Snooker cue vs a 14m shaft, what has more power? Some guys play with a 14.25 on a snooker table.
Billiards bridge vs Snooker bridge?
- Thread starter Turbo Ghost
- Start date
Snooker cue vs a 14m shaft, what has more power? Some guys play with a 14.25 on a snooker table.
Hi, my name is Rich Tefertiller and I do agree with everything that Sean has said regarding a certain individual ... and I still say the choice of bridge used is a purely individual thing. Most snooker pros use the open bridge because they are taught from a young age to use that very bridge. They are also taught exactly how to position their bodies, how to align the cue under their chins, and a myriad of other things that should be individual choice - not dictated form.
There have been and remain a few notable exceptions but, for the most part, you could study a single pro's form and see it reflected almost identically in the next pro you might choose to study. You also can hardly tell their cues and cue tips apart. I'm not dissing the pros, nor what they are taught, but their strict and systematic methods make the game less entertaining to watch. Trying to force everyone into the same little "Steve Davis" box of parameters doesn't work and may sometimes suppress the natural talents one might possess.
Hurricane Higgins was a distinct deviation from the common mold and the crowds loved him. Snooker took a huge leap in popularity because of his individuality and character.
So use whichever bridge you prefer for a given shot regardless of game played. Choose the bridge based upon your percentage success in dealing with each shot. Learn to use both equally well if you can.
ps: I've huge respect for Steve Davis' talent and character, but my point remains.
There have been and remain a few notable exceptions but, for the most part, you could study a single pro's form and see it reflected almost identically in the next pro you might choose to study. You also can hardly tell their cues and cue tips apart. I'm not dissing the pros, nor what they are taught, but their strict and systematic methods make the game less entertaining to watch. Trying to force everyone into the same little "Steve Davis" box of parameters doesn't work and may sometimes suppress the natural talents one might possess.
Hurricane Higgins was a distinct deviation from the common mold and the crowds loved him. Snooker took a huge leap in popularity because of his individuality and character.
So use whichever bridge you prefer for a given shot regardless of game played. Choose the bridge based upon your percentage success in dealing with each shot. Learn to use both equally well if you can.
ps: I've huge respect for Steve Davis' talent and character, but my point remains.
hi my name is neil robertson and I disagree with this statement
ummm....what part?
the punctuation?..or the capitalization?
When I used to play some snooker, mainly Liability ring games, I don't recall using the open bridge any more than I do now. Admittedly I am not trained in the nuance of snooker but I still think the main reason was because I didn't have a dedicated snooker cue and always played with my pool cue.
Maybe someone well versed in snooker can explain a reason why the open bridge is used in that game that wouldn't apply to pool, but until then I'm sticking with my shaft taper theory. Intuitively it just makes common sense.
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BTW, Thorsten is a lousy choice to be poster boy for the open bridge. Have you ever seen him play pool? He uses the closed bridge a lot.
Maybe someone well versed in snooker can explain a reason why the open bridge is used in that game that wouldn't apply to pool, but until then I'm sticking with my shaft taper theory. Intuitively it just makes common sense.
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BTW, Thorsten is a lousy choice to be poster boy for the open bridge. Have you ever seen him play pool? He uses the closed bridge a lot.
It was a joke. Refer to just about any Neil Robertson video on Youtube for more information.
Actually most pool/billiards players use both. I use open 90% of the time.
TheThaiger
Banned
It's funny, I watched a Robertson clip about 5 secs before posing my question. Impossible to play the shots he does with a closed bridge.
I'm not necessarily advocating one over the other though. I don't know much about the advantages between the two... in my playing, I don't give it any thought at all and whatever my hand forms on the table is what I'll use.
That said, I recall one particular shot by Neil where he is bridging on the short rail looking at a red a foot or two away from the head corner pocket. He snipes the ball straight in and draws the white essentially all the way back down the table. However, I distinctly remember he lifted his cue up into the air on the shot rather than shooting through. Why does he do that?
TheThaiger
Banned
Remaining or not, your point is nonsense. The number of world champions with unorthodox fundamentals? Zero.
The pool playing world - or Americans specifically - take note: any deviation from the snooker approach weakens your game. Unquestionably.
Taper, shaft size, stance, bridge - laughable excuses.
TheThaiger
Banned
It's common when you're really juicing the ball. I guess the closed bridge eliminates this.
I only use a closed bridge, when I am shooting parallel to the rail, so that i can't get my hand comfortably on the table.
Instructors will tell you, that a closed bridge gives you more feel and touch for draw shots and protects your cue from slipping out of your bridge hand (and hitting the cueball higher than intended). May be true for some people. But if your fundamentals are sound, you shouldn't have these kind of problems anyway. For me, aiming is easier with an open bridge, and I can do a tablelength drawshot.
Instructors will tell you, that a closed bridge gives you more feel and touch for draw shots and protects your cue from slipping out of your bridge hand (and hitting the cueball higher than intended). May be true for some people. But if your fundamentals are sound, you shouldn't have these kind of problems anyway. For me, aiming is easier with an open bridge, and I can do a tablelength drawshot.
TheThaiger
Banned
I thought Wity comment was mildy amusing, as was your repost. To perhaps explain his comment from a british point of view, beginners and girls play with a closed bridge, as they find it easier to keep the cue going through on a straight line. It's a common way to spot someone that'll be no danger to you when you play them. Almost all of us will have grown up playing pub pool, with a 'winner stays on' format. Plenty of drunks will play with a closed bridge, too.
Rightly or wrongly (rightly IMO) people playing with a closed bridge are considered non players over here. People are confusing cultural and scientific approaches to the game on this one. It is cultural for Americans to play with a closed bridge. It is scientific for the rest of us to play with an open one, because, simply put, it is the most effective in terms of fundamentals. When someone wins the snooker world championships with a closed bridge, I'll eat my words. Any bridge will suffice in pool.
TheThaiger
Banned
Bang on. If you can cue a ball, you don't need a closed bridge. Closed for show, open for dough.
A few players have played around with the closed bridge in snooker. Alex Higgins used it on occassion, Ronnie O'Sullivan used it now and then when he was dabbling in pool around 2006. He even broke off for a while I think with a closed bridge, but he eventually has reverted to open bridge exclusively.
As TheThaiger points out it may have a lot to do with culture (not just geographically but also that which surrounds the different games). Players are taught THIS is the way you make a bridge and they become comfortable with it. This carries over across the pond and around the world as people emulate what they see on tv. It's the same way you see many pool players who use closed bridges exclusively even though they might see some benefits from adding more bridging techniques into their arsenal.
I feel both worlds can offer a lot to each other but there is a massive disconnect between pool and snooker players and pros. Snooker players can be absolutely insufferable when it comes to their assessment of pool as a game and pool players can be overly defensive, in some cases outright denying the worth of any snooker techniques in their application to their pursuit.
Snooker mechanics seem to be taught in a one size fits all mould, but there is actually some variance to it depending on height, body size etc. It's just not as customisable as pool. To be fair, this is talking off the top of my head from what I have read and observed. Mechanics and strokes do vary but they all look fairly similar (with some exceptions) much like Golf I think does to a non-fanatic.
I find pool heads towards the other direction a bit much sometimes. To the credit of instructors, they tend to provide a solid template from which a new player can work with and build upon. But outside of proper instruction I hear a lot of advice around pool rooms that amounts to, do whatever feels comfortable and keeps you balanced. Sounds good, but from personal experience many players may think they're balanced but they could use a little adjusting. Furthermore this advice doesn't seem to mention anything about alignment and beginning players tend to cue around their hips as a result.
Where am I going with this? I have no idea, I'm kind of thinking out loud. Getting back on topic, players are often taught that an open bridge is the way to go when you need to make a tough long straight in, which is consistent with snooker as most pots you face long when compared to a pool table. So ya, that works, right? I dunno lol.
As TheThaiger points out it may have a lot to do with culture (not just geographically but also that which surrounds the different games). Players are taught THIS is the way you make a bridge and they become comfortable with it. This carries over across the pond and around the world as people emulate what they see on tv. It's the same way you see many pool players who use closed bridges exclusively even though they might see some benefits from adding more bridging techniques into their arsenal.
I feel both worlds can offer a lot to each other but there is a massive disconnect between pool and snooker players and pros. Snooker players can be absolutely insufferable when it comes to their assessment of pool as a game and pool players can be overly defensive, in some cases outright denying the worth of any snooker techniques in their application to their pursuit.
Snooker mechanics seem to be taught in a one size fits all mould, but there is actually some variance to it depending on height, body size etc. It's just not as customisable as pool. To be fair, this is talking off the top of my head from what I have read and observed. Mechanics and strokes do vary but they all look fairly similar (with some exceptions) much like Golf I think does to a non-fanatic.
I find pool heads towards the other direction a bit much sometimes. To the credit of instructors, they tend to provide a solid template from which a new player can work with and build upon. But outside of proper instruction I hear a lot of advice around pool rooms that amounts to, do whatever feels comfortable and keeps you balanced. Sounds good, but from personal experience many players may think they're balanced but they could use a little adjusting. Furthermore this advice doesn't seem to mention anything about alignment and beginning players tend to cue around their hips as a result.
Where am I going with this? I have no idea, I'm kind of thinking out loud. Getting back on topic, players are often taught that an open bridge is the way to go when you need to make a tough long straight in, which is consistent with snooker as most pots you face long when compared to a pool table. So ya, that works, right? I dunno lol.
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The last few posts are the kind of posts I appreciate! Informative and enjoyable, expressing opinions without insulting yet affirming personal preferences. Well done gentlemen!
I figured it wasn't really Mr Robertson.....
...'cause the post wasn't upside down:smile-us-down:
TheThaiger
Banned
Great post. Also thinking out loud, I think the snooker approach is the 'ideal', but individual deviation to certain elements of it - stance, bridge etc - shouldn't be discouraged fanatically. What annoys me is when these deviations are held up as examples of best practice, when they're palpably not. In other words, do what works for you, but don't force it upon other people.
It may well be just as simple as tradition - Snooker players have always
used the open bridge, most pool players use a closed/looped bridge.
IMHO - a skilled player would be able to play well using either style.
Besides, unless you bridge tightly - looping a finger over the shaft
doesn't change things much. I have never seen many players bridge
tightly anyway.
FWIW - top Snooker pros not only use the open bridge - they play with
tips soft as cardboard, and they mushroom so much they look like
a pancake. And don't even get me started on brass ferrules!
But, their level of play is top notch.
Perhaps it's more about starting early, getting good coaching, practice,
discipline, and monetary reward. I only wish we had the kind
of organization and support for pool/cuesports in the US that Snooker enjoys worldwide.
Dale
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hello, ill give some input 
the choice of a bridge has a lot to do with the stance.
the very low stance of a snooker player wouldnt allow him to use a closed bridge without hiding a lot of his cue ball and his tip, witch would lead to bad accuracy.
pool players used for a long time a higher stance so that they could play with more "follow through". just try to go down like a snookerplayer, your elbow will stop much earlier than with a traditionnal poolstance.
this follow through was needed more in pool because a) pool balls are heavier and needed more power/follow through to apply good spin on them (especially when the clothes where MUCH slower) and b) poolplayers try more often to generate a position by using a lot of english (lost the angle? snooker player will try safe, poolplayer will try to cheat the pocket or play a position with LOTS of english)
with a higher stance came also a little less precision, and for power shots the closed bridge provided more stability so you d hit the cueball where you intended.
of course, nowadays with super fast pool cloths, ultra high performance shafts (LOL), it wouldnt matter much but like the snooker players are taught to play with an open bridge, a lot of pool players were taught to use a closed bridge.
further more, the shaft diameter of a snookercue is not very comfortable to use a closed bridge (i tried it out, but i also have big fingers)
thats how pool and snooker trainers explained it to me
greetings from a huge pool,snooker and artistique fan (we should stick together and not discuss whos more pro...omg...)
the choice of a bridge has a lot to do with the stance.
the very low stance of a snooker player wouldnt allow him to use a closed bridge without hiding a lot of his cue ball and his tip, witch would lead to bad accuracy.
pool players used for a long time a higher stance so that they could play with more "follow through". just try to go down like a snookerplayer, your elbow will stop much earlier than with a traditionnal poolstance.
this follow through was needed more in pool because a) pool balls are heavier and needed more power/follow through to apply good spin on them (especially when the clothes where MUCH slower) and b) poolplayers try more often to generate a position by using a lot of english (lost the angle? snooker player will try safe, poolplayer will try to cheat the pocket or play a position with LOTS of english)
with a higher stance came also a little less precision, and for power shots the closed bridge provided more stability so you d hit the cueball where you intended.
of course, nowadays with super fast pool cloths, ultra high performance shafts (LOL
), it wouldnt matter much but like the snooker players are taught to play with an open bridge, a lot of pool players were taught to use a closed bridge.further more, the shaft diameter of a snookercue is not very comfortable to use a closed bridge (i tried it out, but i also have big fingers
)thats how pool and snooker trainers explained it to me
greetings from a huge pool,snooker and artistique fan (we should stick together and not discuss whos more pro...omg...)