The v line on your bridge hand

Sorry Larry.

It seems your thread will be killed by the trolling.

PS I was going to PM you but maybe this will get your thread back on course.

I checked my closed bridge this morning intending to PM you, as I said, & I found that my closed bridge is sort of in the middle of your examples. My hand is rotated a bit counter clockwise but not as much as your first pick & my middle finger (the one I should probably give some people) is out more like in your second pic.

I posted in Colin's thread regarding another issue about how our hand hangs at an individual angle to our body. We are different individuals & that is why a cookie cutter approach does not always work for some. It is the same in golf, tennis, baseball, etc.

Here's the video I relayed for the other issue. It may help here too with a little thought.

https://youtu.be/BPn3Wzp4NT8
 
Last edited:
First, I want to say thanks to ENGLISH for the compliment. It really means a lot. We don't know each other at all other than posting and I'm grateful that he appreciates my posts. I try hard and try to be thoughtful.

When someone asks a question, sometimes I see the answer clearly and I answer right away, but other times I like to chew on it for a few days before I answer. That's my process. Even during a lesson, if I'm not certain about something, I have no problem telling the player that I'll think about it and will get back to them with an answer.

So Larry, after chewing on this for awhile, I want to add another suggestion regarding the bridge. Some players like to press down firmly on the third finger with the loop finger. This tightens up the loop around the cue stick and presses the third finger into the cloth. Some people talk about this as if it's a new technique. It's not new. Ray Martin taught me this in the late '70's.

I did it for awhile, but I found that it hurts over time. Maybe I was pressing too hard but my fingers were killing me by the end of the day. But I do use it when I need absolute precision and have little or no margin for error on a shot.

My preferred method is something I picked up from studying the great Loree Jon Jones. In her prime, she was one of the most consistent players ever, and I mean EVER. Yes, she was THAT good.

Loree Jon leans the loop finger forward (away from her). It helps keep the position of the shaft secure without putting pressure on your fingers. I loved it as soon as I tried it, and I still bridge that way today.
 
Last edited:
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

You've earned the compliment, Fran & I don't hand them out too generously.

Now can we ALL please keep Larry's thread on topic instead of trying to get an emotional response out of me, which is part of the definition of trolling.

I'll add to Fran's post that a change that I made was to apply a downward pressure of the shaft onto my bridge hand & that too stabilizes the cue for the shot but... as Fran said continually doing the likes of that can cause discomfort. So, like Fran I am selective as to when I do it.

Also one probably can not do it as I do if they are using a loose connection to the cue along with a pendulum type stroke. But for those using more of a piston type stroke with a grip more like a tennis grip as CJ Wiley has described, it can work quite well. I stumbled upon it when learning TOI after CJ introduced it here & I gravitated to a more firm connection to the cue.
 
Last edited:
i asked my question in a general way so as not to bias anyone for the reasons of my question
i must digress alittle first
when i was starting to get more serious about pool several years ago
my stance was much more sideways than now and my right arm was farther away from the shot line
my open bridge v line was across the shot line as was my closed bridge
hunter lombardo did alot to help my stance and alignment issues
what was interesting to me was the V of my open bridge NATURALLY began to fall on the shot line as my stance and alignment improved
now to the thread
the bottom bridge is the bridge i have always used
i noticed over several months that the V of my closed bridge had started to shift towards the shot line
.............
i need to digress again sorry
i am left eye dominant /right handed and often see the cue tip pointed to the left of the shot line on straight in shots
so i will sometimes pivot the cue to make it look straight which results in a miss
if i align get down and shoot i do pretty well
so i have come to "trust " the crooked look
i also have a tendency to get unwanted left spin on straight in stop shots...
i know this is a visual center problem
but
i began to think if i lined up with the closed bridge V along the shot line it would give me another visual and a "tract" to stay on line and not let my eyes betray me
shooting stop shots with my eyes closed or someone blocking my visual of the object ball after i set i get much less unintentional spin and a good success rate
......
the "new"bridge definitey definitely doesnt feel as solid /stable yet since ive only been playing around with it for a short while
but as i am adjusting its starting to get more comfortable asi tweak it
as an aside the stop shots are improving
could be because i am really concentrating now on seeing straigh and shooting straight
.....
my feeling is i think this will help me find my vision center more consistently
if only in an indirect way
at that point i think as long as the bridge is stable /comfortable/and provides a secure channel for the cuestick it should be ok
.......
so what i surmise from the replies
the V line is not that important in the general sense
and fran thanks for offering specifics on the closed bridge
i will keep them in mind
........
thanks to all for the replies
now that you know the whole story (sorry for being so long winded..:o)
here is the next question
do you think my trying to force the V on the shot line will help correct my tendency to have the stick appear (or is) going from right to left of the shot line???
 
Last edited:
..................
here is the next question
do you think my trying to force the V on the shot line will help correct my tendency to have the stick appear (or is) going from right to left of the shot line???

It may. But, you would be better served to work on your body alignment and have it work in conjunction with your vision alignment. If your hand is slightly turned, and you are relying on your bridge hand to verify you are straight, you might start out physically straight and then change it to crooked because of your hand not being placed perfectly.

Your best bet is to find your vision center, where you see a straight line as straight, and then form your alignment around it.
 
I am not paranoid & what would it have to do with in this instance?

Yes & every time I have been banned it was when I engaged the trolls like you because I don't like lies or being lied about. So in that regard, I have shown myself to be very predictable & the trolls have used & taken advantage of that.

You say I'm predictable as though you were correct in this instance but you were wrong. That is how self absorbed delusional you & your like are.

There is a difference between being confident & being an arrogant egomaniac.

You & some others are of the second variety.

Have a nice life, but I doubt it, although in your delusional eyes it will be.

Can you not see that the comments in red are all statements that are against the general rules and are bannable offenses? Will you ever learn? I hope so for your sake, because this board seems pretty important to you or you wouldn't have made over 10,000 posts on it in just a few years (most of them spent in "time out").
 
It may. But, you would be better served to work on your body alignment and have it work in conjunction with your vision alignment. If your hand is slightly turned, and you are relying on your bridge hand to verify you are straight, you might start out physically straight and then change it to crooked because of your hand not being placed perfectly.

Your best bet is to find your vision center, where you see a straight line as straight, and then form your alignment around it.

I agree with Neil.

Let the eyes lead the body.

The body can get the eyes off... but correct sight can rarely if ever get the body off.

That said, one can still get their body off if they consciously implement preconceived conceptions that need not be.

Best of Luck with it.
 
Last edited:
Can you not see that the comments in red are all statements that are against the general rules and are bannable offenses? Will you ever learn? I hope so for your sake, because this board seems pretty important to you or you wouldn't have made over 10,000 posts on it in just a few years (most of them spent in "time out").

I know that I was falsely 'accused' by two here in this thread of doing things that I did not do & look who started it. To me that is a form of lying about me & I certainly do not like that & will probably always respond. As I acknowledged to Jon, I have shown myself to be fairly predictable in that regard.

They did what they did for no reason other than to get an emotional response from me which is a definition of trolling.

It appears that they were successful even though I tried to not do so.

Given your post, I will remove those comments as I see your point.

Thanks for the heads up.
 
Last edited:
BBB...OP

I believe Scott was correct...this is do to your question involves the location / direction of the V as you call it ( fatty part of the palm and thumb when joined).

Fran noticed the fact that the BRIDGE was a much better one (2nd pic) fore finger supports your bridge base of palm better all around. I would agree .....but your question would have been better with pic 1 placing your pointer finger more towards the nail of the thumb with fingers tabled like pics 2.

Some avoid the fatty part V area as you referenced do to the cue dragging on the skin.


Note to English::
I've never commented on your post so maybe this will not come of as brash as others posters comments.

Your post on the heals of Scott's did come off as a slam ..to my reading.
I think most would take the Generals as to infer instructors as this is an " Ask the instructor" section of the forum. ( Not meant to offend just inform)


Others: I have worked with both Fran and Scott and both are fine people and are there and here to help...
Ok and make a bit of spare change but I assure you neither tried to get rich on my back.
and I enjoyed time time spent with both.
 
BBB...OP

I believe Scott was correct...this is do to your question involves the location / direction of the V as you call it ( fatty part of the palm and thumb when joined).

Fran noticed the fact that the BRIDGE was a much better one (2nd pic) fore finger supports your bridge base of palm better all around. I would agree .....but your question would have been better with pic 1 placing your pointer finger more towards the nail of the thumb with fingers tabled like pics 2.

Some avoid the fatty part V area as you referenced do to the cue dragging on the skin.


Note to English::
I've never commented on your post so maybe this will not come of as brash as others posters comments.

Your post on the heals of Scott's did come off as a slam ..to my reading.
I think most would take the Generals as to infer instructors as this is an " Ask the instructor" section of the forum. ( Not meant to offend just inform)


Others: I have worked with both Fran and Scott and both are fine people and are there and here to help...
Ok and make a bit of spare change but I assure you neither tried to get rich on my back.
and I enjoyed time time spent with both.

Thank You for trying to be of assistance, but you and others are mistaken & I'm not again going to explain what was not & is not there.

If one says that, as an actress, Marilyn Monroe was 'sexier than most', it does NOT mean that Sophia Loren was not sexy.
 
Last edited:
i asked my question in a general way so as not to bias anyone for the reasons of my question
i must digress alittle first
when i was starting to get more serious about pool several years ago
my stance was much more sideways than now and my right arm was farther away from the shot line
my open bridge v line was across the shot line as was my closed bridge
hunter lombardo did alot to help my stance and alignment issues
what was interesting to me was the V of my open bridge NATURALLY began to fall on the shot line as my stance and alignment improved
now to the thread
the bottom bridge is the bridge i have always used
i noticed over several months that the V of my closed bridge had started to shift towards the shot line
.............
i need to digress again sorry
i am left eye dominant /right handed and often see the cue tip pointed to the left of the shot line on straight in shots
so i will sometimes pivot the cue to make it look straight which results in a miss
if i align get down and shoot i do pretty well
so i have come to "trust " the crooked look
i also have a tendency to get unwanted left spin on straight in stop shots...
i know this is a visual center problem
but
i began to think if i lined up with the closed bridge V along the shot line it would give me another visual and a "tract" to stay on line and not let my eyes betray me
shooting stop shots with my eyes closed or someone blocking my visual of the object ball after i set i get much less unintentional spin and a good success rate
......
the "new"bridge definitey definitely doesnt feel as solid /stable yet since ive only been playing around with it for a short while
but as i am adjusting its starting to get more comfortable asi tweak it
as an aside the stop shots are improving
could be because i am really concentrating now on seeing straigh and shooting straight
.....
my feeling is i think this will help me find my vision center more consistently
if only in an indirect way
at that point i think as long as the bridge is stable /comfortable/and provides a secure channel for the cuestick it should be ok
.......
so what i surmise from the replies
the V line is not that important in the general sense
and fran thanks for offering specifics on the closed bridge
i will keep them in mind
........
thanks to all for the replies
now that you know the whole story (sorry for being so long winded..:o)
here is the next question
do you think my trying to force the V on the shot line will help correct my tendency to have the stick appear (or is) going from right to left of the shot line???


First, the only 'Vision Center' I know of is a chain of stores where you have your eyes checked and purchase glasses. Some people (not you, Larry) feel it's necessary to rename things that already have names just so they can be credited with creating something. I've always found that kind of thing to be distasteful. I believe you are referring to the correct line of sight.

If you are shooting with an open bridge (or V bridge), the part of the V that should be in the line of the shot is a point and not a line. It is the point at which the thumb intersects the index finger. But with that bridge, you have the flexibility to turn the hand slightly to increase stability and still keep that point on the line --- very much like what you can do with a mechanical bridge.

You don't have that luxury with a closed bridge, especially if the V you're referring to is the angle formed where the thumb meets the palm of your hand.

Two different V points. One is right, one is wrong.
 
First, the only 'Vision Center' I know of is a chain of stores where you have your eyes checked and purchase glasses. Some people (not you, Larry) feel it's necessary to rename things that already have names just so they can be credited with creating something. I've always found that kind of thing to be distasteful. I believe you are referring to the correct line of sight.

If you are shooting with an open bridge (or V bridge), the part of the V that should be in the line of the shot is a point and not a line. It is the point at which the thumb intersects the index finger. But with that bridge, you have the flexibility to turn the hand slightly to increase stability and still keep that point on the line --- very much like what you can do with a mechanical bridge.

You don't have that luxury with a closed bridge, especially if the V you're referring to is the angle formed where the thumb meets the palm of your hand.

Two different V points. One is right, one is wrong.
fran
im alittle confused
if with an open bridge you refer to a point where the cue rests ie where the thumb and side of the hand /index finger meet should be on the shot line

then is there not a similar point in the closed bridge where the cue rests??
also am i correct to conclude that for you the the orientation of the line where the thumb meets the palm is not important in both the open and closed bridge??


lastly
and again for you the "correct V" is a point
the V as a line is the wrong one.
is that correct??
 
Last edited:
First, the only 'Vision Center' I know of is a chain of stores where you have your eyes checked and purchase glasses. Some people (not you, Larry) feel it's necessary to rename things that already have names just so they can be credited with creating something. I've always found that kind of thing to be distasteful. I believe you are referring to the correct line of sight.

If you are shooting with an open bridge (or V bridge), the part of the V that should be in the line of the shot is a point and not a line. It is the point at which the thumb intersects the index finger. But with that bridge, you have the flexibility to turn the hand slightly to increase stability and still keep that point on the line --- very much like what you can do with a mechanical bridge.

You don't have that luxury with a closed bridge, especially if the V you're referring to is the angle formed where the thumb meets the palm of your hand.

Two different V points. One is right, one is wrong.

If the only vision center you know of is a store, maybe you need to do a little studying and catch up with the times. Or is this just another feeble attempt on your part to knock other instructors by attempting to discredit what they teach. :rolleyes:
 
fran
im alittle confused
if with an open bridge you refer to a point where the cue rests ie where the thumb and side of the hand /index finger meet should be on the shot line

then is there not a similar point in the closed bridge where the cue rests??
I don't think so. The intersecting points on a loop bridge are on either side of where the shaft would rest. I guess you can use one of those points as a reference point as long as you take that into consideration.

also am i correct to conclude that for you the the orientation of the line where the thumb meets the palm is not important in both the open and closed bridge??

Correct. Not if you turn your palm slightly to stabilize the bridge. Then that point doesn't line up with the shot line.


lastly
and again for you the "correct V" is a point
the V as a line is the wrong one.
is that correct??

To answer your last question: The V is composed of two lines. But the point between them is what is significant.
 
If the only vision center you know of is a store, maybe you need to do a little studying and catch up with the times. Or is this just another feeble attempt on your part to knock other instructors by attempting to discredit what they teach. :rolleyes:

i probably should not get in the middle but you really like to provoke people dont you
 
i probably should not get in the middle but you really like to provoke people dont you

I'm not the one provoking here. There is no reason she can't just give her answer without having to belittle other instructors in process. Which she likes to do quite often. There is no need for it. Maybe you need to read post #32.
 
I'm not the one provoking here. There is no reason she can't just give her answer without having to belittle other instructors in process. Which she likes to do quite often. There is no need for it. Maybe you need to read post #32.
i read post #32
i dont see instructors mentioned
"some people " could be anybody
also how is your response helpful to me THE OP
i asked for peace
but more bickering occured
its sad that in a forum where the the goal of the op is to learn and be helped
there are posts that have nothing to do with the thread
anyway i got what i wanted from this thread
so thanks to all who made constructive comments
peace
 
i read post #32
i dont see instructors mentioned
"some people " could be anybody
also how is your response helpful to me THE OP
i asked for peace
but more bickering occured
its sad that in a forum where the the goal of the op is to learn and be helped
there are posts that have nothing to do with the thread
anyway i got what i wanted from this thread
so thanks to all who made constructive comments
peace

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Back
Top