Open Bridge Break

[DrCue'sProtege]

can someone explain to me what is so wrong with using the Open Bridge on the break shot?

lately i have been using the open bridge for the break, and i get so much better results than using the closed bridge. seems like i make more balls, and end up with the cue ball near the center of the table a whole lot more.

thoughts posters?
is there anything really wrong with the open bridge break shot? or is this just some Macho type thing, figuring you cant break decent or with much power unless your bridge is closed.

DCP

 

[Matt26]

can someone explain to me what is so wrong with using the Open Bridge on the break shot?

lately i have been using the open bridge for the break, and i get so much better results than using the closed bridge. seems like i make more balls, and end up with the cue ball near the center of the table a whole lot more.

thoughts posters?
is there anything really wrong with the open bridge break shot? or is this just some Macho type thing, figuring you cant break decent or with much power unless your bridge is closed.

DCP

The cue speed generates the power behind the break shot. To guide this power you use a bridge for accuracy. If you are accurate with an open bridge to hit solidly strike your target then it will work fine. If you prefer the closed bridge, then that is fine. If you get more accuracy to break off of the side rail, that is fine.

You choose the position you break from (on the cloth or off of the side rail) to work best for the table you playing on. All tables break different and have their sweet break spots. Sometimes you have to experiment before you find it. The bridge is inconsequential, as it is only a "stationary tool" used to accurately guide your shaft in the direction of the point of contact on the cueball.

The power is in your stroke, cue speed, and most importantly LOOSE GRIP on the break. You also want to make sure you hit your target ball SOLID.

 

[ramdadingdong]

can someone explain to me what is so wrong with using the Open Bridge on the break shot?

lately i have been using the open bridge for the break, and i get so much better results than using the closed bridge. seems like i make more balls, and end up with the cue ball near the center of the table a whole lot more.

thoughts posters?
is there anything really wrong with the open bridge break shot? or is this just some Macho type thing, figuring you cant break decent or with much power unless your bridge is closed.

DCP

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This is how I hit a 12 rail bank. Watch my videos on my 11 rail banks to see it, go into www.fastlarrypool.com you can see the shot live.

Lay the cue on the rail, wear a glove, now just lay your hand on top of the cue, you can move the cue faster and I can follow through my tip to within a foot of the one ball if I choose to. There is less resistance with this method therefore more power and speed.
Best Wishes,

Fast Larry Guninger

 

[Bob Jewett]

can someone explain to me what is so wrong with using the Open Bridge on the break shot?

If you can hit the break better with an open bridge, that's what you should do. Most people have enough error in their back hand when they shoot at break-shot speed that they would miscue or miss the ball every time if they tried to break with an open bridge.

I have noticed, however, that the best local snooker player, who always uses an open bridge for all shots at snooker -- which means his back-hand control is very, very good -- uses a closed bridge just for the break at pool.

 

[Drake]

I've found that when I'm breaking bad it is because I'm trying to over hit the Cue ball and I'm hitting slightly off center. When I briefly go back to an Open Bridge break it makes me hit almost dead center because you can't fly off your aiming point with an Open Bridge. Then I go back to the Closed Hand Bridge with that same smoothness. Works great for me.

 

[ramdadingdong]

I've found that when I'm breaking bad it is because I'm trying to over hit the Cue ball and I'm hitting slightly off center. When I briefly go back to an Open Bridge break it makes me hit almost dead center because you can't fly off your aiming point with an Open Bridge. Then I go back to the Closed Hand Bridge with that same smoothness. Works great for me.

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Level cue, off the rail, hit cue ball half tip below center, use no english, 6:00, trust your stroke, eyes on cue ball at impact, you never even see the one ball, problem solved. I teach all students this on the break rak training device, I love it. It's not how hard you hit the rack, it is how pure and perfect you hit the rack that counts, that is where the spread is at.

Fast Larry Guninger the Power source pool school....

 

[predator]

If you have a lot of body movement during your break stroke, than hitting it properly with an open bridge will be very difficult. If your body is still, than it shouldn't be an issue. Most people have trouble drawing the cue ball with an open bridge, let alone breaking with it.

 

[ramdadingdong]

If you have a lot of body movement during your break stroke, than hitting it properly with an open bridge will be very difficult. If your body is still, than it shouldn't be an issue. Most people have trouble drawing the cue ball with an open bridge, let alone breaking with it.

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You lay the cue on the rail, lay you hand over the cue between your index and bird fingers, you do not lay the cue on top of your hand to break, that is silly, the shaft will fly up in the air off of the contact on the ball.
Fast Larry Guninger The power source pool school.

 

[Drake]

There in one great player that comes to mind that can play great with an Open Hand Bridge break. Imran Majid was here in the states traveling around some about two years ago and it is absolutely amazing how great he can play with nothing but an Open bridge. Of course, He has a pure stroke that moves the cue ball with ease. Also, A very good player from Florida breaks with and Open bridge a lot......His name is David Broxson and has done very well in some of the Florida Pro tournaments. You can break with and Open hand Bridge and still get great results from the rack WITH SPEED.

 

[chefjeff]

If you have a lot of body movement during your break stroke, than hitting it properly with an open bridge will be very difficult. If your body is still, than it shouldn't be an issue. Most people have trouble drawing the cue ball with an open bridge, let alone breaking with it.

I've discovered something that seems to go against traditional advice:

A DRAW shot really only needs an OPEN bridge, while a FOLLOW shot needs a CLOSED bridge...The force on the cuetip is downward (from the cueball) on a draw shot, so the open bridge will handle that fine. The force on the cuetip is upward on a follow shot, so a looped finger is necesssary to prevent a miscue. I'm assuming a level cue here.

This seems logical but it seems most of us shoot just the opposite most of the time (i.e., open on follow and closed on draw)

Any comments? Am I missing something?

Jeff Livingston

 

[sjm]

Imran Majid was here in the states traveling around some about two years ago and it is absolutely amazing how great he can play with nothing but an Open bridge. Of course, He has a pure stroke that moves the cue ball with ease.

I've seen Imran play and I agree that he is a fine open-bridge player. Nonetheless, I'd still give even higher marks to the great Allison Fisher, who also plays exclusively with an open bridge.

Then again, guess you can't go too wrong with either of these fine players.

 

[Bob Jewett]

.... Nonetheless, I'd still give even higher marks to the great Allison Fisher, who also plays exclusively with an open bridge.

Are you sure Fisher breaks with an open bridge? I've seen her break, but I wasn't paying attention.

 

[ramdadingdong]

Are you sure Fisher breaks with an open bridge? I've seen her break, but I wasn't paying attention.

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She plays with one, does not break with one.

 

[Matt26]

I've discovered something that seems to go against traditional advice:

A DRAW shot really only needs an OPEN bridge, while a FOLLOW shot needs a CLOSED bridge...The force on the cuetip is downward (from the cueball) on a draw shot, so the open bridge will handle that fine. The force on the cuetip is upward on a follow shot, so a looped finger is necesssary to prevent a miscue. I'm assuming a level cue here.

This seems logical but it seems most of us shoot just the opposite most of the time (i.e., open on follow and closed on draw)

Any comments? Am I missing something?

Jeff Livingston

I feel like I have much more control on the draw shot with a closed bridge. Unless I'm just drawing back a few inches I use a closed bridge on that one. If I really need to control the speed of the follow then I will use an open bridge everytime.....but on shots where I have a lot of green to cover before the cue ball even contacts the object ball, and then I want it to follow around the table..I'll use a closed bridge. I guess it just depends on the player. You have to find what you like, and what works for you. I know plenty of great players who use a closed short bridge on everything (short meaning...not much shaft distance between the bridge hand and the cueball) - Jimmy Reid comes to mind...but it works great for him, look at all his titles. I've played with him, and it's by no means comfortable to me, but it works for him. If you watch guys like Varner, and Archer on most of their draw shots (unless short distance) they'll use a closed bridge, and an open for their follow shots. It just seems kind of natural to me.

 

[Matt26]

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Level cue, off the rail, hit cue ball half tip below center, use no english, 6:00, trust your stroke, eyes on cue ball at impact, you never even see the one ball, problem solved. I teach all students this on the break rak training device, I love it. It's not how hard you hit the rack, it is how pure and perfect you hit the rack that counts, that is where the spread is at.

Fast Larry Guninger the Power source pool school....

Fast Larry is definitely right on this one. I was taking some lessons from Jimmy Reid a year or so ago, and I wanted some help on my break. He told me to look at the cueball last, rather than the object ball, the same as on a jump shot. Well.....I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before, but this single piece of advice improved my break a lot. As far as where to hit the cue ball, that depends on how you would like the cue ball to react, and from what angle you are striking the rack. That's just one you have to play with by practicing the break over and over again.