Benefits of Bridging at the EFFECTIVE PIVOT LENGTH of a Shaft

[dr_dave]

FYI, I just posted a new video that busts myths and dispels misconceptions concerning a shaft's natural pivot length and the best bridge length to use for both a break cue and a playing cue. Check it out:

Contents:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:18 - Back-Hand English (BHE)
• 1:28 - Natural Pivot Length (NPL)
• 4:13 - Break Cue Advice
• 5:37 - NPL Example
• 7:09 - NPL vs. Effective Pivot Length
• 8:49 - BHE Alone is Inadequate
• 11:00 - Best Bridge Length Choice
• 13:04 - More Info

Supporting Resources:

• previous video - “Low Cost Carbon Fiber Shafts”
• Back-Hand English (BHE): https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/sidespin/bhe-fhe/
• cue natural pivot length: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cue/natural-pivot-length/
• System for Aiming With Sidespin (SAWS): https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/sidespin/aim/saws/
• Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS): https://drdavebilliards.com/videos/veps/
• LD shaft advantages: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cue/low-squirt/
• carbon fiber shaft advantages: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/cue/carbon/
• bridge length recommendations: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/bridge/length/
• squirt, swerve, and throw effects: https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/sidespin/aim/effects/
• stroke “best practices:” https://drdavepoolinfo.com/faq/stroke/technique/

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

 

[GideonF]

Interesting as always. It does make me wonder if I should be adding some weight (maybe a tip pad) to my BK Rush. I haven’t done the test but Predator says their pivot point is around 19” - which is pretty long for a break stroke.

 

[Ģüśţāṿ]

The people who concern themselves with, and argue about all of these specific concepts simply do not play enough pool.

Great video as always!

 

[Patrick Johnson]

The people who concern themselves with, and argue about all of these specific concepts simply do not play enough pool.

Or they simply have an interest that you don't share.

pj
chgo

 

[dr_dave]

Interesting as always. It does make me wonder if I should be adding some weight (maybe a tip pad) to my BK Rush. I haven’t done the test but Predator says their pivot point is around 19” - which is pretty long for a break stroke.

I'll try to measure my Predator BK Rush to see what NPL I find. I'll report back after I find time to do it.

 

[dr_dave]

The people who concern themselves with, and argue about all of these specific concepts simply do not play enough pool.

I think this might be the majority of people who play pool (or at least among the ones who know about all this stuff).

Great video as always!

Thanks.

 

[Ģüśţāṿ]

Or they simply have an interest that you don't share.

pj
chgo

Nearly all that Dr Dave posts, and many of your posts as well, interest me because you're looking at the game we all love from a different perspective and in a tangible manner.

The issue that I have comes from all the bickering about it and low skill level players talking about how to make a ball using these methods, but can't actually pocket it. It's a fun topic to discuss, but not necessarily practical to apply certain principals directly in real play. There's too much variation in real life, we are not robots.

 

[dr_dave]

Nearly all that Dr Dave posts, and many of your posts as well, interest me because you're looking at the game we all love from a different perspective and in a tangible manner.

The issue that I have comes from all the bickering about it and low skill level players talking about how to make a ball using these methods, but can't actually pocket it. It's a fun topic to discuss, but not necessarily practical to apply certain principals directly in real play. There's too much variation in real life, we are not robots.

I use SAWS (which uses combinations of BHE and FHE based on shot speed and distance), and it is very effective for me. I am certainly more effective than I was when trying to aim sidespin shots by feel or intuition.

 

[HawaiianEye]

I use SAWS (which uses combinations of BHE and FHE based on shot speed and distance), and it is very effective for me. I am certainly more effective than I was when trying to aim sidespin shots by feel or intuition.

I have played for so long and hit so many balls that I don't even think about it when I shoot.

It is programmed into my head before I ever lean over to shoot.

 

[dr_dave]

I have played for so long and hit so many balls that I don't even think about it when I shoot.

It is programmed into my head before I ever lean over to shoot.

This is the case for most top players. You don’t need a system for aiming with sidespin if you put in enough time and smart practice and have enough successful experience to have solid intuition and feel for how to adjust your aim for all shot distances and speeds, for all spin types and amount, and for all conditions. I never got to that point. That’s why I developed SAWS. It made me better instantly by taking all the guesswork out and giving me more trust and confidence in my aim.

 

[dr_dave]

I'll try to measure my Predator BK Rush to see what NPL I find. I'll report back after I find time to do it.

FYI, I just tested my Predator BK Rush and got an NPL of 15". I encourage others to try it also and report what they find. The procedure is here:

 

[SSP]

I use SAWS (which uses combinations of BHE and FHE based on shot speed and distance), and it is very effective for me. I am certainly more effective than I was when trying to aim sidespin shots by feel or intuition.

I thank you Dr Dave for all your hard work and help you have given me and to the sport, like with any Dr., the patient must be willing to take the medicine and then diligently do the rehab, the beauty of this game is, so far, perfection has been unattainable, every day you truly work at it the closer you get to perfection.