Playing off the cushion

[Wilko]

It has been a week part of my game for a long time now. Can't figure it out at all. When ever I play from the cushion, especially using a bridge where my index finger loops over the cue I hit the shot with unintentional side. Depending on the distance it isn't enough to miss the pot but they never go in clean. I get apprehensive and can sense my break coming to an end when I have to play off the cushion. This apprehension doesn't help either.

Any advice?

[jonny66]

I practice playing off the cushion at home using a marked cueball and a book to simulate the cushion. Outside of holding the cue a little higher up, try and keep your cue action as close to your normal action as possible, same amount of feathers etc... make sure you hit the ball positively.

[pottr]

Practice with just the black, pink and blue on the table and spread 6 /7 reds anywhere between them.

Force yourself to use a cushion with every pot. Practice, practice and then when you've done that, practice more...

and then practice.

[pottr]

and don't forget to practice

[tomwalker147]

As above^^ but also try putting the black on it's spot and potting it over and over again, each time trying to get position back onto the black. I did this last week and potted 40+ blacks in a row before screwing up. It's a good routine as regaining position once you've ran out of prime position almost certainly involves using 1 or 2 cushions.

[DeanH]

question - loop-bridge - could this be part of the problem for wilko? i.e. obscuring the cue ball?

(personally I have never felt the need for it and when I try it, it is weird! )

[jonny66]

I'm not sure here, but I think he's talking about cueing the white when it's close to a cushion, not using a cushion to gain position. That's how I read it anyway.

[tetricky]

Off the cushion I always extend my normal bridge back, so my palm is not over the cushion. Lift the butt a little, so that you are hitting down into the centre of the cue ball, rather than skimming across it...and then a normal stroke. I always make a shot selection such that I am doing as little as possible with the white ball.

[Wilko]

question - loop-bridge - could this be part of the problem for wilko? i.e. obscuring the cue ball?

(personally I have never felt the need for it and when I try it, it is weird! )

I'm not sure here, but I think he's talking about cueing the white when it's close to a cushion, not using a cushion to gain position. That's how I read it anyway.

Obscuring the cue ball does mess with my mind slightly. I tend to use the loop bridge for firmer shots or when the ball is a little too far from the cushion to use a normal bridge but too close to get my hand on the bed.

Yeah, cueing when the white is close to the cushion and bridging on the cushion.

[DeanH]

Off the cushion I always extend my normal bridge back, so my palm is not over the cushion. Lift the butt a little, so that you are hitting down into the centre of the cue ball, rather than skimming across it...and then a normal stroke. I always make a shot selection such that I am doing as little as possible with the white ball.

yep, me also; extend the palm of the hand off the outside edge of the rail.

[pottr]

ahhhhhhh... so he is. Spotters badge for Jonny...

Looser grip on address, that will allow you to find the right length for the stroke without taking you off the line of aim when you draw back.

Keep the head still and comfortable and make sure you drop down directly behind the shot.

Those type of shots make fools of everyone, so don't beat yourself up...

Practice

[DeanH]

Also I shorten the butt hand, i.e. bring the butt-hand further down the cue away from the butt-end, to get the fore-arm vertical.

[itsnoteasy]

I had real trouble cueing with a long distance between cue ball and Cush with that type of bridge, I felt I was finished the shot before I should have so my grip was closing and pulling the cue offline( putting on the side like you said)and I was hitting at it, I concentrated on my cue coming through straight and not rushing the follow through with no tension on the grip right through the shot and to be fair I'm not bad now, I have enough confidence to play decent power on these shots. Sometimes it still all feels a bit wobbly especially as I can't get the four contact points but if I stay still ,keep my elbow still don't let my grip play any part and just let the cue do the work it's usually ok.

[Wilko]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I've been working with it this morning using a measles cue ball. From the advice of itsnoteasy I noticed my grip clenching a fraction too soon. I've been working on a very slow pull back and a slow start for the first couple of cm of delivery. That worked pretty well. Then I messed about with my eye patterns. I always looked at the white last on these shots but decided to try the object ball last. I was cueing through the white really well and my grip was clenching well after the white was gone. The pots were flying at at every speed and distance and the hint of side seems to have disappeared. Still needs a lot of work as it feels a bit unnatural.

Again, cheers for all the help.

[itsnoteasy]

Great news Wilko, it's amazing what reaction you get with a well timed shot compared to a shot hit hard isn't it,Keep practicing.