A "new way" to grip the cue

[Straightpool_99]

Good cueball control is achieved by hitting the cueball where you want, at the correct speed and pocketing the object ball in the precise part of the pocket you wanted. Ok, that wasn't very good, but I think there are ways to help you achieve it.

The grip or hold of the cue has been discussed a lot here on Az, and rightfully so, because any error here will certainly lead to missed shots and bad cueball control. Since I am revising my fundamentals, bit by bit, I have tried every grip I've ever seen described. Some people use mostly the front 2 fingers, others use the middle two primarily and yet others have the cue firmly wedged up in the "webbing" between the thumb and index finger. I even experimented with the "reverse slip" (throwing the cue into the ball). I have discovered a grip, which I think is fairly unique, but I feel it helps me a lot with hitting the cueball precisely.

My thumb rests on the front of the index finger. The cue lies on all 4 finger tips. There is a gap between the cue and the "webbing" between the index finger and the thumb. The finger tips have quite a bit of pressure which pushes the cue up and slightly outward (away from the thumb, and into the middle of the index finger). All the felt pressure is on the fingertips. The middle of the index finger is "passive". I even tried "death gripping" this way, and the results were equally good. The first and middle part of the index finger and thumb are "inert" in that apart from the tip of the index finger they don't apply much pressure to the cue in the sideways direction, they are merely supporting and guiding it. Once you "wedge" the cue up into the hand you are IMO inviting a lot of twisting from the hand/wrist. When you do my grip correctly, you can insert a finger from the other hand between the webbing and the cue, barely.

My grip achieves several things. Since the fingertips are the most sensitive parts of the finger and they are firmly on the cue, they give good feedback. Second, since the thumb and the middle part of the index finger do not pressure the cue, the wrist cannot easily be twisted. Also the stroke movement is not hindered by the pressure. The cue will lightly lift a little bit off the back two fingers on the back on a long swing, but for most shots even these will be in contact. Since there is a gap between the cue and the webbing, the stroke is not constricted in any way.

This might be one of those things that works only for me, but I did teach it to a beginner and he had decent results. Tell me what you think.

 

[IamCalvin06]

Sounds very similar to what lee Brett teaches. SVB also uses this grip and I have started to switch to this grip as well.

One of the benefits of using this grip is it controls elbow drop. Maintains a nice loose but controlled grip pressure.

 

[ENGLISH!]

I think it sounds good from your description if I am receiving it correctly, but a picture or two would be nice.

In reading the description, during certain parts. CJ's grip came to mind as I did not exactly like so much of my palm on the cue as in a tennis type grip so I tried something I 'think' is similar to what you seem to be describing.

Can you possibly somehow get a pic & post it?

Best 2 Ya.

 

[Zphix]

In my 2 year journey through this game I've changed a lot of my fundamentals as better players have aided me; funnily enough, my grip is the only thing I've changed myself. As I got more fundamentally sound I found some grips just didn't work anymore.

I started with a teacup grip while gripping the very back of the cue. Then I added a third finger, and eventually the fourth finger, and it's changed again to a modified version of what you're talking about.

I have my thumb pressed against my index fingertip, with the cue resting mostly on my index, middle, and ring fingers and my pinky kinda just hangs there slightly curled and elongated. My thumb hardly touches the cue and really only acts as a guard that stops it from slipping out of my index/middle/ring fingers. (obviously my 3 fingers are slightly bent so the cue rests, so in actuality my thumb really does nothing).

On some shots I will add my pinky to the equation as well but more often than not it's just hanging out taking pictures.

Awesome post OP!

-Richard

 

[Straightpool_99]

I think it sounds good from your description if I am receiving it correctly, but a picture or two would be nice.

In reading the description, during certain parts. CJ's grip came to mind as I did not exactly like so much of my palm on the cue as in a tennis type grip so I tried something I 'think' is similar to what you seem to be describing.

Can you possibly somehow get a pic & post it?

Best 2 Ya.

Very tough to get it to show in pictures. Also, I bite my fingernails, so they look like shit. I'm kind of embarrased about it actually. I'm a nervous type, lol.

I think the key to understanding the grip is the gap between the cue and the webbing and the pressure on the fingertips. If you can achieve those two things I think you are probably doing it right. The hand should look sort of "elongated" compared to a tennis racket grip, which I believe is what CJ teaches.

 

[bbb]

have a friend with nice fingernails do your grip and take a picture
as they say
a picture is worth a thousand words
jmho

 

[fathomblue]

I'd have to see a picture too. I really can't envision it any other way.

FWIW, I bite and pick my fingernails down to the quick (if not beyond), so no reason to be embarrassed in front of me.

 

[Zphix]

Straight,

Not sure this is the same as yours but here are some pics I just took of my grip. You can use these as references. (Side note: Pay no attention to the bend in the wrist, that happened because I'm gripping with one hand and taking pics with the other).

 

[mcrisp]

To all, I am currently a struggling hand model, would be glad to pose for the grip in question..lol

 

[Straightpool_99]

]Ok. Remember, I did warn you, lol. It was surprisingly awkward and difficult to get a good picture of your own hand holding a cue. My hand may look a bit more strained on the picture than it would be during play, for that reason. Also this is a bridge stick, not my cue.

 

[Straightpool_99]

Straight,

Not sure this is the same as yours but here are some pics I just took of my grip. You can use these as references. (Side note: Pay no attention to the bend in the wrist, that happened because I'm gripping with one hand and taking pics with the other).

The principle of your grip is the same as mine, but yours is quite a bit more relaxed. Nothing wrong with that. I like to really dig my fingertips into the cue (at least compared to your style). Also as you can see from the picture my pinky is quite firmly on the cue on impact with the white and the hand is more "clenched" though the pressure points are the fingertips!.

 

[Zphix]

The principle of your grip is the same as mine, but yours is quite a bit more relaxed. Nothing wrong with that. I like to really dig my fingertips into the cue (at least compared to your style).

I'm guessing you don't use a lot of wrist movement either. My first few practice strokes are very fluid with a fluid wrist movement and I think that's why I relax my grip so much. You probably keep your arm below the elbow very firm as well (well, firm enough to keep your wrist action-less anyway).

Nothing wrong with either style I'd say! :thumbup2:

 

[Straightpool_99]

I'm guessing you don't use a lot of wrist movement either. My first few practice strokes are very fluid with a fluid wrist movement and I think that's why I relax my grip so much. You probably keep your arm below the elbow very firm as well (well, firm enough to keep your wrist action-less anyway).

Nothing wrong with either style I'd say! :thumbup2:

I used to have a really full, hard snap of the wrist, but I've been toning it down and it is definitely less pronounced than it was. I can still to it with the same grip, but then the cue lifts up from the last two fingers on the backswing. I get some extra power from the pinky propelling the cue forward on the forward swing. Hard to describe the action.

 

[buckshotshoey]

Both grips look similar to mine. One word of advice men.....you might want to start doing dishes
in Palmolive! Those hands will be silky smooth in no time.

 

[ronscuba]

Curious, do you consider your stroke length to be short, medium or long ?

Do you vary your stoke length depending on the shot or tend to keep it the same ?

 

[Straightpool_99]

Both grips look similar to mine. One word of advice men.....you might want to start doing dishes
in Palmolive! Those hands will be silky smooth in no time.

My hand does look extra bad in that photo. That's what home improvement can get you, dry hands and an empty wallet!

 

[Zphix]

Curious, do you consider your stroke length to be short, medium or long ?

Do you vary your stoke length depending on the shot or tend to keep it the same ?

My stroke length is medium-long. Usually around 9 and a half inches from the V of my bridge hand to the tip hitting the CB. From my natural grip, this is also the length required for my grip arm to be perpendicular to the ground at tip impact.

Thankfully, when I picked up a cue this was just how I shot. Nobody ever taught me about bridge length, hand at tip impact, etc. That was all natural for me when I started shooting - probably due to my martial arts background where I feel the distribution of weight in people and objects and naturally adjusted.

Also, I try to keep my bridge at this length unless I'm forced into a spot where this is impossible. I will also take a longer rail bridge shot over a shorter and closer bridge; just feels to cramped for my swing.

 

[Straightpool_99]

Curious, do you consider your stroke length to be short, medium or long ?

Do you vary your stoke length depending on the shot or tend to keep it the same ?

My stroke is now medium-long. It used to be extremely long, so long that it became a problem I had to work hard to get rid of. Now because of the grip, the stroke is somewhat more limited, but not in any way short. I do vary the stroke length a bit. I never go extremely short, though. I would if I could, but there is no way for me to do it without jerking the stroke and losing feel. I'm quite happy with where I'm at now.

 

[Pidge]

I always was taught to grip the cue as if you were about to smack someone over the head with it. It could be because pool halls used to be full of shady characters and you never know what might go down, or it could have been because it works. I'm still undecided ;-)

My grip is firm, always has been. I can't control the cue with a fingertip type grip and can't control the white. It is pressed firmly into the webbing between thumb and index finger. I recently got a nugget of advice from a top amateur snooker player. He noticed that my index finger was bent slightly at the middle knuckle making my fingertip go in towards my middle finger. Broken this finger twice and I'm guessing that's the cause.. Anyway, spotted that on power strokes I had a tendency to not cue as straight as I'd like and mentioned about releasing the index finger from the cue. He said to try resting the index fingertip against the thumb and off the cue a little. This forced me to grip with the other 3 fingers and as I pull back the 3 fingers release and the index finger get comes into contact with the cue giving it support... Due to my crooked finger. What a nugget this turned out to be. I'm cueing better than ever and I never thought I'd say that.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is people are made differently. The grip is one of the most important parts of a players fundamentals and if you get it right can see almost instantl improvement. So, if your game isn't up to your standards then it's likely the grip causing your issues. Bad thing is no one's hands and wrists work like yours so you have to figure it out on your own.

 

[ScottK]

(Side note: Pay no attention to the bend in the wrist, that happened because I'm gripping with one hand and taking pics with the other).

No need to be ashamed. We all know why your wrist is limp.