yet another grip question

[youngtrane]

I have a specific question for those who employ a grip which relies primarily on the thumb and the index finger to hold the cue. I've always played with this grip as opposed to a grip which uses all five fingers wrapped tightly around the cue, as it is the most comfortable to for me. However, lately, in concentrating on my fundamentals, when I have a shot that especially requires a delicate, straight stroke (such as when the cue ball is touching the rail), I find myself distracted by the fact that those last three fingers don't really have a place to go (ie they're in between wrapping around the cue and just hanging away from the cue). I find myself focusing on those sensation of those three fingers randomly touching the cue rather than the shot itself. In addition, because my grip isn't tight, the "heel" of my palm isn't in contact with the wrap (which is also a bit slippery, not helping the problem). In efforts to create a relaxed stroke, sometimes I ended up shooting with a sort of slip stroke, which I can't control terribly well. Sometimes I find myself letting cue of the cue completely on draw shots.


Now, some of you recommended that inn order to keep the wrist from bending when you execute your pendulum stroke (ie bending in the vertical plane, not the bending of your wrist in towards or away from your body), the third, fourth, and fifth fingers should be loose around the cue. That way the angle between the cue and the forearm/wrist/hand connects at one single point, as opposed to the entire hand. I experimented with holding the cue a bit tighter with the thumb and index finger and loosening my last three fingers, which eliminates the problem of a quasi slip stroke. However, I'm still not sure where to put those last three fingers. If you use this type of grip, where do you put them? Do you let them touch the cue, resulting in the fingers brushing along the wrap in your backstroke and followthrough? This seems like it would be a distraction. Also, do you have any space in the circle with your thumb and index finger around the cue? Studying the pros has been helpful, but of course each player has his own preference.

Any suggestions? Just trying to find whats comfortable and what works best for me. Hope this makes sense! Thanks.

 

[Colin Colenso]

I have a specific question for those who employ a grip which relies primarily on the thumb and the index finger to hold the cue.

Get your hand off it!

sorry, I couldn't resist.

The best grip I've seen is Ding Jun Hui, 18 year old who recently beat Steven Hendry in the final of the China Open Snooker.

Hangs very vertical, relaxed but not loose. Never twitches left or right. Never looks like he's going to miss.

My advice, just let it hang, don't grab it, hold it. Solid but not tight.

Don't be thinking about your fingers touching things, you'll get paralysis by analysis.

If you've read about pivot points you'll know that much of the effect of slight wrist turn would be cancelled out anyway. Being able to align well is much more important I feel. A relaxed wrist is more important for feeling comfortable with feathering the line and for execution of correct shape by hitting the cue ball exactly where you aim and at the correct speed.

 

[LastTwo]

I used to have alot of trouble with the grip, and I know exactly what you are talking about when you say it feels like your fingers are 'in the way' and your grip just doesnt feel right. I found that any type of grip will feel comfortable and proper when your bridge hand is aligned correctly with your stroking arm. This MIGHT be your problem. Just remember that your stroking arm should line up to the shot first and your bridge hand should come second. If you do it backwards, often you would have to adjust your body and right arm to get in line with the bridge, and this causes all kinds of problems. Once I fixed this problem my grip felt perfect.