Bridge arm elbow locked or bent?
- Thread starter 8-Ball Player
- Start date
I have thought about this a lot lately and I guess it is just a matter of preference. There is a bit of it that deals with how tall you are because a 7 foot man couldn't lock his arm. I have my arm almost locked but not quite. I also think that locking puts more of the weight on your shoulder and therefore more weight on your body muscles so yea it can be more tiring I assume. To each his own. There are good players that do everything I have found ahaha.
Eric.
Eric.
I recently started keeping my arm straighter & found my game went up a gear. The last time I played (a week ago) it seemed like all my recent good form had deserted me & I couldn't do anything right. Once I started picking my game apart I realised I'd fallen back into the habit of having my elbow bent quite a way. Just wish I'd noticed it sooner!!
I found that most good players do keep it straight unless they are bridging by side pocket at an angle. I found I cannot keep it straight so I just keep the bridge really tight and it is effective. I would love to hear what the pool instructors have to say about this one.
digitalcrack said:
Hey, maybe Scott Lee will find this and post.
TheWizard said:Mostly I keep it relaxed a little, but it depends on the shot I have, as to where the snowball is located
Willie
Haha, thats a good name for the cueball, I like it better than the rock...
im tall so i cant lock mine out......ive found making sure i get my footwork right, stepping into the shot the same way, and going down into my stance with my cue already in my bridgehand lets me always line up straight, whether my arm is bent a little or alot or almost straight.
8-Ball Player said:
Keep in mind that to have a good stroke, it must be fast and loose. You should be relaxed as possible on every shot, muscle tension in the lower body will tire you out quick. Muscle tension in your arms, shoulders, and wrists will cause you steer the cue ball instead of stroking through it to your intended target.
So whether your bridge arm is straight or bent there should be no muscle tension there that can effect your stroke.
It all depends on the shot if its bent or straight...
Look at Johnny Archer...he lays his whole arm and elbow on the table.
I think more important is how the bridge hand is planted, turned, rotated.....
Your arm will react to how your bridge hand is placed...I am not so sure your bridge should be determined from your arm placement..
Look at Johnny Archer...he lays his whole arm and elbow on the table.
I think more important is how the bridge hand is planted, turned, rotated.....
Your arm will react to how your bridge hand is placed...I am not so sure your bridge should be determined from your arm placement..
manwon makes an excellent point, locking out ur arm straight would probably cause some tenseness, which is definitely an enemy to a smooth stroke
I don't think it matters whether it's locked or bent a little. For sure, though, you have to have balance and be still when pulling the trigger. For some people, having the arm locked eliminates a variable and allows them to concentrate on other facets. Strive to be as consistant as possible.
I have a very slight bend in my bridge arm. Not enough to affect my shot but enough to keep me loose. A couple of instructors told me i was to stiff, once I put a slight bend in it I noticed it in my game.
manwon said:
I totally agree, great post!
Whichever it takes to place my bridge-hand where desired from my current position or around any other balls. I do both, but slightly bent more often than not.
Observations
My bridge arm is slightly bent.
Observations I have noticed:
1) Those that shoot with bridge arm locked, tend to do so because:
1-A) They hold the cue too far back with grip arm.
1-B) They tend to have too long a stroke.
1-C) They stand too straight with the cue.
Now, most of these tendencies can result in weaknesses in your game.
A 45 degree angle is recommended in relation to your cue. People that stand too straight will put their hip close to their stroke, among other things. It's like shooting a rifle from a standing postion with both feet together instead of spread apart with one foot in front. People with too long a stroke will not be consistent throughout all of their shots they have, yes, I will make an exception for the Filapinos. And people that hold their cue too far back with the grip arm are not stroking the cue, they are pushing it.
My bridge arm is slightly bent.
Observations I have noticed:
1) Those that shoot with bridge arm locked, tend to do so because:
1-A) They hold the cue too far back with grip arm.
1-B) They tend to have too long a stroke.
1-C) They stand too straight with the cue.
Now, most of these tendencies can result in weaknesses in your game.
A 45 degree angle is recommended in relation to your cue. People that stand too straight will put their hip close to their stroke, among other things. It's like shooting a rifle from a standing postion with both feet together instead of spread apart with one foot in front. People with too long a stroke will not be consistent throughout all of their shots they have, yes, I will make an exception for the Filapinos. And people that hold their cue too far back with the grip arm are not stroking the cue, they are pushing it.
Snapshot9 said:
I usually lock my arm, but then again, I'm 6'3". So am I suppost to have my arm locked up because I am so tall, or ....?
8-Ball Player said:
At 6'3" (I'm 6'2", so I'm familiar with this situation), locking your bridge arm would mean that your shoulders are quite a long ways from the tip of the cue. Meaning you may not be able to grip the cue at the correct point (directly underneath your shooting elbow), because that would be off the end of the cue. If I lock my left elbow and grip at the very end of my cue, I have a very cramped stroking motion, which is never good. So the bent left arm for me is a necessity.
But I also agree with manwon that for most people, a locked left arm would result in a posture that is full of tension, which is detrimental to accuracy, power, and consistency. Your arm needs to be relaxed. If your arm is totally straight, and also relaxed and comfortable, then you're the exception to the rule. For most people a relaxed and comfortable position would include a bent arm.
-Andrew