Who needs closed bridge anyway?
- Thread starter nineballman
- Start date
Klopek said:
Good post
But here is why I think players emulate the "heroes".......
Pool is an "image" game.. why else would someone drop 3K on a cue when a sneaky form the same guy for a 3rd of the price would work just as well?
Honestly a funky closed bridge looks cooler than a snooker type plain jane open bridge...
JoeW said:
No snooker player uses a glove
-At 3C they always put sidespin on the rock. "Spin is your friend."
-When we see "break from the box tournaments", they almost all break with a closed bridge.
-Some shots parallel to the rails are easier to shoot with a certain closed bridge.
I personnaly like closed bridge shots when extra power is required or in cases of draw shots. I use open bridge for finesse and all follows.
-When we see "break from the box tournaments", they almost all break with a closed bridge.
-Some shots parallel to the rails are easier to shoot with a certain closed bridge.
I personnaly like closed bridge shots when extra power is required or in cases of draw shots. I use open bridge for finesse and all follows.
Scaramouche said:An open bridge can be used for a power draw. See Neil Robertson at about 4:20 in this clip
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7N0BVxMwo44
It looks like the cue went flying off his bridge after the shot, of course it was after contact. Also, to relate to the other thread, his elbow hardly budged.
I've heard from a couple top-notch players that an open bridge allows you to see the shot better.
I still don't even decipher between when to use an open or closed bridge, it just happens, which ever feels more comfortable... Of course there are a few situations where I feel a closed bridge is needed, and an open is needed, but most of the shots are just toss-ups.
I still don't even decipher between when to use an open or closed bridge, it just happens, which ever feels more comfortable... Of course there are a few situations where I feel a closed bridge is needed, and an open is needed, but most of the shots are just toss-ups.
nineballman said:
And this post is especially for nineballman:
If you play snooker, I can really understand your situation about playing with an open bridge because it require speed control and the balls are just very light. But if you sport on Carom Billiards (we'll talk about straight rail and balkline disciplines at this moment) the balls are quite big so it requires serious speed control (soft, short stroking mainly), and at most times alot of side on the cueball (especially when playing Japan's own Yostudama).
As pool goes: I know it is quite difficult to acutally veer over the cueball with a closed bridge. Two remedies: Either lift your head up around a foot from the cloth with a short stroke (Allen Hopkins style 1-2 incher), 6-7 inches and using a medium stroke (i.e. 7-8" stroke) or go a few inches above the cue using a "Buddy Hall" style long stroke. If that's not the case, pull off one of those Efren Reyes style bridges and curl your index finger across covering your middle finger on your fingernail *but don't overexagerate it too much though*. Better yet, find a bridge style which makes you feel right but not too tight.
Just my two little cents.
What do you mean by "veer over the cue ball?" I've never heard that term that I recall.SlickRick_PCS said:
I'm not sure what you mean either..."veer over the cue ball". Can you explain?
If we invented a robot that could deliver the perfectly straight stroke, with perfect acceleration and alignment, would a close bridge ever be needed? I think not, because there would exist no jerking of the cue horizontally or vertically. Or does the physics for the stroke dictate that some h/v movement will follow?
That's what I'm working for anyway!
If we invented a robot that could deliver the perfectly straight stroke, with perfect acceleration and alignment, would a close bridge ever be needed? I think not, because there would exist no jerking of the cue horizontally or vertically. Or does the physics for the stroke dictate that some h/v movement will follow?
That's what I'm working for anyway!
Do it
whichever way is comfortable for you, and can give you the most accurate predictable results 100 times in a row or more.
I have no problem using an open bridge on almost any shot, except a power draw shot where the object ball is far away from the cue ball, and I have to draw the cue a long ways. But, I don't even think about it, my bridge hand just automatically goes into a closed bridge on shots where I subconsciously know I need it.
It's like discussing the open wrench vs the box wrench. Both will do the job, but with the open wrench you have to be a little more careful centering it because it can slip off whereas the box wrench when centered there is no doubt about it gripping right.
The issue is which bridge will give the most consistent accurate results because that time you slip with an open bridge or vary a little, it might cost you the match.
whichever way is comfortable for you, and can give you the most accurate predictable results 100 times in a row or more.
I have no problem using an open bridge on almost any shot, except a power draw shot where the object ball is far away from the cue ball, and I have to draw the cue a long ways. But, I don't even think about it, my bridge hand just automatically goes into a closed bridge on shots where I subconsciously know I need it.
It's like discussing the open wrench vs the box wrench. Both will do the job, but with the open wrench you have to be a little more careful centering it because it can slip off whereas the box wrench when centered there is no doubt about it gripping right.
The issue is which bridge will give the most consistent accurate results because that time you slip with an open bridge or vary a little, it might cost you the match.
nineballman said:
Here is a strong opinion in favor of closed bridges that I think is pretty interesting. (Green thingies to anyone who can come up with the source of the quote.) -- Bob
On page 39, I stated certain conclusions about the bridge, and
tightness of the bridge. Since studying neuromuscular phenomena,
and after recording my own stroke and analyzing it, I conclude
that the most important function of the professional's tight
bridge is to furnish a constant resistance to cue movement. This,
in turn, requires him to shoot tetanically. That is, the stroking
muscles are in a constant state of contraction while accelerating
the cue. My theory is that only in this was can one master the
"velocity" part of the game, and reliably impart to the cue ball
the desired velocity, in order to play position.
With an open bridge, the amateur's cue meets with very little
frictional resistance as it goes forward. I believe that there-
fore, he shoots ballistically. His muscles yank quickly on the
cue at the very start of the stroke. The accelerating phase is
over in a very short distance; and thereafter, his hand is riding
with the cue at nearly constant velocity until the cue strikes the
ball. I maintain that no one can hope, with ballistic contraction
of the muscles (a quick yank), that he can control cue velocity
at impact as well as can be done by using tetanic contraction.
tightness of the bridge. Since studying neuromuscular phenomena,
and after recording my own stroke and analyzing it, I conclude
that the most important function of the professional's tight
bridge is to furnish a constant resistance to cue movement. This,
in turn, requires him to shoot tetanically. That is, the stroking
muscles are in a constant state of contraction while accelerating
the cue. My theory is that only in this was can one master the
"velocity" part of the game, and reliably impart to the cue ball
the desired velocity, in order to play position.
With an open bridge, the amateur's cue meets with very little
frictional resistance as it goes forward. I believe that there-
fore, he shoots ballistically. His muscles yank quickly on the
cue at the very start of the stroke. The accelerating phase is
over in a very short distance; and thereafter, his hand is riding
with the cue at nearly constant velocity until the cue strikes the
ball. I maintain that no one can hope, with ballistic contraction
of the muscles (a quick yank), that he can control cue velocity
at impact as well as can be done by using tetanic contraction.
Personally I use a combination of both depending on the shot. I can say that there are times where and extremely short closed bridge can help make some shots that seem truly impossible ... well not so impossible ... as for what feels comfortable to me on a regular basis ... I really can say I cant say I favor one more than the other ... It just depends on the shot ... for instance on a shot I know my prority is to make the ball Ill use a closed bridge for more control. Also if I need to use a SERIOUS force follow stroke to get shape whereas if I need a force draw stroke I'll use an open bridge. I tend to see the shot better and line up better with an open bridge but a closed bridge definitely is a must in any players arsenal.
Like others have said before me ... its a matter of what you feel comfortable with !
Like others have said before me ... its a matter of what you feel comfortable with !
i think both can work well for pool, i use them both.
i think if you look at snooker and 3c you have to consider the cue and the balls. for snooker, the taper of the cue makes using a closed bridge less practical. though a few players have used it, alex higgins used to for some shots, though most everyone thought it was weird. also the balls are smaller and lighter, so any slippage off an open bridge is less of an issue. also the narrower shaft fits deeper into the v of the open bridge.
carom cues are lighter than typical pool cues, but the balls are heavier. so this may be why a closed bridge is used. although carom cues have a euro taper, it is not as extreme as a snooker taper, so a closed bridge can be more comfortable.
with pool, you have have a heavier cue typically than 3C or snooker, and a medium weight ball. and with the taper, i think both bridges can be effectively used.
i think if you look at snooker and 3c you have to consider the cue and the balls. for snooker, the taper of the cue makes using a closed bridge less practical. though a few players have used it, alex higgins used to for some shots, though most everyone thought it was weird. also the balls are smaller and lighter, so any slippage off an open bridge is less of an issue. also the narrower shaft fits deeper into the v of the open bridge.
carom cues are lighter than typical pool cues, but the balls are heavier. so this may be why a closed bridge is used. although carom cues have a euro taper, it is not as extreme as a snooker taper, so a closed bridge can be more comfortable.
with pool, you have have a heavier cue typically than 3C or snooker, and a medium weight ball. and with the taper, i think both bridges can be effectively used.
NaturalEnglish
Banned
Interesting quote from Bob J. regarding bridge resistance. I wonder how the glove fits into this? I personally dont use one..but it would seem to provide a more consistant "drag" or "resistance" in the bridge.
The author of the quote was writing before gloves were common. Surely the glove makes things more consistent. The author's main premise was that without some resistance to the stroke, it is hard to control speed. I'd guess he would have agreed that a consistent resistance would be best.NaturalEnglish said:
How does a player know what's best for them? The way we play is usually the way we were first taught, good or bad. Any player could use some expert advice, and mimicking better players isn't the worst way to get it.Klopek said:
pj
chgo
I mainly used a closed bridge for years and then switched to mainly using an open bridge for all kinds of shots (including all kinds of power shots). For instance, here's a power follow shot that I do with an open bridge:
Yes, the shaft jumps out of the open bridge on this shot, but it doesn't affect the shot unless you let that spook you.
My experience is that there's no physical need for a closed bridge ever, even for break shots, only the psychological benefit of keeping the shaft in your bridge after the cue ball has left the area. I've never seen a shot that can't be executed with an open bridge just as well as with a closed one, except for this psychological factor, but I do know that aiming can be more accurate with an open bridge.
The only reason I ever use a closed bridge is when an open bridge won't fit in the space available.
pj
chgo
Yes, the shaft jumps out of the open bridge on this shot, but it doesn't affect the shot unless you let that spook you.
My experience is that there's no physical need for a closed bridge ever, even for break shots, only the psychological benefit of keeping the shaft in your bridge after the cue ball has left the area. I've never seen a shot that can't be executed with an open bridge just as well as with a closed one, except for this psychological factor, but I do know that aiming can be more accurate with an open bridge.
The only reason I ever use a closed bridge is when an open bridge won't fit in the space available.
pj
chgo
Hi guys, this might sound ridiculous, but I have a theory and I think it might be correct. It's free to discuss, so please give your opinion.
First of all, I've played carom and pool. Used carom cues and poolcues. Right now I'm using a carom cue to play pool. I've tried a few different cues, predator 314, high deflection shaft, carom shaft etc. I discovered that no matter what kind of cue I use, I always have the same deflection. I've always said that deflection is nonsense, because I've always the same deflection. But there is a major different between me, and the most players I known. I always use a closed bridge.
I figured out one important thing. A closed bridge will reduce deflection. Recently I've heard two kind of theories to reduce deflection. The first one is the whippy shaft. The saft will deflect away, so it will reduce deflection on the CB (like 314/Z/etc). But there is also a second theory to reduce deflection. With a really stiff cue, you will move the CB forward when hitting, so the CB has no chance to deflect away (like mezz/meucci/etc).
When you use a closed bridge the shaft has almost no space to deflect away. You will get the shaft in-line.
ps. on a table lenght I always have around 1" deflection, no matter what kind of cue/shaft I use.
First of all, I've played carom and pool. Used carom cues and poolcues. Right now I'm using a carom cue to play pool. I've tried a few different cues, predator 314, high deflection shaft, carom shaft etc. I discovered that no matter what kind of cue I use, I always have the same deflection. I've always said that deflection is nonsense, because I've always the same deflection. But there is a major different between me, and the most players I known. I always use a closed bridge.
I figured out one important thing. A closed bridge will reduce deflection. Recently I've heard two kind of theories to reduce deflection. The first one is the whippy shaft. The saft will deflect away, so it will reduce deflection on the CB (like 314/Z/etc). But there is also a second theory to reduce deflection. With a really stiff cue, you will move the CB forward when hitting, so the CB has no chance to deflect away (like mezz/meucci/etc).
When you use a closed bridge the shaft has almost no space to deflect away. You will get the shaft in-line.
ps. on a table lenght I always have around 1" deflection, no matter what kind of cue/shaft I use.
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