Broken but better.

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SlewFootLag

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So I busted my pinky and 5th metacarpal(boxers fracture) on my non bridge hand. Wrench slipped and I basically punched cast iron... Anyways, I had been an APA 5 for a while winning 50-60% of my league matches but i was plateau-ing. So after I broke my hand I was worried I was gonna slump... One of the first things I did once i strapped on the brace was grab a cue and see if I could still stroke ok. It hurt pretty badly on hard shots but it was manageable. And because of the way my splint works I can only grip my cue with my thumb index and middle finger and my wrist is barely mobile, pretty uncomfortable and annoying, but at least I could shoot...

I've always been pretty aware of my fundamental flaws, steering and dropping my elbow etc. But apparently my grip and my wrist was also problem because in the last 6 weeks I've only lost 1 league match out of like 18 and I went up to a 6! Most of which was with the splint on! I looked like Earl with all his accessories. But really, not only did the splint keep my wrist straight and my grip light, it forced my elbow stay up because I couldn't manipulate my wrist forward to create the elbow drop.

So in summation... I'm not saying you should punch an inanimate object in order to improve your pool game, but I'm not saying you shouldn't.
 
SlewFootLag said:
So I busted my pinky and 5th metacarpal(boxers fracture) on my non bridge hand. Wrench slipped and I basically punched cast iron... Anyways, I had been an APA 5 for a while winning 50-60% of my league matches but i was plateau-ing. So after I broke my hand I was worried I was gonna slump... One of the first things I did once i strapped on the brace was grab a cue and see if I could still stroke ok. It hurt pretty badly on hard shots but it was manageable. And because of the way my splint works I can only grip my cue with my thumb index and middle finger and my wrist is barely mobile, pretty uncomfortable and annoying, but at least I could shoot...

I've always been pretty aware of my fundamental flaws, steering and dropping my elbow etc. But apparently my grip and my wrist was also problem because in the last 6 weeks I've only lost 1 league match out of like 18 and I went up to a 6! Most of which was with the splint on! I looked like Earl with all his accessories. But really, not only did the splint keep my wrist straight and my grip light, it forced my elbow stay up because I couldn't manipulate my wrist forward to create the elbow drop.

So in summation... I'm not saying you should punch an inanimate object in order to improve your pool game, but I'm not saying you shouldn't.
Click to expand...

Years ago I had a similar situation, I cant remember what finger I broke but I needed a splint. I played some of the best pool of my life for six weeks. I have tried putting the splint back on but it was not the same.

I can't wait to break a finger again:o
 
SlewFootLag said:
I can only grip my cue with my thumb index and middle finger
Click to expand...

That's all you need.
Many top players only use thumb and index, others use thumb index and middle, and others use thumb middle and ring.
I read somewhere that because the ring and middle fingers are the only fingers that come down as a straight extension of your arm you should hold the cue with thumb, middle and ring fingers.
Basically if you look at your open palm with the back of your hand facing the floor you will see middle and ring fingers are the only 'straight' fingers.
Personally I leave the little finger just dangling, it doesn't wrap around the cue much at all.
Look at Orcollo and see how his right hand is.
You can see some of it here, at this moment.
https://youtu.be/JphKIw266Og?t=42m15s
I know this is a break shot but it is representative of his play shots too.
 
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