Correct Strength of Grip

[RGCirencester]

Right, I have a question for any decent players or coaches out there. I agree the grip should be loose, but my question is 'How loose'?

This is particularly in relation to Terry's Posts on the forum, while I agree with his other 6 points on a perfect cue action, I would just like to see what other people think about the grip.

Here is a post taken from another thread from Terry

The THIRD...that is the loose grip. So loose the cue will slide easily within it without pulling on the grip hand. OH, one more point...form your final grip when you are behind the shot and the cue is across your hips or just below your hips.

Terry

Although yes the grip should be loose I am somewhat skeptical on the "loose enough for somebody to pull the butt out of your hand with 2 fingers" part.

So I'd just like anyone elses opinion on how loose they think the grip should be.

[MattCash]

I have always been told that your grip should be as hard as you would need to pick the cue up from the table.

[Terry Davidson]

OK, you got me. I stole that description from Steve Davis as I believe it's a good way to impart the pressure of a grip to a student (or a forum).

Nic Barrow uses 'imagine you are holding a small bird in your hand without crushing it'.

Joe Davis says 'pick it up like a hammer' however he also advocates the cue 'should just rest on the second pads of the 4 fingers with the thumb holding the cue on the pads'.

Every good snooker book I've read and also from my own experience and from observing the pros is you should have a very loose grip, but NOT so loose that you have an 'air gap' between the butt of the cue and the web of skin between thumb and forefinger.

If you grip the cue with the same pressure as needed to either lift it off the table or else 'like a hammer' then that will be too tight. To get the correct grip you do lift the cue off the bed of the table however you must then loosen it, which is something a lot of the books don't tell you

Terry

[noel]

How often have you ever held "a small bird in your hand without crushing it" ?

Come on boys... it's not like holding a "bird" it's like holding your TROUSER SNAKE!
Easy!


=o|

Noel

[cantpotforshíte]

How often have you ever held "a small bird in your hand without crushing it" ?

Come on boys... it's not like holding a "bird" it's like holding your TROUSER SNAKE!
Easy!


=o|

Noel

Wouldn't this rather increase the chance of 'putting a quick one in' ? .. I can't imagine it helping my slow backswing and pause anyway .. enough of this before we all get banned

[Ryap]

Terry said.. holding a cue not gripping, just like how gentle you hold your girlfreind hand but not gripping it. I did hold a bird in my hand before, i can understand how gentle you want it to be. Just a illustration.. and try to be nice..not pin pointing every single word we wrote, we are trying to help people who want to improve by sharing, we are not writter here. I must agree, loose grip but not till you see air gap, i think this is measurable and technical enough to understand.
__________________
Originally posted at Http://www.thesnookergym.com/forums

[Sidd]

OK this is really good. I have been having some confusion, if not trouble, lately regarding the looseness of the grip myself so was searching for something similar and came to this thread, which is good. I have been following Terry's advice on loosening the grip until after the strike or when the grip hand ends at the chest. It has done wonders for me trust me and the way I used to look at snooker has all changed for me and now I can understand what we mean by playing according to the physics of snooker. The forcefulness to produce those tricky stuns where you want the cueball to only move a few inches have improved for me and now I can achieve those without force; I can simply keep the grip loose enough and complete the shot with a follow through and that happens for me without force... Hence I am a happy man.

However, since I have been trying intensionally to keep the grip as loose as possible it started to slip or not slip but perhaps slide through the grip hand a little, which is also something good I think; as Terry puts it. So I was happy thinking I have achieved that perfect grip hold. However, I am now begining to get confused due to the following:

1. If I hold the grip that loose really throughout the shot, then on power shots particularly long range shots when I play them it feels as if I am hitting wrong on red becasue my grip is too loose. Now is that true or not. If not then I am not delivering the cue straight on long pots ok I understand but then what to do with that feeling that makes me think I am probably holding it way too loose...???

2. Nic Barrow also suggests another thing except for holding a bird. He says that while playing a shot if I am holding a raw egg in my hand, it will not break throughout the shot, even after the shot. So what does that mean? That the grip should not be tightened throughout the shot even after hitting the chest???

Kindly kindly help me here as this is confusing me more than enough and perhaps ruining my game again that I, after coaching from Terry, was able to develop for me.

Regards and cheers.

[Terry Davidson]

Sidd:

To repeat myself, the grip tightens after the cueball has been struck

Terry

[Noelcwb]

Terry is absolute right... IMO you are getting too tecnichal Sidd. Se by my own experience.... I always knew about this bird grip thing... but never really understand till some years of practice...Why? Because I was not ready... I had to try and error for several months to see what works best for ME. You have to do this and be patience to see what works best for YOU. And this only comes with years of practice for you to get you perfect setup.....be patience.

[Izzyfcuk]

I was just waiting for this day to happen.....

[Jake O'Sullivan]

me too. funny stuff! :P

[paddybhoy30]

Oh no terry i'm two canaries down mate.i'll try the eggs.

[DandyA]

Oh no terry i'm two canaries down mate.i'll try the eggs.

ha ha ha! that made my day paddy I guess Terry isn't going to win the RSPB's "personality of the year" with his advice for all of us with too tight a grip ...

Terry, it might be better to suggest starting with something like a golf ball ... then moving on to a ping-pong ball ... then maybe an egg ... before finally trying the cute little canary ...

[Izzyfcuk]

It's akin to asking how to have sex........how many degrees up or down do i go..?

[damienlch]

Oh no terry i'm two canaries down mate.i'll try the eggs.

Must it be canaries? How about budgies...

Sorry Sidd, no offence.

I'd say learn the techniques but don't overthink or get too bogged down by them... This is a beautiful game. Play it more like an artist than a technician.

Have fun!!