Bridge hand fingers moving.

madmiller

madmiller

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have been watching a lot of videos lately where pros play and I noticed the same thing when a lot of A players do when I watch them live. When they either shoot or prepare to shoot, they move fingers in their bridge hand. I was taught that the bridge hand must be steady, but obviously it's not the fact. Why they do that?
 
No the fingers move subtly

No the fingers move subtly with the senses


madmiller said:
I have been watching a lot of videos lately where pros play and I noticed the same thing when a lot of A players do when I watch them live. When they either shoot or prepare to shoot, they move fingers in their bridge hand. I was taught that the bridge hand must be steady, but obviously it's not the fact. Why they do that?
Click to expand...
 
It could be a form of front hand english or a combo of front hand & back hand english or it could be they are using a bit of swiping english. I do all 3 & do not consciously know why for what shots. I just do them, but I only do a swipe with an open bridge.

Just my guess.
 
Are they moving a finger as though they are tapping it on the table? If so snooker players do it a hell of a lot. Its a way to get rid of tension in their bridge hand and its not a conscious movement it just kind of happens.
 
John Higgins did it in snooker quite often. I have a friend who does it as well when I leave him long cuts toward his bridging arm (OB cuts left for right-handed players). It might be nerves or something they just don't realize they're doing. I hadn't thought to ask him about it, I just noticed it.

I don't find pool players do it that often.



.
 
This is a common occurrence.
The subconscious mind intuitively sees that the bridge hand is misaligned, making a successful shot impossible, and causes the bridge hand to make the subtle, but necessary, changes in order to complete the shot.
The conscious mind is totally unaware that anything has taken place so when the balls goes in the pocket the player exclaims, "I'll be damn, it went in!" :smile:
 
I do it all the time with my middle finger. I'll just sort of tap the table with it a few times. I guess for me, once the tapping stops, I know I can shoot.
 
Pidge said:
Are they moving a finger as though they are tapping it on the table? If so snooker players do it a hell of a lot. Its a way to get rid of tension in their bridge hand and its not a conscious movement it just kind of happens.
Click to expand...


SVB does this finger tap thing
 
BeiberLvr said:
I do it all the time with my middle finger. I'll just sort of tap the table with it a few times. I guess for me, once the tapping stops, I know I can shoot.
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I read a magazine article about this a few years ago. They asked a few snooker players about it and most said they didn't know why or that they were doing it. I've never seen any pool players doing it however so I'm wondering if this is what the op means or if its more of an adjustment for aim. That being said, very few pros would adjust their aim once they're down on a shot or atleast its not advised.

I tap the table with my pinky usually on draw shots when I place more weight on my bridge. And like I said before, I don't know I'm doing it and as far as I know its a subconscious movement to relieve tension.
 
I'm from a snooker background and you're right saying it's frequent in snooker players.

I think some people call this the piano player's finger. It is caused by tention in the hand. Not sure if it relieves tension or not.

Personally, I think it is a pre shot routine. Most golfers perform the same drill every time before hitting the ball. This finger tapping could have the same purpose; increase focus and ensure you're setup properly. By tapping on the table, I will feel if my stance is correct or not. If your stance is crooked or not proper, the tension in the hand will feel different when twitching the finger. At this point, you get off the table and set up again...

Golf: Visualize, feel, setup and let it go
Pool: Visualize, setup, feel (tap the finger) and let it go

just my :2cents:
 
Very astute

Very astute congratulations.
Tramp Steamer said:
This is a common occurrence.
The subconscious mind intuitively sees that the bridge hand is misaligned, making a successful shot impossible, and causes the bridge hand to make the subtle, but necessary, changes in order to complete the shot.
The conscious mind is totally unaware that anything has taken place so when the balls goes in the pocket the player exclaims, "I'll be damn, it went in!" :smile:
Click to expand...
 
It also serves to adjust the bridge to a repeatable point of physical comfort as well,which lets your mind go on auto-pilot as far as monitoring basic life functions and just subconsciously execute the shot,which is done in the right side of the brain,connected to?...the left side,which is the bridge hand for most of us.

Without letting the whole cat out of the bag,legendary pool player and writer George Fels wrote a 6 page column on "Dead Stroke" and clearly mentions this subconscious bride adjustment and how it relates to this.

VERY powerful column from way over 20 years ago. My copy is signed by him,and proud to say so,as well as proud of how well I've used it at times. Tommy D.
 
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