How close is your bridge hand from the cue ball when shooting?

8

8-Ball Player

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just wondering...

I heard that your suppost to have about 6 - 8 inches between the cue ball and your bridge during regular shooting.

And a longer bridge when your breaking or making major draw/english shots, so your cue can flex a little.

Thanks again guys.
 
they measured bridges of pro player about 30 ot 40 years ago. the average was 11+".

of course, the difference is they could still hit the cb exactly where they wanted to. such is not the case with you or i, so it behooves the lesser players to use a shorter bridge. my bridge had always been notoriously long 12-14, and i was erratic as a result.

since i don't play anymore, on those few occasions that i do, i bring a different game and viewpoint, one being my bridge has become shorter, and i feel my aim is more consistant.

changing your bridge changes your whole perspective of the table, and so it's difficult to do. if you have a long bridge and cannot change, use a shorter stroke. this allows you to hit the ball more accurately.

i can see a different bridge to break, but not for draw...it's all in the stroke.
 
Short bridge, short back stroke, pause and follow through till the tip is on the cloth. Stay down until the ball goes in the hole. This builds a precise, repeatable game. Pot at least 100 balls a day, table length diagonally, for a year or so and a guy should have a good stroke.

I don't .... but a guy should have. :D
 
8 to 10 inches on most shots.
I like to see as much of the cue as I can while maintaining control.
 
8-Ball Player said:
Just wondering...

I heard that your suppost to have about 6 - 8 inches between the cue ball and your bridge during regular shooting.

And a longer bridge when your breaking or making major draw/english shots, so your cue can flex a little.

Thanks again guys.
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8 Inches from the back of the cueball to the V in my thumb!.....randyg
 
bruin70 said:
...of course, the difference is they could still hit the cb exactly where they wanted to. such is not the case with you or i, so it behooves the lesser players to use a shorter bridge...
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Tap-tap-tap, so many of us watch the pros and adopt their practices, forgetting we don't have their natural ability or hours on the table.
 
It has everything to do with what's comfortable and workable for you.

Recently I had a lesson with Scott Lee, who as far as I can ascertain is one of, if not the most respected instructor in the country, and he watched me hit some stop, follow, and draw shots at various speeds as a first step. After analyzing my body position, stroke, and results (action on the CB), he did not advise me to change my bridge length. Later when we measured it, it was 13 inches on draw shots, and more like 10 inches on follow shots.

Anyway, those are both longer than most people will tell you bridges are "supposed to be", but the best instructor in the land didn't tell me to change. So I wouldn't put too much faith in blanket statements like "everyone's bridge should be 6-8 inches", because it depends on your body shape (arm length, shoulder geometry, etc.) and body position when you shoot.

-Andrew
 
depends

Most normal shots I am 8-10 inches, doesn't matter if I am drawing or follow through.

However, there are those pesty shots like on the rail, and such that my bridge will be much shorter, or perhaps to get over some balls it would be much longer.
 
Hey thanks everyone for you posts.

Yeah, it was my old instructor that told me I MUST have a bridge 6-8 inches, and that I MUST hold the cue at the bottom of the wrap (even though it was uncomfortable.) Got a lot of misinformation from that guy, he was good so that demanded respect I guess:rolleyes: .

Thanks again
 
29 centimeters exactly, which is about 11.417 inches.

Just being a wiseass :)
A good rule of thumb I saw on an instructional video (from toasti hohmann) is one handspan. I do about that distance subconsciously all the time. It might somehow account for slightly different sizes/hand sizes/heights/whatever.
 
9-12.....any shorter, feel like I can't complete my stroke....any longer, I lose accuracy...
 
CreeDo said:
29 centimeters exactly, which is about 11.417 inches.

Just being a wiseass :)
A good rule of thumb I saw on an instructional video (from toasti hohmann) is one handspan. I do about that distance subconsciously all the time. It might somehow account for slightly different sizes/hand sizes/heights/whatever.
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yeah, I guess I dont play enough to know what is constistent for me. Well you know what that means, Im off to my table which is sitting about 5 feet behind me.

And just in case anyone is wondering, I play 35+ hours a week because YES I have that kind of time. Im going to school and not working at the moment, and that is why. :)
 
Generally I bridge about 6 ~ 8 inches away...if I have a long draw shot I move back to 10ish inches away...If I have a shot where the CB and OB are around 2 inches apart I'll bridge 2 ~ 3 inches away....
 
8-Ball Player said:
Just wondering...

I heard that your suppost to have about 6 - 8 inches between the cue ball and your bridge during regular shooting.

And a longer bridge when your breaking or making major draw/english shots, so your cue can flex a little.

Thanks again guys.
Click to expand...
Mine is anywhere from 3-18"

Fred <~~~ IMO
 
Cornerman said:
Mine is anywhere from 3-18"

Fred <~~~ IMO
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18 inches!?!? Thats crazy long... My brother used to do that untill he ripped the felt:rolleyes: . Yeah he would put his bridge on the rail when the cue ball was on the other side.:D
 
My S.O.P. is 13.5 inches from the V or closining of my bridge, and my full follow through is 5.5 inches (7.75 if you iclude the cue ball).

Thanks Scott...

SPF brother...

Pete
 
Pete said:
My S.O.P. is 13.5 inches from the V or closining of my bridge, and my full follow through is 5.5 inches (7.75 if you iclude the cue ball).

Thanks Scott...

SPF brother...

Pete
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In that case, I'm guessing you're 6'2" and get your chin pretty low over the cue.

Am I right?

I guessed that because my numbers are 13.0"+6.0", compared to your 13.5"+5.5", meaning that our numbers would be identical if I bridged .5" further from the CB and gripped the cue .5" further back. We have the same 21" total stroke travel from our bridge to natural finish, and we must have fairly similar finish positions, since yours and mine were both coached by Scott Lee. And I'm 6'2" and shoot with my chin fairly low over the cue...

-Andrew
 
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