Open Hand Bridge vs Closed Bridge Discussion

I used to play mainly with a closed bridge. Now, at 68, I use mostly an open bridge. My fingers are not very long and I have found it to be more comfortable to use the open bridge. So I think it depends on your anatomy and may change with age as well.

One of the top local players was drunk one night and kept telling me "all the pros" use a particular closed bridge (I knew it was not true of course but kept my mouth shut). He was contorting my fingers in a way that I would never, ever be able to use repeatedly. Because of my anatomy it was so tight I could not slide the stick smoothly. So, to each your own. Choose what is comfortable and stable.
 
I just turned 50 and for my birthday I got what seems to be arthritis in my middle finger on my left hand. It's in two knuckles. Injections offered no relief. Besides losing grip strength, I've found that making a closed bridge is painful. Really painful. Jump shots are killers too. It sucks. So, I'm relegated to using an open bridge. I've found that it doesn't really hurt my game. And occasionally I'll suffer through a closed bridge, but every time I do, I regret it.
This discussion reminds me of a lesson I had with Bob Jewett. One of the first things he did was show me how much movement my closed bridge allowed. He then said that my closed bridge was no better than an open bridge.
All things considered, I don't feel too bad about having to use the open bridge.
 
It appears that no one who responded to your question watches much snooker. The top snooker players in the world - and anyone who aspires to be part of that group - shoot ONLY with an open bridge. There are predominantly two reasons for this. One is that a closed bridge restricts your down table vision. And, like virtually every professional snooker player, when you're shooting with your chin on the shaft of your cue on a 12-ft table with small balls, being able to see down table is extremely important. The other reason is that snooker cues have an extremely short taper (18mm to 9mm in about 14 inches). That taper will cause the shaft to bind up a little in a closed bridge on shots with a long follow-through. With regard to using a closed bridge to improve draw shots, I would suggest closely watching a few snooker matches on YouTube. You will be amazed at the strength and precise control that can be accomplished on a draw shot with an open bridge. Nobody in the world does it better than those guys.
 
It seems to me a simple issue of physics. Applying tremendous power & english at the same time requires a closed bridge to keep the cue/tip from deflecting. I’ll have to admit though, that I am using an open bridge much more these days. Those fancy show-off dynamics are used more by younger players struggling with position. If whitey is close & on line for natural shape, an open bridge works just fine.
 
DynoDan said:
It seems to me a simple issue of physics. Applying tremendous power & english at the same time requires a closed bridge to keep the cue/tip from deflecting
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This is a common misconception.

Here's a pertinent except from the open vs. closed bridge resource page:

.. some people don't like the cue leaving their bridge hand, which can occur with an open bridge on firm follow shots and power shots with english; but as long as there is no risk of hitting nearby obstacle balls (in which case, a closed bridge might be advisable), this is not really an issue since the CB is already gone before the shaft moves in the bridge (see the 2:32 point in part 2 of NV B.96 - Grip and bridge technique and advice). The cue can also leave the bridge hand on draw shots with follow through into the table; but, again, the CB is long gone before this happens.

Some people also tend to lift the tip during the stroke, especially with shots requiring more power, and premature lift can result in miscuing over the top of the CB, but this is a stroke issue (e.g., grip tightening and/or elbow dropping), not a bridge issue. For them, the closed bridge could help; although, eliminating the grip or stroke flaws is a better alternative. Otherwise, whether the bridge is closed or open really has no effect on the CB, except for the fact that the increased friction associated with a closed bridge could reduce power and control a small amount. Some rail bridges, especially when cueing low close to a cushion, do require a closed bridge. Now, psychologically, there could be advantages to a closed bridge. For example, some people just feel more secure with a closed bridge.

Regards,
Dave
 
I use an open bridge for 99% of my shots... the reasons are simple;

1. Grew up with a snooker table in the house. Snooker = open bridge ... don't think I've ever seen a snooker pro take a serious shot with a closed bridge.

2. Relatively fat fingers... I can do a closed bridge, but not like some people with lanky slim fingers. Just isn't comfortable for me.

I do think open is a superior bridge, but I can see how closed works for people who are totally comfortable with it / have always done it that way.
 
I started tinkering with my bridges a while back (mostly influenced by a lesson from Earl), and I've discovered that my open bridge is miles better at finding and diagnosing any issues in my fundamentals. Cue lifting up off my bridge after a draw shot? Quit tightening my grip as I'm following through. I can feel my body lifting up off the cue if I'm jumping up (also effective with a closed bridge), my wrist turning if I'm not aligned properly, bridge length, the list goes on and on.

My closed bridge actually requires more work than my open, and is just slightly more inconsistent.

The person above talking about snooker pros is spot-on. After experimenting with both, I actually have a wider range of shots available to me with an open bridge, but the closed bridge definitely has its uses, mostly for its placebo effect.
 
dr_dave said:
This is a common misconception.

Here's a pertinent except from the open vs. closed bridge resource page:
...whether the bridge is closed or open really has no effect on the CB...
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...

Very interesting. More physics (action/reaction). I would like to see more experiments with various bridge lengths and shaft diameters before I am convinced. Also re: related measurements of CB movement. The delay between CB strike and shaft deflection does not necessarily mean that more energy couldn’t transfer to the CB with a shorter/firmer bridge (?).
 
DynoDan said:
dr_dave said:
This is a common misconception.

Here's a pertinent except from the open vs. closed bridge resource page:

.. some people don't like the cue leaving their bridge hand, which can occur with an open bridge on firm follow shots and power shots with english; but as long as there is no risk of hitting nearby obstacle balls (in which case, a closed bridge might be advisable), this is not really an issue since the CB is already gone before the shaft moves in the bridge (see the 2:32 point in part 2 of NV B.96 - Grip and bridge technique and advice). The cue can also leave the bridge hand on draw shots with follow through into the table; but, again, the CB is long gone before this happens.

Some people also tend to lift the tip during the stroke, especially with shots requiring more power, and premature lift can result in miscuing over the top of the CB, but this is a stroke issue (e.g., grip tightening and/or elbow dropping), not a bridge issue. For them, the closed bridge could help; although, eliminating the grip or stroke flaws is a better alternative. Otherwise, whether the bridge is closed or open really has no effect on the CB, except for the fact that the increased friction associated with a closed bridge could reduce power and control a small amount. Some rail bridges, especially when cueing low close to a cushion, do require a closed bridge. Now, psychologically, there could be advantages to a closed bridge. For example, some people just feel more secure with a closed bridge.
Click to expand...
Very interesting. More physics (action/reaction). I would like to see more experiments with various bridge lengths and shaft diameters before I am convinced. Also re: related measurements of CB movement. The delay between CB strike and shaft deflection does not necessarily mean that more energy couldn’t transfer to the CB with a shorter/firmer bridge (?).
Click to expand...
If you use a really short bridge with really bony parts of the fingers supporting the shaft (with no soft flesh between the bones and shaft), then the bridge could have a small effect on CB motion ... it would create more CB deflection. But with typical equipment, hands, and bridge lengths, the bridge type has no meaningful effect on the CB.

Regards,
Dave
 
The use of a playing glove & shaft conditioners/lubricants allows the application of extraordinary force (tissue compression) without significantly restricting shaft stroking. The instinct to clamp down tightly with a closed bridge when applying extreme english is likely subconsciously learned through experience. Might the tip thus stay on the CB longer while it is deflecting? Whatever. Only accurate scientific measurements would provide convincing proof. After all, many human ‘instincts’ eventually prove erroneous. People used to generally assume a heavy object would fall faster than a lighter one. Galileo busted that theory!
 
I use both, depending on the type of shot I have to shoot, for more power shots I use a closed bridge, like on a break, force draw or force follow. I find it tends to keep the cue from coming off line, when more power is required.

but for touch shots I use an open bridge.

I don't see why you would need to choose to only use one or the other when both have advantages for different types of strokes.
 
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Open or closed is the least of some peoples worries. :thumbup:
 
Most world champions use a closed bridge and the palm of the hand is elevated off the table. I found this helps with my accuracy and my speed control with less effort.
 
Pool Soup said:
Most world champions use a closed bridge and the palm of the hand is elevated off the table. ...
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I don't think so. Occasionally players have to elevate for a bridge close to a cushion and then they have to do what's necessary. But few top players do what you say consistently. Can you actually name any -- even one -- who do?

Alex Pagulayan - NO
Shane Van Boening - NO
Johnny Archer - NO
Chris Melling - NO
Darren Appleton - NO
Earl Strickland - NO (but how do you count the finger splints?)
Efren Reyes - NO
Steve Mizerak - NO
Mike Sigel - NO
Neils Feijen - NO
 
Bob Jewett said:
I don't think so. Occasionally players have to elevate for a bridge close to a cushion and then they have to do what's necessary. But few top players do what you say consistently. Can you actually name any -- even one -- who do?

Alex Pagulayan - NO
Shane Van Boening - NO
Johnny Archer - NO
Chris Melling - NO
Darren Appleton - NO
Earl Strickland - NO (but how do you count the finger splints?)
Efren Reyes - NO
Steve Mizerak - NO
Mike Sigel - NO
Neils Feijen - NO
Click to expand...

I've noticed Shane does that bridge sometimes. He definitely doesn't do it a lot, but it stands out to me when he does because it seems like he does it even when he doesn't need to (e.g., bridging over a ball). He rests his arm on the rail, and holds the heel of his bridge hand up, looping the cue.

This is not the best example, because he's pretty close to the rail, and I think he does it when it's even further out, but I happened to find it while scrubbing through this video.

 
Closed bridge most of the time, it's the way I learned to play. I do, however, use whatever feels right/comfortable on whatever shot I'm about to shoot. At 69 I think I'm getting more arthritis in my hands and if I'm only hitting balls for a fairly short time I will use an open bridge just because I don't really care. Any time I've been playing/in competition I use mostly a closed bridge.
Amazing how many, many times this has been discussed on AZ and this thread is already five pages! LOL!

Edit: six pages!
 
Hi Bob I really don't want to debate. I only see 6 World Champions you mentioned that I know of. I play with my palm elevated slightly with an open or closed bridge. From my own experience that's best for me. I wrote a big reply before this one but I timed out so that is why this is short. Efren hardly ever uses an open bridge. Earl uses a closed bridge but not as much as Efren. Earls palm is off the table more than Efren's. Do you Play?
 
gregcantrall said:
My post of Colin teaching the power break is proof that the closed bridge is not required for a powerful and accurate hit on the cue ball.



Open bridge/closed bridge on the break? It doesn't matter. What ever suits you.
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In watching his video, did you observe a high level of cueball control on his breaks? I'm not saying that has anything to do with the choice of bridge type. I'm just saying that his video doesn't strike me as a great example of accuracy and control. Power? Sure.

KMRUNOUT


Sent from my iPhone using AzBilliards Forums
 
Pool Soup said:
... I wrote a big reply before this one but I timed out so that is why this is short. ...
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When logging in, next to the space for your user name and password is a box and the words "Remember Me?" Click on the box and you will not be timed out.
 
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