cluelesscuer
New member
How do you know if your bridge length is too short and how do you know if your bridge length is too long?
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Bridge length
- Thread starter cluelesscuer
- Start date
Its too short if you can't see the tip! LOL. Seriously though...its impossible to have a bridge lenght of any one length. It is constantly altered by obstructing object balls, cue ball froze to rail, etc. If you are looking for a "go to" bridge lenght, I would say find the pivot point of your cue and use that for long cut shots with english. Hitting center cue ball, the bridge length means a little less if your stroke is pretty strait. Practice different bridge lengths. They all come up from time to time.
Bridge length is comparable to a selection of golf clubs in a golf bag. Try breaking a rack of balls with a 4'' bridge distance, and then try it with a 9'' distance. As the distance increases between your bridge hand and the cue ball, so does ones ability to increase cue ball speed and spin (and errors are magnified). But to learn to play with a Looooooooooooooong bridge all the time, at first like many pros do, is NOT the way to learn. The further away your hand is from the cue ball, the more difficult it will be to control, which is NOT what beginners need. A PERFECT example is this, if your shooting a ball straight in the side, and your only 2'' away from the ball, WHY would one choose a 12'' bridge distance? That would be like, putting and using a driver.
If you want to see a player utilize the proper bridge length for different shots, watch some of the old Buddy Hall matches. The differences are Very subtle, but in pool everything is VERY subtle, with dramatic effects when speed/speed are increased.
If you want to see a player utilize the proper bridge length for different shots, watch some of the old Buddy Hall matches. The differences are Very subtle, but in pool everything is VERY subtle, with dramatic effects when speed/speed are increased.
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No such thing as a bridge that's too short or too long. Just like there is no right place to grip the cue. The two interact quite nicely though. If you grip the cue 12 inches from the butt, and have say an 11 inch bridge length then as you start reaching for shots and grip the cue say, 8 inches from the butt you want to try bridge at around 15 inches so it feels normal. Some instances pop up where you can't bridge where you'd like, so you have to improvise and for longer or shorter, just remember to adjust the back hands position when you do.
As another user mentioned, find your cues pivot point. Mark the point on your shaft and try bridging on that if its not too uncomfortable. It makes a lot of difference when you add unintentional side spin, and most times you can still make the ball with a cueing error.
As another user mentioned, find your cues pivot point. Mark the point on your shaft and try bridging on that if its not too uncomfortable. It makes a lot of difference when you add unintentional side spin, and most times you can still make the ball with a cueing error.
You need to answer the following:
Are you using cue weight or your muscles to accelerate the cue?
Do you pause, or shoot your final with no pause at all?
it is too long
Most casual players use too long of a bridge length. Also, very few players including shortstops hit the cue ball where they intend to. I suspect this applies to many pros too but I haven't had a chance to sample their point of aim and impact points.
Too long of a bridge, looking at the object ball last, and not hitting the cue ball where you intend to are all related. Shorten the bridge, play angles and speed to avoid extreme english when the shot is already difficult, and remember looking at the cue ball last can work as well as looking at the object ball last. A few pros say they look at the cue ball last including some of the best. However watching video of some of the pros that say they look at the object ball last reveals a shift of their eyes to the cue ball as they start the final stroke also.
Use what works for you but many players make the game needlessly difficult with an overly long bridge. If you have to ask this question chances are your bridge is too long from copying what you see others do. Most of them are using too long of a bridge for their skills too!
Hu
Most casual players use too long of a bridge length. Also, very few players including shortstops hit the cue ball where they intend to. I suspect this applies to many pros too but I haven't had a chance to sample their point of aim and impact points.
Too long of a bridge, looking at the object ball last, and not hitting the cue ball where you intend to are all related. Shorten the bridge, play angles and speed to avoid extreme english when the shot is already difficult, and remember looking at the cue ball last can work as well as looking at the object ball last. A few pros say they look at the cue ball last including some of the best. However watching video of some of the pros that say they look at the object ball last reveals a shift of their eyes to the cue ball as they start the final stroke also.
Use what works for you but many players make the game needlessly difficult with an overly long bridge. If you have to ask this question chances are your bridge is too long from copying what you see others do. Most of them are using too long of a bridge for their skills too!
Hu
Experiment. It's different for everyone and each shot.
How long are your arms?
How tall are you?
What stance do you use?
What game do you prefer?
randyg
I was going to comment last night and tell you that your physical build can dictate your bridge - but Randy has that covered already :thumbup:
So, I'll give you my example for reference:
I'm 6'3, 220 lbs, pretty long arms, and I grip the cue behind the wrap: damn near at the butt of the shaft, and my bridge length is about 12-13 inches.
Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
So, I'll give you my example for reference:
I'm 6'3, 220 lbs, pretty long arms, and I grip the cue behind the wrap: damn near at the butt of the shaft, and my bridge length is about 12-13 inches.
Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
Hi Randy long time no see, as you know Lucy's where i met you is closed, we shifted to Hi Cue in Arlington, great tables, and "pool hall" Spanish customers mostly, except at league times. I will PM my phone if you ever come to the area.
I have to run now, i will answer you in the evening, but basically "long pause" near cb!.
Later