The Grip

Pidge

Pidge

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This is something I've worked on since I started playing. None of my fundamentals have changed much since I was in my mid teens, but the grip has been changed countless times. How do you grip?

Onto the grip its self. I have the cue running along the underside of the knuckles, then I close my index and thumb around so the V is flush up against the cue, and then wrap the other fingers around. My wrist is slightly cocked outwards and as I cue, the index finger, middle finger and thumb are the only fingers that stay in contact with the cue.

I believe the grip is not as important as some would have you believe. Watching the professionals in all cue sports not one has a grip the same. I've come to the conclusion that as long as you don't drop the cue, the straightness of the stroke isn't affected by the grip unless you twist the wrist. This is exactly a problem I had growing up. I thought my grip was causing me to cue slightly across the shot line but it wasn't, video analysis showed I had a tendency to curl the wrist in very slightly a few inches before I contacted the cue ball.
 
How do I grip?

Unless I am going to hit the cue ball hard, the cue rests in my curled front 3 fingers, with the thumb just barely touching the cue. Gravity does the work of holding the cue into the hand.

It is only as you add power to the stroke that your thumb adds just enough pressure so the cue accelerates with the hand. ANYTHING more is doing more harm than good; in my opinion.

You really do want the lightest touch you can while allowing the cue to settle in your hand.
 
I think the grip is mostly determined by the size of your hand and how much wrist you like to use in your stroke. As with other things, if its strait and comfortable, there is no reason to fix it.
 
Pidge said:
This is something I've worked on since I started playing. None of my fundamentals have changed much since I was in my mid teens, but the grip has been changed countless times. How do you grip?

Onto the grip its self. I have the cue running along the underside of the knuckles, then I close my index and thumb around so the V is flush up against the cue, and then wrap the other fingers around. My wrist is slightly cocked outwards and as I cue, the index finger, middle finger and thumb are the only fingers that stay in contact with the cue.

I believe the grip is not as important as some would have you believe. Watching the professionals in all cue sports not one has a grip the same. I've come to the conclusion that as long as you don't drop the cue, the straightness of the stroke isn't affected by the grip unless you twist the wrist. This is exactly a problem I had growing up. I thought my grip was causing me to cue slightly across the shot line but it wasn't, video analysis showed I had a tendency to curl the wrist in very slightly a few inches before I contacted the cue ball.
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With all due respect, i highly believe, that to be perfect pool player and have high constancy rate you have to be able to grip and master grip transition timing, during pre-shot warm ups, at pause, during back swing, and during forward swing. Extremely critical IMO.
 
I use what's comfortable. I don't use a very tight grip. Comfort keeps my stroke straight. When I use a rigid grip I feel my aim is negatively affected.
 
naji...Pidge is saying the same thing you are. He's just saying that "how" each person cradles the cue is not as important as maintaining the quality of the swing, and have a loose cradle. At least that's the way I read his post...and I happen to agree. :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

naji said:
With all due respect, i highly believe, that to be perfect pool player and have high constancy rate you have to be able to grip and master grip transition timing, during pre-shot warm ups, at pause, during back swing, and during forward swing. Extremely critical IMO.
Click to expand...
 
Scott Lee said:
naji...Pidge is saying the same thing you are. He's just saying that "how" each person cradles the cue is not as important as maintaining the quality of the swing, and have a loose cradle. At least that's the way I read his post...and I happen to agree. :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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You read it correctly, Scott :)

One thing that's baffled me in the post by Naji was grip transition timing...
 
Pidge said:
You read it correctly, Scott :)

One thing that's baffled me in the post by Naji was grip transition timing...
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Sorry Scott and Pidge,

Pidge says: "I believe the grip is not as important as some would have you believe"

I disagree, it is extremely important for consistency.

I added critical item "grip transition timing". essential for accuracy.
 
I have to consciously remember to keep my thumb pointed down during my stroke. My hand wants to naturally curl toward my body (thumb pointed slightly at my hip), which causes the cue to go offline during my stroke.
 
naji...What you're not getting is that Pidge says it's important to the individual, but it's diverse enough, that everybody is a little bit different...there's no "one size fits all". The key is to be consistent and repeatable, regardless of what kind of grip/cradle you use, and regardless of what your own sense of timiing is. What we teach is to find/create and measure your own personal shooting template, and practice that template until you can do it WITHOUT thinking! If there really is any "shortcut" to a repeatable stroke, this is it (SPF)! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
naji said:
Sorry Scott and Pidge,

Pidge says: "I believe the grip is not as important as some would have you believe"

I disagree, it is extremely important for consistency.

I added critical item "grip transition timing". essential for accuracy.
Click to expand...
 
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Scott Lee said:
naji...What you're not getting is that Pidge says it's important to the individual, but it's diverse enough, that everybody is a little bit different...there's no "one size fits all". The key is to be consistent and repeatable, regardless of what kind of grip/cradle you use, and regardless of what your own sense of timiing is. What we teach is to find/create and measure your own personal shooting template, and practice that template until you can do it WITHOUT thinking! If there really is any "shortcut" to a repeatable stroke, this is it (SPF)! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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Thanks Scott. For short range easy angle cuts I agree, for long range shots and snooker I strongly disagree. When and if I see you I will explain.
 
naji said:
Thanks Scott. For short range easy angle cuts I agree, for long range shots and snooker I strongly disagree. When and if I see you I will explain.
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I've played snooker all my life, and I can assure you there is no difference in the importance of the grip between snooker and pool. Whether you are cutting a shot that's 1ft or a shot that's 12ft, you need to deliver the cue along the line of the shot when using the centre ball, so again, the distance of the shot does not dictate the importance of the grip.
 
The transition is what makes a level cue possible for more than a short length using the pendulum stroke.... Granted if you are perfect on your setup and always strike the cue ball with your forearm perpendicular it's not needed... As I am always looking for a way to minimize errors and a transition in the grip will lengthen the sweet spot of the stroke... Hinging simply on the thumb, pointer and middle would shorten the level zone.....
 
The Renfro said:
The transition is what makes a level cue possible for more than a short length using the pendulum stroke.... Granted if you are perfect on your setup and always strike the cue ball with your forearm perpendicular it's not needed... As I am always looking for a way to minimize errors and a transition in the grip will lengthen the sweet spot of the stroke... Hinging simply on the thumb, pointer and middle would shorten the level zone.....
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Ah, so grip transition timing is when the fingers and/ or wrist adjust, ie come off the cue for fingers to keep the cue tip moving on a straight plane? Thanks for explaining, I've never heard it referred to as grip transition.

As for hinging the cue on the index,middle and thumb you are right. Not only is the flat straight part of the stroke small, it really limits how far you can pull the cue back if you have no movement in the wrist.
 
Pidge said:
Ah, so grip transition timing is when the fingers and/ or wrist adjust, ie come off the cue for fingers to keep the cue tip moving on a straight plane? Thanks for explaining, I've never heard it referred to as grip transition.

As for hinging the cue on the index,middle and thumb you are right. Not only is the flat straight part of the stroke small, it really limits how far you can pull the cue back if you have no movement in the wrist.
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The Renfro, did not say what he means is grip transition timing, and and it is not. Like I told Scott, I do not wish to discuss this on a chat. Thanks.
 
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naji said:
The Renfro, did not say what he means is grip transition timing, and and it is not. Like I told Scott, I do not wish to discuss this on a chat. Thanks.
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Good idea. Best to keep those gems to yourself, only to be released to the public via an over priced DVD.
 
I grip in a way that allows me to stroke the stick straight without ANY twisting movements on most shots.

That's about as much thought as I put into it.
 
Pidge said:
Good idea. Best to keep those gems to yourself, only to be released to the public via an over priced DVD.
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lol

I tend to agree with you, Pidge. In fact, I'd go as far to say that grip is one of those things that only becomes a problem (in the vast majority of cases) once you start to think about it. Hold the cue how it feels natural, don't twist your wrist, and you shouldn't have any issues, IMO.
 
SakuJack said:
lol

I tend to agree with you, Pidge. In fact, I'd go as far to say that grip is one of those things that only becomes a problem (in the vast majority of cases) once you start to think about it. Hold the cue how it feels natural, don't twist your wrist, and you shouldn't have any issues, IMO.
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That's exactly what problem I've had in the past. I put far too much thought into it than was needed and it became a real problem. I sort of created a problem that didn't exist.
 
I truly believe you only need the index finger and middle finger involved with the thumb in the grip .
The two fingers act as hooks to the cue while the thumb points down and applies little side pressure.
Upon contact with the cueball, the cue should slide forward freely ( on medium to hard strokes ).
 
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