| In pool and billiards, the bridge is what supports the cue | | | | the rail that there is no room to place the bridge hand |
| shaft when taking a shot. It's important to have a good, | | | | on the table. The bridge hand is held a couple inches |
| solid bridge to ensure that the cue tip doesn't have any | | | | over the rail and the tips of the index and middle |
| sideways movement that will adversely affect your | | | | fingers are placed on the rail, the width of the cue |
| aim. | | | | shaft apart. The thumb is tucked up out of the way. |
| There are several types of bridge - open, closed, rail, | | | | The cue shaft is place directly on the rail between the |
| and what I call the over-the-ball bridge. For shots on | | | | two fingers and the stick is stroked in this manner. |
| the table that you have trouble reaching, there is also | | | | When the cue ball is touching or very close to another |
| the mechanical bridge. | | | | ball, it may not be possible to use the open or closed |
| The easiest bridge to use, and probably the most | | | | bridge. This is when the over-the-ball bridge is used. |
| popular, is the open bridge. This is formed by laying the | | | | This bridge is very similar to the open bridge, except |
| bridge hand on the table with the fingers spread, pulling | | | | that the palm of the hand is raised up off the table. |
| the four fingers back to form an arch with the | | | | This raises the "V" of the bridge that supports the cue |
| knuckles in the air, and tucking the thumb up against | | | | shaft. The thumb is tucked up higher next to the index |
| the index finger. The cue shaft is supported by the "V" | | | | finger knuckle instead of along the shaft portion of the |
| between the index finger and thumb. The height of the | | | | index finger. With the "V" higher, you are able to reach |
| cue tip to the cue ball can be adjusted by raising or | | | | over a ball that may be in the way of the cue ball, and |
| lowering the arch of the hand. | | | | contact it with the cue tip to make the shot. |
| The closed bridge provides a more secure grip on the | | | | Whichever of the three bridge types you use, it is |
| cue shaft and is preferred by more advanced players. | | | | important to spread out the fingers that are touching |
| This bridge is formed in a similar way to the open | | | | the table as wide as possible, to provide the maximum |
| bridge, with the difference being that the tip of the | | | | support and stability to the bridge. The bridge must not |
| index finger and the tip of the thumb are held together | | | | move at all when taking a shot as this will negatively |
| to form a circle or loop. Some shooters hold the | | | | affect your aim and result in missed shots. |
| fingers tip to tip, while others will overlap the thumb nail | | | | The mechanical bridge is made of plastic or aluminum |
| with the index finger. The cue shaft is held in this loop, | | | | and attaches to a spare cue stick. This device allows |
| and the index finger and thumb are squeezed around | | | | you to position the bridge near the cue ball when it is |
| the shaft to support it securely, as the shaft slides | | | | not possible to reach the cue ball to shoot in the |
| through when shooting. | | | | normal manner. It features grooves that are made to |
| The rail bridge is used when the cue ball is so close to | | | | hold the cue shaft as it is stroked for the shot. |