Open Bridge

[DaveK]

Do you use it?

Do you have thoughts about it?

Any feedback at all on this is of interest to me. Thanks...

Mary

Background - I started playing snooker with an open bridge, and played that way for years ... learned the closed bridge 10 years ago when I got my table and now primarily use a closed bridge. But I find that neither bridge works in every situation.

I consistantly use an open bridge in several situations :

- long stretch to cb, but not long enough to require the rest. I find the open bridge easier to make/control when my arm is fully stretched out.
- cueing line and bridge are close to interfering balls. I find the visibility better with an open bridge and use it when I need to align carefully past another ball. The open bridge for me has a different hand-print on the table and I can squeeze it close to another ball where I could not with my closed bridge.
- 'baby masse' shots up to jump shots. An open bridge seems easier for me to make in many situations where the butt of the cue is jacked up.
- along the rail shots. An open bridge is sometimes the only bridge possible when you have to contort a bridge into a rail cause you left the cue ball glued to the rail ... I hate when I do that to myself !

Dave

 

[hustlefinger]

Maybe it is habit but I prefer the closed bridge for most shots, whether I’m using top, bottom or side. I do believe one should practice and be comfortable using both an open and closed bridge, plain and simple. Various situations, in my game, dictate the use of an open bridge, like while bridging over a pocket, on a rail or over an object ball. In some cases it’s not practical to use a closed bridge.

But let’s face facts. The number one reason for using a closed bridge is to look cool.
And, …….I pity those fools, ……who don’t look cool ……. playing pool.

Rick

 

[Colin Colenso]

But let’s face facts. The number one reason for using a closed bridge is to look cool.
And, …….I pity those fools, ……who don’t look cool ……. playing pool.

Rick

Insightful....and poetic!

 

[BrianK74]

I think this common usage has it backwards. Shouldn't an OPEN bridge be used for DRAW and a CLOSED bridge used for FOLLOW.?

Think about it...the cue tends to come UP on a follow shot, ergo the looped finger to prevent that. The cue tends to go DOWN on a draw shot so an open bridge is sufficient for that, and superior overall, re stroke, sighting, etc.

Everyone thinks I'm crazy and have this backwards, but I think everyone else has it backwards. (The "crazy" part is debatable, regardless! )

notsgniviL ffeJ...whoops, I mean:

Jeff Livingston

You are absolutely right here!. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I always use the closed bridge for any extreme draw or follow shots.

If I only need a little bit of draw or follow and the object ball is within 3.5 feet of the cueball, I'll still use an open bridge.

You're not crazy, paranoid maybe