Bridging over the cussion

[alabadi]

I have a real problem with cueing off the cussion at an angle.

for arguments sake lets say the cueball is tight or 1/2 inch off the cussion just above the middle pocket on the left side of the table. i'm trying to pot a red that is about 4-5 inches off the cussion a foot from the top rail into the black pocket.
although i am a right handed player i still find it difficult to get a solid bridge and a V for the cue to be stable.

the way i do it is 2 fingers on the rail/cussion, the middle and index finger on the bed of the table. i have tried different variations with 3 fingers on the cussion, the problem is because the V of the bridge is tilted due some of the fingers on the cussion which causes the cue sometimes to slide off.

i've tried the loop bridge which is better for keeping the cue straight but i find it a bit awkward to use.

whats the best way to deal with these type of shots, any help much appreciated.

Alabbadi

[Terry Davidson]

Check out thesnookergym. Nic has a bunch of stuff on there about cueing over balls and off the cushion. However, in the situation you describe where the ball is out 4-5" I put the cue between my index and middle fingers with the tips of the fingers curled slightly around the cushion face. You can't use your normal type of bridge as it raises the cue too high and you will be digging down into the cueball with a good chance of swerving it.

Also, watch some frames on youtube and look for one of the pros playing from the position you describe and see how they do it. It will be very similar to what I described above with the index and middle finger and the thumb tucked inside the shaft of the cue. It's actually a very solid bridge with a good guide which keeps the shaft very stable.

Terry

[alabadi]

thanks Terry i have tried your method however sometimes i still find it awkward at the moment, part of it is trying to find the correct line of aim while trying to settle.

i was wondering would this method work if you were cueing over the middle pocket in the same direction. i just can't seem to get any sort of grip with my bridge over the pocket

[nrage]

Have you seen Snooker Pro Tips? Neil has a number of videos on bridging, off rails, over balls, etc:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTrLZz72Svk&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr-cZaAUmhI&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncVDBjFN5Kw&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Sgy...eature=g-all-u

He has loads of good stuff in his channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/neilmaxman/videos

[alabadi]

Yes i have seen them but thanks anyway, the ones that are tight on the rail but playing straight ahead as in video 2 are difficult but i am ok with them, the pocket one again he is shooting straight ahead.

what i have difficulty with is if lets say video 2 tight on the rail but playing towards the black corner pocket up the rail at an OB that is just off the cussion a couple of inches, its that angle that troubles me, also shots in a similar position but the cueball an inch or two off the rail again playing towards an OB that is further off the rail but towards the black pocket.

i'll try and find a video if i can to explain if its not very clear, or i'll try an make one myself

thanks for the tips

PS: i have drawn an illistration just so you get the idea, not the best but you will get the point, click on the image to enlarge

cussion_shot.jpg

Alabbadi

[Terry Davidson]

alabbadi:

Well, now you are there with the pros as even they find these kind of shots (cut-backs to a closed pocket) which usually happen around the black area of the table are the most difficult and also the most missed.

There are some difficult bridging positions which everyone finds a problem with and everyone has to deal with. My suggestion would be to set up these shots you find difficult and play around with your bridge until you find one that works for you and gives you a stable bridge. Just remember though that less of an inch difference with either the object ball or cueball could change the type of bridge you need for stability.

So now you've joined the rest of us in discovering there are sometimes unique problems with bridging that we will all come across and will have to sort out but luckily these shots don't come up that often. This problem will also key you into the fact that you have to plan your positional shots so you are not cueing close to the cushion or leaving yourself a cut-back to a blind pocket where the room for error is sometimes less than 1/8"

Terry

[nrage]

... i have drawn an illistration just so you get the idea, not the best but you will get the point, click on the image to enlarge
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10887[/ATTACH]
Alabbadi

I have trouble with any bridge which involves laying the cue on the rail and laying my fingers over the top, it just doesn't feel stable to me. But, that's how many ppl seem to play these. If you can get the hand far enough back so the ball of the hand hangs off the edge, allowing the thumb to come around under the cue, it feels a lot better IMO. I tend to play these with my palm flat on the rail, anchoring the bridge with 1st, 2nd or 3rd finger curled over the rail. The cue sits on the hand, so you're cueing down a little, but I prefer this as the bridge at least feels really stable to me. You are limited in the shots you can play of course, either way.