Open- or closed-bridge hand and gloves?

The difference in the tapering of the Snooker cue vs the pro tapering of the pool cue is a factor. With the pool cue being closed bridge friendly.
The glove is good equipment especially now that powder isn't allowed. Since I use either hand I use a 3 inch piece from a silk tie as a slider on the shaft. It works fine with both open and closed bridge.
The open bridge allows a longer sight line down the cue and I have found that to be a significant improvement to my accuracy on long difficult shots. Well that and the chin touching the cue.
 
JAM said:
At the recent European Open, I noticed some of the younger competitors used an open-hand bridge for all shots, which I found interesting. I also follow snooker competitions, and they seem to all use the open-bridge hand.

My other half as well as myself, we both use a closed-bridge hand.

Would love to learn some info on the pros and cons of each. If, say, Joshua Filler, one of the best in the world, is using an open-bridge hand, there must be something to it.

Also, before the final match at the European Open, Anton Raga was continuing to run down the clock because he kept running to his designated chair to wipe down his cue with a towel as well as his hands. I know some who suffer from a sweaty hand syndrome, as it's a medical condition. I brought this up in a Window's Open podcast in a discussion about the European Open before the finals, and the Filipino attendees chimed in that Anton was used to using powder in Philippines, and you cannot use powder in the Matchroom competitions; thus, why he was using the towel and wiping his hands on his pants. In some matches, Anton was not wearing a pool glove, but in the finals with David Alcaide, he was wearing a gray pool glove and didn't seem to run down the clock as much. He does use an open-hand bridge, though.

Just a few observations from a railbird. Thoughts?

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It seems like way more very good players to pro players, especially the international players, use mainly the open bridge, as opposed to 30+ years ago.

The obvious advantage is the unobstructed sight line down the shaft it provides, as well as less friction between your fingers/hand and the shaft.

The open bridge clearly doesn’t work for recreational players that drop the butt of their cue on their follow through, as this results in their shaft flying up.
 
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About 20 years ago when i went to a more open bridge style of play. I probably went up a ball or so in a few months because i could see the flaws in my swing and correct it before i hit the ball.
 
Dropping and picking up pool over the years:

High school hobby and early Navy years: (1994-1998 or so) - Closed bridge, and never saw anyone using an open bridge that I can remember, and I seem to remember being taught that an open bridge was "wrong" by the "good" players in the pool halls who were likely SL-4's

College years TAP/APA (2005-2007) - same, seemed like we were all on a closed bridge still, the only people using open bridges were the girls with small hands who couldn't close a bridge on a 13mm shaft.

Modern years (2020-now) - After consuming a bunch of the on-line stuff now out there, mostly open brige. Also glove, because Louisiana is quite humid.
 
I'm 6'4" and built like an out-of- shape offensive tackle. I have tried several different stances to get my chin just above the cue like the pros do. Last time I just bout pulled a hernia trying to get that low...it feels like torture yoga. My natural stance has my chin between 6-8 inches above the cue, so needless to say, I don't get the full open bridge benefit of sighting down the shaft. But. like many here, I find that shots where I have to let my stroke out get the closed bridge.
 
xradarx said:
Simple resolution to stop sweaty hands.
Use non fragrance antiperspirant spray.
Spray both hands 🙌. Give a couple of minutes to dry.
Play for hours, no sweat.
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sounds to me that sweat then would find other outlets? that could be annoying
 
I literally can not come up with an advantage for using a closed bridge. I also find it entertaining that people believe it's better for a draw stroke. Which when you think about it, inherently forces the cue down into our bridge hand. Not up and away. If anything a closed bridge might be useful for force follow.

There's only three instances that I can dream up wherein I use a closed bridge:
  1. When shooting off the rail on an angle that doesn't allow an open bridge. In this case I do wrap my finger over but I do not squeeze the top of the cue at all. It's just a means to trap the cue on both sides.
  2. When I'm jammed up on the left hand rail and cannot form an open bridge appropriately. (i'm right handed)
  3. When I'm breaking, not using either long rail, and going for power. Totally unnecessary and I don't squeeze the cue at all when doing so. I could easily hit the same break with an open bridge, but I'm programmed to close for some reason.
Oh, and I don't use a glove either (or talc). If I lived in a climate that it would prove advantageous I would.
 
The_JV said:
I literally can not come up with an advantage for using a closed bridge. I also find it entertaining that people believe it's better for a draw stroke. Which when you think about it, inherently forces the cue down into our bridge hand. Not up and away. If anything a closed bridge might be useful for force follow.

There's only three instances that I can dream up wherein I use a closed bridge:
  1. When shooting off the rail on an angle that doesn't allow an open bridge. In this case I do wrap my finger over but I do not squeeze the top of the cue at all. It's just a means to trap the cue on both sides.
  2. When I'm jammed up on the left hand rail and cannot form an open bridge appropriately. (i'm right handed)
  3. When I'm breaking, not using either long rail, and going for power. Totally unnecessary and I don't squeeze the cue at all when doing so. I could easily hit the same break with an open bridge, but I'm programmed to close for some reason.
Oh, and I don't use a glove either (or talc). If I lived in a climate that it would prove advantageous I would.
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So if the cue tends to "hop" out of an open bridge on power shots, is elbow drop the most likely culprit?
 
jokrswylde said:
So if the cue tends to "hop" out of an open bridge on power shots, is elbow drop the most likely culprit?
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If you mean a bad stroke, then yes...?

Instead of wrapping band aides over top of problems so you don't deal with them, fix them.
 
The_JV said:
I've never done an experiment, but I would think with extreme force follow, deflection could cause the cue to rise off the bridge hand
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Yup. In some artistic billiard shots the stick bouncing off the top of the ball is sort of required to make the shot work.
 
The_JV said:
I've never done an experiment, but I would think with extreme force follow, deflection could cause the cue to rise off the bridge hand
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Yes, after the CB’s gone - no problem unless it makes you nervous. With high side spin I sometimes end up (after the shot) with the shaft resting on my wrist - doesn’t bother me.

pj
chgo
 
Bob Jewett said:
I think a major cause is clenching the hand at the end of the shot. Or in the middle of the stroke. The cue cannot rise without torque from the hand.
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This makes sense. I see a lot of people go from having a relaxed grip to a death grip on power shots...Thanks for the reply.
The_JV said:
If you mean a bad stroke, then yes...?

Instead of wrapping band aides over top of problems so you don't deal with them, fix them.
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Thanks.
 
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