Is proper shaft diameter not stressed enough?

S

Seth C.

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I mostly play with a closed bridge. I think my closed bridge has some room for improvement, in terms of creating snugness.

I'm not engaged in wishful thinking that the issue rests entirely with shaft thickness, as I recognize that the exact positioning of my fingers isn't quite textbook, and creates some potential for movement (looseness, wiggle). But, having long played with one cue stick with one shaft, and then having picked up a second stick with a thinner shaft (I haven't measured the thickness of either one of them), and realizing that there just isn't as much looseness when I play with my original stick (the one with a thicker shaft), I have to believe that shaft thickness is actually a big deal -- at least if you play with a closed bridge. Hand sizes -- especially finger length and finger thickness -- vary a lot.

So, how could shaft thickness not be quite important? Yet, I don't read much of anything about proper fit -- its importance, and how to determine it. The same is in golf -- at least for those who haven't been shown the light. Most golfers buy a set of clubs with standard grips, not knowing their proper grip size. I did this for decades, only recently learning that I needed an oversized grip. It made a big difference. The same should hold true in pool. Is there a measuring/fitting system that will identify a "correct" shaft diameter for me? Going only on feel (most of us are going to like the feel of what we are used to holding, not the feel of what is actually properly sized for our hands) strikes me as a poor way to select shaft thickness. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
 
Shaft thickness is actually pretty important, not just to how the cue feels when you use it, but also to how much deflection it has and also a few other less suble ways it reacts with the cueball.

Taper and tip size are those things, to quote Paul Newman, you don't think about but can make your day like electricity.

The thought that a shaft should fit the size of hands I think is actually secondary to the fact that a smaller tip has less deflection and will therefore change how you aim. You had a right post, but for the wrong reason LOL.
 
Shaft size.......shaft weight.......shaft taper........& cue tip hardness..........those are the 4 ingredients that you need to decide work best for you.

You asked about shaft diameters and a closed bridge. Nonetheless, what I'm about to express applies to an open bridge as well. Take you cue and
measure how many 1/4 cue tips or 1/2 cue tips you can aim using horizontal English from dead center and still confidently control the cue ball stroke/hit?

You'll easily see that a 13.2mm tip presents an entirely different view than does a 12.52mm tip..Center-ball control seems easier with a fatter cue tip and
conversely, the application of English seems easier, or more versatile, with thinner shafts.

So you play with what feels the best........as far as the other 3 ingredients, we can discuss those another time.

Matt B.
 
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For those who really believe size doesn't matter, well, ignorance is bliss :thumbup:

Seriously, shaft size is critical. First of all, a sloppy fit in your bridge creates a lot of room for error as you stroke. Secondly and as important, it matters for comfort. The shaft should be a comfortable fit for your bridge, and trying to force your bridge to grip a smaller shaft will only cause discomfort long term. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it's going to be less consistent than a properly fit shaft. On the other side of the coin, if the shaft feels like a baseball bat in your fingers, then that's not going to do you any good, either. I have always believed that comfort is the most critical aspect of a cue, and shaft size is part of that fit.
 
Im using two different closed bridges for different shaft thikness. Classic closed bridge (thumb and and index as a "circle" pressed to a middle) is for thick 12.5+ shafts and "philippino" closed bridge (index makes a half circle pressed to middle and thumb is supporting index) for <12.5 shafts.
 
cpcntr said:
Im using two different closed bridges for different shaft thikness. Classic closed bridge (thumb and and index as a "circle" pressed to a middle) is for thick 12.5+ shafts and "philippino" closed bridge (index makes a half circle pressed to middle and thumb is supporting index) for <12.5 shafts.
Click to expand...
I would love to see photos of those two closed bridges, if you would be so kind!
 
Seth C. said:
I mostly play with a closed bridge. I think my closed bridge has some room for improvement, in terms of creating snugness.

I'm not engaged in wishful thinking that the issue rests entirely with shaft thickness, as I recognize that the exact positioning of my fingers isn't quite textbook, and creates some potential for movement (looseness, wiggle). But, having long played with one cue stick with one shaft, and then having picked up a second stick with a thinner shaft (I haven't measured the thickness of either one of them), and realizing that there just isn't as much looseness when I play with my original stick (the one with a thicker shaft), I have to believe that shaft thickness is actually a big deal -- at least if you play with a closed bridge. Hand sizes -- especially finger length and finger thickness -- vary a lot.

So, how could shaft thickness not be quite important? Yet, I don't read much of anything about proper fit -- its importance, and how to determine it. The same is in golf -- at least for those who haven't been shown the light. Most golfers buy a set of clubs with standard grips, not knowing their proper grip size. I did this for decades, only recently learning that I needed an oversized grip. It made a big difference. The same should hold true in pool. Is there a measuring/fitting system that will identify a "correct" shaft diameter for me? Going only on feel (most of us are going to like the feel of what we are used to holding, not the feel of what is actually properly sized for our hands) strikes me as a poor way to select shaft thickness. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Click to expand...

I must be bridging differently...I have long fingers and have no difficulty making a tight closed bridge with shafts of any diameter, even a snooker cue. There is pretty much only one or two situations in snooker that call for a closed bridge, but when they arise there is no problem. Similarly I don't have any problems with 13mm+ shafts, I suppose that if you have very short, stubby fingers a large cue shaft could be a problem, but I don't know as I don't know anyone who's had that problem.

The cue butt diameter, to me, is a LOT more important in regad to the cue action. Improper diameter of the butt leads to problems in grip, which leads to twisting of the wrist and fingers etc. If you have a really classic wrist action with lots of snap and a cue that doesn't fit, you will have problems at least I used to.

Don't get me wrong, shaft diameter IS important, but more in relation to ball action than cue action.
 
Seth C. said:
I mostly play with a closed bridge. I think my closed bridge has some room for improvement, in terms of creating snugness.

I'm not engaged in wishful thinking that the issue rests entirely with shaft thickness, as I recognize that the exact positioning of my fingers isn't quite textbook, and creates some potential for movement (looseness, wiggle). But, having long played with one cue stick with one shaft, and then having picked up a second stick with a thinner shaft (I haven't measured the thickness of either one of them), and realizing that there just isn't as much looseness when I play with my original stick (the one with a thicker shaft), I have to believe that shaft thickness is actually a big deal -- at least if you play with a closed bridge. Hand sizes -- especially finger length and finger thickness -- vary a lot.

So, how could shaft thickness not be quite important? Yet, I don't read much of anything about proper fit -- its importance, and how to determine it. The same is in golf -- at least for those who haven't been shown the light. Most golfers buy a set of clubs with standard grips, not knowing their proper grip size. I did this for decades, only recently learning that I needed an oversized grip. It made a big difference. The same should hold true in pool. Is there a measuring/fitting system that will identify a "correct" shaft diameter for me? Going only on feel (most of us are going to like the feel of what we are used to holding, not the feel of what is actually properly sized for our hands) strikes me as a poor way to select shaft thickness. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Click to expand...


I've taken many hours of lessons with Earl Strickland. He has been known to pocket a ball or two. His bridge is ridiculously loose. He specifically advocates a bridge that causes zero resistance on the stroke. I thought about it for a while...I realize that I can't come up with an actual *reason* to have a "snug" bridge. If you need that, then you probably have some stroke/alignment flaws that a different shaft diameter will not fix. For what its worth, I have large hands with long fingers and use an 11.75mm shaft. I don't see the shaft diameter impacting my bridge or vice versa. Maybe if I had really tiny hands a smaller diameter shaft would provide more options.

I think the best way to select shaft thickness is entirely dependent on the shaft in question, and how it plays. Comfort is important I guess. Also, I'm not sure the golf analogy works here, as in golf the grip is specifically the point of connection to the club. In pool, the bridge really isn't. The bridge should essentially be lifeless. You don't "do" anything with your bridge. Ideally it just sits there motionless. It's hard to see how the size of the shaft you are using, assuming you can fit it in your bridge, makes much difference...from a bridge perspective. It may have an enormous impact on how your cue plays however, and this is what is important to me.

KMRUNOUT
 
Seth C. said:
I would love to see photos of those two closed bridges, if you would be so kind!
Click to expand...
First is a classic bridge, 2nd is a philippino
 

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itsfroze said:
If the smaller shaft is loose in your bridge and this bothers you, simply tighten your bridge. Isn't this the first thing that came to your mind ??? :D
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+1

I am stunned that anybody thinks this is a problem.

And while I'm at it, that isn't a Filipino bridge...

It has been used in America for decades, by players who never saw the
Philippines, nor a Filipino, pool player or otherwise.

Dale(so there)
 
qbilder said:
For those who really believe size doesn't matter, well, ignorance is bliss :thumbup:

Seriously, shaft size is critical. First of all, a sloppy fit in your bridge creates a lot of room for error as you stroke. Secondly and as important, it matters for comfort. The shaft should be a comfortable fit for your bridge, and trying to force your bridge to grip a smaller shaft will only cause discomfort long term. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it's going to be less consistent than a properly fit shaft. On the other side of the coin, if the shaft feels like a baseball bat in your fingers, then that's not going to do you any good, either. I have always believed that comfort is the most critical aspect of a cue, and shaft size is part of that fit.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%.
 
Gosh.......so Willie must have picked it up from someone else back in the 20's cuz he isn't known to have pioneered this style, at least not based upon from everything I've read about Mr. Mosconi over the years.

Perhaps people just use whatever feels comfortable and so to attribute a certain style or way of holding the cue to a specific segment of pool players, or a couple of individual players, ex., Phillipino Bridge, doesn't hold much water. Back in the 20's & 30's, how many noteworthy Phillipino players can anyone recall from that period that used this pool bridge or for that matter, even existed?

It sounds like referring ro this bridge as the Phillipino Bridge is a mislabel & overreach. Maybe a bridge style is such that it can't be coined or labeled since there's really such a small, finite number of different ways of forming a bridge? People use whatever feels most comfortable and effective, of course varying it when necessary to use the best bridge for any subsequent shots.

Matt B.
 
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pdcue said:
+1

I am stunned that anybody thinks this is a problem.

And while I'm at it, that isn't a Filipino bridge...

It has been used in America for decades, by players who never saw the
Philippines, nor a Filipino, pool player or otherwise.

Dale(so there)
Click to expand...

Thats why i quoted philippino at my post, but no matter who was the first
 
Shooter08 said:
If most players of Filipino decent use that bridge, I see no reason not to reference it that way.
Click to expand...

Well, if every Filipino player used a Moochie, would you then call moochies
a Filipino cue?

Funny this English language of ours(theirs?).

Dale
 
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