "Gravity Cue":
http://youtube.com/watch?v=f6RRZYLBRag​

 

[lee brett]

My coaching book is out soon, and i have a section in there on my "V" grip technique. Im also doing my instructional dvd series soon, and 1 of them will be on the grip only.

Lee

 

[Johnnyt]

To see how much a tight grip can throw you off, try this. Get down and address the CB in the center with your regular (i hope light grp). Get as close to the CB as you can w/o touching it. Now tighten and untighten your grip on the butt of the cue. Look at the tip of the cue in relation to the center of the CB while doing this. You should see anywhere from 1/4" to a 1/2" movement when doing this. This is more than enough movement to miss long shots. Johnnyt

 

[John Brumback]

Here's something I heard Roger Federer say one time.Don't hold the tennis racket
like your grabbing a frying pan,hold It like your going to drive a nail with a hammer.I think that's a good way to describe the wrist action for pool.
And I like Fed haha.John B.

 

[Bob Callahan]

Here's something I heard Roger Federer say one time.Don't hold the tennis racket
like your grabbing a frying pan,hold It like your going to drive a nail with a hammer.I think that's a good way to describe the wrist action for pool.
And I like Fed haha.John B.

Yep.

And I've also heard: Hold it like you'd hold a baby bird. You don't want it to get away, but you don't want to crush it, either.

 

[Neil]

...........

 

[Mikjary]

My coaching book is out soon, and i have a section in there on my "V" grip technique. Im also doing my instructional dvd series soon, and 1 of them will be on the grip only.

Lee

Any idea how soon is 'soon'? :smile:

Best,
Mike

 

[thefonz]

I totally agree, except that most people really don't know how to hold a hammer. They think only an idiot can't use a hammer, but there is a difference in how to hold it correctly.

with roger federer's money i'm pretty sure the only thing he hammers is Mirka! lol!

 

[Island Drive]

I used to grip the cue with only my thumb and forefinger touching the cue. I have been trying to change it to where all of my fingers are on the cue. Since doing this I have noticed that towards the end of my backswing the friction from my pinky sliding up the cue causes it to rotate a little. And when my cue comes forward it reverses rotational direction. Is this normal.

Another thought on this, go to a pro event and spend your time watching all of em and how they grip, which will help your thought process. I knew yrs ago I had to change an aspect of my game (grip) and all I did for two days was watch ea pro and how they held the cue in the back. I also yrs ago did a VHS tape of all the pros back hands during match play at one of the Camel Pro stops, very interesting, tho I lent it out and it never came back. Hope this helps.

 

[West Point 1987]

Another thought on this, go to a pro event and spend your time watching all of em and how they grip, which will help your thought process. I knew yrs ago I had to change an aspect of my game (grip) and all I did for two days was watch ea pro and how they held the cue in the back. I also yrs ago did a VHS tape of all the pros back hands during match play at one of the Camel Pro stops, very interesting, tho I lent it out and it never came back. Hope this helps.

So what were your conclusions based on this research?

 

[Island Drive]

So what were your conclusions based on this research?

Four fingers....some would add the pinkie on shots with very little swing speed. Its a side to side pinch, kinda like how Varner described it yrs ago with Briesath, like ''holding a can of soda'', not grabbing a can.