The "V" Grip

lee brett

lee brett

www.leebrettpool.com
Silver Member
I have added a page on my new website about the "V" Grip technique that i teach.

Comments and questions are welcome and i will try my best to answer them and add to the page.

I am also still in the process of building my new site so its not finished but the site is now public, here you will be able to purchase the new DVD of the secret art of pool.

here is the link - http://leebrettpool.com/?page_id=1366



Lee
 
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Lee,

it would be helpful to have close up pictures of the V grip at various angles at the backswing, contact point and follow through.

Also, in Ronato Alcano’s picture, his palm appears not to be in contact with the cue (cue held loosely), while the cue appears to be fully on contact with the palm in the other pictures of you and Ronnie O'sullivan. Is this an important part of the V grip?

Finally, if in fact the V grip is a tight grip, it would seem that the wrist would have to held in a way that makes the wrist more rigid than the average loose grip many americal pool players use, and would necessitate an elbow drop. Is this why you advocate an elbow drop?

Thanks in advance,

BB
 
I purchase you book at the SBE. If I am reading your explanation correctly the tips of the thumb and index finger should be touching. Yet, in the pictures you posted it does not look like either player has these two finger touching.
I did like the toothpaste analogy for the grip.
 
berko said:
Lee,

it would be helpful to have close up pictures of the V grip at various angles at the backswing, contact point and follow through.

The close up and various images are in the DVD.

Also, in Ronato Alcano’s picture, his palm appears not to be in contact with the cue (cue held loosely), while the cue appears to be fully on contact with the palm in the other pictures of you and Ronnie O'sullivan. Is this an important part of the V grip?

The Alcano picture is after follow through, when the fingers extend. There are various forms of the "V" grip but the distinct shape of the fingers is there. Ronnie and myself keep the hand on the cue more, where as some phillipinos let it go completely

Finally, if in fact the V grip is a tight grip, it would seem that the wrist would have to held in a way that makes the wrist more rigid than the average loose grip many americal pool players use, and would necessitate an elbow drop. Is this why you advocate an elbow drop?

The Grip is relaxed as explained in my book, by using a "V" grip and pressing the index finger forwards it locks the wrist stopping sideway movement, the elbow has to drop too extend through the cue ball, this grip allows it more easily.

Thanks in advance,

BB
Click to expand...

kaznj said:
I purchase you book at the SBE. If I am reading your explanation correctly the tips of the thumb and index finger should be touching. Yet, in the pictures you posted it does not look like either player has these two finger touching.
I did like the toothpaste analogy for the grip.
Click to expand...

The 2 fingers touch when holding the cue, after contact the index finger extends, the explanation in my book explains how to create the shape, this will vary slightly from player to player
 
I had similar thoughts before taking it to the table that the grip might end up being too tight... By pressing the index finger against the thumb I found I was dead wrong... AT least for me the space it created had plenty of room for the cue and was possibly the lightest grip I have exerted on the cue in 20 years of shooting..... Well aside from the period where I removed the thumb completely.... And tried only a cradle.....

I did also note that the v grip released during follow thru for me pretty naturally... Of course I AM an elbow dropper so some of you pendulum only guys might end up poking your eye out with the thumb knuckle =)
 
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Another top player with v grip.

Another TOP PLAYER with a V Grip. Guess, the V Grip is synonymous with high level play. Going to give it some more work for sure.

picture.php


Lee,
Thanks for sticking it out on the forum. Sometimes the forums can be tough going at first. It seems that you have run the gauntlet and are still standing. Good for you!

Keep it up. You've got a lot to offer the pool world.
 
JoeyA said:
Another TOP PLAYER with a V Grip. Guess, the V Grip is synonymous with high level play. Going to give it some more work for sure.

picture.php


Lee,
Thanks for sticking it out on the forum. Sometimes the forums can be tough going at first. It seems that you have run the gauntlet and are still standing. Good for you!

Keep it up. You've got a lot to offer the pool world.
Click to expand...


Thanks Joey, i have kept going and am finally getting somewhere. when you show techniques people aren't used too it takes time for them to want to listen, i think my results have proven that and people now understand i have a lot to offer.

Regarding Oscar, yes a lot of top players have a distinct "V" grip technique at the end of there stroke, most don't even know it, if they did they could understand quicker how to get in stroke.

I will add the pic to my web site for the "V" grip page.

www.leebrettpool.com

check out my new site and the DVD promo as well as free training drills
 
i watched you play the other day and kept an eye on your grip and stroke. I noticed there is no gap on top of your cue and your index finger and thumb are flush around the cue but opened up on the last quarter of your follow through and it looked like your 3 back finger were all holding the cue, i guess slightly, your follow through is very noticeable. I came away very impressed on how consistent and nice looking your stroke is. You also definitively look like a snooker player at the table ||:)
 
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I was impressed as well.

I'm very, very interested in this concept. Basically, anything that can help improve my grip and technique, something I've probably been struggling with to some degree for a long time.

Played a lot of sports competitively, and I think my hands can sometimes be very active. Easy for twitching, steering, flinching, etc. to occur. Sometimes helpful, most of the time not. I've noticed that a large part of how I play week to week stems from how comfortable I am in my stance and how my grip hand feels. Since I don't play as much anymore, even slight changes can cause confidence to plummet and make me struggle the whole night. I'll still run out, and make some great shots, but seems like I'm less consistent and just missing easy balls throughout the night.

I don't have a lot of tension in my grip at address, or even on the way back, but when I'm struggling I do feel my hand tightening as I'm coming through the shot. Sometimes to help decelerate the cue after impact, sometimes just from that hit impulse, sometimes a flinching response stemming from lack of confidence. I see these pictures of the grip, I know my hand doesn't look like that, looks like the cue is ready to fly out of their hands! I think if I could get something like that going it might help.

I got your e-book, very informative, some good takeaways. Think I will probably have to wait for the DVD to get some more info on the grip. When I form my finger and thumb as described, it feels very weird and I have a lot of space between the cue and my hand, which I don't like and isn't how I hold the cue now. I would like to still have a decent grip around the cue, as you appear to, and then be able to come through the shot and open up or relax or whatever in order to maintain that tension-free swing. Any advice you have on this would be appreciated.

Scott
 
champ2107 said:
i watched you play the other day and kept an eye on your grip and stroke. I noticed there is no gap on top of your cue and your index finger and thumb are flush around the cue but opened up on the last quarter of your follow through and it looked like your 3 back finger were all holding the cue, i guess slightly, your follow through is very noticeable. I came away very impressed on how consistent and nice looking your stroke is. You also definitively look like a snooker player at the table ||:)
Click to expand...


My grip is very relaxed, and yes the last 3 fingers are molded to the cue, very relaxed and loose. Thanks for the comments on my stroke, and yes i do look like a snooker player at the table, :) playing 20 years or so for at times 8 to 10 hours a day, does that lol...
 
scottjen26 said:
I was impressed as well.

I'm very, very interested in this concept. Basically, anything that can help improve my grip and technique, something I've probably been struggling with to some degree for a long time.

Played a lot of sports competitively, and I think my hands can sometimes be very active. Easy for twitching, steering, flinching, etc. to occur. Sometimes helpful, most of the time not. I've noticed that a large part of how I play week to week stems from how comfortable I am in my stance and how my grip hand feels. Since I don't play as much anymore, even slight changes can cause confidence to plummet and make me struggle the whole night. I'll still run out, and make some great shots, but seems like I'm less consistent and just missing easy balls throughout the night.

I don't have a lot of tension in my grip at address, or even on the way back, but when I'm struggling I do feel my hand tightening as I'm coming through the shot. Sometimes to help decelerate the cue after impact, sometimes just from that hit impulse, sometimes a flinching response stemming from lack of confidence. I see these pictures of the grip, I know my hand doesn't look like that, looks like the cue is ready to fly out of their hands! I think if I could get something like that going it might help.

I got your e-book, very informative, some good takeaways. Think I will probably have to wait for the DVD to get some more info on the grip. When I form my finger and thumb as described, it feels very weird and I have a lot of space between the cue and my hand, which I don't like and isn't how I hold the cue now. I would like to still have a decent grip around the cue, as you appear to, and then be able to come through the shot and open up or relax or whatever in order to maintain that tension-free swing. Any advice you have on this would be appreciated.

Scott
Click to expand...

Just relax the grip hand and let the cue do the work, make sure you get through the cue ball 100% don't quit or choke the cue on follow through let the cue go as far as you can, it will take time to get used to this, but once you do you will see the difference.

Soft hands = perfect timing
 
scottjen26 said:
I was impressed as well.

I'm very, very interested in this concept. Basically, anything that can help improve my grip and technique, something I've probably been struggling with to some degree for a long time.

Played a lot of sports competitively, and I think my hands can sometimes be very active. Easy for twitching, steering, flinching, etc. to occur. Sometimes helpful, most of the time not. I've noticed that a large part of how I play week to week stems from how comfortable I am in my stance and how my grip hand feels. Since I don't play as much anymore, even slight changes can cause confidence to plummet and make me struggle the whole night. I'll still run out, and make some great shots, but seems like I'm less consistent and just missing easy balls throughout the night.

I don't have a lot of tension in my grip at address, or even on the way back, but when I'm struggling I do feel my hand tightening as I'm coming through the shot. Sometimes to help decelerate the cue after impact, sometimes just from that hit impulse, sometimes a flinching response stemming from lack of confidence. I see these pictures of the grip, I know my hand doesn't look like that, looks like the cue is ready to fly out of their hands! I think if I could get something like that going it might help.

I got your e-book, very informative, some good takeaways. Think I will probably have to wait for the DVD to get some more info on the grip. When I form my finger and thumb as described, it feels very weird and I have a lot of space between the cue and my hand, which I don't like and isn't how I hold the cue now. I would like to still have a decent grip around the cue, as you appear to, and then be able to come through the shot and open up or relax or whatever in order to maintain that tension-free swing. Any advice you have on this would be appreciated.

Scott
Click to expand...

Scott I was working with an older gentleman that had a purpose tremor on changing to the V grip and he had the same feeling of being too loose... I guess his and your hands may be bigger than mine... I simply had him pince the pointer higher up on the thumb than at the tip until he was loose but comfortable with the grip... I am not sure if Lee would advise the mod but the V was still formed and he was able to fulcrum and release properly......

Hopefully Lee can chime in and tell me I am nuts and need to leave the V to him or he will confirm that this is an acceptable mod for larger hands.....
 
champ2107 said:
i watched you play the other day and kept an eye on your grip and stroke. I noticed there is no gap on top of your cue and your index finger and thumb are flush around the cue but opened up on the last quarter of your follow through and it looked like your 3 back finger were all holding the cue, i guess slightly, your follow through is very noticeable. I came away very impressed on how consistent and nice looking your stroke is. You also definitively look like a snooker player at the table ||:)
Click to expand...

you were at shooters monday? you coulda watched me and learn how to not shoot.
 
I always thought that kind of grip wasn't that loose... here an example at 0:45, where you can see ronnie's grip hand doesn't look perpendicular to the ground but looks forward. Particularly obvious when you compare ronnie's grip with efren ( http://www.billiardphilippines.com/billiards/gallery/d/47-1/Efren+Reyes+8.jpg) even though the camera angle is not the same, you can see efren's grip hand is perpendicular. I noticed your hand position is the same as ronnie. That type of hand position is necessary for your grip tecnique?
 
Agree. I have my V at the top in a neutral position. I'm just wondering about the advantages of the thumb/finger part.

Currently my cue rests on the middle segment of my forefinger, and the tip of my forefinger is wrapped around and up into the thumb, meeting it close to the knuckle. So that part, and the rest of the fingers, are on the cue but not really gripping per se. Everything stays nice and loose usually during setup and practice strokes and even the backswing. Problem is I sometimes feel tension or gripping on my follow through, more so when I'm lacking confidence, haven't played for a while, or on certain shots. I was working on this for a while, then moved on to other things, I think I need to get back to keeping the wrist and grip looser and effortless so the momentum of the cue drives it forward in a straight line with no veering or twisting.

I also see with the V grip examples, as mentioned above, that the hand is in sort of a forward position. Sort of how Shane looks, where the wrist isn't hanging neutrally but in a cocked forward position. I think this is what Lee means when he talks about having the forefinger up on the shaft a bit to lock the wrist somewhat. Is this right or do I have it wrong?

I hate to start tinkering yet again with my stroke or grip, especially based on written word and a few examples, so easy to see or interpret something the wrong way and get off track...

Scott

Scott
 
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