Interesting observation

[Fleece3]

Hey Gang,

This may sound weird, but here goes. I have been paying attention to a lot of players bridge hand (Pro and Non-pro), and I have noticed quite a few players have a habit of "fidgeting" their ring finger. What is up with that? Is it just a habit or is there a reason. If you want to see what I am talking about, look no further than Efren.

 

[puckdaddy]

Me Too

I do this myself but I think people do it because it has nothing to do with stabilization for the cue and its just nervous energy.

 

[Room101]

I have noticed this too. Many, many players do it. I have also noticed that many players will give the cue a few turns with their grip hand as they are setting up over the shot.

I believe this is just fidgeting that people do to feel how stable their bridge is and how light their grip is: if you can tap your finger without upsetting your bridge, that may help convince you that it is stable yet relaxed; if you can spin the cue lightly with your finger tips, then you obviously are not giving it the death grip.

 

[Tommy-D]

> George Fels said in a 6 part series he did on the "dead stroke" mental state that phenomena is caused by right-brain activity,subconsciously looking for a comfort zone. Tommy D.

 

[Onemoreyouth]

i'm slightly more sophisticated than most, i tap my pinky!

dont know why, but my pinky is the finger that taps.

 

[mestar]

could be this

I have a (possible) solution to both of those.

For the ring finger tapping, try this experiment. Put your palm on a flat surface, like holding a mouse (a little flatter), and then try to bring the middle of your palm down. The ring finger has a natural tendency to move forward, and other fingers can stay in place. Try different hand "flatness" if you can't get it right away. So, perhaps that finger tapping before shooting is just because of adding firmness to the grip. Also, tightening/flexing your arm muscles also seems to move the ring finger, as I just discovered.


As for cue turning, I do this consciously, mostly in practice, to save time on chalking the tip. On series of draws, you turn a little and then the ball strikes the tip on a different and probably still chalked spot..

 

[CaptainHook]

I will move my fingers like that to get bit more feel of my hand on the felt.
To get into that comfort zone.
As far as turning the cue, sometimes there will be a little chalk hanging over the edge or some chalk on the ferulle that is bothering my aim point.
If there shaft is out a bit, they may be turning it also.

 

[AuntyDan]

I will move my fingers like that to get bit more feel of my hand on the felt.
To get into that comfort zone.
As far as turning the cue, sometimes there will be a little chalk hanging over the edge or some chalk on the ferulle that is bothering my aim point.
If there shaft is out a bit, they may be turning it also.

You have to twitch your pinky finger before every shot to shake out the Choke Demons. (Choke Demons are, of course, attracted to your hand every time it touches the cloth, like static electricity.)