The cross-over close bridge...

karambolista

karambolista

noypi toits
Silver Member
Is there any advantage?
Why do alot of pros use this type of bridge?
Since when did people started using it, I saw some matches by Mosconi and his contempories and they were only using the regular close bridge.
 

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I'm not sure, but I use the same bridge as in the photos. I have long skinny fingers, maybe that is why. I've noticed alot of people with fat stubby fingers use the classic looped bridge, while those with skinny fingers use the same bridge as me, and of course I see alot of people with fat fingers using this bridge so I really don't know. It's probably what people are comfortable starting out with. I have tried using the classic looped bridge but it doesn't give me enough stability.

By the way, is the one on the far left Efren and the far right Bustamante?
 
i can make that bridge, but my nails are so long they poke into the middle finger... Well, also, that joint in my forefinger doesn't bend back so much as the one in that third photo (that person looks double- jointed).

I'd never noticed that version of a closed bridge until you pointed it out.
 
I know after I saw either Bustamante or Efren using the crossover bridge a few years back on ESPN I was like WTF, that can't be comfortable, but the next time I played I tried it out and its been my closed bridge of choice since then. One thing I've seen more people doing is bending their thumb over their index finger with the open bridge instead of having the thumb pointed up.
 
That's my closed bridge as well.
I started using it a few years ago after i saw a guy using it on draw shots.
I gave it a shot and it worked for me.
I've used it ever since.
It's comfy for me.
I also think it has another plus (at least for me,) that i don't have to have that bridge as tight as a normal loop bridge, so if my shaft isn't super smooth it won't bother me as much.
 
BiG_JoN said:
That's my closed bridge as well.
I started using it a few years ago after i saw a guy using it on draw shots.
I gave it a shot and it worked for me.
I've used it ever since.
It's comfy for me.
I also think it has another plus (at least for me,) that i don't have to have that bridge as tight as a normal loop bridge, so if my shaft isn't super smooth it won't bother me as much.[/QUOTE

I've tried this bridge and it has the exact opposite effect for me. I guess my fingers are just too small. I can barely move the cue through the loop with this bridge. Also, Big Jon I'm diggin on the that avatar.
Click to expand...
 
I've got big hands too :D . I've been wanting to change to this bridge, but I don't want to take the time to learn it right now. I use a traditional closed bridge. Many top players use the overlap bridge and I've had people tell me it's the most stable.
 
karambolista said:
Is there any advantage?
Why do alot of pros use this type of bridge?
Since when did people started using it, I saw some matches by Mosconi and his contempories and they were only using the regular close bridge.
Click to expand...

What makes this bridge a "cross-over" bridge???

Looks like a normal bridge to me, but maybe you need to show me a pic of a normal bridge.

Fred
 
The index finger is on top of the middle finger instead of along the side of it, is my guess Fred.
 
karambolista said:
Since when did people started using it.
Click to expand...




Johnny Archer has been using that bridge since the late 80's.

I think alot of it has to do with having long fingers. I use it and I do have big hands. Do you know what thay say about men with BIG hands? :eek:

They wear BIG gloves ;)
 
I've got pretty big hands and I've been bridging like that from day 1. Didn't know it was a "crossover" bridge, just thought that was a closed bridge.
 
Rickw said:
I've got pretty big hands and I've been bridging like that from day 1. Didn't know it was a "crossover" bridge, just thought that was a closed bridge.
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I have really big hands and long fingers, but fat fingers and arthritis. No way I can bridge like that. My fingers did bend that way once, but after they reset them at the ER, they healed up pretty fast.

Bob
 
Normal closed bridge

On the pool books that I've read the normal closed bridge is the same with the pictures above.

I called it the cross-over closed bridge because the index finger is crossing over the middle finger.
 

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karambolista said:
On the pool books that I've read the normal closed bridge is the same with the pictures above.

I called it the cross-over closed bridge because the index finger is crossing over the middle finger.
Click to expand...

Well,... neither of these two are what Buddy Hall or Nick Varner use as their "normal closed bridge." They bridge by touching the tips of their thumb and index finger together creating a V with their thumb and middle finger, leaving a good amount of space between the index finger and the cue.

I don't know if there's any "advantage" so to speak, but the "cross over" and specifically the Buddy Hall/Nick Varner bridge forms a base for the cue with the middle finger (the bottom finger) as opposed to relying on the index finger to loop over and under (to the side?) to form part of the base for the cue.

Fred
 
Fred Agnir said:
Well,... neither of these two are what Buddy Hall or Nick Varner use as their "normal closed bridge." They bridge by touching the tips of their thumb and index finger together creating a V with their thumb and middle finger, leaving a good amount of space between the index finger and the cue.

I don't know if there's any "advantage" so to speak, but the "cross over" and specifically the Buddy Hall/Nick Varner bridge forms a base for the cue with the middle finger (the bottom finger) as opposed to relying on the index finger to loop over and under (to the side?) to form part of the base for the cue.

Fred
Click to expand...

Whew, I need a diagram for that explaination Fred. :rolleyes: :D

BTW, I think I use the "normal" closed bridge. I bring the tips of my thumb and index finger together and bring that "formation" along side the middle finger. the cue goes thru the loop and rests on the middle finger.
If I tried to form the bridge in the pictures I don't think I'd ever be able to type again.
 
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