Open Bridge Problem

9 ball

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
When I play pool I use an open bridge mainly because I have been brought up playing snooker but the problem is that when use the open bridge my cue will not go through smoothly so I have ordered a cueing glove, my question is will this help my cue go through smooth using the open bridge without having to revert to the awkward closed bridge.

Any opinions are welcome.
 
What do you mean by "not going through smoothly"?

If you mean that its sticky then yes the glove will help. Still if its sticky normally with an open bridge it wont be better but will be worse with a closed since theres more surface contact between the shaft and yur hand.
 
That's what they are intended for, "smoothing" the stroke. You see the pros that use them use both, open and closed bridges depending on the shot.

Just be sure to never let anyone else use your glove, not even to "try it out". If it gets stretched out it will never fit you the same.

Happened to me once, tried to wash it in cold water, dried it several times but it would never get that "custom" fit for me again. Ended up throwing it away. Then again I have lady fingers.:o
 
it will make your stroke super smooth - although like the above posters i find it slightly strange that you say it's worse with the open bridge than the closed one. sometimes if i havent got my cue with me and have to use a house one, i can never use a closed bridge cus of the rough and sticky cue, and also no glove.
 
Do you carry a towel or washcloth in your case?? I have dry hands all the time and I still find the need to dry my hands if they get sticky and wipe the shaft down often...I don't think I would like the feel of the glove IMHO...
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Bridge / Glove

I have been using a glove for about 8 months now. I began using it due to hand moisture under pressure. It will take a while to get used to. the tactile sense is not the same initially, so there is an adjustment. That being said I feel naked playing without it at this point. Powder just seemed to compound the problem after the first few strokes. IMO, the glove is well worth the investment and should help with your issues.
 
I tries using gloves for that same reason, but didn't like them. All the gloves I have tried are made from synthetic fibers woven in such a way as to make the amount of friction different depending on which direction the cue is moving, like shark skin.

If I ever find a glove made out of a more suitable material, I might use it, but in the meantime, frequent handwashing and a clean shaft seems to work very well, if not better than a glove.
 
Showboat I have tried washing my hands constantly, using a towel and wiping down my cue but, the friction just seems to get worse and that's why I wanted to know if a glove would help as I sweat a lot.
 
9 ball said:
When I play pool I use an open bridge mainly because I have been brought up playing snooker but the problem is that when use the open bridge my cue will not go through smoothly so I have ordered a cueing glove, my question is will this help my cue go through smooth using the open bridge without having to revert to the awkward closed bridge.

Any opinions are welcome.

I seldom shoot with an OPEN BRIDGE, Allison Fisher Kicks ASS playing with an Open Bridge.

Slic Stick will make your Shaft as Smoothe a Silk so you can play Gloveless...:)
 
9 ball said:
When I play pool I use an open bridge mainly because I have been brought up playing snooker but the problem is that when use the open bridge my cue will not go through smoothly so I have ordered a cueing glove, my question is will this help my cue go through smooth using the open bridge without having to revert to the awkward closed bridge.

Any opinions are welcome.

Sometime when I screw around playing pool at a local bar, this is rare, I find the bar sticks extremely sticky. In this case I still use an open and closed bridge. What I do is stroke the cue faster till I sense how to overcome the tackiness.

A few players I know use a glove and some just said the hell with it because it was such a nuisance. Others say as myself that a glove takes away the important feel. I do notice that the players that do wear a glove are not the shot finesse'rs rather the more mechanical players. Then again this is just in the room I paly in. As we know Earl wears one because he makes money advertising it.

Try a glove and see if it works for you. Many of those that continue to wear a glove swear by it.
 
Used to wear one

Back when I was starting to seriously learn how to play,I used one for about a year. I could not shoot with a closed bridge unless I was wearing a glove. Finally got adept at making and using a closed bridge, and stopped using it. It was not possible to feel the cue sliding through your fingers when shooting, and caused a loss of touch for my shots. Try using antiperspirant on your hands, I have never needed it, but some people I have talked to swear by it. I am lucky, I have very dry hands, don't need to do much to keep my cue smooth, just an occasional wipe with a dry cloth or paper towel. Never used poweder, it just gums up your shaft faster and messes up the table!
 
9 ball said:
Showboat I have tried washing my hands constantly, using a towel and wiping down my cue but, the friction just seems to get worse and that's why I wanted to know if a glove would help as I sweat a lot.

I've been using a glove for the past two years It definitely helps keep my cue stroke smoother (using a closed bridge) than playing without it.

They're not too expensive. I bought my glove at a local pool hall for $8. Other places charge about $12 for a brand-name glove.
 
well my glove and measles cb arrived this morning and i'm just finished trying it out & I can safely say that I will never go gloveless again my stroke felt more natural and I wasn't having to fight the cue on the follow through which as a result is longer.

Oh and just 1 other thing using a closed bridge I can now hit an absolute MONSTER break and its all thanks to a glove.
 
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