Light Grip for playing pool.

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
I realize a couple of top players claim they play with a tight grip but most top players use far less than a tight grip.

I find myself occasionally clinching my cue during the stroke, especially on power shots and was wondering if an anti-clinching tool would come in handy. Maybe something like some coarse sand paper in the area where your stroking hand holds the butt of the cue.

Is there something else that might work to encourage you to not clinch during a power shot, that you an think of? (something practical)

Earl..... I mean JoeyA.
 
Ghosst said:
A cube of chalk between the index finger and thumb.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I've never tried holding a piece of chalk in either hand.

I've seen some people hold chalk in their bridge hand but don't recall seeing it in their stroking hand.
 
I don't have an idea for a tool, but I do find myself doing this on power shots sometimes. In my case, it's usually the result of going straight from my backstroke to my forward stroke making me feel like I need to grab the cue to pull it forwards. Paying a little extra attention to the pause at the end of my backstroke usually helps.
 
I imagine that I am holding a potato chip between my thumb and finger and I do not want to crush it. Coincidentally I do the same thing when I go running.
 
Tape tacks to where you grip the cue. They will poke your palms if you grip too hard:)
 
Matt said:
I don't have an idea for a tool, but I do find myself doing this on power shots sometimes. In my case, it's usually the result of going straight from my backstroke to my forward stroke making me feel like I need to grab the cue to pull it forwards. Paying a little extra attention to the pause at the end of my backstroke usually helps.
Click to expand...

Shannon.spronk said:
I imagine that I am holding a potato chip between my thumb and finger and I do not want to crush it. Coincidentally I do the same thing when I go running.
Click to expand...

Neat ideas. Thanks. The imaginary potato chip idea makes me smile.

Looking for that next million dollar tool. j/k

Thanks.,
JoeyA
 
actually joey...

JoeyA said:
I realize a couple of top players claim they play with a tight grip but most top players use far less than a tight grip.

I find myself occasionally clinching my cue during the stroke, especially on power shots and was wondering if an anti-clinching tool would come in handy. Maybe something like some coarse sand paper in the area where your stroking hand holds the butt of the cue.

Is there something else that might work to encourage you to not clinch during a power shot, that you an think of? (something practical)

Earl..... I mean JoeyA.
Click to expand...

Actually Joey I prototyped a device for exactly that and played with it for several years till I lost it.

I'll be making and producing and offering them on the market once I get my tips off the ground.

They conform to the thumb and fore and middle fingers and allow you to grip tight while still allowing the cue to be held in a way that it allows thw weight of the cue to do the work.

I had showed it to Max Eberle and he was interested in the concept.

Jaden
 
ive been experimenting with back grip hand lately. Ive been trying to pay attention to where the contact point is between index finger and cue, and also paying attention to pressure on contact point during stroke, and trying to maintain constant wrist angle when im getting down into stance, and in stance.

One of the problems i run into, which im trying to address, is with a light grip sometimes cue will shift in back hand slightly during stroke, cause me to miss. Also if my grip is too light when cue contacts cue ball, ill get a hit that is flat (almost like miscue) object ball wont throw as much, and it looks like i hit object ball too full (just didnt get as much english as i normally would).

Trying to maintain same contact point in regards to first knuckle on index finger and cue, has helped with my accuracy (or at least seems to have).

just ideas of stuff to experiment with, hope it helps some.
 
Best tip from a top player I've ever received was keep a CONSTANT grip pressure. Light works very well for me, has done more to improve my game than any other piece of advice.
 
Same

MOJOE said:
Best tip from a top player I've ever received was keep a CONSTANT grip pressure. Light works very well for me, has done more to improve my game than any other piece of advice.
Click to expand...

The same for me. I started using a light ( actually finger tip ) grip 4 years ago . It took awhile to become natural but was worth it, all aspects of my game have improved.
 
Jaden said:
Actually Joey I prototyped a device for exactly that and played with it for several years till I lost it.

I'll be making and producing and offering them on the market once I get my tips off the ground.

They conform to the thumb and fore and middle fingers and allow you to grip tight while still allowing the cue to be held in a way that it allows thw weight of the cue to do the work.

I had showed it to Max Eberle and he was interested in the concept.

Jaden
Click to expand...

That's cool. Keep me in the loop Jaden!

Come visit some time so we can compare notes on all the things we share in common.

Who knows I might come to the Swanee Tournament in February 2014 . :smile:

Thanks,
JoeyA
 
MOJOE said:
Best tip from a top player I've ever received was keep a CONSTANT grip pressure. Light works very well for me, has done more to improve my game than any other piece of advice.
Click to expand...

I may not qualify as a model for perfect pool mechanics, but I always used a medium grip...Not too tight, but not so loose, that the cue can drift around in my hand !...I never looked as good at the table, as an Ed Kelly, or Buddy Hall, but that was their philosophy too !..I always felt it was important to have the same level of consistency, in my grip, as in the rest of my set-up, and execution !
Early on, I even had a bit of a 'slip stroke'..I think when I got rid of that, it was my biggest jump toward becoming a better player..

This served me quite well for many years, until my advancing age finally turned me into a complete spastic !..I think I heard someone describe it something like this... Arnie, Player and Nicklaus, all played well, from tee to green, very late in their carreer's...But at some point, they all turned into a mass of jelly, when standing over a putt !...Bottom line, when the nerves go, perfect mechanic's ain't gonna save you, but they will help you last longer..

PS..Don't know if this qualifies as 'advice' but I guess I'm trying to say, develope good solid mechanics, as soon as possible, you'll have longer to enjoy the game, whatever your age or skill level..(right JoeyA ?).:wink:
 
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This,.......

JoeyA said:
I realize a couple of top players claim they play with a tight grip but most top players use far less than a tight grip.

I find myself occasionally clinching my cue during the stroke, especially on power shots and was wondering if an anti-clinching tool would come in handy. Maybe something like some coarse sand paper in the area where your stroking hand holds the butt of the cue.

Is there something else that might work to encourage you to not clinch during a power shot, that you an think of? (something practical)

Earl..... I mean JoeyA.
Click to expand...

Hey Earl,......... I mean Joey A. :grin:

I find that everytime I notice my breathing to be irregular and shallow, my grip is tight.:(

I lighten-up and all is well. :) (Usually) :D
 
Dunnn51 said:
Hey Earl,......... I mean Joey A. :grin:

I find that everytime I notice my breathing to be irregular and shallow, my grip is tight.:(

I lighten-up and all is well. :) (Usually) :D
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That is an interesting notice.
Thanks.

Maybe that's why you will see even Johnny Archer take a deep breath before one of those tough come-with-it shots.

JoeyA
 
SJDinPHX said:
I may not qualify as a model for perfect pool mechanics, but I always used a medium grip...Not too tight, but not so loose, that the cue can drift around in my hand !...I never looked as good at the table, as an Ed Kelly, or Buddy Hall, but that was their philosophy too !..I always felt it was important to have the same level of consistency, in my grip, as in the rest of my set-up, and execution !
Early on, I even had a bit of a 'slip stroke'..I think when I got rid of that, it was my biggest jump toward becoming a better player..

This served me quite well for many years, until my advancing age finally turned me into a complete spastic !..I think I heard someone describe it something like this... Arnie, Player and Nicklaus, all played well, from tee to green, very late in their carreer's...But at some point, they all turned into a mass of jelly, when standing over a putt !...Bottom line, when the nerves go, perfect mechanic's ain't gonna save you, but they will help you last longer..

PS..Don't know if this qualifies as 'advice' but I guess I'm trying to say, develope good solid mechanics, as soon as possible, you'll have longer to enjoy the game, whatever your age or skill level..(right JoeyA ?).:wink:
Click to expand...

You old dinosaur. What do you know about pool or solid mechanics? :D:grin-square::grin-devilish:

Ok, of course developing solid mechanics is what it's all about.

The thing is I have pretty solid mechanics. Every now and then I forget about this or that, just like I forget about holding the cue with the same amount of pressure throughout the stroke even on power shots.

I think that a device that signals you that you clinched the cue might help you develop solid mechanics or just remind you that you are clinching the cue.

I have an "product" idea, besides hitting another million balls to help me remember to keep the consistent pressure throughout the stroke. :wink:

Thanks AZ PEEPS!

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
especially on power shots and was wondering if an anti-clinching tool would come in handy. Maybe something like some coarse sand paper in the area where your stroking hand holds the butt of the cue.

Is there something else that might work to encourage you to not clinch during a power shot, that you an think of? (something practical)

Earl..... I mean JoeyA.
Click to expand...


It's all in your head. At least for me, regular sex will cure this problem right away. Karl :groucho:
 
Here's a tip I got from "so and so". Clinching the cue on power strokes is caused by your baby finger and palm gripping tightly and/or your forefinger and palm gripping too tightly. Somebody said using a piece of chalk between the forefinger and butt. Similar idea, but here's what I do...I use my middle finger as a cradle and concentrate on gripping with it.

If you use your middle finger, it's hard to twist the cue. Your little finger and your forefinger rest lightly on the cue and add only "touch", like CJ says. I heard Buddy uses his ring finger for guidance.

Check out a lot of pros and notice their forefingers and/or little fingers are slightly off of the cue on parts of their stroke. This helps eliminate dragging the cue behind you and off line on your backstroke. It also helps to keep the hand straight on the forward stroke.

When you first try it on a draw shot, you'll get all kinds of crazy feedback. This is good because it'll add to your understanding of what's causing your grip clenching. It'll also feel very strange, but you'll probably notice a more relaxed grip and follow through.

Best,
Mike
 
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