Opinions on Open vs. Closed Bridge

[jlrowe]

I shoot couple times a week with a older gentleman. He is very knowledgable and analyzes everything. He watches me shoot and what he keeps telling me is that i use an open bridge on shots i shouldnt that is why my position play is suffering. He told me that i should not use open bridge when using top and bottom especially top. He says that the shaft deflects off the cueball to soon and that why im not getting the action i need and it has got me into the habit of shooting to hard to get position. I can see his point but I never think of what type of bridge im using when i shoot. i just go with what is comfortable at the time. What is your opinion on this?

 

[Rich93]

Most older gentlemen, such as myself, favor closed bridges because when we started playing all good players used them and we copied what they did. But seeing all the great players today that use open bridges, I have to say that we older gentlemen are completely wrong to look down on them. You can play great either way.

I think if you're going to hit the ball hard, a closed bridge is probably better. But I'm even unsure about that.

About his specific point, I'm quite sure that there is no difference between open and closed bridges with respect to how long the cue stays on the cue ball.

 

[greyghost]

Each is unique

Most older gentlemen, such as myself, favor closed bridges because when we started playing all good players used them and we copied what they did. But seeing all the great players today that use open bridges, I have to say that we older gentlemen are completely wrong to look down on them. You can play great either way.

I think if you're going to hit the ball hard, a closed bridge is probably better. But I'm even unsure about that.

About his specific point, I'm quite sure that there is no difference between open and closed bridges with respect to how long the cue stays on the cue ball.

Actually there can be very large differiences in how long the cue stays on the ball and how it deflects depending on open or closed bridge. You can follow through much more effectively especially with the high english using the closed bridge. The cue upon contact wants to go up because of the curvature of the ball, a closed bridge prevents this. So to answer the question, for 100% sure from a technical standpoint a closed bridge is much more precise for the hit, an open bridge tho is going to give you a better view, but only if you get low on the ball like a snooker player. With the old style of being higher up on the ball, the sight line problem with a closed bridge was non-existent. Open bridges come from snooker which promotes the sighting for high accuracy pots, the closed bridge is from pool/billiards which uses less accuracy and higher movements and positioning of the cue ball.

Both have good/bad qualities and both have their places in certain types of shots. Sometimes you need the open and sometimes the closed...many great players of today switch when the appropriate shot calls for it.

Grey Ghost

Grey Ghost

 

[pooltchr]

There is no "always" rule, but in general, I recommend an open bridge for most shots requiring an above center hit, and closed for below center.
The advantage of the open bridge is that it gives the shooter an unrestricted line of sight all the way down the cue. This will generally make sighting the shot easier. In a case where cue ball control is more important, such as a draw shot, the closed bridge does offer a little more precision and control.
I use both, depending on the specific shot. There are a few variations on these two bridges that we also teach in pool school.

Steve

 

[Rich93]

Actually there can be very large differiences in how long the cue stays on the ball and how it deflects depending on open or closed bridge. You can follow through much more effectively especially with the high english using the closed bridge. The cue upon contact wants to go up because of the curvature of the ball, a closed bridge prevents this.

By this logic you would expect an open bridge to cause less cue ball squirt than a closed bridge when sidespin is applied, because the more easily the tip deflects to the side the less the cue ball will deflect (squirt) to the side - that's what low deflection cues are all about. I doubt that closed bridges cause more squirt, though it would be a remarkable discovery if true.

...... an open bridge tho is going to give you a better view, but only if you get low on the ball like a snooker player. With the old style of being higher up on the ball, the sight line problem with a closed bridge was non-existent. Open bridges come from snooker which promotes the sighting for high accuracy pots, the closed bridge is from pool/billiards which uses less accuracy and higher movements and positioning of the cue ball.

Both have good/bad qualities and both have their places in certain types of shots. Sometimes you need the open and sometimes the closed...many great players of today switch when the appropriate shot calls for it.

I basically agree with all this.

 

[Scott Lee]

jlrowe...Good players swap between open and closed bridges all the time. As pooltcher mentioned, there's no "always or never" rule. IMO, you're most likely gripping the cue too tightly, which is what your older friend is noticing (and equating with using the wrong bridge). Play with the bridge that works best for you, for the shot...but try to keep a looser grip on the butt of the cue (almost everyone shoots too hard...and grip is the major culprit here...too much bicep is the other).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I shoot couple times a week with a older gentleman. He is very knowledgable and analyzes everything. He watches me shoot and what he keeps telling me is that i use an open bridge on shots i shouldnt that is why my position play is suffering. He told me that i should not use open bridge when using top and bottom especially top. He says that the shaft deflects off the cueball to soon and that why im not getting the action i need and it has got me into the habit of shooting to hard to get position. I can see his point but I never think of what type of bridge im using when i shoot. i just go with what is comfortable at the time. What is your opinion on this?

 

[Scott Lee]

There is no "always" rule, but in general, I recommend an open bridge for most shots requiring an above center hit, and closed for below center.
The advantage of the open bridge is that it gives the shooter an unrestricted line of sight all the way down the cue. I KNOW I've read this somewhere! This will generally make sighting the shot easier. In a case where cue ball control is more importantSteve...you KNOW there's no such thing as cue ball control! There's only A.S.S., which are controlled with the cueSTICK! , such as a draw shot, the closed bridge does offer a little more precision and control.
I use both, depending on the specific shot. There are a few variations on these two bridges that we also teach in pool school.

Steve

Luv ya buddy! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[jlrowe]

Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!

 

[pooltchr]

Luv ya buddy! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

You are quite right, my friend. We can't control the cue ball, we only control what we do with the cue stick. I suppose I should have said position play, for accuracy's sake.

Holler at me next time you get down this way. We need to get together and shoot a few games.

Steve

 

[okinawa77]

I shoot couple times a week with a older gentleman. He is very knowledgable and analyzes everything. He watches me shoot and what he keeps telling me is that i use an open bridge on shots i shouldnt that is why my position play is suffering. He told me that i should not use open bridge when using top and bottom especially top. He says that the shaft deflects off the cueball to soon and that why im not getting the action i need and it has got me into the habit of shooting to hard to get position. I can see his point but I never think of what type of bridge im using when i shoot. i just go with what is comfortable at the time. What is your opinion on this?

Here's my opinion:
I shoot mostly with a closed bridge when I shoot right handed, but I shoot mostly open bridge when I shoot left handed.....and I play just as well left handed, as I do right handed. I'm an APA SL7 and I average 44 (max 50) in BCA-PL 8 Ball. So, I play better than your average bear.

It sounds like you may need to work on your open hand bridge shots. For me, I have noticed for cut shots using follow/top, using extreme top will cause the CB to stun/kill off the rail. So, a lot of players will shoot much harder because they want the CB to move farther. What I have found is that using less extreme top (closer to center) will prevent the stun/kill off the rail and I can get the CB to move without having to add a lot of power.
If you are shooting with a very full hit on the object ball, then extreme top will make the CB move farther....and using less extreme (near center) will stun/kill the CB action.
I suggest setting up some straight in shots and testing extreme top vs near center top....and doing the same on cut shots.
Remember to follow through (complete your stroke).
A loose grip on an open hand bridge is very important.

You may also want to check your shaft flex. This is very important on power follow/top shots. A noodle shaft will cause you to miss your shots.

As far as bottom (draw english) shots, using an open bridge is fine, as long as they are not POWER draw shots.
On power draw shots, you want to use a closed bridge.

 

[randyg]

Actually there can be very large differiences in how long the cue stays on the ball and how it deflects depending on open or closed bridge. You can follow through much more effectively especially with the high english using the closed bridge. The cue upon contact wants to go up because of the curvature of the ball, a closed bridge prevents this. So to answer the question, for 100% sure from a technical standpoint a closed bridge is much more precise for the hit, an open bridge tho is going to give you a better view, but only if you get low on the ball like a snooker player. With the old style of being higher up on the ball, the sight line problem with a closed bridge was non-existent. Open bridges come from snooker which promotes the sighting for high accuracy pots, the closed bridge is from pool/billiards which uses less accuracy and higher movements and positioning of the cue ball.

Both have good/bad qualities and both have their places in certain types of shots. Sometimes you need the open and sometimes the closed...many great players of today switch when the appropriate shot calls for it.

Grey Ghost

Grey Ghost

Sorry Grey Ghost BUT the cue ball and cue stick part ways in about 1000 of a second. No bridge will change that time.....SPF=randyg

 

[jlrowe]

Thanks Okinawa I will try this when i get to the pool room today along with some straight pool. Some green for you my friend.:thumbup:

 

[jlrowe]

Sorry Grey Ghost BUT the cue ball and cue stick part ways in about 1000 of a second. No bridge will change that time.....SPF=randyg

But what about the stroke? Wouldnt a long stroke change the time that the cue tip is in contact with the cueball? Also extreme english, looks like it would reduce the time tip stays in contact.

 

[Scott Lee]

jlrowe...Neither Randyg (nor I) is likely to quote something without having research to back it up. The Jacksonville Experiment PROVED (through super high-speed photography) that the dwell time between the cuetip and cueball averaged about 1/1000th of a second (as a comparative value, it takes the human eye about 4/1000ths of a second to blink once, as a reflex). Once the CB is gone off the tip, nothing can affect the outcome. It doesn't matter how long or short your stroke is, and it doesn't matter where on the CB you contact it.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

But what about the stroke? Wouldnt a long stroke change the time that the cue tip is in contact with the cueball? Also extreme english, looks like it would reduce the time tip stays in contact.

 

[pooltchr]

But what about the stroke? Wouldnt a long stroke change the time that the cue tip is in contact with the cueball? Also extreme english, looks like it would reduce the time tip stays in contact.

It's not as much a matter of how the cue stick is moving as it is the energy exchange between two objects at collision. The amount of mass in the end of the cue, and the mass of the cue ball remain constant, and that allows the contact time to remain virtually the same, regardless of how the cue is moving when it hits the ball.
Steve

 

[jlrowe]

Thanks guys! I think i actually understand what pooltchr just said. That kind of scares me:shocked:

 

[greyghost]

I'm really asking...

Then put some super spin on that ball, geared out high spin...maybe even throw some english...are you gonna shoot it with an open bridge?....or the closed?

 

[jlrowe]

Closed~!

 

[pooltchr]

Thanks guys! I think i actually understand what pooltchr just said. That kind of scares me:shocked:

There are some who would say that if you are understanding what I say, you probably should be a little scared! LOL
Steve

 

[JesPiddlin]

...The cue upon contact wants to go up because of the curvature of the ball, a closed bridge prevents this. So to answer the question, for 100% sure from a technical standpoint a closed bridge is much more precise for the hit...

I beg to differ. I use an open bridge. If I use a closed bridge, I guarantee you I can absolutely miss the cue ball, because the steady is as much in the back hand as it is in that bridge. I am right-handed and play right-handed. I have a bad right wrist. If it starts acting up, that grip hand goes numb and there is no telling what the cue is going to do and using a closed bridge simply does nothing to control it. We have found that a lighter weight cue prevents the numbness, most of the time, and even helps me focus on my shot, much better. But, if my hand goes numb, I have no clue what it's going to do. It hasn't happened more than a couple of times, but I've been known to watch my cue go flying across the room, much like a spear, never even hitting the cue ball, because my right hand went numb and let go on the send command. :yikes::yikes::yikes:

I am only 4'11" short and therefore, my bridge is often longer than most folks' so I can reach many of my shots, which doesn't help. But, the main fact I was trying to explain is that the open or closed bridge does not prevent the cue from going upward on the ball. For that reason, I have decided I prefer an open bridge, because it helps me focus on the accuracy of my aim.