The Bridge
In most cases, it is the front hand that will cause you the most grief. The way you hold your front hand on the table surface is called the “bridge.” After you've practiced a few shots at the table, start focusing on your bridge.
Missing a sequence of shots might lead you to jump to the conclusion that you just have bad aim, but it could be that you are not holding your front hand on the table correctly. Pay attention to the movement of your hand and you may find that you are wobbling a little. The slightest movement can throw off your shot.
Essential
Don't get confused when you hear the word “bridge” used in a different context. There are two other uses of the word in billiards. It can mean the distance between your front hand and the cue ball, or it can mean the billiard tool called a “mechanical bridge.”
The Open Bridge
The open bridge (also known as the “V-bridge”) is one of the most commonly used bridges and the one most frequently used by beginners. To practice at home, try using a wooden dowel or the handle of a kitchen utensil on the flat surface of a table. An open bridge provides steadiness and control, helps give you an even, clean stroke, and provides steady follow-through on more forceful strikes.
To form the open bridge:
Stretch out your arm so that your hand is flat on the table (the left hand if you are shooting with the right, and the right hand if you are shooting with the left).
Spread your fingers wide, keeping them flat on the table.
Raise the knuckles off the table (the knuckles between your hand and your fingers) leaving the fingers and the heel of your hand on the table.
Move your thumb in toward your index finger so that it forms a V. Be sure that your pinky, ring finger, and middle finger remain firmly positioned on the table to allow stability for the thumb and index finger as they hold the cue in place.
Place the cue on the V-shape formed by your thumb and index finger and lift the thumb to prop up the shaft of the cue.
The open bridge is often used by beginners.
While the open bridge is commonly used for soft shots — when you don't want the ball to go too far, it is also frequently used when the object balls are too close to the cue ball and you want to keep your fingers out of the way of the shot.
In order to make the open bridge work, be sure to keep your fingers and the heel of your hand firmly in place on the table surface. If you have a good, solid stance, your bridge should stay steady. In the beginning, you may find that the cue slips out of the V, but keep trying and you'll pick it up.
Closed Bridge
The closed bridge (also called the “circle,” “loop,” or “standard” bridge) is most commonly used to make harder hits. It is not unusual to see players use the closed bridge when they break. But there's no rule saying you have to use the closed bridge to make the powerful strikes. The only thing that matters is what works for you and that your bridge is stable.
The closed bridge is often used for hard strikes.
To form the closed bridge:
Make a fist with your left hand and put it flat on the table. Do not tuck in your thumb. (Use the right hand if you are shooting with the left hand.)
Spread three fingers on the table (all fingers except the index finger and thumb). Keep the rest of your hand pressed firmly on the table.
Lift and bend your index finger so that it forms a loop and move your thumb underneath the index finger.
Keeping your ring finger and pinkie on the table, move your wrist slightly to the left (if you are using the left hand) and slip the cue through the loop formed by your thumb and index finger.
Move your middle finger over toward the index finger so that the cue rests on that finger for support. You will be shooting between the loop made by your thumb and index finger and your middle finger. The pinkie, ring finger, and the heel of your hand should still be pressed firmly on the table surface to keep the shot steady.
The Rail Bridge
The rail bridge is used to strike the cue ball away from the cushion.
We're not talking about a train trestle in this section; we're talking about making a shot when the cue ball is close to the edge of the table (called the “rail”). When this happens you will actually have to make a bridge on the rail in order to get the cue angled in such a way that you will be able to hit the ball.
The best bridge to use is a modified open bridge. Be careful not to use the regular open bridge because it will force your cue up too high and the cue ball will skid off to the side instead of on a straight path.
To form a modified open bridge (or rail bridge):
Place the palm of your hand flat on the rail.
Instead of raising the knuckles like you would in a regular open bridge, keep them flat against the rail.
Don't raise your thumb. Instead raise the first joint of your index finger.
Place the cue on the V between your thumb and raised index finger, so that the thumb is beneath the cue and your raised index finger is next to the cue.
The elevated bridge is used when you need to shoot down on the cue ball.
To give you even more control, here is an alternative to step 4: Try tucking your thumb under your index finger so that the index finger rests on top of the cue and the thumb is positioned alongside the cue. This formation will allow you to shoot in a straight line using the index finger and the thumb knuckle.
You can also use this method with your hand moved slightly forward on the rail so that your fingers curl over the edge. It's not preferable to tuck your thumb under, though, if the ball is flush against the rail.
When using a rail bridge with the cue ball close to or against the cushion, you're better off not trying to hit the cue ball too hard. Since the cue tip can only strike the uppermost portion of the cue ball, there is a greater chance for a miscue.
The keys to a successful rail bridge are to make the cue as level as possible, to keep your backswing and follow-through as short as possible, to strike with a soft to medium stroke (but not a hard one), and to watch your stance.
Using the Mechanical Bridge
The mechanical bridge is a tool used to help you hit the cue ball when you can't reach it. It looks like a cross between a garden hoe and a cue. The head of the stick is a rake-shaped piece of plastic or metal that allows you to sit your cue in place. You hold the back end of the mechanical bridge in one hand and your cue in the other. Place the bridge on the table without touching any of the balls, and, using your aim, shoot through the fork.
A mechanical bridge can help you reach the cue ball more easily.
You can sometimes shoot over a ball by using an elevated bridge made with your fingers, but you may find that the mechanical bridge is more stable.
Professional players prefer to make the shot without the use of a piece of equipment but won't hesitate to use the mechanical bridge if they can't reach a particular shot. Every pool table in a pool hall should have a mechanical bridge. If there isn't one hanging on the underside of your table, ask the proprietor to provide you with one.
