Value of developing a closed bridge...

[Scott Lee]

droveto...The cue will not "line up" any differently, regardless of whether you use a closed or open bridge. Both bridges serve a purpose, as do the other 3bridges we use. IMO, you need a good video analysis of your stroke process. If you're interested, I will be in the Boston area soon, and can come work with you in Somerville. PM me with contact information, if you're interested.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I don't have any issue with the sliding of the cue when using a closed bridge. I just think the cue lines up slightly more to the inside of my body using a closed bridge making the aiming lines appear different to me when in shooting position and I'm unable to see the line of aim confidently.
I think I want to try and find a good teacher to take some lessons with in developing a few things. I played drums quite seriously and finding a master to guide me improved my technique and facility incredibly and I imagine the same is true for the game of pool...

 

[elvicash]

I think a developed closed bridge is a great tool that all great players will have available. I think you can see better with the open bridge. Closed bridge helps with power strokes, draw shots etc. I think most player could learn alot about what they can improve with a good lesson on any specific item including the bridge. Most of these parts/tools can be improved with knowledge and effort. A player does not need a closed bridge on a majority of shots but if you are going to use a closed bridge make it a great bridge.

Here is some thoughts to think about.

Question do you have any weight /pressure on the bed of the table with your bridge hand. Meaning do you press the bridge or does it float.

Do you lock your closed bridge via rolling the thumb up ala Daly or not?

Is your bridge hand neutral, supinated or attenuated or do you know?

Is the palm of the hand on the bed of the table or is the thumb portion up.

How much of the bridge index finger is captured by the thumb or is it even captured at all.

Do you actually have a channel for the cue, is it repeatable.

These are some items you can think about and develop.

 

[Donny Lutz]

elvicash has it nailed!

I think a developed closed bridge is a great tool that all great players will have available. I think you can see better with the open bridge. Closed bridge helps with power strokes, draw shots etc. I think most player could learn alot about what they can improve with a good lesson on any specific item including the bridge. Most of these parts/tools can be improved with knowledge and effort. A player does not need a closed bridge on a majority of shots but if you are going to use a closed bridge make it a great bridge.

Here is some thoughts to think about.

Question do you have any weight /pressure on the bed of the table with your bridge hand. Meaning do you press the bridge or does it float.

Do you lock your closed bridge via rolling the thumb up ala Daly or not?

Is your bridge hand neutral, supinated or attenuated or do you know?

Is the palm of the hand on the bed of the table or is the thumb portion up.

How much of the bridge index finger is captured by the thumb or is it even captured at all.

Do you actually have a channel for the cue, is it repeatable.

These are some items you can think about and develop.

Agree. Best answer yet.
I used a closed bridge for 37 years until I learned the advantages of an open bridge from my teammate, Jimmy Scrima. Like Jimmy (when he was still with us), I use the open bridge for most shots, closed for power strokes. Adopting the open bridge definitely raised my game a notch, and I had my best three years from 1992-1995.

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor

 

[Saimaja]

I use closed bridge at 95% of my shots, just feels more natural for me.
No issues with sliding, since i use carnabau wax on my shafts...

Really only gimes i use open bridge is when CB is close to rail.

Jarno

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I honestly don't think there's a shot you can't hit with either and I don't think there's any real advantage outside of mental to either as well.

Ditto.

I'm completely comfortable with a closed bridge, but the only time I use it is when there isn't room to comfortably make an open bridge. I shoot all shots effectively with an open bridge, including high speed follow/draw, extreme sidespin, even jumps and masse.

On some of these shots (especially hard follow and draw) the shaft jumps out of my open "v" bridge after contacting the CB. This doesn't affect the shot and doesn't bother me, because the results are just as good as with a closed bridge. But I can see how it could be distracting and undermine confidence in the open bridge for some. I think this is the main problem people have with the open bridge, and they interpret it (wrongly) as affecting some shots.

Most people say they can see better where they're aiming the cue with an open bridge, but there are other benefits too. One in particular is that it's more flexible than a closed bridge - you can raise and lower it more. (However, it deserves to be pointed out here that the lowest possible bridge is a "fist" bridge, which is a version of the closed bridge.)

pj
chgo

 

[Bambu]

I use a closed bridge for power shots, and for any shot I cant reach comfortably. Other than that, I find myself inexplicably switching back and forth. There are advantages to both styles, but I think its a comfort thing. An open bridge isnt gonna hold any league player back from reaching the highest level. Unless he has trouble with power shots that he cant correct, I would think he would be better off spending his time in other areas.

 

[alstl]

It is hard if you are used to an open bridge. I use it sometimes on long draw shots but it doesn't feel natural.

 

[sfleinen]

[...]
On some of these shots (especially hard follow and draw) the shaft jumps out of my open "v" bridge after contacting the CB. This doesn't affect the shot and doesn't bother me, because the results are just as good as with a closed bridge. But I can see how it could be distracting and undermine confidence in the open bridge for some. I think this is the main problem people have with the open bridge, and they interpret it (wrongly) as affecting some shots.
[...]
pj
chgo

Pat:

The same thing happens with extreme draw ("power draw") shots, if one has a natural pendulum stroke. In a pendulum stroke, the natural "dive" of the tip to the cloth after contact with the cue ball, causes the whole cue to lift up out of the open bridge on the follow-through. That is, unless, one uses a piston or scissor stroke to keep the cue traveling in a level/straight line through the cue ball. Or else they modify their stroke in some way (e.g. a bit of elbow drop) such that the cue tip doesn't dive into the cloth.

A closed bridge obviously prevents the "kick up" of the cue when the tip meets the cloth.

But I agree; being proficient with BOTH the open and closed bridges are key to good pool. It certainly isn't a "one size fits all" answer.

-Sean

 

[PocketCharles]

I only played with closed bridge at first... fell in love with it. Then I found myself getting really nervous at tournaments and would get sweaty hands and it pretty much forced me to start using an open bridge haha I use both now and have been playing much better since

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Me:
On some of these shots (especially hard follow and draw) the shaft jumps out of my open "v" bridge after contacting the CB.

Sean:
The same thing happens with extreme draw ("power draw") shots, if one has a natural pendulum stroke.

Yes. As you can see from the bolded part above, I agree. I think it's mostly because the shaft is bent downward and then springs back up, but agree "bouncing" off the table surface might also be a factor.

pj
chgo