Getting a "good stroke" with the mechanical bridge

weakfingers

weakfingers

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Does anyone have tips on how to generate a confident, clean follow through with a mechanical bridge? It's something I've tried to work on, but I almost always hit soft or never get what I need out of the ball. Stun and rolling the ball (soft follow) has never really been an issue, but I guess the big issue is also pocketing the ball. It's more awkward than using my two hands to bridge and stroke the ball.

What do you do on mechanical bridge shots, pocketing the ball cleanly and getting action out of the CB?
 
Interesting. A mechanical bridge question coming from someone called weakfingers.

Firstly, whenever you can, set the bridge handle down on the table & still hold it it place.

Secondly, Hold the cue as it rests on the bridge in a dart throwing 'hold', that is, reverse your hand & hold the cue at the appropriate height (as low as you can) & position your elbow during practice strokes to where the cue moves in a straight line. (your forearm will prabably be about 45* with your elbow out away from your side)

Thirdly, don't over do it. By that I mean, only go for what is required & nothing more & don't expect miracles. It is a specialty type shot that most of us do not practice enough, if at all.

I would suggest that you practice all of the types of hits on the Cue ball that you would want to perform with the bridge.

Hope this helps. Good Luck.
 
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If you get one of those "cue extenders" (looks like a vacuum cleaner extension tube; slips over the butt of your cue), you can stroke normally with a mechanical bridge on many shots - the mechanical bridge acts like your normal bridge, just farther away.

pj
chgo
 
Great post Rick...and spot on (please don't faint! :grin:). To the OP...the mechanical bridge is not designed to 'power draw' the CB two table lengths. The mechanical bridge stroke, as ENGLISH described, is very loose, held dart style, with the elbow parallel to the table, and uses mostly wrist action to deliver the cue. Where many players have a tough time using the bridge to generate speed is gripping too tightly, and using the arm and shoulder to deliver the cue. PJ's suggestion of some kind of extension is a good one too.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

ENGLISH! said:
Interesting. A mechanical bridge question coming from someone called weakfingers.

Firstly, whenever you can, set the bridge handle down on the table & still hold it it place.

Secondly, Hold the cue as it rests on the bridge in a dart throwing 'hold', that is, reverse your hand & hold the cue at the appropriate height (as low as you can) & position your elbow during practice strokes to where the cue moves in a straight line. (your forearm will prabably be about 45* with your elbow out away from your side)

Thirdly, don't over do it. By that I mean, only go for what is required & nothing more & don't expect miracles. It is a specialty type shot that most of us do not practice enough, if at all.

I would suggest that you practice all of the types of hits on the Cue ball that you would want to perform with the bridge.

Hope this helps. Good Luck.
Click to expand...
 
Watch Corey Deuel videos. Probably the best I have ever seen with a mechanical bridge. Like Scott said loose wrist action.
 
Good posts by all. Me personally I don't have any issues using the bridge, and playing on a 9ft table all the time have to use it quite frequently. One of the main issues that many folks seem to run into is trying to do too much (power draw, power follow for example) and they miss the ball.

Just like anything else, practice makes you better. I would suggest, when you go to the hall (or if you have a table at home) practice 10-20 shots every time you play. I used to hate shots when I was jacked up over a ball. I shot 10-20 of them everytime I went to the hall and now it's just another shot.....no big deal. Practice with the bridge, using the form described by those posts previous, and you will get better.
 
Another great post! :thumbup: My first teacher (Frank Oliva) used to tell me to take 25% of my alloted practice time, and practice every shot using the mechanical bridge. To this day I have no trouble using it in almost any scenario.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

onepocketron said:
Good posts by all. Me personally I don't have any issues using the bridge, and playing on a 9ft table all the time have to use it quite frequently. One of the main issues that many folks seem to run into is trying to do too much (power draw, power follow for example) and they miss the ball.

Just like anything else, practice makes you better. I would suggest, when you go to the hall (or if you have a table at home) practice 10-20 shots every time you play. I used to hate shots when I was jacked up over a ball. I shot 10-20 of them everytime I went to the hall and now it's just another shot.....no big deal. Practice with the bridge, using the form described by those posts previous, and you will get better.
Click to expand...
 
As pat said...cue extender, plus, if you haven't already learned to shoot common stretch shots with your off hand... just do it.

It's simply better. It's easier to master, feels more natural, easier to get action on the cue ball, less chance of miscue or hopping the ball, easier to control speed and position...

There will always be situation where even going to the off hand won't work. But outside of those situations, just force yourself to do it every time the situation comes up. Going from "0 to competent" with your off hand won't take nearly as long as it did for your usual hand :) You'd be surprised at how much "feel" your brain can transfer to the off hand when it comes to choosing the cut angle, hitting the cue ball on the right spot, and hitting with the right speed.
 
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