Bridge Question

Which bridge do you use?.

  • Open

    Votes: 5 6.1%

  • Closed

    Votes: 5 6.1%

  • Both

    Votes: 72 87.8%
  • Total voters
    82
9 ball

9 ball

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
which bridge type do you use, the reason I ask is because I had a conversation with a friend who said that the closed bridge served no point when playing pool as all it does is restrict movement when playing a shot whereas the open bridge doesn't.

what are your thoughts?.
 
9 ball said:
which bridge type do you use, the reason I ask is because I had a conversation with a friend who said that the closed bridge served no point when playing pool as all it does is restrict movement when playing a shot whereas the open bridge doesn't.

what are your thoughts?.
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Your friend means well, but unfortunately he is biased like the rest of us that use both bridges.

Jimmy Reid in his instructional videos show a couple of different type bridges and I guarantee that if you use his different bridges on particular shots, it will improve your game.

JoeyA
 
I can't imagine why anyone would make that kind of statement, but for quite a few years now I've been hearing this kind of thing. I had quite a bit of trouble learning to make a closed bridge properly when I started playing because I have short, stubby fingers. I use both all the time now, depending on the shot. I see a lot of beginning and intermediate players using an open bridge all the time and raising the cue before the end of the stroke quite often.
 
I use the open bridge most of the time. When I need to put a good stroke on the ball, I will used a closed bridge. I feel that I have more control of my cue when I hit the cue ball hard.
 
I don't understand how the closed bridge restricts movement? The stroke is the only movement, or should be, and can be accomplished with either bridge. The type of open bridge used would affect the stroke more, I would think. If I use an open bridge these days, it's most often with the ring and middle fingers tucked under. If I use all my fingers in an open bridge it's very easy to see unnecessary movement of the cue in the course of the stroke.
 
I use a few different bridges based on comfort of the given shot.

On a similar note.....years back when I was researching the break I started breaking with an open bridge. The reason is with a closed bridge I would try to over power the break, and torque on the shaft ala Mike Sigel.....which was an accuracy destroying move IMO.

To this day I still break with an open bridge because nothing else I try leads to a better result. Also, power and control are not an issue.

The only other player I have seen try this is Corey....maybe he stole it from me all those years ago at the juniors tourney where I was working! :)

j/k


G.
 
Pushout said:
I don't understand how the closed bridge restricts movement? The stroke is the only movement, or should be, and can be accomplished with either bridge. The type of open bridge used would affect the stroke more, I would think. If I use an open bridge these days, it's most often with the ring and middle fingers tucked under. If I use all my fingers in an open bridge it's very easy to see unnecessary movement of the cue in the course of the stroke.
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if you have a bad stroke yes, it's easy to see unnecessary movement with an open bridge.
I use an open bridge, because i play snooker and you never use an open bridge. The closed bridge affect your screwback stroke due the more friction..
 
Slh said:
if you have a bad stroke yes, it's easy to see unnecessary movement with an open bridge.
I use an open bridge, because i play snooker and you never use an open bridge. The closed bridge affect your screwback stroke due the more friction..
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No, the fingers of my full open bridge tend to move, it has nothing to do with my stroke. I think you mean you never use a closed bridge. I've played Snooker and admit I play most shots with an open bridge but I'm referring to moving larger, heavier balls with a heavier cue with a larger tip. I have absolutely no problem drawing the ball with a closed bridge, If I have any problem it's with an open bridge drawing the cue ball long distances. I wasn't referring to Snooker, here.
 
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Pushout said:
No, the fingers of my full open bridge tend to move, it has nothing to do with my stroke. I think you mean you never use a closed bridge. I've played Snooker and admit I play most shots with an open bridge but I'm referring to moving larger, heavier balls with a heavier cue with a larger tip. I have absolutely no problem drawing the ball with a closed bridge, If I have any problem it's with an open bridge drawing the cue ball long distances.
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Ops, i made a mistake in the previous post. I always use an open bridge and never a closed bridge, even when i play pool.
Why the fingers tend to move? I don't get it.
Clearly I don't say with a closed bridge is impossible to screw back but with an open bridge its easier due the less friction. Less friction= more cue power.
But yes, using a closed bridge in pool can be usefull due the bigger and heavier balls..
 
Slh said:
Ops, i made a mistake in the previous post. I always use an open bridge and never a closed bridge, even when i play pool.
Why the fingers tend to move? I don't get it.
Click to expand...

Neither do I, it's something I only noticed a few years ago, which is why I've taken to tucking the ring and middle fingers under. Makes the open bridge much firmer for me that way, for some reason. That said, you can make an open bridge many different ways, I guess.
 
14oneman said:
I definitely use both, but I would say 90% of the time, it's the closed bridge.
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Same here. I have more control with a closed bridge. Since it does restrict my movement I am able to focus more on accuracy by using a 3-point contact instead of the 2-point contact of the open bridge. Sometimes I just go with whatever's there when I get down on the shot, unless I'm putting something extra on the ball.
 
I use both, depending on what shot Im trying. If Im close to the cueball and need to use high english, I usually go with an open bridge. Farther away and using low, closed. Of course both scenarios are subject to change at any moment depending on how it "feels"


Joe
 
Pushout said:
Can you explain that, please? What is the line of the cue that you refer to, I've never heard the term before?
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He perceives the full, unbroken line of the shaft in his lower peripheral vision while down on the shot. It's just a mental trick that works for some people to add comfort to a shot.
 
I use both, depending upon the current shot.

Most of the time I use an open bridge, but on some shots (like a long draw or long stop shot), I use a closed bridge.
 
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