The Ultimate Guide to Holding a Pool Stick

Many new players playing the game of pool or billiards hold the stick for pool (or the cue) incorrectly. This is a simple error to make since it’s not apparent to newcomers.

Correctly holding a pool stick is crucial as it will help you achieve consistency and accuracy. On the other hand an improper hand position, hand bridge or stroke could make a player’s shot making skills useless.

A proper grip on a pool stick can be broken into two parts. Your GRIP and HAND BRIDGE. There’s an BONUS subject at the conclusion which will cover the stroke.

scenario for right-handed persons (Switch around if you’re an Lefty)

Hands’ positions:

•  
• Right hand is to the bottom of the pool (bottom portion of a stick for pool) in which you can grip
• Left hand will be placed to the table, where your hands create an BRIDGE for the pool stick

If you do anything wrong with one of these components and you mess up any of these parts, it can completely ruin your shot. You could miss the shot you’ve tried thousands of times because you hit your ball hard enough because of your grip.

There isn’t a specific spot to position your hand on the stick. However, this is an acceptable range to stay in. It all depends on the player’s preferences.

It is an intensely energetic sport where players need to exert the right amount of energy to get the desired outcomes. It is not possible to hold a very tight grip since you’ll lose the finesse aspect. The most comfortable grip you can use is a very loose one. It is your goal to get the smallestenough to hold your fingers that you are able to move the stick between your fingers.

The wrong method of gripping:

To please the gods of the pool Don’t use the term “DEATH GRIP”. An unintentional Death Grip or tight Grip to the cue is likely to cause an incorrect shot. There’s no need to put all five fingers or place your palms on the pool butt throughout all of the shot. It’s not needed and is a terrible habit to adopt.

Exception:

1. 1. If you’re able to keep the stick within the line of shooting, you can shoot.
2. Certain shots might need it:

• The Nip Draw Shot (to not be a foul)

Preferred Loose Grip:

Playing with finesse with a tight grip can be the most effective method. A loose grip allows you to let the stick glide naturally without having to swerve around in various directions. It will help you avoid what I refer to as”the “chicken wing” where you grasp and your stroke turns to the side. I guarantee that everything will function better when you are able to grip the handle with ease.

My grip for me is one where just my middle finger and thumb are in contact with the bottom of the pool. My pinky and ring fingers never touch, unless towards the final stroke, when I’m speeding into my shot, and the two fingers happen to meet.

Read More : Where Can You Find Inspiration for Pool Tables

Bridge:

The hand bridge is one of the most difficult things to master when you first enter the swimming pool. There are many variations of the hand bridge however the two most popular ones are the closed and open bridges.

A hand bridge is your hands that are not dominant placed upon the table (palm on the table) pressing your fingers together, and pressing fingers against the middle (or middle) finger to form an “V”. This is where you’ll put the cue. Make sure that your bridge is sturdy and cannot be easily moved , to create an ‘bridge’ that is secure that your cue can slide across.

Bad Hand Bridge (The stick rests on the thumb, and the knuckle in the moist and fleshy part of the hand.)

Open Bridge:

Benefits of an Open Bridge:

• It is possible to see further details about the ball below.
• More simple to design than the Closed Bridge.

• Closed Bridge:

Benefits of a Closed Bridge:

• Secure Pool Cue placed in Place
• It is less likely to move from side to side or side-to-side during the shot.

Remember that a Closed Bridge is still forming the V-shape using the Thumb and Middle Finger (instead from the index finger)

If you aren’t able to know how to build a bridge correctly It will be difficult to get past an initial level. People who have a poor bridge are likely to have uneven strikes. A reliable hand bridge is essential for any player to be able to get.

If you’re right-handed then you should put your right hand in the heavy bottom piece of a cue for pool (the butt of the pool). It is not recommended to place to place it too close to the rubber piece at the bottom, but at minimum a few inches from it.

Stroke:

It’s impossible not to discuss the topic of Stroke since when you hold a stick for pool correctly as well as how you grip it and create your hand bridge are directly linked in your Stroke.

When you’re using the pool stick in a proper manner, with a sturdy hand bridge, it is time to improve your stroke. The Stroke the player is using will have the greatest influence on their performance. This is due to the fact that it influences numerous things, including shooting, applying English or Spin and much many more.

The reverse is also true the bad stroke can interfere with an individual’s natural movement of great stroke and ruin the shot of a player. A hard hit to the ball or missing it, and then applying English or Spin to the ball even though you weren’t planning to – all are negative effects of a poor stroke.

I will review the best pool strokes to be aware of In the future, I’ll write a complete and detailed article specifically on the strokes in the pool.

Stroke:

It’s difficult not to talk about the topic of Stroke since when you hold a stick for pool correctly as well as how you grip it and create your hand bridge are directly connected in your Stroke.

When you’re holding the stick in a proper manner, with a sturdy hand bridge, you need to focus on your stroke. The Stroke the player is using is the one that has the biggest influence on their performance. It is because it impacts various things like shooting, applying English or Spin and many more.

The reverse is also true an unsound stroke could alter your natural swing great stroke, and cause a mess on the player’s shot. Striking the ball too hard or ignoring, applying English/Spin on the ball when you weren’t planning to do so – are all possible negative effects of a poor stroke.

I will discuss the most effective pool stroke you can be aware of In the future, I’ll write a complete and detailed post specifically on the strokes in the pool.