PoolBum said:
exactly. it's just a pointless question because they both have their advantages and strengths but it depends on the shot.
Closed bridge or open..?
- Thread starter Peer
- Start date
exactly. it's just a pointless question because they both have their advantages and strengths but it depends on the shot.
BPG24
Banned
Peer said:
Who can't?
I have the hand/eye to tee off with a putter, but it's going very low due to the shorter shaft and only 3 degrees of loft.
I would bet i can hit a putter 200 yards off of a tee. I choose the putter of course
I agree with you about his analogy, but I CAN hit the putter.
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Peer said:
no but it illustrates the point that they are completely different tools for different situations.
worriedbeef said:
Yes, they are different "tools", and some prefer one tool to another, hence my question "it would interesting to see what people here on AzB prefer -- closed bridge or open." I often use an open bridge (especially if I have to stretch over the table), but for general shots I prefer a closed bridge.
-- peer
whats the shot??
generally I use a closed bridge to hit low on the ball and an open bridge to hit high on the ball, it depends on the shot and where I have to leave myself.. bridge comes down to the same discussion we had on stance a while ago... it depends on the shot..
if you force yourself to use a given bridge on a shot where its not advantageous you are not going to be successful.... you don't use a bridge because you like it.. or someone in an online forum told you its the best one... you use a bridge because its the right one for that shot....
generally I use a closed bridge to hit low on the ball and an open bridge to hit high on the ball, it depends on the shot and where I have to leave myself.. bridge comes down to the same discussion we had on stance a while ago... it depends on the shot..
if you force yourself to use a given bridge on a shot where its not advantageous you are not going to be successful.... you don't use a bridge because you like it.. or someone in an online forum told you its the best one... you use a bridge because its the right one for that shot....
Bridge
This is what I thought when I read the topic. You use both so I use both.---Smitty
PoolBum said:
This is what I thought when I read the topic. You use both so I use both.---Smitty
Since that post that Peer quoted I have started to use both bridges. Learning the closed bridge really helped me to start hitting the cue ball accurately. I still like it for draw shots and long straigt shots but probably use an open bridge 70% of the time. I pay a lot more attention to hitting the cue ball accurately with my open bridge and it has made a big difference in my game.
There is no joy in Carnoustie...
The only shot I use a closed bridge for is the break. And then only because I can get a little wild. I used to break with an open bridge and had trouble with control. I learned to use a closed bridge and my control improved. Though, really, I think it is more psychological than anything. I think my control improved because I started practicing the break more. However, I still use a closed bridge for the break.
As far as the putter or driver question:
In the British open several years ago, Jan Van de Veldt held a two stroke advantage on the final day heading to the 18th tee, a par 4 hole. All he needed was a 5, or less, and he would be British Open champion.
Jan could have chosen a fairway wood or a long iron to increase his chances of getting the ball in the fairway, and avoiding the nasty British Open rough. But he chose to go with Driver off the tee and sliced a shot right into the middle of the fairway. Unfortunately, it was the fairway of the 17th hole!
He sliced his 2nd shot as well. It caromed off a stone wall and landed in rough about a foot high. Those who play golf know it is difficult to tell how a ball is going to come out of the rough. It depends on how your club catches in the grass or whether the grass impedes the ball, how many jelly beans you ate for breakfast, etc. Van de Veldt didn't want to hit the ball over the green, but he also didn't want to hit it short, since there was a small creek (called a "burn" in jolly old England) that ran across a few yards in front of the green.
He chunked the shot and the ball barely missed making it across the creek, landing in the water. He then dropped outside the creek, at a one stroke penalty.
For those keeping score, he was now about to hit his 5th shot (counting the penalty stroke) on the hole. He is no longer thinking about winning the tournament. He now just wants to get up and down to force a tie and a playoff. He pitches the ball on to the green about 8 feet from the hole and, luckily, sinks the putt.
He went on to lose in the playoff and is forever remembered as the biggest choker in British Open history.
I tell this long-winded story because one of the comments made after this debacle was that Van de Veldt "could have played the hole with only his putter and done better". A few months after the tournament, he did just that. It was for a television commercial. He replayed the 18th hole using only his putter.
He made a 5.
Ok, so this has nothing to do with this thread, but the "Driver or Putter" comment reminded me of it and I thought I would share. (it's a slow work day).
The only shot I use a closed bridge for is the break. And then only because I can get a little wild. I used to break with an open bridge and had trouble with control. I learned to use a closed bridge and my control improved. Though, really, I think it is more psychological than anything. I think my control improved because I started practicing the break more. However, I still use a closed bridge for the break.
As far as the putter or driver question:
In the British open several years ago, Jan Van de Veldt held a two stroke advantage on the final day heading to the 18th tee, a par 4 hole. All he needed was a 5, or less, and he would be British Open champion.
Jan could have chosen a fairway wood or a long iron to increase his chances of getting the ball in the fairway, and avoiding the nasty British Open rough. But he chose to go with Driver off the tee and sliced a shot right into the middle of the fairway. Unfortunately, it was the fairway of the 17th hole!
He sliced his 2nd shot as well. It caromed off a stone wall and landed in rough about a foot high. Those who play golf know it is difficult to tell how a ball is going to come out of the rough. It depends on how your club catches in the grass or whether the grass impedes the ball, how many jelly beans you ate for breakfast, etc. Van de Veldt didn't want to hit the ball over the green, but he also didn't want to hit it short, since there was a small creek (called a "burn" in jolly old England) that ran across a few yards in front of the green.
He chunked the shot and the ball barely missed making it across the creek, landing in the water. He then dropped outside the creek, at a one stroke penalty.
For those keeping score, he was now about to hit his 5th shot (counting the penalty stroke) on the hole. He is no longer thinking about winning the tournament. He now just wants to get up and down to force a tie and a playoff. He pitches the ball on to the green about 8 feet from the hole and, luckily, sinks the putt.
He went on to lose in the playoff and is forever remembered as the biggest choker in British Open history.
I tell this long-winded story because one of the comments made after this debacle was that Van de Veldt "could have played the hole with only his putter and done better". A few months after the tournament, he did just that. It was for a television commercial. He replayed the 18th hole using only his putter.
He made a 5.
Ok, so this has nothing to do with this thread, but the "Driver or Putter" comment reminded me of it and I thought I would share. (it's a slow work day).
Klopek said:Sure, I was just reading a thread about how they feel a closed bridge is better on longer shots and that's why they use it.
Besides, everyone knows snooker players have the worst draw stroke and it's because of that lousy open bridge.
I still dont understand how snooker players can draw a ball so well with an open bridge, and not have their tip pop up in the air after hitting the ball. They can do this in pool also, not only snooker. I've been trying to learn this for a while but can't seem to. If I draw a ball any harder than medium-soft speed with an open bridge, my tip pops up in the air after hitting the ball/felt.
after my smart azz comment I should have posted I use 90% open bridge...even when breaking. I started breaking open because it forced me to hit a controlled break. This started in practice and just grew into my normal break. I don't lose any control, and I can break as hard as the table needs. A closed bridge will sometimes give me the feeling I want to crank up the break ala Mike Sigel back in the day!.....lucky he always had a cue sponsor....poor shafts!
.....lucky he always had a cue sponsor....poor shafts!
I want to participate in this poll but it won't let me choose 'both'. My only other option is Watch American Idol which I happen to dispise
I chose Idol as well since the answer is both for me as well.