The Basics of Billiards

“It's like building a home. You've got to build a great foundation in terms of their basic knowledge, and then you can put anything you want on that foundation if you build the foundation the right way.”  -Rob Spence , Clemson Tigers

Yup, like golf... you gotta hold it right!   Now, the idea of proper holding of cue is to make sure it can move freely back and forth as you swing your shooting arm let's call it swing arm before you make that big shot.   This is how you achieve it.  You have learned how to do the proper billiard stance, right?  Now, it's time to practice it.  Grab the cue by the butt with your swing arm and with your bridge arm,  use your thumb and index finger to grab the other end, the stick should be resting on top of the middle finger. This is a closed birdge   Are you still with me? If not, go back and start from the beginning.  I assume you do,  so at the proper billiard stance and with a cue on hand, all you need to make sure is your swing arm is positioned by your waist.  Your swing hand should be straight and relaxed - not extended nor flexed in.  Now make sure you can slide the billiard cue  freely by swinging it back and forth.

Here's the problem, most beginner billiard players  have difficulties in using their fingers for bridging the cue the way I just thought you.   If you're one of them, use the other way of bridging, the open bridge.  How'd you do it? Easy enough, place a coin on the billiard table... cuff cover it with your bridge hand...spread your middle, ring, and pinky fingers...lift your thumb up...and put that cue stick between the top of your thumb and index fingers.   The problem with this bridging is that you don't get much control over this end of the cue tip.  If you played enough, you would know. But, it's ok, you're trying to learn billiard here.  Like learning how to drive, it's easy when you do it with an automatic car than stick shift.

Now the grip...the rule of thumb is...not too tight (tense) not too loose.  You need to hold both ends of the cue with a grip that will not throw your shots away. So what is it? Moderately.  I know your next question, how would I know if I'm holding it moderately?  That's is a very tough question.  Only yourself could answer that, even the professionals could lose they reputation if they ever try to answer that.  You know why? Because everyone has different muscle volume.  Did you ever handshake a person and you thought you had  lost your hand?  The key point is you need to gain a total control of the cue.

Good luck!!!