shooting with hand on rail

Z

zach12345

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i just started playing pool about 4 months ago or so and playing while bridged on the rail feels so akward to me. almost like im never lined up on the shot right. i feel completely fine when my bridge hand is on the table this just feels akward to me. what could be causing me to just feel weird playing a shot like this. im including this picture to show you exactly what kind of shot im talking about.


http://www.onthebreaknews.com/AlexPagulayan.jpg
 
Keep your bridge arm straight. Rail shots make you bend your elbow for some reason and that might be one thing that makes the shot feel awkward.
 
Spend about 2 hours shooting nothing but rail shots, you'll get to the point it doesn't bother you at all. The main thing I feel most C & D players do it if the miss a shot or in this case don't feel comfortable with it is they either shoot it a couple of more times or shoot it till they make it, then quit shooting that shot. They need to spend a lot of time shooting the troubled shot.
Someone once said," the difference in a pro and a amateur is a amateur will practice a shot till he makes it- a pro will practice the shot till he can't miss it.
I was trying to teach a guy and told him to shoot a shot he was having trouble with, it wasn't a hard shot at all, its just he is not that good, till he made it 10 times in a row. He said man I can't do that I would be here all day. I just laughed and said well dud, that's why you will never be any good.---Smitty
 
Rail bridges are often the most challenging, depending on the shot. There's so many rail bridge techniques. The one you show is pretty standard - looks like Alex is stunning/drawing the cue ball on that picture - hence his shaft is pointing down a bit - requiring him to elevate the cue with this bridge.

SVB has one rendition that blows me away. His foundation is dang near off the table - fingers battoned onto the outside of the table - fully extended, closed bridge. Doesn't seem fair. :p

OP Zach, just watch the best, take note and practice them. No need to reinvent the wheel. Good luck getting to a comfort level, you can do it!
 
If you need to be jacked up a bit like the photo your showing, not much you can do, but, if your standing even with the table, walk up, lay your position hand flat on rail and slide the cue to your middle finger and drape your index finger up and over the shaft. Keep your thumb, if possible up against the side of the rail. This creates a solid base. You run the shaft through your finger tips on each side of it so the shaft does not move sideways during your stroke. Practice a lot of center ball and high left and high right which will be a little uncomfortable, but allowing you to keep the shaft pretty level and get off the end rail pretty easy after you get used the bridge. You have to get used that cue laying on the table as there is nothing more solid than the rail to help the shaft stay trapped and solid through the stroke. Be aware, to help a little, move your stroke hand forward while your getting the hang of everything. Good Luck
 
worktheknight said:
If you need to be jacked up a bit like the photo your showing, not much you can do, but, if your standing even with the table, walk up, lay your position hand flat on rail and slide the cue to your middle finger and drape your index finger up and over the shaft. Keep your thumb, if possible up against the side of the rail. This creates a solid base. You run the shaft through your finger tips on each side of it so the shaft does not move sideways during your stroke. Practice a lot of center ball and high left and high right which will be a little uncomfortable, but allowing you to keep the shaft pretty level and get off the end rail pretty easy after you get used the bridge. You have to get used that cue laying on the table as there is nothing more solid than the rail to help the shaft stay trapped and solid through the stroke. Be aware, to help a little, move your stroke hand forward while your getting the hang of everything. Good Luck
Click to expand...

Good post on this most common rail shot. On this "lay the cue on the rail" bridge, I prefer an open bridge. I lay 4 fingers on the rail, all touching side by side. The entire length of my index finger acts like a mitre, and I find I can sight better. Personal preference.

I wonder if Dr Dave has a bunch of pic's and vid's on this. I bet he does, his site has SO much great content.
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Good post on this most common rail shot. On this "lay the cue on the rail" bridge, I prefer an open bridge. I lay 4 fingers on the rail, all touching side by side. The entire length of my index finger acts like a mitre, and I find I can sight better. Personal preference.

I wonder if Dr Dave has a bunch of pic's and vid's on this. I bet he does, his site has SO much great content.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same. I much prefer an open bridge when close or on the cushion.
 
A practice game that I play is BIH on every shot but it has to be a rail-bridge shot. And I make sure that it involves all different kinds of rail bridges. The toughest for me is a 45-degree angle to the rail.
 
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