CUE-TECH Instructional Series Presents

The Doctor’s Office

Part Two: The Basics

By Leslie Rogers

There has been more written about the basics of pool (grip, bridge, stance, etc.) than perhaps any other area. As a result, there are also a number of controversies and conflicting viewpoints that tend to cause more confusion than enlightenment. When it comes to the basics, the best thing to do is to keep it simple. That is, keep it basic.

"Styles" of Play

If you watch a number of players, you’ll notice that they each have different ways of doing things. Even among the top professional players there is quite a difference in style from one person to another. Some people stand up higher, others stay down low. Some people use a closed hand bridge while others use exclusively an open hand bridge. Some hold the cue high and tight while others hold low and loose. Which is the best way?

Common Points

A lot can be learned from watching good players perform - if you watch for the right things. Instead of looking at what each individual does differently, try and see if you can figure out what they do that is the same. Once you find the common points in the varying styles, you’ll begin to grasp an idea of the important aspects of the basics. Analyzing these common points leads to developing a few "definitions" as to the purpose of each individual skill. For example:

The Grip

The Function of a Grip is to hold the cue. Period. That’s it. When all’s said and done, that’s all the grip does. However, there are a few elements that aid the grip in it’s job.

The grip should be comfortable, relaxed, and remain fairly consistent throughout the range of the stroke. A relaxed grip is usually best since too tight of a grip can tense up muscles in the arm that can cause your stroke to perform erratically. Likewise, too loose and you could lose control of the cue. You can hold it tight or loose as long as it doesn’t impede the motion of the cue as you stroke. Some people hold more with the front three fingers, others with the back, and a few with the middle fingers. Which ones you use are entirely up to you - as long as it is comfortable, relaxed, and you use the same grip consistently.

Where you hold the cue has been a topic for debate for quite some time. Some say "Four to six inches behind the balance point." This is ludicrous. Each person is physically different so it will be different for each individual ... but even here, there is a common point. You may have heard that when the cue stick goes through the cue ball, the forearm should be "perpendicular". This is true, but an important point is usually left out: Perpendicular to what? The answer is: The Cue Stick. The reason for this is that assuming a pendulum stroke, the cue is traveling most linear at the time the forearm is perpendicular to the cue. You don’t have to be exact, but you should be fairly close.

The Bridge

The Function of a Bridge is to serve as a stable guide for the front of the cue. The bridge actually tells the cue where to go. If you want follow, you raise the bridge - which raises your tip. If you want draw, you lower it. Basically, whenever you move your bridge, so will your tip.

The elements of a good bridge include: STABILITY, comfort, and free cue movement. Stability is one of the major factors of a proper bridge. If your bridge moves during your stroke, you may or may not strike the cue ball where you intended. You might even miscue. The bridge should remain the same throughout the range of the stroke. Comfort is another factor. If it’s not comfortable then something is wrong. The bridge should also allow free movement of the cue. Keep it loose enough that the cue slides easily back and forth. If you bridge too tight, you’ll be fighting your stroke.

Some players say to use only an open hand bridge, others a closed hand. I say use a mixture. Shots made with a lot of speed might be better off with a closed hand bridge, while shots where you’re bridging close to the cue ball might be better off with an open hand bridge. Use what’s comfortable. Experiment around a bit and see how many bridges you can make. Try bridging over a ball, off the rail, etc.. Have fun with it. Make a game out of it. Challenge your friends to come up with different bridges for different shots. All you really need to make a bridge is some kind of groove for the cue to slide over. I’ve even seen some really good players bridge using the knuckles between the middle and ring fingers.

The Stance

You might have read somewhere that to make a proper stance you should: "Face the shot, stand back one foot, right foot in line with the shot, turn your left foot 38 degrees, move the right foot back 18 inches, turn it 45 degrees, bend at the waist 57 degrees, turn your head ... etc., etc.," ad infinitum, ad nauseum. I don’t know about you, but I don’t carry a ruler around with me when I shoot pool - much less a protractor. Even here, we should keep it simple: The function of a stance is to provide a stable base for the eyes and body. A good stance is balanced and comfortable with little or no movement. The eyes should be positioned vertically over the line of stroke such that what is perceived is accurate.

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Leslie Rogers is a Master Level B.C.A. certified instructor at CUE-TECH College of Cueing Arts and Sciences. Classes are available by appointment only. For information call 1-800-707-0158, or visit the CUE-TECH Web Site.