Open Hand Bridge vs Closed Bridge Discussion

Pool Soup said:
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?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1AQ21-oBmU
 
“Closed” bridge feels completely wrong to me. It feels clumsy and unnecessary. But it clearly works for others and they may well feel the same about the “open” bridge. Each to their own, play the way you feel most comfortable. One might actually be technically better than the other but I think the jury is still out on that.
 
jay helfert said:
Very keen analysis here. It took me years to figure this one out! I'm so used to playing with a closed bridge that it was hard to adapt to playing most shots with an open bridge. Only in this last attempt to play pool did I finally get it! I agree with the poster who said a closed bridge is better for draw shots and on certain other shots as well. But for the most part an open bridge seems more comfortable for playing on today's equipment and conditions.
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I think an OPEN bridge is better for draw shots and a closed better for follow. Here's why"

Look at what the tip tries to do in both of those shots. It tries to go over the ball in a follow shot and under the ball in a draw. So, it seems to me that a closed bridge is better on a follow shot and vice versa, an open on draw shots.



Jeff Livingston
 
DynoDan said:
I’ll have to admit though, that I am using an open bridge much more these days.
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I reiterate. You’re never too old to learn something new. I now find myself instinctively bending over long/difficult shots with a closed bridge, and then suddenly realize I only really need a medium-speed center-ball hit. Switching to an open bridge instead, and dropping my chin to the cue seems to produce a DEFINITE improvement in accuracy & consistency.

Willie Mosconi was so talented/motivated, and played so often, it didn’t matter that he used the traditional closed bridge most of the time, since his CB was seldom more than a foot from the object ball! I’ll have to go with whatever works best for me, since my position isn’t that good.
 
marcuswallaby said:
i think seeing the entire length of the shaft is an advantage .. the closed bridge cuts it in half .. just sayin'
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Why?? I've heard this from other people but never understood it. Why do you need to see the shaft? Why are you looking at it?? I look at the balls, not the shaft, and always have. And, how does a closed bridge cut it in half???????
 
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Now I find out why I dont shoot better!!!! I must be using an open bridge too much :smile::smile:
I started playing about 6-7 years ago, I am far more comfortable using an open bridge for most shots regardless of where I hit the cue ball. I will usually switch to a closed bridge when the cue ball is close to the rail and I cant get my hand comfortably on the table. I almost always break with an open bridge too, I cant imagine that I would need to worry about the cue bouncing out of my bridge while breaking, I hit the cue ball only about a half tip above center, just enough to have the slightest forward roll after bouncing back off of the rack.
 
toby-wan said:
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.
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Interestingly having watched the European Masters (and currently the English Open) snooker I’ve spotted:

Joe Perry
Anthony Hamilton
Mark Selby
John Higgins
Whoever was playing Mark Selby yesterday

all using a closed bridge when playing off the rail.

Whilst I thought I’d seen a couple of players adopting the closed bridge, I wasn’t sure, so I made a point to look out for it! They don’t do it on many shots, could even be once a match, or not even that, but occasionally for whatever reason they do use it (and bear in mind that list includes 2 multiple World Champions).

I’m not sure if that changes anything, but even the best snooker players do occasionally use a closed bridge!
 
Pushout said:
Why do you need to see the shaft?
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To be sure it's pointed where I want it pointed and to confirm my stroke is straight. Both are easier when I can see a shaft in one continuous piece, visually unbroken by my index finger looped over it.

pj
chgo
 
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