Why do people waggle fingers on bridge hand?

[NitPicker]

It's just a little tap, tap, tappy. A taparoo.

 

[bdorman]

Same reason a golfer waggles his butt: relaxes the muscles after you've placed them in a specific position. Essentially you're guessing about the correct finger placement when you first place your bridge on the table. Sometimes you guess right, but most of the time your hand/mind wants to make a minor adjustment. So you lift a finger or two a couple of times until it feels the way you want it to.

(Notice how frequently a pro will STOP and go through his PSR again and again until he's happy with how it feels. Amateurs don't do this; they get down and shoot, regardless of whether or not their mind is saying "No!")

You do the same thing when you pick up a pen, but it's so small a movement (and you've done it so often) that it's basically subconscious.

 

[LuckyStroke]

I have heard (but don't know as fact) that the specific region of the brain that is used for 3D visualization (aiming) is also used for fine motor control of the fingers. That would be a good explanation for why it is so common for players to move their ring finger while aiming.

The index and middle fingers provide most of the bridge stability (especially with an open bridge), so they can't move much; and the little finger isn't usually very active, so that leaves the ring finger. When I first noticed this (ring finger motion during stroke preparation), especially in top players, I was shocked how common it was until I heard the brain explanation.

Regards,
Dave

I'm guessing it's mostly right handed players that do this, because that part of the brain is on the right side. That's why you see the left hand doing that. There was a thread about this a while ago. Rather than wiggling my finger, I give the cloth a "squeeze".

Ben

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

I'm guessing it's mostly right handed players that do this, because that part of the brain is on the right side. That's why you see the left hand doing that. There was a thread about this a while ago. Rather than wiggling my finger, I give the cloth a "squeeze".

Ben

I've seen Sigel and Mizerak do it quite often, so I don't think it has to do strictly with handedness. It does always seem to be the ring finger, though, and elite players seem to do it more than bangers do. I never do it, so...

 

[LuckyStroke]

I've seen Sigel and Mizerak do it quite often, so I don't think it has to do strictly with handedness. It does always seem to be the ring finger, though, and elite players seem to do it more than bangers do. I never do it, so...

Scott Frost is probably the best example of the wiggling ring finger that I've seen. The thread that I saw said the movement in the left hand activates the right brain. Not sure if that is fact cuz I'm neither a brain scientist nor a rocket surgeon.

Ben

 

[victorl]

I'm left-handed and I do it with my right bridge hand.. not sure if it's subconscious or if I picked it up from watching other people play.

 

[sixpack]

I see many players do this. I have a theory but I want to hear others ideas

I would say they waggle the fingers on their backhand too but nobody notices...

 

[Poolmanis]

For me it comes up when I'm working with my bridge hand. If I try get stable open bridge that is quite flat. Ring finger start to do some kind nerve snips.
Same happens sometimes with closed bridge too if I try get it as low as possible.
Happens more often when I practice fundamentals.

 

[Nuts4Tascarellas]

wiggle

It's to get in touch with the table. To increase "feel". Beemer actually tells you to do it in his book Unstoppable. That's how he explains it.