Nothing’s more upsetting than a scratch or driving your cue into your nice billiards table, scuffing up the cloth. If this sounds like a common occurrence, then it’s time to check your bridge.

The main purpose of the bridge is to secure your cue stick, minimizing any unnecessary lateral movement. A good option for beginners is always a mechanical bridge; for more seasoned players, the open and closed bridges – made using their own hands – are the way to go.

The Closed Bridge

Benefits:

• Solid grip on the cue; minimal side-to-side movement
• Can draw cue stick back farther for power shots

The Set Up:

1. Make a fist with your non dominant hand and lay it on the table
2. Place cue on top of the bridge hand
3. Open your forefinger and wrap it around the cue shaft
4. Tighten your index finger around the cue and open your unused fingers, spreading them to make your bridge hand stable. Take your shot!

The Open Bridge

Benefits:

• Great for beginners, easier to set hand
• Recommended for follow shots and soft shots as there’s a less obstructed view and a larger range of bridge heights.

Set Up:

1. Lay non-dominant hand flat on the table
2. Curl hand to form peak and move thumb to close gap between thumb and forefinger. Keep thumb angled upward, creating a groove for your cue stick
3. Spread middle, rink and pinkie fingers to stabilize your bridge.
4. Place the cue stick on top of the groove you created. Aim and shoot!

Find more helpful tips and tricks on bridges on the following sites:

• Easy Pool Tutor
• Colorado State