Tips on shooting cue ball frozen on rail

[Runner]

Jack up?

Here's a quick example where it's tempting to jack up to stop the CB for position... if you roll it, it'd better be slow, or you're looking at having the CB close to the short rail. And the risk with slow rolling it is the 6 rolling off. These sure come up more than I'd like!:angry:

 

[RiverCity]

And threads like this one are the very reason no one should come on AZB to learn anything about HOW to shoot pool.

FYI Shane has said that shooting shots with CB froze to rail were the hardest for him until he practiced just that for hours and hours, for days. Johnnyt

Bingo!

Its no different than any other shot that comes up less often. If you dont practice it, it will remain difficult.
Same thing on jump shots, curve shots, bridging over a ball, cb close to the ob requiring a nip stroke etc etc etc.
Practice it some, and it will start seeming more 'normal'.

 

[Runner]

Froze up

Bingo!

Its no different than any other shot that comes up less often. If you dont practice it, it will remain difficult.
Same thing on jump shots, curve shots, bridging over a ball, cb close to the ob requiring a nip stroke etc etc etc.
Practice it some, and it will start seeming more 'normal'.

Agreed... I was at the pool hall yesterday, by myself, practicing these froze shots.
IMO, they need more practice than jumps or curves as they come up A LOT...
especially in One Pocket. Same with bridging over an OB... make it or sell out.

I'd like to hear what type of bridge everyone uses... closed, open...?

 

[Spimp13]

I'll have to weed out the garbage in this thread and maybe try out a couple of things later on. I feel I shoot "ok" from the rail but not nearly as natural as it should feel on most shots so I want to give a couple of ideas in here a try. Thanks for the few who offered ideas/tips.

 

[Runner]

Efren's bridge

Hey all,

Thanks again for all the posts!... keep 'em coming.

This is about the best pic I could find of Efren's closed bridge for a CB close or froze to the rail... it appears that he only has the ring and pinkie fingers on the top of the rail (back edge)... his middle finger looks braced against the back of the rail... gonna give this a whirl later today.

 

[iusedtoberich]

I'll have to weed out the garbage in this thread and maybe try out a couple of things later on. I feel I shoot "ok" from the rail but not nearly as natural as it should feel on most shots so I want to give a couple of ideas in here a try. Thanks for the few who offered ideas/tips.

Strongly recommend also practicing shooting with as much spin as you can (after the no-spin shots). Its amazing how much the CB moves

 

[Spimp13]

Strongly recommend also practicing shooting with as much spin as you can (after the no-spin shots). Its amazing how much the CB moves

I think for me more since I have smaller hands the critical aspect will be the bridge I decide to use. I normally just use a v on my thumb and next finger over and it works ok but I don't feel comfortable on shots that require a solid/firm stroke vs just a gentle nice and easy stroke. I'll tinker with some different things.

 

[RiverCity]

I think for me more since I have smaller hands the critical aspect will be the bridge I decide to use. I normally just use a v on my thumb and next finger over and it works ok but I don't feel comfortable on shots that require a solid/firm stroke vs just a gentle nice and easy stroke. I'll tinker with some different things.

Here is a tip on rail bridges. Use your index finger to point towards your target, and instead of a V, make more of a U. Let the cue rub alongside your index finger.

Forgive the improvised 'cue', but this should give you the idea.

 

[iusedtoberich]

I made a video of a shot that requires a firm hit, and spin, with the CB froze on the rail. I made it on the first try 60 sec for easy viewing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91QQBibUWyU

 

[Spimp13]

I made a video of a shot that requires a firm hit, and spin, with the CB froze on the rail. I made it on the first try 60 sec for easy viewing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91QQBibUWyU

This is another thing I see a variety on...people using their bridge hand extended on the back side of the rail, vs putting their full bridge hand on the rail to do their shot.

With a smaller hand I almost think I have no choice but to put it on the rail but maybe I just need to really tinker with a lot of different bridge types for this.

 

[Spimp13]

Here is a tip on rail bridges. Use your index finger to point towards your target, and instead of a V, make more of a U. Let the cue rub alongside your index finger.

Forgive the improvised 'cue', but this should give you the idea.

I think I get what the pic is showing but if you stroke it like this you better be damn careful that you have a straight stroke since the cue is sort of free to move around vs a closed bridge.

 

[iusedtoberich]

This is another thing I see a variety on...people using their bridge hand extended on the back side of the rail, vs putting their full bridge hand on the rail to do their shot.

With a smaller hand I almost think I have no choice but to put it on the rail but maybe I just need to really tinker with a lot of different bridge types for this.

Ha. On this shot, I actually switched between the two. Not due to this thread, but just for whatever reason I felt more comfortable with the closed bridge. I use both types myself.

 

[RiverCity]

I think I get what the pic is showing but if you stroke it like this you better be damn careful that you have a straight stroke since the cue is sort of free to move around vs a closed bridge.

Its actually more secure than a regular open bridge. The thumb holds the cue against the index finger. The index finger 'guides' the cue.

Knew I should'a used a cue and not a balisong....... LOL

 

[Runner]

It's froze... again...

Hey all,

So I played some 10 ball this last weekend, CB froze on the rail came up a few times,
usually almost straight out shot. I tried a closed bridge on one, missed... now I know:
I've got good sized hands, and the index finger knuckle on my bridge gets in the way of sighting the shot... duh.
Went back to open bridge, index and pinky on the rail, second and third fingers braced on the back of the rail, made the rest.

Jay's tip for hitting the rail slightly in front of the CB works for me if it's a more straight out shot...
at an angle, I think it pushes the tip away from the contact point.

Yup, practice this shot and shooting jacked up over balls... I watched a match where a player got bad shape,
ended up jacked up on the seven, hit it bad, sold out. These are def rack stoppers.