‘Death Grip’

[Wolven]

Ok, I know that in pool soft is good and softer is better when comes to the grip and if somebody advocates holding a cue harder he is a heretic. Recently a bunch of us had that discussion at a pool hall. Interesting a few of us over the years have gone from ‘DEATH GRIP’ (first learning the game) to ‘FEATHER GRIP’ to Much ‘HARDER GRIP’ but not death grip.

Considering this:
Not on all shots we want a lot of action.
Sometimes killing a ball is a good thing.
Holding the cue harder would help in that case.

Also, pressing the shaft against an open bridge could improve accuracy, this requires holding the cue harder.

It seems that most important thing is to have a smooth stroke and it is possible to have a smooth stroke even when holding the cue harder.

How hard to do you hold the cue?

What do you think of this theory?

 

[JoeyInCali]

Sometimes killing a ball is a good thing.
Holding the cue harder would help in that case.


No.
To kill a ball it has to be backspinning or gliding softly.
Can't do that to the cueball well if you have a death grip.
To make sure you are not death-gripping the cue, point your thumb down to the floor. Don't curl it.

 

[seymore15074]

I have experienced the same progression that you are describing...I hold the cue firmly; but it's in my hand a very very specific way. I think it is up to each player to find their own grip that makes ball-making effortless...

 

[seymore15074]

Sometimes killing a ball is a good thing.
Holding the cue harder would help in that case.


No.
To kill a ball it has to be backspinning or gliding softly.
Can't do that to the cueball well if you have a death grip.
To make sure you are not death-gripping the cue, point your thumb down to the floor. Don't curl it.

That's funny you would say that, my thumb doesn't do much; I'm squeezing the cue with just my index finger...it's hard to describe.

My index finger: ===o===()===OO=PALM=

() <--this knuckle straight down

This is virtually my only concern while shooting, I don't even think about aiming, the balls go right in the holes...

 

[Wolven]

I just gave the title 'Death Grip' but did not advocate that in the post.
I mentioned Harder grip short of Death Grip inducing less action on cue ball.

Here is the main reason for the hold thread.
Some players twist their wrist occasionally while shooting with soft grip.
A teacher showed an interesting idea while by holding the cue with just thumb and index finger hard one can straighten the wrist. Once that is accomplished one can go back to a normal hold.

 

[seymore15074]

Ooops, I updated my post...the spacing didn't stay.

You have to have a firmer grip in order to have that feel for speed control. I've shot both ways, and there is no substitute. Not a death grip but firm, just like you are saying.

 

[Maniac]

Me personally, I use different grips on different shots, depending on the situation. I seem to be able to draw the cue ball much further back with a looser grip. If I am going to try to run the cueball three rails for shape, I will hold the cue a little firmer. But unless I'm breaking, I never use a firm grip (unless I'm pressing a bit at the table, and if I catch myself doing it I immediately stop it). This is what works for me, obviuosly it's not the remedy for everybody.

Maniac

 

[arsenius]

Me personally, I use different grips on different shots, depending on the situation. I seem to be able to draw the cue ball much further back with a looser grip. If I am going to try to run the cueball three rails for shape, I will hold the cue a little firmer. But unless I'm breaking, I never use a firm grip (unless I'm pressing a bit at the table, and if I catch myself doing it I immediately stop it). This is what works for me, obviuosly it's not the remedy for everybody.

Maniac

I do the opposite on the break, I hold it a little looser. Something about being jacked up that little bit on the rail means that I can't keep my grip as firm. But of course everyone is going to do what works for them.

 

[scottycoyote]

ive been all up and down the scale on this one. Ive always special attention to my grip due to an accident that left me unable to bend my forefinger at the middle joint. Ive also learned to adopt different grips. My usual grip has me snugging the cue in the web of my thumb forefinger then wrapping my other fingers around the butt loosely, leaving the pinky off and straight down. If i grip with the pinky it makes me twist the cue at the end of my followthru. If i want more action on the ball, i leave off the ring finger as well but hold the cue a little tighter with the middle finger, really helps me juice the ball.

 

[Maniac]

I do the opposite on the break, I hold it a little looser. Something about being jacked up that little bit on the rail means that I can't keep my grip as firm.

Understood and I agree. Almost all my breaks though are from the headstring about 2" right of spot. Only if it's not working on a particular night do I break from somewhere else. I probably grip a little looser whenever shooting any shot with the cue jacked-up.

Maniac

 

[sniper]

Anyone ever notice the soft grips many of the top Filipino players use? I've often seen Efren Bustamante and company grip their cue using only 2-3 fingers, it seems awkward but it definitely works for them. It would be interesting to hear why they choose this unconventional grip.

 

[seymore15074]

There are pro forums on this site... Here's an idea, ask them how they grip their cue and why. I'm sure we would all like to see their response; that is, if they will tell... I think the grip is the key to the entire game.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Anyone ever notice the soft grips many of the top Filipino players use? I've often seen Efren Bustamante and company grip their cue using only 2-3 fingers, it seems awkward but it definitely works for them. It would be interesting to hear why they choose this unconventional grip.

I can't speak for them, but I use a similar grip. I recently noticed that my grip is the same as Ronnie Alcano, two fingers and a thumb softly grip the cue while I keep the other two off of the cue.

I can deliver the cue with a lot of speed while using less effort than if I was to use a four finger or three finger grip. I've played around with all the others and I keep coming back to this.

The other reason is that I don't have to open my hand at all in order to keep the cue on a straight line because the fingers are already out of the way. It just feels more natural and at the same time the middle finger allows for more stability than a one finger grip does.