Sore fingers/knuckles from using closed bridge

[juanbond]

Has anyone else experienced this? All my life I used an open bridge...just recently started loving the closed bridge for power shots and extreme english shots. Various parts of my bridge hand get a little sore (I play 2-4 hours a day). I tend to make sure that I'm pressing my middle finger into the cloth well enough that I get a nice solid base for the closed bridge.

Hmm... Is this why Earl wears tape on some of his bridge-hand fingers?

 

[Mystick Cue Fan]

Has anyone else experienced this? All my life I used an open bridge...just recently started loving the closed bridge for power shots and extreme english shots. Various parts of my bridge hand get a little sore (I play 2-4 hours a day). I tend to make sure that I'm pressing my middle finger into the cloth well enough that I get a nice solid base for the closed bridge.

Hmm... Is this why Earl wears tape on some of his bridge-hand fingers?

Alot of us just devlop calises...( is that how you spell it? ) over time of playing with a closed bridge. They hurt at first but then it just seems to go away. And your game improves by about a ball .....Hang in there guy you'll get used to it.

Tony

 

[metal5d]

I have never had any soreness from making a closed bridge. Your hand should be relaxed, if you have tension in your hand it could affect your shooting.

 

[NaClBandit]

I use the closed bridge where my index finger sits on my middle finger and my thumb rests against that intersection (as opposed to the index finger/thumb loop). [See pic]

If I haven't played for over a week and I have a long session, my pointer will hurt by the end.

I feel your pain, brother.

 

[NaClBandit]

Alot of us just devlop calises...( is that how you spell it? ) over time of playing with a closed bridge. They hurt at first but then it just seems to go away. And your game improves by about a ball .....Hang in there guy you'll get used to it.

Tony

it's "calluses"

 

[StevenPWaldon]

I'm a predominantly closed-bridge user and I've never experienced any physical discomfort using it over a long time (even the 12+ hr days of playing).

Then again, I'm only 24 and my fingers are quite flexible. Perhaps that has something to do with it?

 

[Mystick Cue Fan]

it's "calluses"

Ahhh, That would have been my second guess..... Thank you, at least I can just embarrass myself here and not in public. Thanks

Tony

 

[Mystick Cue Fan]

Well here are my array of bridges. My ring finger seems to get the worst of it. At least that is where my most obvious "callus" is. My middle finger seems to hurt after hours of play because of the presure I apply to it. I don't have a up in the air bridge like Fransisco above. My palm is planted down into the cloth. And my bridge is held tight. I hope these help. My ironing board is where I get all my practice....

 

[Snapshot9]

How ...

Has anyone else experienced this? All my life I used an open bridge...just recently started loving the closed bridge for power shots and extreme english shots. Various parts of my bridge hand get a little sore (I play 2-4 hours a day). I tend to make sure that I'm pressing my middle finger into the cloth well enough that I get a nice solid base for the closed bridge.

Hmm... Is this why Earl wears tape on some of his bridge-hand fingers?

If you are making a PROPER closed bridge, I don't see how your knuckles and fingers are getting sore unless you have arthiritis. If your cue is not sticky, and you are making the loop with your fingers, not held tightly but loosely, and just let the cue slide against the bottom of the loop, you should not get sore. It is only meant as a guide, not to be constricting.

 

[Mystick Cue Fan]

And the Arsenal of open bridges...... I think that after a long while of any bridge your fingers will start to hurt if they aren't limber. I know mine do. Do any of you guys have pain from open bridges. After hours of play of course..... I have some with Bridge example #2 and #3

 

[juanbond]

it's "calluses"

Actually, it's "callouses".

 

[Mystick Cue Fan]

Actually, it's "callouses".

DAMNIT!!!!! I guess the third time's the charm.

Tony

 

[metal5d]

Well here are my array of bridges. My ring finger seems to get the worst of it. At least that is where my most obvious "callus" is. My middle finger seems to hurt after hours of play because of the presure I apply to it. I don't have a up in the air bridge like Fransisco above. My palm is planted down into the cloth. And my bridge is held tight. I hope these help. My ironing board is where I get all my practice....

It looks like you may be putting too much pressure down onto your middle finger. You don't have to push down, all you need to do is let your hand rest comfortably on the table.

 

[juanbond]

If you are making a PROPER closed bridge, I don't see how your knuckles and fingers are getting sore unless you have arthiritis. If your cue is not sticky, and you are making the loop with your fingers, not held tightly but loosely, and just let the cue slide against the bottom of the loop, you should not get sore. It is only meant as a guide, not to be constricting.

Definitely no arthritis, but I'm sure someday I'll get there... My soreness is not callouses, but rather muscle soreness mostly in my middle finger, which I firmly plant into the cloth to stabilize my bridge, and somewhat in my pinky, for the same reason. The index and thumb don't get sore, since I hold these somewhat relaxed around the cue, as you describe. I think my soreness is due to exercising certain finger muscles that I don't normally exercise. Although, I am a programmer by trade and type a whole hell of a lot on most days. I guess typing utilizes a different set of muscles.

I'm guessing the soreness will recede after a week or two of shooting with a closed bridge. We'll see...

 

[Mystick Cue Fan]

It looks like you may be putting too much pressure down onto your middle finger. You don't have to push down, all you need to do is let your hand rest comfortably on the table.

I've played this way for a while. but there is always room for change. I'll try it out and see what happens. You might have just improved my game by a ball or two. Seriously though. I'll give it a whirl. Thanks

Tony

 

[NaClBandit]

The Truth

Actually, it's "callouses".

It's calluses...

callus, calluses
noun

1. A localized thickening and enlargement of the horny layer of the skin. Also called callosity.


callous
adjective

1. Having calluses; toughened: callous skin on the elbow.
2. Emotionally hardened; unfeeling: a callous indifference to the suffering of others.

 

[BillyKoda]

I gave up the game for many, many years and once I started playing again I would have soreness in my fingers and knuckles the following morning. It doesn't happen as often as it used to but I still get it from time to time. I don't believe it to be callouses, I play guitar and playing pool is no comparison to that for callouses, it's the small muscles or tendons you haven't been using before that are aching.

BK