Speaking of being jacked up, this is one of my favorites. Your bridge hand resting on the rail above the corner pocket and your arm for your bridge hand has nothing to rest on.
It amazes me how a tight back hand grip screws things up
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Speaking of being jacked up, this is one of my favorites. Your bridge hand resting on the rail above the corner pocket and your arm for your bridge hand has nothing to rest on.
In the Keith/Jose match, JP's solution was to lay the cue on the shot and move into position around the stick. I think he made it too. Premium table MFGers should have some kind of shelf system included as well as some kind of hand held contraption for any table that you could bridge off anytime you got like that.
Barry Stark part 4
Just came across Part 4 on The Grip.
https://youtu.be/LlLZMClojds
Barry clarifies further. Part 4 on the grip shows how important he thinks it is to take the time to get it. He also gives examples of how pro players get extraordinary power with the grip rather than muscles.
I have seen a clip of Corey Deuel executing a power shot, that shows the opening of the rear fingers in the back stroke.(can’t find it now) I did find this instructional by Corey. https://youtu.be/gN1s1IEMrfg
He doesn’t get into the how to but towards the end in his air strokes he opens and closes the rear fingers.
In this shot he demonstrates incredible power jacked up on the rail. Only one place that power could come from. I am not able to link to the time of the shot but it comes at the 2:30 mark.
https://youtu.be/zq3yKRpCVqQ
Just came across Part 4 on The Grip.
https://youtu.be/LlLZMClojds
Barry clarifies further. Part 4 on the grip shows how important he thinks it is to take the time to get it. He also gives examples of how pro players get extraordinary power with the grip rather than muscles.
I have seen a clip of Corey Deuel executing a power shot, that shows the opening of the rear fingers in the back stroke.(can’t find it now) I did find this instructional by Corey. https://youtu.be/gN1s1IEMrfg
He doesn’t get into the how to but towards the end in his air strokes he opens and closes the rear fingers.
In this shot he demonstrates incredible power jacked up on the rail. Only one place that power could come from. I am not able to link to the time of the shot but it comes at the 2:30 mark.
https://youtu.be/zq3yKRpCVqQ
Corey generating power
This clip shows his hand on a power stroke shot.
https://youtu.be/IacbnytkRXI
This clip shows his hand on a power stroke shot.
https://youtu.be/IacbnytkRXI
I am by no means what so ever, a professional level player, however my "power" strokes have a fairly open grip. I press the cue firmly into the webbing of my hand with my fore and middle fingers. The back two fingers may touch the cue at the back apex of my stroke and close lightly on the way through to contact.
I find this keeps me in line better than strangling the cue
I find this keeps me in line better than strangling the cue
I have the exact same problem, a tight grip kills accuracy. So I do the same thing you do - consciously relax both my wrist and fingers before the final aim. I don't think any pros have that tight of a grip. If you look at their hands it may seem that way, especially at the end of the stroke after delivering the cue. But just because the cue is tucked up in the web near the thumb doesn't mean the fingers are squeezing it during the stroke. If I don't let the cue float accuracy suffers every time. I'm still working on making it an automatic part of my stroke. If I think about it something else suffers, like dropping the elbow which is the second biggest thing that will ruin my accuracy.
I am beginning to wonder, if advancing age limits the number of things you can think about simultaneously? If I DO remember to relax my grip, slow my backstroke, stay aware of the exact place I want the CB to end up, I then usually realize (after the shot is missed) that I forgot to watch the frigging OB as I pulled the trigger! Go figure.
Tight grip
I took a lesson with Jim Rempe and he advised me to hold the cue tighter with my two last fingers( pinkie & finger next to it) I asked why because I always thought you wanted a kind of lose grip. Jim said it keeps you from turning your hand inward which throws your cue off line. Now that is what he said to me and it does seem to keep your hand from turning.
I took a lesson with Jim Rempe and he advised me to hold the cue tighter with my two last fingers( pinkie & finger next to it) I asked why because I always thought you wanted a kind of lose grip. Jim said it keeps you from turning your hand inward which throws your cue off line. Now that is what he said to me and it does seem to keep your hand from turning.
How much does cue weight/balance figure in?
Wow. This was really useful! I really like the ring finger-as a trigger part, with constant contact with the web of the hand. It's a cantilever effect that really does work well to keep the stroke straight. I'd advise everyone to try it for grins...the effect is immediately evident to you within 2-3 strokes. I've done something similar with CJ Wiley's hammer grip for years to great effect, but this works very well for me, too.
The trigger
There must be a martial arts analogy.
For me it is a demonstration of the leverage and power of the little ole ring finger.
Barry Stark’s videos that I linked are a better source.
This morning while practicing I was air stroking and it became a little clearer as to how to describe the effect. While holding a loose hoop bridge with my left I execute the stroke, step by step. Confirming the 3 points Barry mentioned. The thumb and index finger touching,the cue touching the web and the ring and middle finger unfurling while touching on the back stroke. Gently closing the ring finger(like pulling the trigger) brings the cue forward. Well it initiates the stroke. Without the bridge hand restraint the cue tip would travel sideways a foot as a result of the ring finger closure of one inch. So it is just a matter of allowing my wrist and arm to follow the lead of the finger.
There must be a martial arts analogy.
For me it is a demonstration of the leverage and power of the little ole ring finger.
Barry Stark’s videos that I linked are a better source.
It takes longer for the message to get to the ring finger.
Barry also teaches to pause at the back of the stroke. The video of a lesson shows him using “wait” while directing the beginner.
One of my flaws is to pull the trigger too quickly. Since my index finger used to be the trigger, I just remind myself that the ring finger is further down the hand so it takes longer for the signals from the brain to get there.:wink::shrug:
Barry also teaches to pause at the back of the stroke. The video of a lesson shows him using “wait” while directing the beginner.
One of my flaws is to pull the trigger too quickly. Since my index finger used to be the trigger, I just remind myself that the ring finger is further down the hand so it takes longer for the signals from the brain to get there.:wink::shrug:
I enjoy Barry Stark’s videos. A wealth of knowledge..
However, I don’t get too much into the specifics his videos on things like grip. I pay more attention to his general principles.
An aside: I could never be coached by Stark. Nothing wrong with him...all me. I’d feel like a 15 year old under scrutiny every time I played and I couldn’t relax. I can picture Kyren Wilson going back to getting lessons from Barry after his defeat at the Crucible.
‘You did a a fine job lad. However, there’s one or two things that...’.
Player and former world champion, Shaun Murphy has his own take on grip.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NtpV0qDGRqw
However, I don’t get too much into the specifics his videos on things like grip. I pay more attention to his general principles.
An aside: I could never be coached by Stark. Nothing wrong with him...all me. I’d feel like a 15 year old under scrutiny every time I played and I couldn’t relax. I can picture Kyren Wilson going back to getting lessons from Barry after his defeat at the Crucible.
‘You did a a fine job lad. However, there’s one or two things that...’.
Player and former world champion, Shaun Murphy has his own take on grip.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NtpV0qDGRqw
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BlueRaider
Registered
Murphy's advice on the grip was a big help for me. I previously experimented with a lot of hand and finger positions, varying amounts of pressure, etc. It got to the point where I was always thinking about it when shooting. But I love the advice of just "hey, pick the cue up...now you've found your grip!"
Barry is a coach
I will lay odds that Barry was with him at the Crucible. Barry is his coach. What Kyren accomplished in that tournament was phenomenal.
I will lay odds that Barry was with him at the Crucible. Barry is his coach. What Kyren accomplished in that tournament was phenomenal.
FWIW, most of my strokes pivot on the pinky and ring fingers. This is because I open the front of the hand to allow a more comfortable swing at the ball. I suppose moving the pivot from the front to the back of the hand diminishes tracking error as well lol.
I would have liked to be a fly in the wall when Stark adviseD Kyren how to play against Judd Trump.
OSullivan gives a lot of his success to coaching by Ray Reardon,..not technique as much as table strategy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kJWqr5GrfCY&t=1s
I’m way down in the Snooker talent Compared to top pros but the older and wiser I get, the more games I win against younger players tapping into experience.
I don't know if I've even seen it in writing before, but I found a similar effect when I was experimenting with grips myself.
I play fairly well with a loose grip (barely touching the web between thumb and forefinger, if at all) most of the time, but it gives me a lot of room to turn my wrist in if I tighten up, transition from my backswing to forward stroke too fast, or try to power a shot. If also seems to make it easier to let my elbow drift away from my body, i.e. the dreaded chicken wing.
If I close my hand on my grip a little more so that the cue is touching my hand on all sides, it does seem less error prone in pressure situations. An alternative method of limiting the error with a "loose" (less hand contact) grip might be a more Filipino-style all-fingertip grip that you can't really close any further, but that never felt right to me.
I suspect that at this point in Kyren’s journey, there’s no need for verbal input. More along the line of good vibes.
Yes different grips - the fist grip in particular, can be applied with anywhere from feather to death force. The more force, the more misalignment is amplified. Tightening up can be corrective though if that is what's required. The player needs to be able to use the range of adjustment available when required; a little like driving a car on an old road.
FWIW, the dreaded chicken wing is easier on my shoulder than anything else short of the old school standing high on the shot.