bridging cueball against the rail

[nine o nine]

What bridging technique do YOU use with whitey against the rail and the ob a few diamonds away or even a table length?
I almost always have my open bridge on the cushion very near the cueball and use short warmup strokes and deliver a jab stroke with a near level cue and I'm pretty happy with the shot. I see some players use an open bridge with only their fingertips on the back edge of the rail and are able to have a near normal follow through stroke. I find that type of bridge not sturdy enough for me and I often miscue.
I try to have a bit of down pressure on the shaft to the cushion so as to lessen the miscue possibilty especially if the shot is long and I need to have some pace on whitey.
Can we talk?

 

[takeitdown]

Shooting with downward pressure into your open or closed bridge leads to a much better stroke on the cueball. It will eliminate miscues. You can hit the cueball with speed to get whitey up table.
Try it and experiment more with a smooth follow through and you will be surprised at the difference.

 

[ceebee]

I use that bridge well. When I miscue, I know that I have dropped my elbow & the stroke went higher than my original aim.

 

[backplaying]

I like Jimmy Reid's way of shooting off the rail. Check out his site.

 

[AtLarge]

I like Jimmy Reid's way of shooting off the rail. Check out his site.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=2278595&postcount=33

Edit: And here's that whole thread (on nearly same topic as this thread): http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=175641

 

[ShootingArts]

I'm with them guys

What bridging technique do YOU use with whitey against the rail and the ob a few diamonds away or even a table length?
I almost always have my open bridge on the cushion very near the cueball and use short warmup strokes and deliver a jab stroke with a near level cue and I'm pretty happy with the shot. I see some players use an open bridge with only their fingertips on the back edge of the rail and are able to have a near normal follow through stroke. I find that type of bridge not sturdy enough for me and I often miscue.
I try to have a bit of down pressure on the shaft to the cushion so as to lessen the miscue possibilty especially if the shot is long and I need to have some pace on whitey.
Can we talk?

I'm in the camp that tries to get some bridge length. Another technique that makes the stroking motion feel nearly normal with a very short bridge is to use a slip stroke letting the hand slide back on the wrap as it moves backwards. I think it was Buddy Hall that I watched pull his cue tip seemingly all the way behind his bridge when he needed to in order to get some stroke length with a very short bridge. Just saw it on video, I would have liked to have seen exactly how he did that. Seems like I have seen Bustamonte do the same but working from memory on both players, could be mistaken about either or both.

I'm more comfortable getting some motion back and forth in my grip hand however I need to do it. A short stroke can work as we all know, I just don't use one often enough to be comfortable with it.

Hu

 

[Island Drive]

What bridging technique do YOU use with whitey against the rail and the ob a few diamonds away or even a table length?
I almost always have my open bridge on the cushion very near the cueball and use short warmup strokes and deliver a jab stroke with a near level cue and I'm pretty happy with the shot. I see some players use an open bridge with only their fingertips on the back edge of the rail and are able to have a near normal follow through stroke. I find that type of bridge not sturdy enough for me and I often miscue.
I try to have a bit of down pressure on the shaft to the cushion so as to lessen the miscue possibilty especially if the shot is long and I need to have some pace on whitey.
Can we talk?

Open most always if your rolling the ball at lower speeds, plus it waaaay easier to see the shot since your index finger isn't blocking your shot view. When you need allot more cue ball speed ''close it up'' by bringing the index finger over the shaft, this way it's near impossible to miscue since the shaft is trapped between your finger and the rail. Make sure you take the extra time....and if you haven't dressed your tip in awhile then.... scuff your tip before the shot, this would be the PERFECT time to do it, plus dress the tip with chalk and ''look at it'' to make sure its completely dressed.