One of the things I observed after watching many (not all) pros is that they have a long bridge length. By long I mean the distance between two diamonds or anywhere from 12 – 15 inches (more or less). It seemed to me that there must be some reason for so many people to have this long distance between the bridge and the cue ball. They often did not use the distance for follow through. Their follow through was no longer than 6 – 10 inches. So why have such a long bridge that would seem to lead to instability? The best way to find out was to try it myself and see what happens.
I tend to shoot with my chin an inch or two above the cue stick and what I found was that the cue stick becomes much more like a rifle and my sight picture was relatively better. That is, I saw the small (1/16 – 1/32”) target better. The shaft of the cue stick becomes more important and is used more like a rifle sight.
Next, I noticed that I placed more attention to a straighter pendulum swing. With a longer fulcrum it seemed more important to concentrate on striking the cue ball exactly as planned with the best swing possible. It seems that the right hand takes on more importance with this type of shooting and my overall shot making improved.
My tendency to aim while standing and determining position outcome before getting down on the shot became more important. Once I am down on the shot it is all about hitting the target.
Finally, I noticed that with the longer bridge I do not seem to hit the cue ball as hard. Softer shots take on more importance with the longer bridge. The outcome was what appears to be an improved shot making ability.
So it would appear that a longer bridge has many uses and I can see why so many pros use it. Obviously, a longer bridge is not required as Allen Hopkins and a few others have shown. However, far too many pros use one and I wonder what other non-pros have experienced when they have tried this modification.
I do think that one has to give the initially uncomfortable long bridge a serious try before coming to a conclusion about its usefulness. Too many pros use it to dismiss it out of hand.
I tend to shoot with my chin an inch or two above the cue stick and what I found was that the cue stick becomes much more like a rifle and my sight picture was relatively better. That is, I saw the small (1/16 – 1/32”) target better. The shaft of the cue stick becomes more important and is used more like a rifle sight.
Next, I noticed that I placed more attention to a straighter pendulum swing. With a longer fulcrum it seemed more important to concentrate on striking the cue ball exactly as planned with the best swing possible. It seems that the right hand takes on more importance with this type of shooting and my overall shot making improved.
My tendency to aim while standing and determining position outcome before getting down on the shot became more important. Once I am down on the shot it is all about hitting the target.
Finally, I noticed that with the longer bridge I do not seem to hit the cue ball as hard. Softer shots take on more importance with the longer bridge. The outcome was what appears to be an improved shot making ability.
So it would appear that a longer bridge has many uses and I can see why so many pros use it. Obviously, a longer bridge is not required as Allen Hopkins and a few others have shown. However, far too many pros use one and I wonder what other non-pros have experienced when they have tried this modification.
I do think that one has to give the initially uncomfortable long bridge a serious try before coming to a conclusion about its usefulness. Too many pros use it to dismiss it out of hand.