Longpot with draw -cue flying of the brdige

kolaas

kolaas

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
For some time now whenever I play a longpot and draw back as well, the cue flies off my bridgehand. It bugs me because I know the cue has stay there for accuracy and effective english. I tried focussing on keeping it there, but the other way just feels better.

Just now I watched a video of Neil robertson doing 2 of those shots right after eachother and he too let his cue jump up. Should I keep working on getting the brdige right or just let it be?

Neil robertson makes the shots @2:29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXFUp8h1l5Y&
 
Are you using a closed bridge? I can draw the cue ball the length of the table on straight in 8 foot shots. And I always use a closed bridge.
Also I found it a lot easier to do a long draw after I read how Buddy Hall does it. He said to move the bridge hand a little closer to the cue ball then your normal length and grip the cue a little farther back. This made the long draw easier for me with less force. Less force equals more accuracy.
Oh one more thing -follow thru the cue ball-don't poke at it.
 
measureman said:
Also I found it a lot easier to do a long draw after I read how Buddy Hall does it. He said to move the bridge hand a little closer to the cue ball then your normal length and grip the cue a little farther back.
Click to expand...

Thanks for putting this tip out there. Long draws are a bit of a problem for me sometimes, so I usually play the rails with spin when it's an option. I'll give this a shot and see if I can get it down. Could just be that, from what I can guess, my lack of fundamentals or flawed stroke could be the cause.. we'll see! Not that you need it, but rep to ya anyhow. :thumbup:
 
Generally you want your cue to stand in your bridge. It's difficult to coordinate your cue coming of your hand after you've contacted the cue ball at where you want. It happens to Neil because those shots require maximum power, he's drawing the cueball 12 feet back with the cue ball 10 feet from the object ball. Most of his power shots he keeps it in his bridge like all the other snooker players.

The cue leaving your hand is usually a symptom of a tight grip and/or an elbow that is dropping too early.

I also agree with measureman, on long draw shots I use a 6-8 inch bridge (my usual bridge is about 12 inches).
 
Banks said:
Thanks for putting this tip out there. Long draws are a bit of a problem for me sometimes, so I usually play the rails with spin when it's an option. I'll give this a shot and see if I can get it down. Could just be that, from what I can guess, my lack of fundamentals or flawed stroke could be the cause.. we'll see! Not that you need it, but rep to ya anyhow. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Post back on how it works out. If it does not help you. Blame Buddy not me.:thumbup:
 
It happens to me sometimes when I draw with an open bridge but in my case its just front tip hitting the table after the shot and popping up at the bridge point and off my hand.

I never gave a second thought, nor would I.
 
Your cue will pop up in the air for maybe two different reasons.
1. Tight grip.
2. Dropped elbow.

Check those two things out.
Take an aspirin and call me in the morning.....:)
randyg
 
Heres an example of what I was referring to. If this bridge was open, the cue would be in the air right now. ;)
 

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I'd call your cue jumping off your hand a flaw in your stroke no matter what. If i had to guess you probably are trying to generate extra power with something other than your forearm, most likely your shoulder. start focusing more on cradling the cue and using your forearm for power, it's really all you need.
 
If Neil Robertson, the former world snooker champion and former number 1 snooker player in the world does something that you do then just go with it. As long as it takes place after contact it is not affecting the shot and trying to force a different post-shot follow-through that does not feel natural to you will more likely result in less accuracy on the shot. The amount of draw Neil was playing on those shots was insane and 99.8% of the pool or snooker players in the world simply cannot make those shots like that with those results, ever.
 
kolaas said:
For some time now whenever I play a longpot and draw back as well, the cue flies off my bridgehand. It bugs me because I know the cue has stay there for accuracy and effective english. I tried focussing on keeping it there, but the other way just feels better.

Just now I watched a video of Neil robertson doing 2 of those shots right after eachother and he too let his cue jump up. Should I keep working on getting the brdige right or just let it be?

Neil robertson makes the shots @2:29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXFUp8h1l5Y&
Click to expand...
Neil's cue "flew off the bridge" because he dropped his elbow and tightened his grip after the shot.

Even with a pure pendulum stroke with a relaxed grip, the cue would still leave an open bridge after a power draw shot (but the tip would still finish down on the table). There is nothing wrong with this, because the CB is long gone before the cue rises off the bridge. For more info, see the video demonstrations here:

See also:

Regards,
Dave
 
Thanks for the great advice. Even watching a movie on brdigehand teaches me a bit again..
 
This usually comes from gripping the cue too tight during the stroke, so I would try to fix it by shooting with a more relaxed grip.
 
It's not a must...............

kolaas said:
For some time now whenever I play a longpot and draw back as well, the cue flies off my bridgehand. It bugs me because I know the cue has stay there for accuracy and effective english. I tried focussing on keeping it there, but the other way just feels better.

Just now I watched a video of Neil robertson doing 2 of those shots right after eachother and he too let his cue jump up. Should I keep working on getting the brdige right or just let it be?

Neil robertson makes the shots @2:29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXFUp8h1l5Y&
Click to expand...


Just so you know, the way you described is a highly practiced way to draw the cue ball ESPECIALLY when using the open bridge. It means you grip tight on the cue so that the shaft doesnt go flying everywhere when power drawing the rock using that faster stroke.....just watch A LOT of pool and you will see plenty of pros do it here and there...its perfectly fine to do it. When you dont need to power up the stroke and you are playing with more finesse, then gripping the cue lightly will do because of the reduced speed of the stroke. Again, watch A LOT of pool and you'll see why people do certain things...it's up to you to figure out WHY they do it.
 
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measureman said:
Post back on how it works out. If it does not help you. Blame Buddy not me.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

It works a little, but I may be lacking a little oomph since my regular cue is currently out of commission. I can see the potential with the up-close bridge and further backhand. I'll continue to work on my draw and see what comes of it(Buddy's not off the hook yet!). ;)

To top it off, after having cracked my second ferrule in a year, I also cracked the plastic backing on the screw-on tip for my temporary cue - good thing I picked up another pack of them for $2.99 just in case. :thumbup:
 
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