A beginner's view of bridges

[bdorman]

I've been playing for 18 months. I started with an open bridge because it was recommended in the first couple of instructional videos I saw. I was perfectly happy with it and didn't see any reason to change.

One day I decided to take all my shots with a closed bridge just to see how it felt. For some reason it felt better to me. It's hard to describe, but it feels like I'm more in control of the cue. Maybe and probably psycosomatic. Also, the feeling might wear off as the newness wears off. (Due to arthritis in my neck, I don't "view" down the cue anyway so that's not much of a factor for me)

Do you think there's really a difference? As best I can determine the physics are the same except the closed bridge might offer more control at super-speeds that don't occur beyond the break shot.

Your thoughts?

 

[Cornerman]

I've been playing for 18 months. I started with an open bridge because it was recommended in the first couple of instructional videos I saw. I was perfectly happy with it and didn't see any reason to change.

One day I decided to take all my shots with a closed bridge just to see how it felt. For some reason it felt better to me. It's hard to describe, but it feels like I'm more in control of the cue. Maybe and probably psycosomatic. Also, the feeling might wear off as the newness wears off. (Due to arthritis in my neck, I don't "view" down the cue anyway so that's not much of a factor for me)

Do you think there's really a difference? As best I can determine the physics are the same except the closed bridge might offer more control and super-speeds that don't occur beyond the break shot.

Your thoughts?

Here's my standard answer that may or may not help.

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I'm open-hand heavy. But, I think that's because the top professionals that I saw most growing up (Rempe and Sigel) were open-hand heavy.

The progression goes something like this:

Can't make a bridge to save my life
Make an awkward open bridge
Make an awkward closed bridge
Make a good closed bridge
Re-incorporate a good open bridge
Use the open bridge a lot

Often times, a properly formed and used open hand bridge incorporated or re-incorporated into the overall American pool game can be a sign of advancement, as opposed to only thought of as a beginner's bridge. Those who only think of an open hand bridge as a beginner's bridge are missing something.

Most if not all top players use both open and closed. There really is no steadfast reason to use one over the other for most normal shots. You'll see more people close it for power and power spin shots, while they open up or finesse and stretched out reach shots.
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Freddie <~~~ it's about the troubled waters anyway

 

[prad]

I think a lot of players start with open bridge cuz its easier to "make" than closed one. I think it depends on the preference and what you are more comfortable with. I think it depends on type of game too like when playing snooker I use open bridge all the time, but when playing pool I switch b/w open and close bridge.

 

[ENGLISH!]

In The Hustler, Eddie said his game was off ablout 20% with the open bridge after his thumbs were broken. I would guess that that came from Mr. Mosconi, but I could be wrong.

It is very much about comfort & confidence. Personally, I am less comfortable with a closed bridge when hitting high on the ball & I only use it if I am going to be hitting hard with a lot of distance between the CB & the OB. However, I use a closed bridge on almost all shots when I am hitting low as it is both more comfortable & accurate as draw shots require that the tip stay low & hit where intended & does not come up at all.

I hope this helps you,

 

[allanpsand]

Most of the top snooker players use open bridges.

For myself, open bridges are used 65/35 for any shot on the center vertical (12:00 - stun - 6:00). It helps on long shots.

For any English (side spin) shot, I always use a closed bridge. This is to reduce what I call "tip splatter" - the tip bouncing off to the side on the tip/ball contact.

 

[Nine ... corner]

In The Hustler, Eddie said his game was off ablout 20% with the open bridge after his thumbs were broken. I would guess that that came from Mr. Mosconi, but I could be wrong.

Yeah, it must have been Mosconi's input which says he was a fan of the closed bridge. I'm an old timer and learned (apparently not that well ... lol) the game 50+ years ago from my father and he taught me a closed bridge. Now I'm working with my grandson and stressing a closed bridge. I do use an open bridge when appropriate but that seems to only be about 10% of the time.

 

[bigshooter]

A closed bridge gives you more feedback from your cue. You can 'feel' the hit resonate through your hand and arm. I like the closed bridge, I enjoy the feel of it but i use both as the situation dictates.

 

[bdorman]

If your stroke is great, I don't believe there is much of a difference.

Then it makes a LOT of difference for me

Here's my standard answer that may or may not help.

----------------------------------------------------

I'm open-hand heavy. But, I think that's because the top professionals that I saw most growing up (Rempe and Sigel) were open-hand heavy.

The progression goes something like this:

Can't make a bridge to save my life
Make an awkward open bridge
Make an awkward closed bridge
Make a good closed bridge
Re-incorporate a good open bridge
Use the open bridge a lot

I suspect this will be the case with me: "new" is better, but it wears off and comes into balance in time.

BTW, what is "open-handed heavy" ?

For any English (side spin) shot, I always use a closed bridge. This is to reduce what I call "tip splatter" - the tip bouncing off to the side on the tip/ball contact.

Makes a lot of sense, thanks!

A closed bridge gives you more feedback from your cue. You can 'feel' the hit resonate through your hand and arm. I like the closed bridge, I enjoy the feel of it but i use both as the situation dictates.

I think you nailed what I'm feeling; it's the "more feedback" aspect that is attracting me to the closed bridge.

 

[SloMoHolic]

Interesting viewpoints. Thanks all for contributing your thoughts.

I use an open bridge 90% of the time. I switch to a closed bridge only when I need to hit so hard I know my stroke will be questionable (including the break). Obviously, I use a closed bridge for vertical masse shots.

One post mentioned getting better feedback through the closed bridge. Oddly, I like the open bridge for a similar reason: I think I get more feedback in my grip hand from the vibrations and impact. It seems like a more pure feedback because it only involves the cue, the stroke, and the cue ball.

I mentioned in another thread that I occasionally shoot one-handed to keep my stroke smooth. I like the open bridge for the same reason. If I can't rely on a closed bridge to guide the cue, my stroke will reveal any flaws (and then I can try to fix them).

Another interesting contrast of opinions: another post mentioned the closed bridge preventing the cue from whipping away after contact. I'm not sure, but I believe that allowing the cue to whip would seem to reduce squirt (by allowing for more shaft deflection).

I certainly let the cue bounce wherever it wants to go. That's why my draw shots sound funny - the tip literally bounces on the cloth after contact.

I'd be interested to see what you guys and gals think about these ideas.

-Blake

 

[Andrew Manning]

For any English (side spin) shot, I always use a closed bridge. This is to reduce what I call "tip splatter" - the tip bouncing off to the side on the tip/ball contact.

Unless you're using a bridge length less than 5 or 6 inches (which is very unusual), this is in your head. The tip will deflect to the side the same amount regardless of your bridge, given the same cue, same amount of english, and same speed of stroke.

On the other hand, 90% of the game is all in your head, so it could honestly still be important to your game.

-Andrew

 

[Andrew Manning]

Do you think there's really a difference? As best I can determine the physics are the same except the closed bridge might offer more control at super-speeds that don't occur beyond the break shot.

Your thoughts?

The difference is in which one makes you more comfortable with the shot you're playing.

That said, an open bridge offers an uninterrupted line of sight down the cue, which is the primary reason snooker players use it. But the importance of this line of sight varies from person to person. Ultimately the bridge that makes you comfortable and allows you to stroke confidently and smoothly is the one you're going to be most effective with.

-Andrew

 

[Andrew Manning]

I mentioned in another thread that I occasionally shoot one-handed to keep my stroke smooth. I like the open bridge for the same reason. If I can't rely on a closed bridge to guide the cue, my stroke will reveal any flaws (and then I can try to fix them).

I've heard this a lot, and never understood it. Assuming you're not lifting the cue up out of your open bridge, then open and closed will both "guide" the cue in exactly the same way. I guess if you ARE lifting the cue up out of your open bridge, then that would definitely qualify as a flaw you'd want to address.

Another interesting contrast of opinions: another post mentioned the closed bridge preventing the cue from whipping away after contact. I'm not sure, but I believe that allowing the cue to whip would seem to reduce squirt (by allowing for more shaft deflection).

Squirt is only generated during the tip/ball contact, which is very very short. Any controlling of tip deflection done after this contact ends is like controlling the recoil of a gun. The bullet doesn't care; it's already on its way.

If you did manage to grip the cue with a closed bridge so tightly and so close to the tip that you prevented the tiny amount of tip deflection that occurs during the tip/ball contact period, this would indeed amplify CB squirt. But I think it's impossible to actually do that, so it doesn't end up being relevant in the real world.

-Andrew

 

[Fatboy]

Most of the top snooker players use open bridges.

thats also because they have very steep conical tapers on snooker cues. a closed bridge on a proper snooker cue would decelerate the farther you stroke the cue, the closed bridge would impede the velocity of the cue, your looped over finger is basically acting as a break on a snooker cue.

also to a lesser extent there are 4 contact points with a snooker cue your right hand, chest, chin and left bridge hand-for a right handed player(with proper coaching and training this is the common method to bring up great players), thus making it unnecessary to have a finger over the conical shaft that blocks the line of the shot, they use their chin to keep the cue level and also cue the ball much better than we do, i have played top snooker players and they can blast the balls super hard with a open bridge but after years of practice.

For pool in america we have longer tapers on our shafts, so the closed bridge dont slow the cue down. and dont in most cases use our chin's(i have seen very few pool players ever do this) on the cue for down force(for lack of a better word). And the precision required in snooker is much higher than pool. And yes IMO you can see the line of a shot better with a open bridge.

comparing snooker to pool for bridging is apples to oranges,

To address the OP:
in pool its necessary to be able to do both, to get the most out of your game/potential as a player. using just a open bridge like you saw in that video is cool, i know what you saw and its a good video-he also cant close his hand from injuries and has 20-25 years of practice using open bridges. thats not the usual case, look at SVB and see what he does or Alex, they use both. learning both ways is best,


best

eric

 

[Fatboy]

Another interesting contrast of opinions: another post mentioned the closed bridge preventing the cue from whipping away after contact. I'm not sure, but I believe that allowing the cue to whip would seem to reduce squirt (by allowing for more shaft deflection).

I certainly let the cue bounce wherever it wants to go. That's why my draw shots sound funny - the tip literally bounces on the cloth after contact.

I'd be interested to see what you guys and gals think about these ideas.

-Blake

truthfully? If your letting your cue bounce? and your cue is whipping around or you "figured a way" to stop it whipping. you really need to go to a good instructor ASAP!!!! I played for 2-3 years on and off doing everything wrong possible from 82/83-85 and learned lots of bad habits, 30 years later they still show up, granted its very rare now but I promise you that if I learned good fundamentals from day 1, i'd play one hell of a lot better now. it took years to un-learn all that bad shit, and that time was lost and you never get it back. Dont make the mistake i made(back when i got started there was no lessons to speak of) there is now, and if your interested in playing better get lessons on fundamentals first then aiming in a year or 2.

you will be glad you did, or your just going to bang, bounce and whip things around and not play pool very well and that get's old.

best of luck to you

eric

 

[AlexandruM]

I start my pool journey with open bridge, now I'm using closed bridge on 90% of my shots. With closed bridge I feel my follow and draw shots are much better. However, the both types are OK.

My question is why many Pros are using a modified open bridge (with thumb sticked to index) instead a classical (snooker) one?