Cue Balance Point/Grasp Preference

Pangit

Pangit

Banned
I'm 5'9", play with a 58". I hold my cue at the very butt, normally resting my little finger in the middle of the rubber bumper. Very loose--finger tips only. I often times nearly "throw" the cue and catch it in stroke. I like a butt heavy cue. That's my "preference"

Polar opposite.

I have a good friend that is 6' 4" and holds his cue close to the top of the "wrap", if you if you play with linen? The guy has a "death grip" on his cue. Ted Nugent, it's a stranglehold. I don't see how he get's any action from his wrist? He's pretty darn good. He likes a more center balanced cue.
 
Well im 5'9 as well but my grip is towards the middle of the wrap this is where i find my forarm at 90 degrees and my tip allmost touching the cueball.

To each there own..........
 
I have been taught that the properties of the cue stick have no bearing on where we are suppose to "grip" it.

When your cue tip is resting at the cue ball, our back hand should fall directly below our elbow. Players with different arm measurements would all hold the cue stick in a different place.

randyg
 
randyg said:
I have been taught that the properties of the cue stick have no bearing on where we are suppose to "grip" it.

When your cue tip is resting at the cue ball, our back hand should fall directly below our elbow. Players with different arm measurements would all hold the cue stick in a different place.

randyg[/QUOTE

I originally learned to hold the cue in the vicinity of the balance point as per the Mosconi Red Book. Quite a few years ago I switched to the same philosophy as Randy prescribes above. Where you hold the cue will vary depending on the type of shot, arm measurements, and bridge length. I grip the cue by lightly cradling it in the crook of my fingers. That's it in a nutshell.

Gerry S
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TheBook said:
Earl uses a 10ft pole. :thumbup:

Wonder if what kind of case he uses?
Click to expand...

It's a Thule car rooftop rack, with bungee cords and those little fluorescent orange hazard flags to attach at each end of the cue.

:p
-Sean
 
I like my balance point at 19 1/12 to 19 3/4. I am 5 foot 7 on a good day and hold my cue with my hand directly below my elbow, that's how I was taught and that's what I taught years ago.

Holding at the balance point like some very old methods teach was designed for the old neutrally balanced fat butt cues I believe.
 
I think that the length of a persons arms has more to do with the place a person grips the cue rather than height. Some tall folks have shorter arm spans than shorter folks. I am about 5'8" and the distance between my finertips when my arms are outstretched is 6'. My playing cue is a 59" and my hand is behind the wrap on the butt. I am having a new 59" cue made with no wrap as I do not really need a wrap other than for looks. Frank Stellman (sailor cues) was the one that convinced me to go to the 59" cue. He watched me shoot straight pool for two hours with saying much then said I should use a 59" cue.
 
I'm 5'4" and prefer the balance point to be in the 16" to 18" range. One of my original sneakies has a 16" balance point and feels great. Since I don't have the reach that most players do....I feel more in control on shots that I am stretched out on with the balance point in the back. As for grip placement on the cue, that is more dependent on the shot as it differs from shooting off the rail to being at center table.
 
Quesports said:
I think that the length of a persons arms has more to do with the place a person grips the cue rather than height. Some tall folks have shorter arm spans than shorter folks. I am about 5'8" and the distance between my finertips when my arms are outstretched is 6'. My playing cue is a 59" and my hand is behind the wrap on the butt. I am having a new 59" cue made with no wrap as I do not really need a wrap other than for looks. Frank Stellman (sailor cues) was the one that convinced me to go to the 59" cue. He watched me shoot straight pool for two hours with saying much then said I should use a 59" cue.
Click to expand...


Sounds like you might even consider a 60 inch.

You got some long arms!

After shooting with a 58 for over 25 years I recently tried a 57....it felt great! I have short arms.
 
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Chopdoc said:
Sounds like you might even consider a 60 inch.

You got some long arms!

After shooting with a 58 for over 25 years I recently tried a 57....it felt great! I have short arms.
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Hey Doc, Just saw this and I tried a 60" cue once but it felt awkward for some reason. Another point is where your bridge hand is located in relation to the cueball. My hand is generally between 6'' and 8" away so my cue takeaway is fairly compact which seems to help with my accuracy. The further away I get the longer my takeaway becomes and my accuracy tends to suffer...
 
I'm 6' 2" and use a 59" cue.

Where your holding your cue has to do with your bridge distance from the cue ball, should be 10" to 12" max. on most shots and how far down you are bent over the shot. On some shots the bridge hand will be closer to the cue ball. When I bend over my chin is about 4" to 5" above the cue.

How many pros have you seen with there grip hand is directly under their elbow? One player that comes to mind is SVB his grip is way forward of 90 deg.

When your down on the shot you should be able to feel the cue in the palm of your hand when addressing the cue ball, then relax the grip and let the cue settle into your fingers (craddle) because when the cue makes contact with the cue ball your hand will gently close.

I use different lenghts of stroke thru the cue ball while maintaning the same cue stick speed so my grip will change on the wrap on most shots. I dont pay a whole lot of attention whether my shooting arm is under my elbow I just know where to grip the cue for the proper length follow thru to my end of stroke. Could be anywhere from 2" to 12" thru the cue ball.

If your a shorter player, I dont see how you can be anywhere near the end of the cue with a grip. Unless of course your standing more erect.

John
 
randyg said:
I have been taught that the properties of the cue stick have no bearing on where we are suppose to "grip" it.

When your cue tip is resting at the cue ball, our back hand should fall directly below our elbow. Players with different arm measurements would all hold the cue stick in a different place.

randyg
Click to expand...

My back hand is right under my elbow it's what I refer to as 90 degrees. It's the Samething as you do
 
27 years ago I also read from Mosconi's book that the optimum place to hold is exactly 6 inches behind the balance point. 27 years ago the stance was more upright, and sticks were 2 inches shorter.

bflgvs said:
randyg said:
I have been taught that the properties of the cue stick have no bearing on where we are suppose to "grip" it.

When your cue tip is resting at the cue ball, our back hand should fall directly below our elbow. Players with different arm measurements would all hold the cue stick in a different place.

randyg[/QUOTE

I originally learned to hold the cue in the vicinity of the balance point as per the Mosconi Red Book. Quite a few years ago I switched to the same philosophy as Randy prescribes above. Where you hold the cue will vary depending on the type of shot, arm measurements, and bridge length. I grip the cue by lightly cradling it in the crook of my fingers. That's it in a nutshell.

Gerry S
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
randyg said:
I have been taught that the properties of the cue stick have no bearing on where we are suppose to "grip" it.

When your cue tip is resting at the cue ball, our back hand should fall directly below our elbow. Players with different arm measurements would all hold the cue stick in a different place.

randyg
Click to expand...
Ah but if the Cuemaker and build a cue to match your grip location and a combination that rings. That's what I look for.

Feedback changes with grip location.
 
Ill go with Hal Mix's thoughts on this one

Billy Incardonia holds his cue like this as well. And he was one of the fierceist gamblers around. between the thumb and second finger- rest of fingers point straight down. (thumb can rest on top too. A lot of hal's book ,I don't go along with but- he's spot on on the grip. You hold the cue foreward or back of the balance pt- depending on the shot. Find the pivot point! 59 -64 inch cues are being made. they help with reach andkeeping your arm in the correct position when traveling over the table.
 
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Pangit said:
I'm 5'9", play with a 58". I hold my cue at the very butt, normally resting my little finger in the middle of the rubber bumper. Very loose--finger tips only. I often times nearly "throw" the cue and catch it in stroke. I like a butt heavy cue. That's my "preference"

Polar opposite.

I have a good friend that is 6' 4" and holds his cue close to the top of the "wrap", if you if you play with linen? The guy has a "death grip" on his cue. Ted Nugent, it's a stranglehold. I don't see how he get's any action from his wrist? He's pretty darn good. He likes a more center balanced cue.
Click to expand...

Ummm,,,so what.
 
ctyhntr said:
27 years ago I also read from Mosconi's book that the optimum place to hold is exactly 6 inches behind the balance point. 27 years ago the stance was more upright, and sticks were 2 inches shorter.


and Willie was 5'5".
randyg
Click to expand...
 
My left hand seems to naturally gravitate to a position 6-8" behind the balance point no matter what the cue weight.
 
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