The GRIP
If ever an action was misnamed, this is it.
The Snooker Grip. How to GRIP the cue.
Truth is, you must NEVER grip the cue. You grip a hammer, and if you grip a cue the way you grip a hammer, you will fail miserable at this game, and will be constantly amazed at the power that experienced played get on the cue ball, a talent that escapes you.
You HOLD the cue, gently cradling it with your index finger or second finger, closing the hold with your thumb.
The classic analogy is to pretend that the cue is actually a small bird. You want to hold it tight enough that it does not fly away, but you don't want to hurt or kill it, even through the entire shot.
If done properly, you may find that, on power shots, the cue actually slides through your hand. This is OK so long as you don't drop it on the table and disturb a ball.
The other three finger? They go along for the ride. On power strokes where you draw back a long way, these three fingers will open up and form a wall that holds the cue on line. On delivery, they will roll back to gently cradle the cue as it meets the cue ball.
In all ball and stick games, physics tells us that the optimum weight for the stick is approx 3.5 times the weight of the ball. Heavier than this, the ball takes a "smack" and throws; lighter than this, and too much momentum stays with the stick and does not transfer to the ball.
So with the typical snooker ball weighing 141 gm, the optimum weight for a snooker cue is approx 17.5 oz.
If you GRIP the cue tightly, you add some of the mass of your cueing arm to the cue, effectively increasing it's weight beyond the optimal.
So lighten up, people, and play well.
The Snooker Grip. How to GRIP the cue.
Truth is, you must NEVER grip the cue. You grip a hammer, and if you grip a cue the way you grip a hammer, you will fail miserable at this game, and will be constantly amazed at the power that experienced played get on the cue ball, a talent that escapes you.
You HOLD the cue, gently cradling it with your index finger or second finger, closing the hold with your thumb.
The classic analogy is to pretend that the cue is actually a small bird. You want to hold it tight enough that it does not fly away, but you don't want to hurt or kill it, even through the entire shot.
If done properly, you may find that, on power shots, the cue actually slides through your hand. This is OK so long as you don't drop it on the table and disturb a ball.
The other three finger? They go along for the ride. On power strokes where you draw back a long way, these three fingers will open up and form a wall that holds the cue on line. On delivery, they will roll back to gently cradle the cue as it meets the cue ball.
In all ball and stick games, physics tells us that the optimum weight for the stick is approx 3.5 times the weight of the ball. Heavier than this, the ball takes a "smack" and throws; lighter than this, and too much momentum stays with the stick and does not transfer to the ball.
So with the typical snooker ball weighing 141 gm, the optimum weight for a snooker cue is approx 17.5 oz.
If you GRIP the cue tightly, you add some of the mass of your cueing arm to the cue, effectively increasing it's weight beyond the optimal.
So lighten up, people, and play well.
Here is an exercise from Nick Barrow, one of the worlds premier coaches, to convince you that you need only have the lightest touch on the cue:
