Any tips for not changing your grip pressure on the shot.

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Magictrat007

Active member
I think I’m actually really good at aiming but I think sometimes I miss because on a shot that requires more power I change my grip pressure on the stroke. Any tips for maintaining the same pressure throughout the stroke or is it just practice practice practice? ?
 
For higher speed shots, it helps to use a longer bridge length so you have more distance and time to accelerate the cue with the same force (grip pressure). You'll also want to move your grip hand back when using a longer bridge to keep your swing arm perpendicular. Hope that helps!
 
If your grip pressure changes during the stroke, it always gets tighter, never looser. So on shots where you suspect that, try starting with a more closed grip.

pj
chgo
 
Magictrat007 said:
I think I’m actually really good at aiming but I think sometimes I miss because on a shot that requires more power I change my grip pressure on the stroke. Any tips for maintaining the same pressure throughout the stroke or is it just practice practice practice? ?
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Your hand should be closed all the way around the cue stick. No daylight around the stick. No gap between the stick and the web between thumb and index finger.

Your grip area on the cue stick must not be slippery. My cue has no wrap and even though it is shiny, it is not slippery. If your stick is slippery, you will have to tighten your grip a lot on power shots. That's bad.

I have started using the following technique to ensure a loose grip on break shots. First, I move my grip back because my bridge is going to be longer. Then I grip the cue very, very tightly -- white-knuckle tight. Then I release all of the grip/tension in my hand. This leaves my hand stuck to the surface of the cue. Then I break.
 
I'm guessing the shots where you tighten your grip are outside your comfort zone, thus causing the breakdown in your mechanics. Progressive practice helps with this.

Set up the shots where you tend to tighten your grip, but make them very easy. OB close to the pocket, CB close to the OB. Shoot that over and over to get a feel for what a totally relaxed grip feels like. Because the shot is easy, your grip will stay relaxed throughout the stroke because there's no fear of missing and no desire to "muscle" or steer the cue. Just a pure, relaxed swing. Pay very close attention to how it feels--especially in comparison to your normal tense stroke on difficult shots.

Start increasing the distance slowly until you feel the tension creep back in. Then work on relaxing your grip at that distance. Rinse and repeat with increasing distance/difficulty.
 
From Grip to Grabbing.

Here's the definition of Grip.
physical hold, the strength to hold something, or the manner of holding it.

One thing you should never do with your handle hand is ''grip'' it.
The manner is....
You do a side to side ''pinch'' & GRAB during contact.
Closing your fingers naturally creates your ''cradle''.
 
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BlueRaider said:
I'm guessing the shots where you tighten your grip are outside your comfort zone, thus causing the breakdown in your mechanics. Progressive practice helps with this.

Set up the shots where you tend to tighten your grip, but make them very easy. OB close to the pocket, CB close to the OB. Shoot that over and over to get a feel for what a totally relaxed grip feels like. Because the shot is easy, your grip will stay relaxed throughout the stroke because there's no fear of missing and no desire to "muscle" or steer the cue. Just a pure, relaxed swing. Pay very close attention to how it feels--especially in comparison to your normal tense stroke on difficult shots.

Start increasing the distance slowly until you feel the tension creep back in. Then work on relaxing your grip at that distance. Rinse and repeat with increasing distance/difficulty.
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Oh my God, you hit the nail right on the head. Yes it happens on shots where I get a little longer or a little more angle than I want. I will definitely take your advice and keep shooting them until I feel comfortable.
 
Magictrat007 said:
Oh my God, you hit the nail right on the head. Yes it happens on shots where I get a little longer or a little more angle than I want. I will definitely take your advice and keep shooting them until I feel comfortable.
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A pro bowler once taught me this mantra --- When you feel the tension starting to creep in --- repeat to yourself: Trust is a must. Trust is a must. Trust is a must.... then trust yourself and your decision and execute with 100% commitment. Remind yourself that tension grabbing is not an option.

A little bit of a grab to hang on to the cue is normal on power shots. A tension grab can cause you to twist the cue.
 
Magictrat007 said:
I think I’m actually really good at aiming but I think sometimes I miss because on a shot that requires more power I change my grip pressure on the stroke. Any tips for maintaining the same pressure throughout the stroke or is it just practice practice practice? ?
Click to expand...
If we were working on a lesson together, I’d begin by asking about your usual grip pressure. On a scale from 1 to 10, where would you rate it?

Then I’d say: “If you adjust your grip down to a 1, that’s great for relaxation. But when you start feeling anxious, increase it slightly—maybe to a 3—to help maintain control without overcompensating.”
 
FranCrimi said:
A pro bowler once taught me this mantra --- When you feel the tension starting to creep in --- repeat to yourself: Trust is a must. Trust is a must. Trust is a must.... then trust yourself and your decision and execute with 100% commitment. Remind yourself that tension grabbing is not an option.

A little bit of a grab to hang on to the cue is normal on power shots. A tension grab can cause you to twist the cue.
Click to expand...
Nelson Burton Jr. ?
 
BilliardsAbout said:
If we were working on a lesson together, I’d begin by asking about your usual grip pressure. On a scale from 1 to 10, where would you rate it?

Then I’d say: “If you adjust your grip down to a 1, that’s great for relaxation. But when you start feeling anxious, increase it slightly—maybe to a 3—to help maintain control without overcompensating.”
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Little off topic Billiards but I was wondering if you'll be playing in the International.
Right down the road for you and a good opportunity to display your talents and maybe pick up a few students.
 
3kushn said:
Guess I'm an exception to the rule.

I go lighter.
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Do you slip it? Slip strokes are sexy af. Neils Feijen has a subconscious slip he wasnt even aware of till it was pointed out to him. He doesn't go lighter like you, but his grip concept is to squeeze the cue for structure and then relax the hand. When younger, he relaxed it to the point of a visible gap in his grip.

Do you have a gap, or does your hand fly open ala Efren on delivery? Just curious what an outlier like you is doing if you don't mind sharing. Feel free to wax poetic on what makes ur grip tick as I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets a kick out of the myriad of ways players approach this critical fundamental. Always down to learn another variant.
 
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dquarasr said:
Doesn’t that predispose you to squeezing the cue even more?
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Maybe in the long run but I'm over the hill and hoping against hope that doesn't happen.

dquarasr said:
Do you use the pre-squeeze as a reminder not to?
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Originally that was the point, then with several years of repetition, its nearly natural.

Whats not right about it, is that I think about it while down and fiddling. And on the delivery.

Haven't been able to shake the tendency 100%.

I read somewhere years ago (true or not) Lassiter said, "light is good, lighter is better". When I read that, I started to experiment.

If lighter is better, then maybe no/zero grip pressure would be worth looking into. On my own table and by myself, I cradled the cue with just my forefinger. Finger curled just enough the cue didn't fall to the floor, not trying to hold it. No thumb, no nothing else. Then I started playing with throwing the cue (stroke slip) which gave me more control of the cue but didn't eliminate any of the nice things I saw with the forefinger cradle. Of course throwing the cue has its faults, one being changing grip pressure on the delivery.

Experimenting was fun and educational to say the least.

Yep, crazy, but like I said, it was an eye opener.

Highly recommend spending 15 or 30 minutes holding a cue with 1 finger or throwing the cue. IMO this is the only way to understand the phrase.
"Let The Cue Do The Work"
 
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