Depends on the stroke too. If you hold the stick long and/or tend to stroke down at the ball an open bridge is all that's necessary. If you grip closer to the balance point and/or favor a "moarer" level cue, a loop bridge might be moar prudent.
FWIW I favor a loop bridge with a levelish stroke and gripping towards the back of the cue. I never squeeze the bridge. There is always air at the top of the loop which might not be the intended distinction when switching from an open bridge.
hey straight
this is why I'm currently shopping for a more forward-facing balance point
easier to use open bridge..
shot ok
but I don't think a cue should dictate what bridge one uses
Don't know the percentage.
All I know is that when I get down on the shot I
unconsciously use an open or closed bridge.
I never think about it as in do I use open or closed.
It's like my body just knows what to do to make
a comfortable effective stroke when I get down on the shot.
If I rationalize it though, I think the closed bridge is much more substantial and solid.
hey philly
I think some degree of unconscious in this case is good
sounds like your mind/body knows what it's doing
don't think about it, just do it..I'd like to get there more
Great question!
I'm primarily a follow player. That probably puts my percentage at about 80/20.
On "Follow" I use open hand most of the time.
On "Draw" I use closed most of the time.
The truth is, I'm comfortable with all my bridges.
randyg
hey randy
interesting you call yourself a "follow" player
but use an open bridge more
I follow using an open bridge, too
but for some reason correlate "follow" with "closed"
good to comfortable with all bridges tho
It totally depends on how many rail shots I have to play.
When the cue ball is on or near the rail, I use an open bridge.
Other than that, if I cannot use a closed bridge due to another OB.
I play with a closed bridge all the other times, probably 75-80%.
hey bava
I thought about this reading the thread
then came upon your post
if I'm close to the rail, but can see the cb
I'll use a closed bridge off the rail
but if the rock is really resting on the rubber
definitely open bridge off the rail
good stuff all
thanks for the replies!