What's wrong with you?

KoolKat9Lives said:
Why do so many players treat a bridge like its cancerous? I see some pros stretch to kingdom come before they'll use one. I see even the best do the behind the back stroke stretch. I see strong players switch to lefty and stroke like a C player before they'll contaminate their hands with a stinkin' bridge. Sometimes when a player does use a bridge, they stroke it like they're having a seizure!

A streamed match last night at SBE had a very respected player just blow it because IMO his bridge skills and aversion to using one was deficient.

What's the big issue with better, more efficient bridge work? As my general rule - if I have to reach length-wise past the opposite 3rd diamond, I don't hesitate to grab a bridge. It don't scare me none. :thumbup:

Ok, rant over...
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Lol...nice rant. I agree, a lot of players stay away from it like the plague.

Personally, I think I'm better off switching hands or going behind the back when I have a long stretch, but I'm not foolish....I'll use it when I have to. Why do I do this?....because I'm too lazy to learn how to use that stupid thing. Maybe I'm stupid for saying that, but I don't like shooting with it. I'm uncomfortable with it. I guess the same rant can apply for people who don't like to wear a pool glove, or people who don't like wearing condoms.
 
Quick story. A little background. I'm the new guy on our APA team, a real beginner, SL4. My best bud is the team captain, and is an SL7, far and away the best on our team. One of the things that he will do that aggravates me (and others on the team) is that he will say " you want a coach?" when we're looking at a particular shot. Annoys the crap out of me, but he's usually right.

A few weeks ago, he's playing his game, and I'm keeping score. On one shot he reaches WAY across the table to make a shot, and misses. He stands up, quite disgusted with himself, shaking his head. When he comes over I give him a little good-natured grief about not using a bridge, and he looks me square in the face and says "next time I do that ask me if I need a coach."

I will. :grin-square:
 
partially it is breaking the flow of play too

justadub said:
Quick story. A little background. I'm the new guy on our APA team, a real beginner, SL4. My best bud is the team captain, and is an SL7, far and away the best on our team. One of the things that he will do that aggravates me (and others on the team) is that he will say " you want a coach?" when we're looking at a particular shot. Annoys the crap out of me, but he's usually right.

A few weeks ago, he's playing his game, and I'm keeping score. On one shot he reaches WAY across the table to make a shot, and misses. He stands up, quite disgusted with himself, shaking his head. When he comes over I give him a little good-natured grief about not using a bridge, and he looks me square in the face and says "next time I do that ask me if I need a coach."

I will. :grin-square:
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Part of the issue using a bridge is breaking the flow of play too. If you are in the middle of running a few balls and realize you left yourself a little long it seems more in keeping with the flow of things to stretch a little than to stop and find or fetch a bridge. I have seen a ton of good players miss shots they would have made easily with a bridge that was ten feet away against the wall.

I remember missing a shot that was a very short shot and straight in. It was at the other end of the table and people had overflowed from the next room where a band was and were leaning against the table. I had moved them a few times but this time I leaned over to nudge the money ball in and just as my stick contacted the cue ball I ran out of stroke. I barely bumped the money ball a few inches and left it hanging in the pocket for the other guy to collect the cheese. Grabbing a bridge or moving a butt off of the table would have prevented that. The owner of the offending butt noticed my face and told me, "smile, Jesus loves you!" Closest I have ever came to hitting a girl since I was three or four years old.

Hu
 
Aside from the obvious reasons people don't use a bridge (nicks in the shaft, don't know how to use one...) I think one of the other reasons is "Machismo".

I used to play very competitively with a friend of mine... he NEVER used a bridge, when I asked him why, he told me that, "in my country (Mexico) it's looked down upon, like a weakness." And That, "if your a *real man*, you don't need a bridge."
(???) "ooookay... well, you just lost *to a girl* because your too MACHO to use a bridge.
Kinda defeats the purpose, eh?" ;o)
He just smiled and shrugged.
LOL
 
My coach made me learn to use one by running racks of 8ball with one (every shot -needed or not),the main reason I didn't like using them is it tells everyone that knows pool that you messed up in your position play,and since I just love rotation games to me that's "REALLY" humiliating.:embarrassed2:
 
Want to see how to use the bridge correctly and consistently?

Watch pro snooker.

Snooker players have to learn to love it.
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Who's got the best bridge game in the universe?

If you could choose one person to play "horse with a bridge", who might it be? Allison?
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Snooker pros are pretty crafty with the damn thing. Jimmy White's famous for it. I myself avoid it like the plague. Can't shoot a bit with it.
 
I think there is something to the "shorty" aspect. I've got a friend who is short, and he uses a bridge proficiently. I'm 6'2" and don't use one that often. I know the proper use, and the correct way to stroke with one, but I am still less than confident with one. I also believe Corey would be the one to beat with a bridge. I think he may have even gambled before with that being the spot.
 
I'm decent withone but I'm 6'2 so I don't use one often. I can't shoot lefthanded yet though so I'd much rather use one than miss a shot. I don't think it shows any weakness and when I use one and make the shot I almost always get a compliment. It's kinda amazing how many people don't know how to use them
 
Reasons I don't use it:

· I was advised early on to learn to switch to the off hand as needed, and now I can run a rack with the off hand. I think it was good advice and I repeat it to anyone who will listen. And several who refuse.

· If I have to use english with one, the unnatural sidearm stroke tends to veer the tip unexpectedly and you often overcook it, miss the shot... or even miscue. Even with practice I still can't stroke half as straight with it as I can without.

· The times when I can make it stretching like nuts instead of using the bridge are usually thin cuts along the short rail. It's the kind of shot I don't dare juice up with much english if any. I can stretch and cinch a ball better with my usual stroke (even when my thumb is damn near touching the joint) than I can with the crutch.

· It's cancerous
 
Got to admit, I HATE using a bridge.

My height helps limit it use in my case. And just to make sure, I use a Longoni cue extender. I still can't reach the really long shots, and I'm forced to use the bridge for the last 2 ft of table, or so.

Good NEWS!!

One of my buddies has come up with a new bridge....best I have seen anywhere. Won't scratch shafts, has an option for using low english, no problems with seeing the balls, and it has a quick connection device for fast use on any stick. It's portable, and small enough to carry in your case.

I should have some photos of one real soon..I'll post them ASAP.
 
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