How long is your bridge?

C

CantEverWin

"The One"
Silver Member
How long is your bridge? Does it change depending where you are aiming on the cue ball? (Top, Bottom, Side.) Why do you bridge that length. Why do you not bridge other lengths?

What are the positives, and negatives of shorter, or long bridges?

Mike
 
My bridge is usually too long 8-10 inches. When I shorten it up (6 inches) I find I play better but the comfort isnt there. The reason it's uncomfortable is that I have shot at the 8-10 inch length for a long time.

To answer your question, it never changes for top, side or bottom. I will shorten the bridge to even shorter distances (like 4 inches) on soft shots. The reason is that you have too shorten the backswing as well.

On break shots a longer bridge is used though I don't believe that it is over 12 inches, still around the 10 inch mark I believe. This frees up the backswing allowing more power. I will add that for the break shot you should experiment on what length gives you the best control/power ratio.
 
In my S.O.P. I use a 8 inch bridge. That is measured from the crease of my thumb to the back of the cue-ball. Comfortable and can sight the shot very well. Now I do have two different follow bridges and three different draw bridges, but thats a style not a length change.

The reason that an 8 inch bridge is perfect for my standard stroke is that I'm always in my "Sweet Spot".

Like most other players, I shorten my bridge distance (X.O.P.) for softer shots.

SPF=randyg
 
It all depends on the shot & the equipment. On a barbox I really shorten up the barrel & on a regulation table it all depends on the shot you're attempting to execute. Staight pool players generally have a shorter stroke because you're bunting balls. The majority of good 9 ball players will let the shaft out when its called for. this is a hard thing to teach & comes from feeling. Also different people sight the ball different with various lenghts of stroke. Sometimes it takes experimentation to find your comfort zone.
 
Almost every top professional player has a long bridge. I would say the average bridge for a professional is 10 inches long. It's not because all the pros want to copy the other Filipino pros. It's because you can do more with the cueball with a longer bridge. If you ONLY play games where you can use alot of short and bunt strokes, like 14.1 and one pocket, then a very short bridge can work (like Grady Matthews).
 
CantEverWin said:
How long is your bridge? Does it change depending where you are aiming on the cue ball? (Top, Bottom, Side.) Why do you bridge that length. Why do you not bridge other lengths?

What are the positives, and negatives of shorter, or long bridges?

Mike
Click to expand...

If you notice many top players including Efren, Bustamante, Strickland, Pagulayan use a long bridge. Some use a long bridge and a long stroke, some have a short stroke. I prefer a longer bridge and a shorter stroke, like Pagulayan.

Mine is 11" from the cue ball to the loop of my bridge finger. My stroke, however, only takes the cue back 4" - 6", sometimes less, depending on the stroke.

I like the long bridge for it's aiming view, but the short stroke for accuracy. I also like the long bridge in case I need to reach back for a little more stroke.

I will warn that although I think the long bridge is better to sight with, it can be less accurate if the player is taking a too-long stroke with it. The best players can take a long stroke accurately but most of us can't.

Chris
 
interesting debate, ive always been of the opinion that a long bridge is less accurate and not something I would advise. My bridge is probably quite short 8-9", I've heard of 15" which to me sounds too much. :confused:
 
Anywhere from 5-9", depending on the shot.
The 5" bridge is for those long, straight shots.
 
Koop said:
Anywhere from 5-9", depending on the shot.
The 5" bridge is for those long, straight shots.
Click to expand...


I've seen birds perch on your bridge......:p

its looooong

I've shortened mine up to about 4 to 6 inches, but I do get sloopy and open it up too much.
 
pbat2751 said:
I've seen birds perch on your bridge......:p

its looooong

I've shortened mine up to about 4 to 6 inches, but I do get sloopy and open it up too much.
Click to expand...

Birds? :D

It ain't long man. Now Daves bridge / stroke...That's long
 
Mine varies from 5 inches or so up to perhaps 14 or 15 inches, depending on the shot. Why such a large variation? A couple of things: speed control, sighting, and especially shooting with back hand english. I've found that depending on the strength of the stroke that back hand english works marvels for me when shooting with varying bridge lengths, dependant upon the distance of the cue ball to the object ball. It's a feel thing.
And works great for me.
 
TATE said:
If you notice many top players including Efren, Bustamante, Strickland, Pagulayan use a long bridge. Some use a long bridge and a long stroke, some have a short stroke. I prefer a longer bridge and a shorter stroke, like Pagulayan.

Mine is 11" from the cue ball to the loop of my bridge finger. My stroke, however, only takes the cue back 4" - 6", sometimes less, depending on the stroke.

I like the long bridge for it's aiming view, but the short stroke for accuracy. I also like the long bridge in case I need to reach back for a little more stroke.

I will warn that although I think the long bridge is better to sight with, it can be less accurate if the player is taking a too-long stroke with it. The best players can take a long stroke accurately but most of us can't.

Chris
Click to expand...


Saves me from typing much, this sums me up.


Eric
 
TATE said:
If you notice many top players including Efren, Bustamante, Strickland, Pagulayan use a long bridge. Some use a long bridge and a long stroke, some have a short stroke. I prefer a longer bridge and a shorter stroke, like Pagulayan.

Mine is 11" from the cue ball to the loop of my bridge finger. My stroke, however, only takes the cue back 4" - 6", sometimes less, depending on the stroke.

I like the long bridge for it's aiming view, but the short stroke for accuracy. I also like the long bridge in case I need to reach back for a little more stroke.

I will warn that although I think the long bridge is better to sight with, it can be less accurate if the player is taking a too-long stroke with it. The best players can take a long stroke accurately but most of us can't.

Chris
Click to expand...
I read this post and it sounds like I wrote it. What Chris said.
 
My finger tips (open bridge) are about 10" from the CB, which means my bridge pivot point is around 14-15" for most shots.

Before I measured it, I would have guessed my bridge length was about 10 inches. I can't recall anyone who has watched me play, comment that my bridge looked too long. I think most players have longer bridge lengths than they would estimate.

I think Sigel claimed that the bridge length should be about 6" in his instructional video, but his is clearly much longer when he plays. I don't think Mike looks at many things analytically. He also commented that english doesn't effect throw ..ahhhoooiii

Most pros or fringe pros I've met don't have much clue what's really going on. They're just damn good at making them balls go where they want them to.

Colin <~drifting off topic:p
 
I feel the bridge distance of what Randy G says of around 8" to be the norm, but I feel everything should either be shortened or lengthened depending on the shot at hand. A break shot usually has the greatest distance and a shot where the position on the next ball is very close a shorter distance. The greater the bridge distance the less accuracy and the shorter distance the more accuracy one has. I feel because of the game of nine ball the bridge distance of the pros has increased, but if you take a look at the greats from the last era when straight pool was played their distance was generally more compact.
 
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