Open Hand Bridge vs Closed Bridge Discussion

gregcantrall said:
I have it on good authority(Cole Dickson) that accuracy is more important than power on the break shot. If you are trying to put so much power into the shot that you need your bridge hand to hold the cue on line, you are out of control. That being said, you should not need chalk on your break tip either. The only time I chalk my break cue is when I break it down to use as a jump cue.
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hi Greg;

I look to people like SVB who many consider to have the best 10b break on the planet and his bridge is closed. And it's powerful.

While I agree with you that accuracy certainly matters, I believe that varied levels of power also matter a lot depending on the game and rack being played. Wade Crane, Busty, SVB and many others all make a good case for high-power closed bridge breaking, imo.

best,
brian kc
 
gregcantrall said:
Ok I found the video of Colin Colenso teaching the power break. Note the open bridge.
https://youtu.be/xW1tsONEI_U
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Not disagreeing that an effective power break can be done with an open bridge but there has to be a reason why pretty much everyone, including all of our pool superstars, close their bridges for breaking.

I think it's being done as an added measure of control.

Why do you think they are doing this? ;)

best,
brian kc
 
I think Joshua Filler does his 10 ball breaks with an open bridge.

Kickin' Chicken said:
I'm open bridge most of the time, exceptions are bigger stroke shots, draw and breaking. It does help with my sight line to play with an open bridge.

Wish I could remember who it was in the past year or two who I saw breaking with an open bridge. It was a somewhat notable player - can't imagine that being easy to control and yes, they were breaking pretty hard.

best,
brian kc
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Kickin' Chicken said:
hi Greg;

I look to people like SVB who many consider to have the best 10b break on the planet and his bridge is closed. And it's powerful.

While I agree with you that accuracy certainly matters, I believe that varied levels of power also matter a lot depending on the game and rack being played. Wade Crane, Busty, SVB and many others all make a good case for high-power closed bridge breaking, imo.

best,
brian kc
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My post of Colin teaching the power break is proof that the closed bridge is not required for a powerful and accurate hit on the cue ball.

Open bridge/closed bridge on the break? It doesn't matter. What ever suits you.
 
I used to use a closed bridge a lot, for more of a power stroke on slower cloth. Now
the cloth on most room tables is a lot faster, as others have mentioned, so I'm using
more open bridge. I think it's almost a snooker thing, rolling the ball. I still use a
closed bridge for power shots, force follow and draw.
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
hi Greg;
I look to people like SVB who many consider to have the best 10b break on the planet and his bridge is closed. And it's powerful.
While I agree with you that accuracy certainly matters, I believe that varied levels of power also matter a lot depending on the game and rack being played. Wade Crane, Busty, SVB and many others all make a good case for high-power closed bridge breaking, imo.
best,
brian kc
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I watched Billy (Wade) play for years at York's Pool Room, when he first started playing serious pool with whomever would get up there.
You're right, he broke using the closed bridge (resembling Mike Sigel's) and then most of his work was done with the open hand. Except for his power draw shots.
Danny Jones showed Billy to close the bridge on those power draws. Danny himself never used the closed bridge on anything except breaks and when drawing for distance.
I'm thinking that most of you guys who're using that open bridge most of the time have got something going for you....it's very efficient for you and you're rolling with it. That in itself is a good enough reason to me to switch over and start using it more.
We'll see about all that. I'm always looking for an edge to raise percentages...even if it's only a slight one. That pay$ off over the long run.
Your input is appreciated and I thank all of you.
 
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BRussell said:
That’s interesting because my sense is that Shane uses a closed bridge quite often. He often holds his wrist up so only his fingers are on the table, which seems crazy to me.
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His closed bridge, as you point out, is very similar to Mike Sigel.
(Not the Mosconi type as seen in his books.)
 
The only bridge I don’t like is the one I feel like jumping off when I miss a hanger.
...other that that one, I use them all...and I don’t make up my mind ahead of time..
....it’s what feels right for that shot.

I’ve always felt the justification for an open bridge is wrong....
...I want my cue pointing where I’M looking, not the other way around.....
...I don’t care where the cue is pointing...it aint got no eyes.

I’ve told people over the years that looking down your cue while you’re stroking is like
looking at your windshield wipers when it’s raining.
 
Low500 said:
I got a tell on the Filipino posse at that Houston tournament and it made me think a little. (I'm sure there are other pool enthusiasts besides me out there who've noticed this as well).
The majority of their shots seem to be with the open bridge.
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The reasons for this are listed and demonstrated here:

advantages of the open bridge

Enjoy,
Dave
 
The closed bridge vs.open bridge debate will always be endless.
Regardless, there genuinely is no single, best bridge for playing pool.

Each version presents a totally different sight picture and in pool, a
variety of cue ball positions will be encountered and cue ball close or
frozen to a rail or sitting in the jaws of a pocket create a different shot
than when the cue ball is 10-12" from the rail or sitting in the middle.

To embrace one style works only for an open bridge proponent since
a closed bridge doesn't work well for the shots mentioned above and
so closed bridge proponents invariably have to use an open bridge from
time to time. But the reverse isn't true and open bridge players can stick
to just an open bridge for every shot unlike myself that mainly relies on a
closed bridge for the majority of shots.

Is one better than the other? I really do not know but a closed bridge just
feels more natural, secure and controllable, especially when it comes to
cue stroke velocity which the tightness of the bridge fingers help direct.
Feeling the cue shaft movement through your closed fingers imparts a
very different feel to the stroke vs.gliding atop your thumb & index finger.

In closing, to each their own. But up until someone pockets >526 in a row
using an open bridge, I'll stick using a closed bridge as my mainstay. As I
wrote, open bridge is often the preferred bridge based upon cue ball shape.
 
I use a open bridge for Everything other than long 3/4 table or longer draw shots. Everything else is open bridge.
 
lorider said:
I use an open bridge pretty much all the time but switch to a closed bridge on draw shots.
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This guy seems to do OK with huge draw using an open bridge :grin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2leG8P5gDg

Disclaimer : I use both open and closed. I am not as good as the guy in the video :sorry:

You will find that players who started playing snooker will use an open bridge more often (Allison etc).

Dave
 
Open bridge 90% of the time. Only time is when can't get the open bridge firmly on the table, with palm flat. Then I go to the closed and use my fingers as a bridge to get around whatever hindrance that stopped me from my open bridge. I also only teach folks with an open bridge. After they leave, they can use whatever they want, but you can see their flaws more with an open bridge. Plus, it's good for them to know both and be comfortable with both, as even closed "bridgers" will need an open bridge now and again.
 
One thing I hear a lot in pool: "Everyone is different and one technique works better for some people and another works better for others."

Well, BS. More likely, one technique is better, and almost everyone would be better off using it than the other. The fact that people can get used to techniques that are less than optimal doesn't mean that all techniques are equal or that technique doesn't matter.
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
Wish I could remember who it was in the past year or two who I saw breaking with an open bridge. It was a somewhat notable player - can't imagine that being easy to control and yes, they were breaking pretty hard.

best,
brian kc
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I bet it was Corey Deuel...I've seen him do that on video. Hell, I've seen him break racks in a tournament while using a mechanical bridge fer cryin' out loud.

Maniac
 
BRussell said:
One thing I hear a lot in pool: "Everyone is different and one technique works better for some people and another works better for others."

Well, BS. More likely, one technique is better, and almost everyone would be better off using it than the other. The fact that people can get used to techniques that are less than optimal doesn't mean that all techniques are equal or that technique doesn't matter.
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hmmm, gotta disagree. Some guys have better bridge selection and technique with one bridge vs another.

And take a look at almost any video out there -- it isn't just plain old vanilla open hand or close bridges the players are using. It's very specific variations on open and closed for very specific shots. AND, what works for me -- with myself set up, hands, and body -- may very well not work for you.

Lou Figueroa
 
I learned to play with a closed bridge, but an open bridge works great when you're stretching for a shot and using like a 2+ foot bridge (bridge hand to cue ball), as long as you're not trying to do too much with the cue ball other than pocket the ball. I also prefer the open bridge for really soft touch safety shots. Lastly, for long shots, when you don't have to stop or draw the cue ball, the open bridge provides vision of the entire unobstructed shaft to assist you in lining up the cue ball to the target as opposed to your closed bridge (index finger wrapped over the top of the shaft) obstructing your clear line vision of the shot the shaft helps with.
 
The advantages for an open bridge have been explained in detail by Dr. Dave.

The advantage of a closed bridge for shots that require a power stroke is also well understood.


Here’s a different take on the advantage of a closed bridge that my coach proposed:
Before taking a shot, you’re done in your stance and checking if the shot looks and feels right. The shot can look right just by a visual inspection of the shot line, where your cue is pointing to, etc. The shot can feel right because everything feels familiar and you will feel confident you’ll make the shot like you always do — you’re holding your cue in a certain way, the cue is touching your bridge in a certain way, your cue is touching your chin at a particular point, your cue is feathering against a part of your chest in a certain manner, etc. These physical sensations help to make shots feel familiar when you’re preparing to shoot. An open bridge uses a V for the cue to rest on — that’s the only point of contact in the bridge. A closed bridge has more than one point of contact with the cue. My coach says that for him, for this reason, a closed bridge gives him more assurance for a shot. He can feel if the cue is resting in his closed bridge the right way or not, but the same can’t be said for when using an open bridge. That being said, he doesn’t use a closed bridge for every shot, certainly for no shot above centre striking level.

That was just to share an alternative perspective on the closed bridge. It may or may not be true at all.
 
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