Stretch system bridge

Biloxi Boy

Biloxi Boy

Man With A Golden Arm
Does anyone know if the Stretch System Bridge is still manufactured/sold? Can anyone fill me in on the story behind it? Did it ever make it into the English snooker world? Years ago, I wanted one but could not find one, but, then, at a tournament in New Orleans or Mobile, ran into a couple of "older" men selling them "out of the back of their car".

Until I researched before writing, I did not even know that my bridge had a name -- I had it down as "homemade" or at least "home assembled". I also found the names Mike Danner and Chris Hightower associated with them, but, sadly, there are few details available on this remarkable bridge. With its tilting head, "stringed" top, and telescoping handle, this bridge has been everything I have ever wanted. I am afraid, however, that the Stretch Bridge is another one of those great ideas that just never got the legs necessary to reach the next level.

Any information? Any thoughts?
 
SSDiver2112

SSDiver2112

Escott Cues
Biloxi Boy said:
Does anyone know if the Stretch System Bridge is still manufactured/sold? Can anyone fill me in on the story behind it? Did it ever make it into the English snooker world? Years ago, I wanted one but could not find one, but, then, at a tournament in New Orleans or Mobile, ran into a couple of "older" men selling them "out of the back of their car".

Until I researched before writing, I did not even know that my bridge had a name -- I had it down as "homemade" or at least "home assembled". I also found the names Mike Danner and Chris Hightower associated with them, but, sadly, there are few details available on this remarkable bridge. With its tilting head, "stringed" top, and telescoping handle, this bridge has been everything I have ever wanted. I am afraid, however, that the Stretch Bridge is another one of those great ideas that just never got the legs necessary to reach the next level.

Any information? Any thoughts?
Click to expand...


Is this the same thing?

https://www.cuesmith.com/the-road-bridge.html

https://www.hightowercues.com/road-bridge/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Biloxi Boy

Biloxi Boy

Man With A Golden Arm
Not the exact same thing, but many of the same ideas -- maybe the "next generation". There are no strings across the tops of the rests (allow you to lift the bridge head with the cue after shot is made). The tilt feature is great when having to shoot over a ball.
 
cueman

cueman

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
The Stretch System is no longer being made. Mike passed away a few years ago. I was probably the last dealer for the stretch system and put up the money to have the last batch made, of which I got half and Mike got half. Most people wanted to buy the Stretch Bridges without the extension but we only sold them in sets. So after getting many calls asking for the bridges I decided to only make a bridge. The Interstate Model Road Bridge is heavier duty than the Stretch Bridge was. I designed my own bridge head and machine them on my machine shop. I made the pivoting head system easier to use than the old stretches and make the extensions lock solid. So over all I feel it is an improvement over the stretch bridge. I am in the process of making more heads and it will be a few weeks before I have more stock.
 
Biloxi Boy

Biloxi Boy

Man With A Golden Arm
It is good to hear that most features of the Stretch Bridge will continue on in the Road Bridge -- especially the tilt feature. Those of you who have never experienced using a tilted bridge head feature should do so, but if you try it, you will have to own one. Absolutely no comparison! A friend of mine had one, and, once I tried his, I had to have one. If you are unfamiliar with these bridges, do yourself a favor and watch the video available using the link to Joey Aguzin's blog (Post #4 above) -- not as good as having one in your hand at the table, but a picture is always worth . . .

What was the reason for eliminating the string feature? The string enabled lifting the "head" end of the bridge, utilizing the cue, thereby removing the bridge from play in a rapid and controlled manner. Most "new" tools add only one new improvement, but the Stretch contributed three -- telescoping handle, tilt head, and string. I suppose one could always retrofit the Road to include string.

Thank you for keeping this incredible improvement to our sport available.
 
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cueman

cueman

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
Biloxi Boy said:
It is good to hear that most features of the Stretch Bridge will continue on in the Road Brige -- especially the tilt feature. Those of you who have never experienced using a tilted bridge head feature should do so, but if you try it, you will have to own one. Absolutely no comparison! A friend of mine had one, and, once I tried his, I had to have one. If you are unfamiliar with these bridges, do yourself a favor and watch the video available using the link to Joey Aguzin's blog (Post #4 above) -- not as good as having one in your hand at the table, but a picture is always worth . . .

What was the reason for eliminating the string feature? The string enabled lifting the "head" end of the bridge, utilizing the cue, thereby removing the bridge from play in a rapid and controlled manner. Most "new" tools add only one new improvement, but the Stretch contributed three -- telescoping handle, tilt head, and string. I suppose one could always retrofit the Road to include string.

Thank you for keeping this incredible improvement to our sport available.
Click to expand...

I found the string to be more annoying than helpful. The benefit of being able to lift it in a hurry was secondary to it getting in the way.
 
9BallKY

9BallKY

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A buddy of mine had one of the original ones with the string, it is by far the best bridge I’ve ever used.
 
DynoDan

DynoDan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I’ve often wondered why no one makes a bridge head really wide enough to shoot over frozen balls when stood on end (?). I bought the plastic ‘interlocking’ model to attach to a cheap one-piece cue twenty years ago, but never bought a second one since I didn’t have a second cue I wanted to risk damaging (screw marks). The portable kind that attaches with a rubber grommet allows me to stack bridges in the rare instance when I’m forced, but IS rather unstable.
 
Biloxi Boy

Biloxi Boy

Man With A Golden Arm
The major thing I was taught about using a mechanical bridge was to place the handle on table and press down on it in order to stabilize/prevent slipping.

When using a Stretch/Road tilting head to shoot over a ball, the bridge and cue meet at 90 degrees while still allowing you to press the handle to the table.

It is possible to maintain a bridge/cue angle of 90 degrees when using a standard bridge to shoot over a ball, but the bridge handle necessarily remains in the air.
 
SpiderWeb

SpiderWeb

iisgone@yahoo.com
Silver Member
Mike Danner was from ohioAnd lived many years in the seattle area. He worked on the bridge in sea and portland. He moved to baton rouge, la and stayed at bayou billiards. i think he returned to seattle before he died. A nice guy with many stories and a good heart.
 
S

singernak

Stay Thirsty My Friends
Silver Member
cueman said:
The Stretch System is no longer being made. Mike passed away a few years ago. I was probably the last dealer for the stretch system and put up the money to have the last batch made, of which I got half and Mike got half. Most people wanted to buy the Stretch Bridges without the extension but we only sold them in sets. So after getting many calls asking for the bridges I decided to only make a bridge. The Interstate Model Road Bridge is heavier duty than the Stretch Bridge was. I designed my own bridge head and machine them on my machine shop. I made the pivoting head system easier to use than the old stretches and make the extensions lock solid. So over all I feel it is an improvement over the stretch bridge. I am in the process of making more heads and it will be a few weeks before I have more stock.
Click to expand...

When are you making more?
 
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