The butthand grip

[KissedOut]

I'v mentioned before that I play 3C and am trying at age 60 to finally learn how to stroke properly. I'm making good progress - just played the other day with my instructor and he said I was getting through the ball much better. So I am feeling pretty good about things, but I have a long way to go, of course.

But I was noticing something, and I'm not sure if it is something "real" or if I am just imagining it. Every so often I make an exceptionally "lively" stroke. By that I mean a stroke where the ball comes off the object ball very cleanly, goes around the rail with beautiful english and even has some left on the fourth rail. The kind of stroke a good player makes.

And what I think I have noticed is that on these shots I had the cue more in the back of my butt hand than the front (not yet at a point where my grip is nearly consistent enough - and I do notice variations after the fact). IOW, the cue was more laying across my three smaller fingers than being (lightly) gripped by my thumb and forefinger.

Does it make sense to you instructors that such a small difference in the butt hand grip could improve the quality of the stroke this way, or is it more likely that I am just imagining it and shouldn't fool around with that hand's grip?

And if it is real I'd appreciate any thoughts on how to ingrain this, as a lively stroke is very valuable in 3C.

Thanks.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... Does it make sense to you instructors that such a small difference in the butt hand grip could improve the quality of the stroke this way, or is it more likely that I am just imagining it and shouldn't fool around with that hand's grip?
....

I think you are just happening to hit farther off-center and getting better spin on the ball on some shots. Another possibility is that the shots you notice are those where the hit is full and the cue ball naturally has a much higher spin/speed ratio than usual.

I think practicing some of the easier artistic shots may help your stroke. Look at some of the 5-point shots here: http://www.ciba-online.net/figures2002/figures_main.htm

 

[bbb]

I think you are just happening to hit farther off-center and getting better spin on the ball on some shots. Another possibility is that the shots you notice are those where the hit is full and the cue ball naturally has a much higher spin/speed ratio than usual.

I think practicing some of the easier artistic shots may help your stroke. Look at some of the 5-point shots here: http://www.ciba-online.net/figures2002/figures_main.htm

i couldnt find 5 point shots in the link???

 

[Pidge]

More important in 3c than a lively stroke is an accurate stroke. Hitting the cue ball accurately is the most important thing in any cue sport.

A simple change in grip can absolutely make your cue action more accurate. Subtle changes can have a huge effect on scoring.

The problem is never in the hand. It's always in the wrist. Too tight a grip and it can have your wrist doing very strange things. The same can be said for too loose of a grip.

One major thing to look out for with a back of the hand grip if you're not used to it is how limiting it can be on the pull back without a lot of triceps and deltoid involvement. The upper arm moves quite a bit with a long pullback. This can either have no effect or even make you more accurate or it can cause inconsistencies from day to day and week to week in how well you strike the cue ball.

When assessing a grip I like to see how a person's hand naturally falls. Everyone's is different. Mine for example, the space between my thumb and index finger points out to the side more than most people's which favours a middle two finger grip or a back finger grip. If it pointed more forwards or perfectly forwards then I'd naturally favour the index and thumb grip.

Experimenting with the grip can become a lifelong venture and limit a players progression. I've always been of the thought that you should pick up the cue from the table with just the grip hand as if you're about to whack someone over the head with it.... This is your natural grip... Just don't grip it that tight.

 

[Bob Jewett]

i couldnt find 5 point shots in the link???

Click on "Program of Figures" on the left side menu.

 

[ronscuba]

M.....

The problem is never in the hand. It's always in the wrist. Too tight a grip and it can have your wrist doing very strange things. The same can be said for too loose of a grip.

One major thing to look out for with a back of the hand grip if you're not used to it is how limiting it can be on the pull back without a lot of triceps and deltoid involvement. The upper arm moves quite a bit with a long pullback. This can either have no effect or even make you more accurate or it can cause inconsistencies from day to day and week to week in how well you strike the cue ball.

.....

Interesting you say this.

I like the rear 3 finger grip. It gives me very good feel and control of the tip. I think the grip led to my stroke being compact and short to medium in length.

I do have problems with shots that require a longer stroke. I have experimented with different grips that feel less restrictive on longer strokes, but I always seem to go back to the rear 3 finger grip because of the consistency and control under pressure.

I recently noticed after stretching my triceps and shoulders, longer strokes with the rear 3 finger grip were more comfortable.