SPIN WHEN USING THE BRIDGE

[bbb]

i find i am prone to alot of deflection when using spin with the bridge
therefore i stay on the vertical axis and maybe apply 1/2 tip spin at most and cinch the shot and deal with the position
but sometimes more is necessary.
any suggestions on the best way to apply spin when using the bridge

 

[FranCrimi]

How do you know you're getting more deflection and not just being inaccurate? I'm assuming you mean cb deflection or squirt.

But regardless of accurate or inaccurate aiming, many players make the mistake of shooting down at the cb with a pretty steep angle of attack. If you need to hit below the equator line, then you might consider setting the bridge head a little farther back from the cb to reduce the angle of attack if possible. Also, shooting with a sidearm stroke helps keep your pool cue more level.

 

[bbb]

How do you know you're getting more deflection and not just being inaccurate? I'm assuming you mean cb deflection or squirt.

But regardless of accurate or inaccurate aiming, many players make the mistake of shooting shooting down at the cb with a pretty steep angle of attack. If you need to hit below the equator line, then you might consider setting the bridge head a little farther back from the cb to reduce the angle of attack if possible. Also, shooting with a sidearm stroke helps keep your pool cue more level.

thanks for the advice on technique fran
i know i get more deflection/squirt because the cue ball goes sideways !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Patrick Johnson]

i know i get more deflection/squirt because the cue ball goes sideways

I don’t know of any physical/equipment reason for that. Fran mentioned the different stroke used with a bridge - that’s where I’d look first.

pj
chgo

 

[bbb]

Should i be able to shoot with the bridge
Any speed spin combination i can do with both hands?

 

[FranCrimi]

Should i be able to shoot with the bridge
Any speed spin combination i can do with both hands?

Well, as you may know, skilled players tend to carry their own mechanical bridges with them that suit their playing styles that also gives them more height options and maneuver options than the typical ones you see in pool rooms. If you do some research you will find that they have become quite sophisticated over the years and very different from the ones sitting under the tables.

With your own bridge head that you're used to, you will increase your percentages of shooting normally, but even so, you will be somewhat limited. You will have to stay on the conservative side when using a bridge.

However, I will tell you a bridge story --- I first met Danny Barouty in college --- in the Student Union pool room, to be exact. We were both getting ready to play in the college 14.1 tournament to qualify for the ACUI regionals and then hopefully make it to the nationals that year. We all felt that Danny was a shoe-in to win the college tournament men's division as he was already running hundreds by then. There was one guy who ran 60s, but Danny was a much smarter player.

About a week before the tournament, Danny broke his bridge arm. He showed up with his arm in a cast all the way to his fingers in a bent position with his elbow out. But he was determined to play in the tournament, so he cut off the end of a pool cue and put a pool room plastic bridge head on the end, and tied a string to the pool cue stump and to one of his fingers. He practiced for a week using the bridge on every shot. He'd shoot and then flick his arm up in the air to get the bridge head off the table. It was remarkable.

He didn't win the tournament, but he barely lost in the finals by a few points, and even had a few runs in the 30s.

 

[bbb]

Well, as you may know, skilled players tend to carry their own mechanical bridges with them that suit their playing styles that also gives them more height options and maneuver options than the typical ones you see in pool rooms. If you do some research you will find that they have become quite sophisticated over the years and very different from the ones sitting under the tables.

With your own bridge head that you're used to, you will increase your percentages of shooting normally, but even so, you will be somewhat limited. You will have to stay on the conservative side when using a bridge.

However, I will tell you a bridge story --- I first met Danny Barouty in college --- in the Student Union pool room, to be exact. We were both getting ready to play in the college 14.1 tournament to qualify for the ACUI regionals and then hopefully make it to the nationals that year. We all felt that Danny was a shoe-in to win the college tournament men's division as he was already running hundreds by then. There was one guy who ran 60s, but Danny was a much smarter player.

About a week before the tournament, Danny broke his bridge arm. He showed up with his arm in a cast all the way to his fingers in a bent position with his elbow out. But he was determined to play in the tournament, so he cut off the end of a pool cue and put a pool room plastic bridge head on the end, and tied the string to one of his fingers. He practiced for a week using the bridge on every shot. He'd shoot and then flick his arm up in the air to get the bridge head off the table. It was remarkable.

He didn't win the tournament, but he barely lost in the finals by a few points, and even had a few runs in the 30s.

Inspirational story
Thanks fran

 

[Bob Jewett]

Should i be able to shoot with the bridge
Any speed spin combination i can do with both hands?

I think that unless you manage to change to a normal stroking arm position -- and some players manage to do that when they use the bridge -- it will be impossible to get the same power. Consider the break shot at nine ball.

 

[bbb]

I think that unless you manage to change to a normal stroking arm position -- and some players manage to do that when they use the bridge -- it will be impossible to get the same power. Consider the break shot at nine ball.

What about normal power shots with spin?

 

[measureman]

The best advice I ever got years ago from an old time real good player regarding spin with a bridge was "don't do it,a little follow or draw is fine,no spin"
The most important part of the game is pocketing the ball and remain in control of the table.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Should i be able to shoot with the bridge
Any speed spin combination i can do with both hands?

The speed issue that Bob mentioned, plus...

A mechanical bridge is fixed at a couple of unchangeable heights - so less fine tuning of height/angle possible. Also, the exaggerated elbow-to-the-side must make some normal strokes difficult to duplicate.

pj
chgo

 

[Bob Jewett]

The best advice I ever got years ago from an old time real good player regarding spin with a bridge was "don't do it,a little follow or draw is fine,no spin"
The most important part of the game is pocketing the ball and remain in control of the table.

I think even better advice is to play within your competency. If you never practice with the bridge, keep it absolutely simple. If you do practice three cushion position is quite playable.

Corey Deuel used to spot that he would play every shot with the bridge. Lots of practice and profitable.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Corey Deuel used to spot that he would play every shot with the bridge. Lots of practice and profitable.

He took your advice about standing so he could stroke normally.

pj
chgo

 

[FranCrimi]

He took your advice about standing so he could stroke normally.

pj
chgo

View attachment 725416

That looks similar to what Danny Barouty did with his arm bent in a cast, only he cut the cue up to about where his hand was. But as we know, that position doesn't work for the rest of us when we use the bridge for the reason it was intended --- when you can't reach a shot.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

That looks similar to what Danny Barouty did with his arm bent in a cast, only he cut the cue up to about where his hand was. But as we know, that position doesn't work for the rest of us when we use the bridge for the reason it was intended --- when you can't reach a shot.

Yep - it's only for fishing. Corey’s an angler.

pj
chgo

 

[BC21]

I don’t know of any physical/equipment reason for that. Fran mentioned the different stroke used with a bridge - that’s where I’d look first.

pj

Most bridge sticks are not low deflection. If you're used to applying spin with a thin LD shaft, you certainly won't get the same results when using a fat one-piece bridge cue.

(Joking, of course! Lol)

 

[Tennesseejoe]

You must be getting a lot of deflection because bridged shots are usually shorter and closer to the pocket.

 

[DeadStick]

A mechanical bridge is fixed at a couple of unchangeable heights - so less fine tuning of height/angle possible.

Not all are fixed…


I really like the Justa-Bridge, just wish it didn’t take up so much space in a bag. Added bonus: it can be positioned vertically where it’s much taller than regular bridges, too, which has allowed me to execute jump shots with a cueball too far from a rail to reach with a normal jump shot bridge hand.

Back to the OP’s question, I’d recommend learning the pivot point of his shaft and using that bridge length when using a bridge whenever possible. Then as long as swerve isn’t an issue, hitting any amount of sidespin using BHE will have no effect on cueball direction (doubly important due to the sideways elbow position of the stroking arm).

 

[bbb]

Not all are fixed…

View attachment 727012
I really like the Justa-Bridge, just wish it didn’t take up so much space in a bag. Added bonus: it can be positioned vertically where it’s much taller than regular bridges, too, which has allowed me to execute jump shots with a cueball too far from a rail to reach with a normal jump shot bridge hand.

Back to the OP’s question, I’d recommend learning the pivot point of his shaft and using that bridge length when using a bridge whenever possible. Then as long as swerve isn’t an issue, hitting any amount of sidespin using BHE will have no effect on cueball direction (doubly important due to the sideways elbow position of the stroking arm).

First
I have and use that bridge
I think its the best available
I put it with the insertion part at the bottom of my large pocket of my case ( jb rugged) sticking up so the bridge lays flat in the pouch
I am able to put accessories on top of it
I play with a revo shaft which has a long pivot point
The thought of using the bridge with such a long "bridge length" is alittle intimidating but i will try that and see what happens