How to force yourself not to grip the cue tightly.

[JoeyA]

I was wondering if anyone had serious suggestions that could help me not to grip the cue tightly. I now think gripping the cue too tightly is my greatest error.

I am wondering if those gloves that Earl wears on his right hand are a bad idea afterall.

I've been thinking about either using a foam glove like the golfers are starting to use or maybe some bubble wrap to soften my non-bridge hand grip.

The tightness of my grip is most noticeable when I am tired but it happens on other days even when I am not tired and I am on a mission.

Besides making a conscious effort to hold the cue lightly what else can be done to lighten your grip?

All suggestions appreciated, even if you haven't tried them yourself.

THANKS!

JoeyA

 

[SPINDOKTOR]

through practice, whitch builds confidence.. Knowing what to practice and having the confidence that comes with this practice allows you not to sweat every shot so much, its your nerves that causes you to change something when your under pressure..Gripping the cue may be a way your dealing with pressure..

The tough shots become routine when you sweat them at the practice table, whitch is something alot of people dont do, or they dont know how.. If you dont feel pressure when your at the practice table your not truely preparing yourself for battle. you need to work harder, or start taking your practice seriously.


SPINDOKTOR

 

[av84fun]

I was wondering if anyone had serious suggestions that could help me not to grip the cue tightly. I now think gripping the cue too tightly is my greatest error.

I am wondering if those gloves that Earl wears on his right hand are a bad idea afterall.

I've been thinking about either using a foam glove like the golfers are starting to use or maybe some bubble wrap to soften my non-bridge hand grip.

The tightness of my grip is most noticeable when I am tired but it happens on other days even when I am not tired and I am on a mission.

Besides making a conscious effort to hold the cue lightly what else can be done to lighten your grip?

All suggestions appreciated, even if you haven't tried them yourself.

THANKS!

JoeyA

Hi JoeyA,

It's not a matter of forcing yourself to do it because that will provide only temporary results. IMHO, you should make it a fundamental part of ALL of your practice sessions for the next few MONTHS to concentrate primarily on your grip pressure.

Just run TONS of racks relying only on instinct for everything other than ghrip pressure.

Know for a fact that you don't have to APPLY ANY PRESSURE. The weight of the cue, in and of itself, will create all the pressure you need.

Try this. Just set up an easy 2 foot straight in and do progressive draw/follow drills using ZERO intentional grip pressure. You will find that you can hit VERY strong shots without any intentional grip pressure.

Once you have PROVEN that to yourself, it will be much easier to adapt to a zero pressure grip.

Finally, during your drills and practice FOCUS on FEELING that you have the same pressure at the end of the stroke that you do before it. That doubles as a "stay down" test too because you need to freeze everything at the end of the stroke to test for your grip pressure.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Jim

 

[JoeyA]

through practice, whitch builds confidence.. Knowing what to practice and having the confidence that comes with this practice allows you not to sweat every shot so much, its your nerves that causes you to change something when your under pressure..Gripping the cue may be a way your dealing with pressure..

The tough shots become routine when you sweat them at the practice table, whitch is something alot of people dont do, or they dont know how.. If you dont feel pressure when your at the practice table your not truely preparing yourself for battle. you need to work harder, or start taking your practice seriously.


SPINDOKTOR

This happens at times other than when there is pressure on. Gripping the cue tightly is not always related to pressure. My practice is probably a bit more serious than most.

JoeyA

 

[Neil]

.......................

 

[JoeyA]

Hi JoeyA,

It's not a matter of forcing yourself to do it because that will provide only temporary results. IMHO, you should make it a fundamental part of ALL of your practice sessions for the next few MONTHS to concentrate primarily on your grip pressure.

Just run TONS of racks relying only on instinct for everything other than ghrip pressure.

Know for a fact that you don't have to APPLY ANY PRESSURE. The weight of the cue, in and of itself, will create all the pressure you need.

Try this. Just set up an easy 2 foot straight in and do progressive draw/follow drills using ZERO intentional grip pressure. You will find that you can hit VERY strong shots without any intentional grip pressure.

Once you have PROVEN that to yourself, it will be much easier to adapt to a zero pressure grip.

Finally, during your drills and practice FOCUS on FEELING that you have the same pressure at the end of the stroke that you do before it. That doubles as a "stay down" test too because you need to freeze everything at the end of the stroke to test for your grip pressure.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Jim

OK, I like this. FTR, I do hold the cue lightly, probably more lightly than 90 % of the people in the world but not all of the time and I really don't know why. Sometimes it seems like I just want to muscle the cue stick and maybe your suggestion about practicing nothing but holding the cue lightly for a few months may be the ticket.

I visited the pool hall earlier today to see if Danny Harriman had been by (he was supposed to be in my local pool hall and I needed a little excuse to stop by). When I was there I pulled my cue stick out to hit a few balls while I was there and hit two or three dozen shots about as hard as I can hit any shot and split the pocket every time, even shots straight down the rail, looking at a half pocket on tight-azz Diamond tables. I noticed that while I was hitting them extremely hard, I was simply allowing the cue to rest at the bottom on my fingers. I've done this before. It's not something new but I realized that that is where a lot of precision comes from and when I am tired I do not have the precision and am thinking that perhaps it comes from gripping the cue slightly more than a light grip.

Just looking for suggestions. 21 days to break a habit or so I've heard. I'll put in some quality time on that.

Any other suggestions.

THANKS!
JoeyA

 

[raybo147]

I was wondering if anyone had serious suggestions that could help me not to grip the cue tightly. I now think gripping the cue too tightly is my greatest error.

I am wondering if those gloves that Earl wears on his right hand are a bad idea afterall.

I've been thinking about either using a foam glove like the golfers are starting to use or maybe some bubble wrap to soften my non-bridge hand grip.

The tightness of my grip is most noticeable when I am tired but it happens on other days even when I am not tired and I am on a mission.

Besides making a conscious effort to hold the cue lightly what else can be done to lighten your grip?

All suggestions appreciated, even if you haven't tried them yourself.

THANKS!

JoeyA

Joey when you are playing point the index finger of your grip hand at the ground so you are only gripping the cue with 3 fingers. Trust me this will force you to loosen your grip.

 

[thedude]

Buy a cheap cue and glue tacks onto the wrap area.

 

[BRKNRUN]

I was wondering if anyone had serious suggestions that could help me not to grip the cue tightly. I now think gripping the cue too tightly is my greatest error.

I am wondering if those gloves that Earl wears on his right hand are a bad idea afterall.

I've been thinking about either using a foam glove like the golfers are starting to use or maybe some bubble wrap to soften my non-bridge hand grip.

The tightness of my grip is most noticeable when I am tired but it happens on other days even when I am not tired and I am on a mission.

Besides making a conscious effort to hold the cue lightly what else can be done to lighten your grip?

All suggestions appreciated, even if you haven't tried them yourself.

THANKS!

JoeyA

Spagetti!!!

Ok Seriously.....Have you determined what casues your too tight grip? Is it throughout the entire stroke, end of the stroke only....etc.

Another question is what fingers you use to grip the cue...First finger and thumb, Middle and ring Fingers...Reason I ask this is your hand has two different groups of tendons that work together...the first finger and thumb are one set, the other three fingers are the other group....

Thighten the first finger and thumb and your whole wrist and forearm stiffen...

If it is at the end of the stroke...It may be due to wrap condition...I use a leather wrap and prefer it to be on the tacky side...When I get a wrap that is slick, I tend to grab at the cue to hold on to it...I experimented with the golf glove thing and found it to be a huge benefit in that area...

I can't pull the trigger on going publice with the golf glove though....fear of laughter thing...

I end up "warming" my wrap on cold days to get some tack going...

I have also gone to more of a middle and ring finger grip...I start by "hooking" the grip into my first three fingers only...(no palm)...I than wrap my hand around so that my thumb points toward the ground... My index finger "lightly" touches the side of my thumb under the cue but neither grab the cue in any way..., The cue is supported by the middle two fingers...I practice feeling the tip of my index finger staying "under" the cue through the entire shot....

I consiously practice the lightly touching first finger and thumb during practice to engrain that light feeling.....

If you are a slick wrap lover than all this may be pretty much meaningless.

Anyway..that is my goofy method of dealing with a "grabbing" too tight grip.

 

[SPINDOKTOR]

So why ask? obviously you know what is causing this, so you need to get to the table and work on it if this posses a problem for you...

A habbit, will bite you under pressure, knowing this, this is why I mentioned pressure.. whitch is directly related to pressure, as is any so called flaw.. I know much about this because this is one method of sharking I can use against you.

Knowing how pressure effects peoples games has won me many of $$$$$

No one is immune. if you think you are, and you have plenty of money I want to meet you for a friendly match

In all reality a tight grip isnt that big of deal, if you want to change it, I dont see where there is a serious problem.. Unless its related to your health.. If this was the case, then your just going to have to deal with the grip your most confortable with..

SPINDOKTOR

This happens at times other than when there is pressure on. Gripping the cue tightly is not always related to pressure. My practice is probably a bit more serious than most.

JoeyA

 

[av84fun]

OK, I like this. FTR, I do hold the cue lightly, probably more lightly than 90 % of the people in the world but not all of the time and I really don't know why. Sometimes it seems like I just want to muscle the cue stick and maybe your suggestion about practicing nothing but holding the cue lightly for a few months may be the ticket.

I visited the pool hall earlier today to see if Danny Harriman had been by (he was supposed to be in my local pool hall and I needed a little excuse to stop by). When I was there I pulled my cue stick out to hit a few balls while I was there and hit two or three dozen shots about as hard as I can hit any shot and split the pocket every time, even shots straight down the rail, looking at a half pocket on tight-azz Diamond tables. I noticed that while I was hitting them extremely hard, I was simply allowing the cue to rest at the bottom on my fingers. I've done this before. It's not something new but I realized that that is where a lot of precision comes from and when I am tired I do not have the precision and am thinking that perhaps it comes from gripping the cue slightly more than a light grip.

Just looking for suggestions. 21 days to break a habit or so I've heard. I'll put in some quality time on that.

Any other suggestions.

THANKS!
JoeyA

No other suggestions...only a comment. When you wrote..."I noticed that while I was hitting them extremely hard, I was simply allowing the cue to rest at the bottom on my fingers."...you have it NAILED.

It is the VARIATION in grip pressure...some call it grabbing or snatching...the is the real enemy...more that the grip pressure itself.

Golf instruction is virtually identical on this issue. Grip the "club" like you have a bird in your hand and FINISH with that same pressure.

My club pro used to have me hit shots one handed (left for me as a right hander) and then RELEASE the club altogether when it reached parallel to the ground on the follow through.

Regards,
Jim

 

[JoeyA]

Joey when you are playing point the index finger of your grip hand at the ground so you are only gripping the cue with 3 fingers. Trust me this will force you to loosen your grip.

That is a good finite, physical thing that I can do when I know I am holding the cue tightly. THANKS!
JoeyA

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Grip with only the thumb and forefinger, concentrating on the feel of the butt pivoting between two pressure points on opposite sides, one on the thumb and one on the finger. Allow the thumb and forefinger to wrap all the way around the butt so you won't be distracted by the possibility of dropping it, but don't grip all the way around the butt, only at those two pressure points. If it helps, hold the other three fingers straight out away from the butt.

pj
chgo

 

[JoeyA]

So why ask? obviously you know what is causing this, so you need to get to the table and work on it if this posses a problem for you...

A habbit, will bite you under pressure, knowing this, this is why I mentioned pressure.. whitch is directly related to pressure, as is any so called flaw.. I know much about this because this is one method of sharking I can use against you.

Knowing how pressure effects peoples games has won me many of $$$$$

No one is immune. if you think you are, and you have plenty of money I want to meet you for a friendly match

In all reality a tight grip isnt that big of deal, if you want to change it, I dont see where there is a serious problem.. Unless its related to your health.. If this was the case, then your just going to have to deal with the grip your most confortable with..

SPINDOKTOR

No health problems to speak of except that I get tired after playing seven or eight hours.

I don't have to think I am immune to pressure and I don't have to have plenty of money if you want to meet for a friendly money match.

You can get in the cage with Jay and I. I don't think he would mind and if he does that's OK too. (I think he wants me for himself.)
While I don't know who'll be coming out unscathed, I will try hard to impress you. Just remember that I don't like sharkers so let your pool game do the talking.

JoeyA

 

[JoeyA]

No other suggestions...only a comment. When you wrote..."I noticed that while I was hitting them extremely hard, I was simply allowing the cue to rest at the bottom on my fingers."...you have it NAILED.

It is the VARIATION in grip pressure...some call it grabbing or snatching...the is the real enemy...more that the grip pressure itself.

Golf instruction is virtually identical on this issue. Grip the "club" like you have a bird in your hand and FINISH with that same pressure.

My club pro used to have me hit shots one handed (left for me as a right hander) and then RELEASE the club altogether when it reached parallel to the ground on the follow through.

Regards,
Jim

Jim, I just had a golf pro who actually plays pool too, show me how much pressure should be applied to a golf club. The left hand was a slightly greater pressure than the right hand and the right hand was probably the amount of pressure that I apply to a cue on most days.

Where is Drivermaker when you need him?

Thanks,
JoeyA

 

[JoeyA]

Grip with only the thumb and forefinger, concentrating on the feel of the butt pivoting between two pressure points on opposite sides, one on the thumb and one on the finger. Allow the thumb and forefinger to wrap all the way around the butt so you won't be distracted by the possibility of dropping it, but don't grip all the way around the butt, only at those two pressure points. If it helps, hold the other three fingers straight out away from the butt.

pj
chgo

So you're saying, use only the thumb and index finger/forefinger to wrap all the way around the butt, except that you apply pressure ONLY TO THE TWO SIDES of the cue butt rather than pressure all the way around the cue BUTT or at the bottom of the cue????
THANKS,
JoeyA

 

[JoeyA]

Spagetti!!!

Ok Seriously.....Have you determined what casues your too tight grip? Is it throughout the entire stroke, end of the stroke only....etc.

Another question is what fingers you use to grip the cue...First finger and thumb, Middle and ring Fingers...Reason I ask this is your hand has two different groups of tendons that work together...the first finger and thumb are one set, the other three fingers are the other group....

Thighten the first finger and thumb and your whole wrist and forearm stiffen...

If it is at the end of the stroke...It may be due to wrap condition...I use a leather wrap and prefer it to be on the tacky side...When I get a wrap that is slick, I tend to grab at the cue to hold on to it...I experimented with the golf glove thing and found it to be a huge benefit in that area...

I can't pull the trigger on going publice with the golf glove though....fear of laughter thing...

I end up "warming" my wrap on cold days to get some tack going...

I have also gone to more of a middle and ring finger grip...I start by "hooking" the grip into my first three fingers only...(no palm)...I than wrap my hand around so that my thumb points toward the ground... My index finger "lightly" touches the side of my thumb under the cue but neither grab the cue in any way..., The cue is supported by the middle two fingers...I practice feeling the tip of my index finger staying "under" the cue through the entire shot....

I consiously practice the lightly touching first finger and thumb during practice to engrain that light feeling.....

If you are a slick wrap lover than all this may be pretty much meaningless.

Anyway..that is my goofy method of dealing with a "grabbing" too tight grip.

Some days I simply grip the cue more tightly than others. I don't have any explanation for it. I also think I may be gripping the cue more tightly when I get tired. I'll be doing some experimenting soon.

I like the conscious effort of lightly touching the first finger and the thumb to engrain that light feeling.. One day I will try the glove on my right hand. I've got thick skin.
Thanks for the tips.

JoeyA

 

[JoeyA]

Buy a cheap cue and glue tacks onto the wrap area.

I'm off to the pool hall to try that out right now.
Thanks,

JoeyA (like CJ said, I like feeling the pain (whereupon Danny DeLiberto reportedly said, "And I like giving you the pain".)

 

[raybo147]

So you're saying, use only the thumb and index finger/forefinger to wrap all the way around the butt, except that you apply pressure ONLY TO THE TWO SIDES of the cue butt rather than pressure all the way around the cue BUTT or at the bottom of the cue????
THANKS,
JoeyA

If you do this your hand will be in a different position which means the axis of your arm will be too. I don't see this helping at all

 

[av84fun]

Jim, I just had a golf pro who actually plays pool too, show me how much pressure should be applied to a golf club. The left hand was a slightly greater pressure than the right hand and the right hand was probably the amount of pressure that I apply to a cue on most days.

Where is Drivermaker when you need him?

Thanks,
JoeyA

Did he ask you to grip the club in your left hand only and then have you point the club out in front of you...and then see if he could jerk it out of your hand?

That's a classic old technique. If he can't pull the club loose, you are gripping too hard.

(-: