Cross RestLast lesson we discussed bridging with the cue ball close to and touching a cushion. This lesson we will look at Awkward Bridging along the cushions from both sides, over intervening balls plus a run through on using the rest.

Bridging over or along a cushion rail is a little difficult at times. Depending how close the cue ball is, I suggest you sometimes loop your index finger around the cue to help guide it. In making a shot when the cue ball is close or against a cushion the backward cue action is slow and short.


An Awkward Bridge – Over Balls in Close

When confronted with this position always keep in mind not to raise the back of the cue higher than is necessary. You will need your bridge hand to rise up onto your finger tips to gain the height necessary to have the cue go over the top of the intervening balls. Balance on the middle, fourth and small finger tips firmly and allow your body weight to go onto these fingers. Roll your forefinger up and against the middle finger, then cock your thumb out slightly for the cue to run between the thumb and top knuckle of your forefinger. This will give you maximum height off the bed cloth as you are not losing height trying to keep the shorter forefinger on the table. Keep your fingers spread for strength and stability. There is a lot of pressure on your fingers so a short slow backward action will help keep control. If you have to bridge even higher, raise the wrist, taking it more forward. This will lift the little finger off the cloth leaving you balanced on the two fingers. This is a difficult shot, so take your time placing your fingers on the cloth, brace your straight arm, do not jab at the ball and never attempt to scoop at the ball.


Using the Cross Rest

Using the different cross rests adds a degree of difficulty to a shot. Like all facets of our sport you need to practice, practice, practice. When the time arises to play a shot with the rest, if you’ve been practicing diligently you will play the shot with confidence.

  • It is most important to place the head of the rest properly.
  • Don’t have it too far away from the cue ball. Approximately 25cm (10”) would be maximum.
  • Now place the handle of the rest on the table and hold it firmly in position with your non cueing hand.
  • Stand square to the table with your feet comfortably apart.
  • Lean forward as normal through your straight bridging arm onto the hand clamping the rest handle to the table.
  • The grip is with the thumb and the first two fingers and is to be moderate, not too tight and not too light. Most cues have a flat spot on the butt of the cue. You can put your thumb there facing down and the first two fingers take their grip on top of the butt. Roll the fourth and fifth fingers up and put to the side of the butt. You are now sighting down the whole length of the cue.
  • The butt of the cue is level with your chin or slightly lower and only raised as high as necessary for central striking.
  • The elbow of the cueing arm should be the same level as the butt of the cue.
  • The cueing action is a backward push from the elbow and keep the backswing as short as possible approximately 10cm (4”).  Remember, like all shots, to follow through after striking the cue ball.


Using the Spider Rest

The set up to use the spider rest will be similar to using the cross rest.
To have to use the spider rest you will most likely be playing over the top of intervening balls. Usually in this type of position you’ll only have the top of the cue ball to hit and due to the height of the spider rest you will be hitting down onto the cue ball. This shot is going to be difficult, so you will need to take extreme care when positioning the rest, placing the cue and in particular playing the shot. A point to remember here is because you are hitting down onto the cue ball you may inadvertently impart unintentional side spin, so central vertical striking is very important.

 

Coming next time: Shots to Master

Last lesson we discussed bridging with the cue ball close to and touching a cushion. This lesson we will look at Awkward Bridging along the cushions from both sides, over intervening balls plus a run through on using the rest.

Bridging over or along a cushion rail is a little difficult at times. Depending how close the cue ball is, I suggest you sometimes loop your index finger around the cue to help guide it. In making a shot when the cue ball is close or against a cushion the backward cue action is slow and short.

An Awkward Bridge – Over Balls in Close
When confronted with this position always keep in mind not to raise the back of the cue higher than is necessary. You will need your bridge hand to rise up onto your finger tips to gain the height necessary to have the cue go over the top of the intervening balls. Balance on the middle, fourth and small finger tips firmly and allow your body weight to go onto these fingers. Roll your forefinger up and against the middle finger, then cock your thumb out slightly for the cue to run between the thumb and top knuckle of your forefinger. This will give you maximum height off the bed cloth as you are not losing height trying to keep the shorter forefinger on the table. Keep your fingers spread for strength and stability. There is a lot of pressure on your fingers so a short slow backward action will help keep control. If you have to bridge even higher, raise the wrist, taking it more forward. This will lift the little finger off the cloth leaving you balanced on the two fingers. This is a difficult shot, so take your time placing your fingers on the cloth, brace your straight arm, do not jab at the ball and never attempt to scoop at the ball.

Using the Cross Rest
Using the different rests adds a degree of difficulty to a shot. Like all facets of our sport you need to practice, practice, practice. When the time arises to play a shot with the rest, if you’ve been practicing diligently you will play the shot with confidence.
It is most important to place the head of the rest properly. Don’t have it too far away from the cue ball. Approximately 25cm (10”) would be maximum. Now place the handle of the rest on the table and hold it firmly in position with your non cueing hand. Stand square to the table with your feet comfortably apart. Lean forward as normal through your straight bridging arm onto the hand clamping the rest handle to the table. The grip is with the thumb and the first two fingers and is to be moderate, not too tight and not too light. Most cues have a flat spot on the butt of the cue. You can put your thumb there facing down and the first two fingers take their grip on top of the butt. Roll the fourth and fifth fingers up and put to the side of the butt. You are now sighting down the whole length of the cue. The butt of the cue is level with your chin or slightly lower and only raised as high as necessary for central striking. The elbow of the cueing arm should be the same level as the butt of the cue. The cueing action is a backward push from the elbow and keep the backswing as short as possible approximately 10cm (4”).  Remember, like all shots, to follow through after striking the cue ball.

Using the Spider Rest
The set up to use the spider rest will be similar to using the cross rest.
To have to use the spider rest you will most likely be playing over the top of intervening balls. Usually in this type of position you’ll only have the top of the cue ball to hit and due to the height of the spider rest you will be hitting down onto the cue ball. This shot is going to be difficult, so you will need to take extreme care when positioning the rest, placing the cue and in particular playing the shot. A point to remember here is because you are hitting down onto the cue ball you may inadvertently impart unintentional side spin, so central vertical striking is very important.