How long is your bridge on average?

How long is your bridge on average?

  • Below 6 inches

    Votes: 4 3.9%

  • 6 to 8 inches

    Votes: 24 23.5%

  • 8 to 10 inches

    Votes: 35 34.3%

  • 10 to 12 inches

    Votes: 20 19.6%

  • Over 12 inches

    Votes: 10 9.8%

  • It depends on the shot

    Votes: 18 17.6%
  • Total voters
    102
Most players underestimate their bridge length, I actually brought a tape measure to our recent clinic and had players guess their length aloud before measuring.

Most players take a longer than necessary bridge then a shorter than necessary final backstroke, which leads to lunging forward with the shot. The solution is a full, flowing, smooth backstroke--taken all the way back using a shorter bridge. Yes, pros will take a super long bridge and use a super short backstroke, but they have the same stroke feel as the "classic" all the way back and all the way forward stroke.

A player training with full, smooth backstrokes and a shorter bridge will quickly see their percentages rise in most cases. Then they can safely return to longer bridges with the new, heightened touch and feel.
 
BilliardsAbout said:
Most players underestimate their bridge length,

A player training with full, smooth backstrokes and a shorter bridge will quickly see their percentages rise in most cases.
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I had the opportunity recently to play some 3c by myself and work on a couple of specific things.

Point being, bridge length is absolutely important to a given shot and one cannot be his best using a static distance.
 
Not to hijack but, it was cool revisiting SamLambert and his goal of playing pro level in 5 years. My bridge has been around 11 inches....I'm 6'4 and play with a 59" cue and my grip is at the end of the cue with my pinkie hanging off the bumper
 
I vary mine but with full stroke shots I like a long bridge roughly the length of my forearm. at 6'3 thats over 12inches.
 
Black-Balled said:
I had the opportunity recently to play some 3c by myself and work on a couple of specific things.

Point being, bridge length is absolutely important to a given shot and one cannot be his best using a static distance.
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I agree 100%, but to heighten efficiency, a tiny bridge for an old school "nurse stroke", a long bridge to carry multiple rails, etc., each with a full-to-the-meat-of-the-hand backstroke. You've probably tried something similar.

...Most pool players use a static bridge length, but vary (widely) their backstroke lengths. Recipe for issues IMHO.
 
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Spent a few minutes working on draw. Lots of embedded tip chalk on the cloth but doable. With around 2 - 4 degrees elevation, a 13mm former medium Tiger tip and long slow stroke, I was able to stroke the ball making simultaneous (give or take) contact with the ball and the cloth without miscue. There was none of the expected clicky sound either. Results were the expected less than stellar returns but the ball did draw effortlessly. Usable and reliable draw however, required a closer sub 10" bridge for the required elevation. [Yes boys and girls, there is no such thing as a level draw stroke.]
There's no point to this except to say that my hands are too small to get good elevation with a long bridge.
 
I have a really hard time with speed control anytime a try to unnaturally shorten my bridging. On top of that considering how low to the table my head is, when I get closer to the ball I can’t sight the shots nearly as well. Imo the advantages to a longer bridge outweigh any perceived negatives.

Saying all that I believe it’s personal preference and as long as you’re capable of doing what you’re trying to do with your current setup, keep at it. If you have deficiencies, try the polar opposite and see if you see some improvements but give it a real chance not just a couple hours.
 
SamLambert said:
Hello AZB,

How long is your bridge on average? I've been reading from a few sources about the subject and it seems there are good advantages to both a short and long bridge. I've looked at the bridge length of many pros and even there it seems to vary a lot.

I figured that a lot of people probably vary their bridge length depending on many factors also. If that is the case, please elaborate, I'd like to hear about it.

My usual bridge is pretty long, too long I think even. I'd say it's around 12". This question mostly came up after so many people told me about my bridge being too long.

Thanks,
Sam
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I'd like to recommend a video to you to find your optimum bridge distance:
It's in German, from Christian Reimering, but you might get the idea from the stripes on the table. Basically the distance between your bridge hand and the cue ball is the same as the distance from your elbow to the wrist.
 
klikr said:
I'd like to recommend a video to you to find your optimum bridge distance:
It's in German, from Christian Reimering, but you might get the idea from the stripes on the table. Basically the distance between your bridge hand and the cue ball is the same as the distance from your elbow to the wrist.
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Is he saying to use a single length of bridge for all shots?
 
I remember OP from yrs ago. Antone know what happened to him?
9-14 is the "usual" length. Your pivot does affect your English, mostly on hard angle cut shots.
Of course shorter if I "Dink," or jump/masse' .
 
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