Mastering The Cue Grip In Billards
The grip must be the first most important skill to be learned and mastered for playing billards. Professional and informal players tend to use different grips and no matter what the player's level, the grip must be mastered. The player must be both relaxed and comfortable with the grip in order to maintain it consistent during the span of the stroke. Tight grips tend to tense arm muscles that cause unpredictable strokes, while loose grips cause loss of control.
Commonly the all five finger grip is used, where the five fingers are in permanent contact around the butt until the stroke, without altering but adding a slight squeeze at the moment of contact with the cue ball. For this stroke, the cue arm must be flawlessly vertical while addressing the cue ball otherwise a scooping motion will be caused due to lifting of the cue stick on the backswing. Amateurs and casual players tend to prefer this grip. Never place the thumb on top of the pool cue as it tends to lock the wrist, which must remain relaxed.
Professionals in general use a grip where the thumb and the index finger stay constant while the three other fingers open out with the backstroke and close around the cue stick on the forward stroke giving the stroke an additional thrust. This stroke also tracks the cue and maintains it on line, while increasing the cue ball control and the cue power. During the backswing, the little finger totally swings away from the cue, thus maintaining the cue flat and then allowing all the fingers to close on the follow through.
Again it must be emphasized that whatever grip the player uses, it must be kept absolutely relaxed and loose so that the stroke can be followed through. Having the right grip provides accuracy and control for the shots. Incorrect grips limit the player's possibility for progress. The pool cue must feel well-balanced in the player's hands. Normal shots are handled with the hand at the center of the wrap. Shots requiring accuracy and precision need the hand to be forward by shortening the distance between the ferrule and the bridge hand. Shots requiring power need the hand moved back on the wrap which increases the distance between the ferrule and the hand bridge. The body should be down to follow through the shots.
Finding the balance point of the cue is the key to establishing the correct grip. This can be done by balancing the cue stick on the index finger, teetering on its own. Once balanced, note the point where the cue stick is on the finger and this is the general reference for balance point. As a general rule, depending on the player's height, the cue grip should be about six inches behind the balance point and towards the butt-end. In general, shorter players should grip closer to the balance point while taller players should grip further away from the balance point. Using these guidelines the player can get the right grip for a good game of billards.
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