Pieces Of Eight - Tip Of The Week

 

Number: 50 Jim Tellier April 2012

 

TOPIC: Bridge Length

 

CATEGORY: All Skill Levels

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

I dont mean the Brooklyn Bridge or the Golden Gate. Im talking about the distance between your hand (bridge) and the Cue Ball, when you set up to make a shot. Whats best? Whats to avoid? Should you always use the same bridge length? What difference does it make?

 

 

TECHNIQUE:

 

First, no matter what length of bridge you use for any given shot, the following diagram will apply:

 

 

This is plain and simple, geometry in action. If you have a certain amount of error (wobble, twist, jerk, whatever) in your stroke, it will be magnified by using a longer bridge. Put another way, a shorter bridge will always give you more accuracy in terms of where you are delivering the tip to contact the CB. So. Why not always use a short bridge? Read on

 

In general, experts seem to agree that you should shoot any given shot only as hard as necessary to make the shot, and to do as little extra with the CB as possible. This thinking will force you to plan your position patterns in such a way as to keep CB travel to a minimum, thus allowing the use of softer shots. Why is this important? How does it relate to bridge length? Simple: the softer the shot, the shorter the stroke required to get the necessary ball speed. The short stroke allows the use of the shorter bridge. Makes sense but unless youve ever stopped to think about it, maybe youve not paid any attention to it.

 

OK, but given that most of us amateurs dont play perfect position all the time ( J ), were frequently faced with having to hit the CB harder for a variety of reasons, and suffer the consequences of having to use a longer bridge in order to get the stroke needed to do so. This is key: you must lengthen your bridge if you are going to lengthen your stroke to apply more power. You must avoid trying to power through a short bridge, because accuracy will be lost as you do so. Its far better to lengthen the bridge, then smooth out your stroke and confirm your aim point before following through with the shot. Speaking of aim point

 

 

When you set up the shot, notice that, whatever bridge length you are using, position the tip as close as possible to the CB without touching it (the tip gap), in order to accurately see the true point of contact. When you are in shooting stance, your forearm should then be perpendicular to the cue; this will help to ensure that the cue is level at the time the tip contacts the CB. Then practice strokes are not swinging the forearm like a pendulum, but rather just a half swing: the back stroke, and forward stroke returning to the perpendicular position. Especially with a short stroke, this can be very accurate.

 

 

Capn Carom

 

p.s. - Theres always a lot of information on Dr. Daves site: www.billiards.colostate.edu

 

May your Next Shot be on the 8-ball!