How to Form a Perfect Bridge

Dr. Dave discusses and demonstrates how to use a pen or pencil to find the optimal orientation for your open-bridge hand so the cue is naturally guided in the direction of the shot.
Contents:
0:00 - Intro
1:15 - Pencil Trick
2:13 - Wrap Up
Supporting Resources:
- open bridge advantages: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/b...
- “Top 10 Reasons to Use an OPEN BRIDGE” video: • Top 10 Reasons to Use ...
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Good Luck With Your Game!!!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

*Contents:* 0:00 - Intro 1:15 - Pencil Trick 2:13 - Wrap Up *Supporting Resources:* - open bridge advantages: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/b... - “Top 10 Reasons to Use an OPEN BRIDGE” video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5XaiIlsr7x4qtk *Subscribe to Dr. Dave's KZbin Channel:* kzbin.info...

[@jasonnieuwenhuis7995]

Brilliant, it’s unbelievable I’ve played so long and keep learning new things from Dr. Dave!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

I keep learning new things too! That's one thing that keeps me interested in this wonderful game.

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

Dr. Dave.....Always bridging the gap between average and good players. Much appreciated!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

You're welcome. I aim to swerve. :)

[@henma1]

Punny! Very nice

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

@@henma1 Thx

[@DrDaveBilliards]

@@henma1 I see what you did there. :)

[@jackslover107]

I am the 81 year old who hasn’t played in years. One my problems is that I have a tremor ( an inherited condition called; essential tremor. This condition makes it very difficult to use an open bridge although that would be my preference. The tremors go away if I would drink a couple of beers but then other issues like decreased shot accuracy, etc. I really enjoy your videos and I think I am learning some things, but it takes a lot of practice. Right now I am struggling with the break and long shots. Thank for your videos and advice.

[@BenjaminMillam]

Any luck with medication for the essential tremor? I have a friend who has the same thing, they prescribed a med that really helped

[@DrDaveBilliards]

I’ve seen people with serious tremors use an open bridge effectively. It helps if you can curl your thumb up for a deep “V” and keep your bridge hand firm. I’m glad you like my stuff. I hope you can enjoy the game for many years to come.

[@TheSnookerGym]

Dr Dave hope posting the non commercial link above is ok?

[@chrisvand2678]

I aplaud you, sir. 81 year young and still shooting pool is epic!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

@@TheSnookerGym Sorry, but I do not see the link post, here or in under “held for review.” If it is a video link, try posting the video title instead and I’ll post the link for you.

[@xeyedsurfer]

You are swerving a lot recently, keep them coming!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

The “shorts” have been fun and easy since I have so much content to pull from.

[@fergus8483]

thank you very much for all your videos

[@DrDaveBilliards]

You’re welcome. I aim to swerve. :)

[@gr8ful68]

Thanks Dr. Dave

[@DrDaveBilliards]

You're welcome. I aim to swerve. :)

[@RadioTom103]

Great tip! I struggle some to make an open bridge a regular part of my game. Trying this, I found that I needed to rotate my left bridge hand clockwise a bit. Much better now!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

That is very common.

[@DerekGeister]

Thanks Dr. Dave!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

You're welcome.

[@landenx]

Your channel is a goldmine! Thank you for the excellent presentations & tutorials 😄

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Thank you, and you’re welcome. I aim to swerve. :)

[@troyberber2324]

Excellent simple hack. Thank you sir.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

You're welcome. I hope you find it helpful (for you or others).

[@tomburns890]

Great video for beginners.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

... and for instructors who work with beginners.

[@blindi6326]

Very nice!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Thanks!

[@Zs6i]

Thanks!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

You’re welcome!

[@vyacheslavboyko6114]

Love it!

[@Missin44]

In a lot of your vids I see those round stickers on your table. Do you have a video that talks about why you use them? Is it something you would recommed for a personal table? Is the glue residue a problem when you remove them?

[@DrDaveBilliards]

See: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/training/teaching/

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

Do the pencil trick with just your shaft and get it to balance and it really gives you a good idea of how important this tip is! Thx again Dr.Dave!!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Good point. A shaft works fine also. I should have included that. Although, a pencil or pen is easier to balance and more fun. :)

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

@@DrDaveBilliards The shaft made me have to get perfectly balanced and focused on the correct form. Muchos Gracias Swerve Master!

[@TheSnookerGym]

Brilliant!

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Thanks!

[@michaelsmith1267]

This is a very interesting video. I have found that rotating my bridge hand clockwise whereby the line formed between the thumb and index finger actually creates a "slot" that my cue sits in. Wearing a glove alleviates any friction and the slot limits side to side movement of the cue.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

I'm glad you liked it.

[@rene_bla_bla]

nice one. then you can also see if you need to move the bridge left or right.

[@claytetraindavis2103]

I play in Florida and everything is humid and nothing slides really good. I play with a glove but I can make my bridge and watch it move. I know it’s not my fingers moving but instead the skin on my fingers. How would I be able to stop my skin from moving around my bone?

[@DrDaveBilliards]

I would recommend an open bridge. The skin will move less, and an open bridge offers many advantages: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/bridge/open

[@claytetraindavis2103]

Ok, thank you!

[@DC-uf6ve]

I'd like to see a similar video on a closed bridge, my open bridge is fine but an open bridge in some situations is suboptimal, like when you're glued to a rail. A closed bridge has never felt natural to me even though in those situations it's the best option for not hitting down on the ball.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

All bridge types are covered in detail here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/bridge/

[@saleemullahkhan3316]

❤ very good idea 50% people's make that mistake

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Agreed. It is very common, even among some good players.

[@10xMaradona]

Does this work with a pen too?

[@DrDaveBilliards]

... probably.

[@rene_bla_bla]

lol really ? you could use a uncooked spaghetti if you want to.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

@@rene_bla_bla … or a drinking straw, or a hotdog, or a french-fry.

[@joduh4665]

I tried the pencil but i could not get any decent stroke speed with it, im going back to my carbon cue tyvm :P

[@DrDaveBilliards]

A pencil ironically has graphite in it, which is mostly carbon.

[@zanethind]

Makes sense why one of the best Chris Melling favours the open bridge a lot. You'll almost never see him use a closed bridge

[@carloscervantes911]

He has style.

[@Krushard]

Majority of pros use both, with open bridge being the default one and closed bridge for some spots on the table where it works better.

[@zanethind]

@@Krushard yeah I know but if you look at English players they almost never do the closed bridge in British pool, Snooker, and them in American pool too

[@rene_bla_bla]

@@zanethind snooker players have chin and tiny side breast support so they don't need it.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

They also do not want to obscure the view of the cue in their low stance. Looking down the entire shaft makes it easier to visualize the aim and cue alignment.

[@Jedcoe]

I can't find a pencil, will this work with a salmon?

[@DrDaveBilliards]

… maybe a baby salmon. In lieu of that, you might also consider: drinking straw, carrot, uncooked spaghetti, French-fry, cigarette, cigar, cork, etc! You could even use a cue shaft, but that ain’t as fun. It is also more difficult to balance.