Light Grip for playing pool.

[Cornerman]

I realize a couple of top players claim they play with a tight grip but most top players use far less than a tight grip.

I find myself occasionally clinching my cue during the stroke, especially on power shots and was wondering if an anti-clinching tool would come in handy. Maybe something like some coarse sand paper in the area where your stroking hand holds the butt of the cue.

Is there something else that might work to encourage you to not clinch during a power shot, that you an think of? (something practical)

Earl..... I mean JoeyA.

A thumb tack taped to the palm.

 

[One Pocket John]

Here's a tip I got from "so and so". Clinching the cue on power strokes is caused by your baby finger and palm gripping tightly and/or your forefinger and palm gripping too tightly. Somebody said using a piece of chalk between the forefinger and butt. Similar idea, but here's what I do...I use my middle finger as a cradle and concentrate on gripping with it.

If you use your middle finger, it's hard to twist the cue. Your little finger and your forefinger rest lightly on the cue and add only "touch", like CJ says. I heard Buddy uses his ring finger for guidance.

Check out a lot of pros and notice their forefingers and/or little fingers are slightly off of the cue on parts of their stroke. This helps eliminate dragging the cue behind you and off line on your backstroke. It also helps to keep the hand straight on the forward stroke.

When you first try it on a draw shot, you'll get all kinds of crazy feedback. This is good because it'll add to your understanding of what's causing your grip clenching. It'll also feel very strange, but you'll probably notice a more relaxed grip and follow through.

Best,
Mike

Hey Joey,

This is a good question about grip pressure and how can you change the "feel" when you believe things are tightening up and the balls aren't acting properly. If it helps, I concentrate on the feeling in my stroking forearm, not the grip itself. I want to feel no pressure or tightness in my forearm, kind of like I'm moving the cue with my elbow movement only and I don't feel any pressure in my forearm or grip, it's just an extension of the movement. It's hard to explain but I think if you try it for few strokes you'll get the idea. Someone mentioned golf, I try to have the same feeling in both my forearms when swinging a club, although I'm not that great at golf I hit the ball better when I can get that feeling.

Cheers,
Dave

The above suggestions, including CJ's hammer style, deserve some attention. Using all three suggestions at the same time works very well.

Have fun :smile:

John

 

[JoeyA]

The above suggestions, including CJ's hammer style, deserve some attention. Using all three suggestions at the same time works very well.

Have fun :smile:

John

Everyone's suggestions are worth considering for various reasons but the bottom line is, with these suggestions you can discover for yourself what works and what doesn't work. Just because a particular technique didn't work for you, doesn't mean that the idea is worthless; it may be that that the particular solution to a problem isn't something that you have a problem with and didn't correct the inherent problem. It never hurts to have another person observe your technique but it is difficult for an observer to tell you that during your stroke, that you slightly tightened your grip.

JoeyA

 

[JoeyA]

Are you finding this after you shoot or while warming up, look at your shaft while warming up and where the tip is lined up! Looking at exact spot on CB during very slow backward swing helps land that tip where needed.

If your shaft is pivoted (not parallel to line of aim) when tip hits CB, and bridging at natural pivot point it should not change CB direction at all if tip hits off center (in fact CJ promotes hitting off center to ensure CB condition, and not leave it to chance left or right due to stroking errors), also OB does not throw much if CB has enough draw (weather straight or english draw) on it. It must be stroke errors, less than ideal of follow through, track CB movement after it hits OB to know if proper english applied, or CB stunned OB.

Lastly could you do a test for me if you would, can you hit the same shot without warming up, hit it several times but go down correct at exact aim point, curious to see what happens, also hit the same with a short bridge and tight grip no warm ups. Thanks.



I

Naji,
I will try your last paragraph above but half of it has been done many times. When I am not warmed up, I often try the power draw shot when I first come to the table. I generally get mixed results. Lately, I have had much better success and it is a combination of paying more attention to the placement of my cue tip, a smooth transition during the final stroke, a long back-swing, still body, accelerating forward swing and hitting the cue ball where I am attempting to hit it.

I believe my grip naturally tightens up as I complete my follow through but I haven't tried the short bridge and tight grip with no warm ups but will try to remember next time I am in the pool room.
Thanks,
JoeyA