Closed bridge for power shots

Andrew Manning

Andrew Manning

Aspiring know-it-all
Silver Member
So I've been playing pool seriously for about a year and a half, and due to my obsession with the game and learning all I can about it, I think I've improved very rapidly. I've had one lesson (two hours with two BCA instructors, and me as the only student) in order to nail down my fundamentals of stance, body position, and cue action.

So I started playing exclusively with an open bridge because it was easier for me, and nobody (including the BCA instructors) ever told me any reason I should change that policy. I saw that most (all?) great snooker players always shoot with an open bridge, so I figured learning a closed bridge is somehing I could do without, and worked on the rest of my game.

Recently, though, the best player on my team suggested I learn a closed bridge to help remedy my inconsistency on power-stroke shots, and it has made a WORLD of difference.

Shooting a straight shot with about 6 diamonds between the CB and OB, I can get about 3 diamonds of draw with an open bridge, but I'm a fairly strong guy with a powerful stroke, and I thought I could do better. Since I learned a closed bridge, I can shoot the CB six diamonds and draw it all the way back and then some. Also on follow shots, if I shoot with a closed bridge, the follow "takes" much more promptly after contact, and I can really make the CB go places I couldn't before on angled follow shots.

Does anyone have a similar experience, or an explanation of why a closed bridge seems to have increased my power so much? I know the bridge in and of itself has no effect on the cue ball, but apparently it has some effect on the stroke!

-Andrew
 
Andrew Manning said:
Does anyone have a similar experience, or an explanation of why a closed bridge seems to have increased my power so much? I know the bridge in and of itself has no effect on the cue ball, but apparently it has some effect on the stroke!
Click to expand...
I'm guessing that your closed bridge subconciously makes you stroke harder, since your cue is held more securely in a closed bridge. Because you know that your cue is less susceptible to wobble around when stroking firmly, you may subconsciously be adding a little more umph to your stroke, which is why you get increased draw. I guess it's the same reason why you probably won't stroke all out when breaking with an open bridge. Just guessing.
 
I too use an open bridge as much as possible, reverting to a closed bridge only when necessary. Most of the time, that's just on my break shots.

From a diamond away I can get 1 1/4 tables of draw, so I'll worry aboutt six diamonds of draw from six diamonds away a little later on.

I feel I can get lower (and maintain a level cue) with an open bridge, but that doesn't make any physical sense as I sit here thinking about it, so perhaps I may move to a closed bridge the few times I really need to put some draw juice on it.

But overall, that's something I'll worry about in a few months. I'm a little newer to it all than you. :)
 
I went to a closed bridge for about %70-%80 of my shots last year. Before that I was an exclusive open bridge player. I found my cb control has improved greatly since then. I don't know how much of it has to do with my bridge because I've put a lot of work into my game over the last couple of years and my whole game has improved, but I think it was an important change.

I don't think a closed bridge is must have for all players(saw a really good player last week that shot with a weird kinda peace sign bridge), but I think it adds a few more tricks in the bag that you wouldn't have otherwise.
 
jsp said:
I'm guessing that your closed bridge subconciously makes you stroke harder, since your cue is held more securely in a closed bridge. Because you know that your cue is less susceptible to wobble around when stroking firmly, you may subconsciously be adding a little more umph to your stroke, which is why you get increased draw. I guess it's the same reason why you probably won't stroke all out when breaking with an open bridge. Just guessing.
Click to expand...

Actually, I break with an open bridge, and I use an extremely hard break. My ending position after my break stroke rules out the possibilty of a closed bridge; I end up standing up with my grip hand straight out in front of me and the cue pointed downward at where the head ball was. I think if I used a closed bridge I'd lose a finger.

So I don't think it's that I subconsciously can't stroke hard with an open bridge.

-Andrew
 
For "power" and/with "accuracy" CLOSE the bridge. (Power draw or follow.....strong stroke shots)

Study how all of the greats shoot various shots (make notes if need be) and you will see.
 
I used to use an open bridge all the time myself. A league teammate of mine, last year, suggested that I try and learn to shoot with a closed bridge - that when he switched from open to closed, a year or so prior to the conversation, his game improved markedly.

It took a bit to get used to, but I found that in many cases (not all), the closed bridge helped my game. I've since gotten to where I shoot a mix of open/closed - there are some shots that I just prefer to go back to an open bridge, as (and I heard Allison Fisher say this very thing a few months back, when asked about her bridge preferences) you can't properly see everything going on as far as the shaft, where the tip is going to strike the cue, etc. if you've got a closed bridge - your finger over the top of the shaft obscures your view to a degree. Sometimes I feel I need to see everything, and I shoot open. Other times, I don't, and I'll shoot closed.

It's largely just a matter of personal preference, I think - everyone's different and will be comfortable shooting open/closed in different conditions. The best thing to do is to try different bridges in different situations and see what is comfortable, and what improves your game.
 
Andrew Manning said:
Does anyone have a similar experience, or an explanation of why a closed bridge seems to have increased my power so much? I know the bridge in and of itself has no effect on the cue ball, but apparently it has some effect on the stroke!

-Andrew
Click to expand...

Tuck this away until your next major breakthrough:
-------------------------------------------------------------

I'll echo what I've written before. In the beginning phases, a
student might change from an open bridge to a closed bridge in pool to
aid in their progress in straight stroking. But once they get better
and figure how to stroke relatively straight, then many players will
revert back to or at least re-incorporate the open bridge. Not only
is the open bridge important in a game of pool, it often is the
*correct* bridge for certain shots. That is to say, in many
circumstances, the use of a proper open bridge is actually an
indicator of advancement in pool.

Good Luck,

Fred Agnir
 
It all differs from player to player. I use a closed bridge for "most" draw shots and for power follow shots (meaning the cue ball needs to travel the length of the table).

This differs from player to player. When playing at Jimmy Reid's house, he prefers a closed bridge on 95% of his shots with a VERY short bridge. He also has NO pause in his backswing before the final execution/follow through of a shot. This is somewhat uncommon, but whatever works right?

In the end, you have to find what is comfortable, and most importantly EFFECTIVE for you on the particular type of shot you want to execute.
 
Cornerman said:
Tuck this away until your next major breakthrough:
-------------------------------------------------------------

I'll echo what I've written before. In the beginning phases, a
student might change from an open bridge to a closed bridge in pool to
aid in their progress in straight stroking. But once they get better
and figure how to stroke relatively straight, then many players will
revert back to or at least re-incorporate the open bridge. Not only
is the open bridge important in a game of pool, it often is the
*correct* bridge for certain shots. That is to say, in many
circumstances, the use of a proper open bridge is actually an
indicator of advancement in pool.

Good Luck,

Fred Agnir
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice; I definitely agree that an open bridge has a place in everyone's game, because of sighting advantages, and because you can generally make your bridge lower with an open bridge, and thus keep the cue more level for softer shots with low english. For now, I'm only using a closed bridge on 10% or fewer of my shots. Only when I need to juice the ball, and I subscribe to the theory that when you're playing your best, you shouldn't have to use too much power on any shot, except maybe ones left to you by your opponent.

-Andrew
 
Andrew Manning said:
So I've been playing pool seriously for about a year and a half, and due to my obsession with the game and learning all I can about it, I think I've improved very rapidly. I've had one lesson (two hours with two BCA instructors, and me as the only student) in order to nail down my fundamentals of stance, body position, and cue action.

So I started playing exclusively with an open bridge because it was easier for me, and nobody (including the BCA instructors) ever told me any reason I should change that policy. I saw that most (all?) great snooker players always shoot with an open bridge, so I figured learning a closed bridge is somehing I could do without, and worked on the rest of my game.

Recently, though, the best player on my team suggested I learn a closed bridge to help remedy my inconsistency on power-stroke shots, and it has made a WORLD of difference.

Shooting a straight shot with about 6 diamonds between the CB and OB, I can get about 3 diamonds of draw with an open bridge, but I'm a fairly strong guy with a powerful stroke, and I thought I could do better. Since I learned a closed bridge, I can shoot the CB six diamonds and draw it all the way back and then some. Also on follow shots, if I shoot with a closed bridge, the follow "takes" much more promptly after contact, and I can really make the CB go places I couldn't before on angled follow shots.

Does anyone have a similar experience, or an explanation of why a closed bridge seems to have increased my power so much? I know the bridge in and of itself has no effect on the cue ball, but apparently it has some effect on the stroke!

-Andrew
Click to expand...

A few things. First the reason why snooker players use the open handed bridge is partly because they do utilize power shots as much, and force required to create power is not as much as is in pool. The reason is, the balls are lighter. However some snooker coaches do advocate a closed bridge for draw shots.

The reason the closed bridge is useful is that it directs the cue more. The cue can't go out of your bridge hand, the only place it can go (if bridged properly and firmly) is straight through. And since power shots seem to accent any flaws in your stroke the closed bridge is the best choice.

Lastly I think you might have the wrong idea about power draws when you refer to your physical strength. Im not a big guy (about 5'7) not that strong but I can draw the cue ball close to two table lengths. Strength has little to do with it, its generating cue speed that creates power. People have the tendency to tighten and flex their muscles when shooting the break and other powershots, as a result you see some wild misses. Use the closed bridge, keep your arms relaxed, your grip lose and fire away. You will probably find yourself drawing the cueball farther than you ever thought you could.
 
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I Always Used To Shoot With An Open Type Snooker Stroke, Until I Ran Into Alex .p. At A Tourney And He Convinced Me Different.
 
As a general rule, open bridges work when hitting above the horizontal center, and closed for hitting below. Note: this is a general guideline and may not apply on EVERY shot.
Steve
 
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