How to grip a pool cue.

[crackettt]

As beginner, I find it quite hard to play the cue ball when it's on or close to the rail. I find that it makes my life a bit easier to grip the queue more forward that I would with a regular shot. It may well have to do with the fact I'm a short guy and I try to hit these shots a bit from above to to avoid the rail and hit the cue ball a bit fuller/higher. Is that fine, or am I doing something wrong?

[tejas630]

very helpful



[bushputz]

Adjusting for power or touch and accuracy should be adjusted by either lengthening or shortening the distance between your bridge hand and the ball, not changing your grip position.

If you're having trouble because you use a 'death grip', try placing a piece of chalk between the butt of your cue and your palm. If you try to squeeze down on the cue tightly, the corners of the chalk will dig into your palm, discouraging you from doing that. (Remove the chalk once you've broken the habit) ;-)

[frown]

forcefollow, you have a uniquely diverse grasp on this topic. Perhaps you'd go on to discuss how a benefit of the butter grippin' cue test includes the several trillion things you can do with your newly buttered hand.

[s73v3n101]

good videos allot of good insight to the game keep up the good work

[assasin907]

good stuff. im going lighter on the grip. finding my self making more shots.

[guitarplayingairsoft]

nice cuetec..i got one too!!

[xdomingu]

NICE GRIP!

[Lars1540]

Actually according to the book written by Ewa Laurance (19-time world pool champion), there is a particular spot on the butt of the stick that you should be gripping. It's called her 1st 90 degree rule. Meaning that when your cue tip is at it's contact point with the cue ball, your forearm should form a 90 degree angle to the cue stick. So depending on the shot your taking, you will have to adjust your grip accordingly. =) Pick up "Complete Idiot's Guide to Pool & Billiards" by Ewa Laurance

[emerypookie]

@Lars1540 19 time world champ no way

[azteacher26]

Power breakers like to grip a little more forward in order to create more lever action.

[madaphong]

time to go grab a stick o butter!!!

[roxyiii]

You wish! Fucking faggot

[MAB928]

i've heard from many sources is to hold grip around maybe 6 inches behind balance point of cue

[kryzgarcia]

thanks for the info...

[gurl52241]

is there any way i could get all of your teachings or help on DVD im a amature (APA) player and enjoy all of your lessons would love just to sit down and watch them

[MsnAngersMe]

elbow must be as high as possible

[gargolas12345]

forcefollow you're a teacher a favor is very interesting but I would like your videos you please translate to better understand I speak Spanish do not know if this will be good English. but I hope that you get a translator in Spanish.

[dfitzge]

The key thing about the grip is balancing how loose and firm you want it. A more loose grip allows for more action on the cue ball with less force (see efren). A tighter grip allows for a straight and more consistent stoke (look at any snooker player). It's just preference.

Also, the back arm should be perpendicular to the ground. Though, having the grip too short would be prefered to too long.

[Jas0nP]

thanks

[jburkhammer]

I grip my cue like I grip my beer, just snug enough to not drop it.....depends on how many beeeers though.....

[7base7]

dude your so helpful thanks cause i tried the butter thing and it blew up!

[SirNoobs]

I'll try this a few weeks from now. At first I didn't know so I would grip the cue very tight sometimes where after game my knuckles are sore and I don't need a stick of butter to know that.

[hughhefnerjr]

This is great info. Can't wait to practice it.

[markisshort]

ok dont try the griping butter thing b/c that is a total waste of butter and ur hands will become oily

[NeilHonky]

i find holding my cue tighter makes me more accurate on the straight shots. and when i have a loose grip it gives me more control on backspin and English. great vids by the way.

[someindian]

I KNOW YOU KNEW THIS BUT....when I said the letter L I was refuring to a upside down L the foot of the L is your upper arm which should remain still the long part of the L is your lower arm which should move freely

[someindian]

WHERE TO GRIP THE CUE SHOULD BE..when you are lineing up put with your cue tip about 1/2 inch from the cue ball then grip the cue at your side with your lower and upper making a 90 degree angel..(like the letter L )this give you freedom to swing both forward and back freely and then you won't move your upper arm which should remain still through the shot...good luck

[CmyTVnow]

I'm going to be hanging looser from now on thanks to you. Nice demo

[ibmcall]

Thank you

[summ22]

thanks for the tips. one question though: if i do it like you (forming a 'ring' with thumb, index and middle finger) where the cue rests in, it tends to slip through my fingers when i stroke because my grip is way to loose. especially on stronger strokes like the break or draw shots. do you use another grip technique for these shots? or do you then clamp the cue with those 3 fingers instead of forming a loose ring?

[SoBanned]

Dang. I do grip the cue tightly. Never realized that I can control the cue with a loose grip. It really never occurred to me. I had figured the tighter I grip, the more I control the stick.

[jjpeach]

Thanks for the info. I have/had a habbit of placing my thumb on top of the cue, thinking it kept my cue straight. Nice vid.

[McTerror1]

Thanks

[agentmike0017]

cool, thanks

[collinson35]

well not realy i just thought with a loose grip i would be able to controll the cue ball better, i was playing a realy gd player last night and he said to his mates he would win 10 games befor me,as i was playing with him i use the loose grip and he was 6-2 up.i watch him playing and how he holds his cue and notice that he was playing with a tight grip and as i looked around the pool hall there was alot of player who use a tight grip, so anyway i switch to a tight grip like the rest of them

[collinson35]

hi there i am now playing with a lose grip after 20years with a tight grip,at the moment my game is going down hill fast with the lose grip as on some long shots i feel i am losing the grip on my cue when i go to take the shot as with the tight grip i feel my cue is in controll or do i start to tightind my grip as i am about to shoot hope u can help thank u andy

[forcefollow]

Everyone's definition of tight and loose is different. If you soht well with a tighter grip then stick with it. However, an extremely tight grip will hamper you on a draw shot or a shot that requires power. I would reccommend experimenting for a while longer before you abandon a looser grip. Their had to be something you were unsatisfied with in the fires place. Hope this helps.

[Flamestar1989]

@forcefollow You'd make a good coach :)

[CollingwoodLakersAB]

@collinson35 ...why would you change ? like seriously.

[lifsdg]

down to personal preference!!

you would really want a smooth stroke though but just keep practicing for those who want to start playing!!

get someone abit more experienced to help you out.

my cue action is rather good at the moment. but i prefer to grip harder when playing the more powerful shots such as the break.

[dbrownpdi]

i didnt know all that

[mumps1980]

this sounds helpful, i never really thought about the grip while playing pool. we'll try it next time to see how it feels. cheers

[aoyster]

There are many things that are incorrect about this explanation on the correct grip. One is that there should be no space in the first clamp, it should be sealed. Two, is that there is a very specific scientific way of griping the cue. For more infromation on correct technique please feel free to contact a Master Academy of the Cueing Arts!

[forcefollow]

There are just as many people that would disagree with a sealed first clamp. We will just have to agree to disagree. BCA instructors do not have a monopoly on pool knowledge.

[forcefollow]

Ran this question by alot of knowledgeable players at AZBilliards. No one thought that a sealed first clamp is the way to go.

[sgkia]

yeap its good thanks =) although i must add that the grip is based on personal preference

[batmancrammarc]

cool this is great for a beginner like me

[realsilver]

thx, ima try it out next time im out playin pool... cheers

[xpatcan1]

when i started playing pool my grip was very tight on the cue, a way i was told to help fix this problem was to hold a piece of playing chalk in my ring and little finger when i was stroking,,,, now for my age i believe i am an advanced player and and using the chalf was a big help,,, when most people play a hard stroking shot they tend to tighten up on there grip the chalf will prevent this from happening,,, but this is just how i have learned.

[xpatcan1]

yeah,,, its spelt chalk not "chalf" oops