Snooker Basics

The Grip
The purpose of the grip is to deliver the cue in a straight level plane on the line of the shot. This can be done by gripping the cue up into the "V" formed between the forefinger and the thumb. The thumb and all the fingers should wrap snugly around the butt of the cue making as much contact with the cue as possible. For general play the grip should be firm enough to resist the cue being snatched away but not so firm as to turn the knuckles white.

During the cue action the forefinger and thumb should dominate the grip and the other fingers need to release in the back swing to enable the cue to remain straight and level. Common faults involve gripping to loosely or too tightly. Too loosely leads to sideways movement of the butt of the cue as more finger joints influence the cue action. Too tightly leads to unwanted tension in the cue arm and warning signals are increased downward pressure of the cue on the bridge in the backswing and \ or lifting of the cue (even hitting the lamp shade) in the follow through.

The Approach
The approach to the table should be a well drilled routine which brings the cue in on the line of shot and delivers the player into the stance in a reliable and consistent manner. The approach should only be initiated when the player has made a confident shot selection and visualized a successful outcome of the shot.

Common faults include an inconsistent approach which denies the player the opportunity of a reliable cue action because the body and the cue do not start from the same position. A hurried approached, often involving the player turning into the shot rather then walking down the line of the shot, also reduces the player's chances of reliability getting the cue on the line of the shot.

The Bridge
The purpose of the bridge is to form a solid channel for the cue to pass through on the line of the shot. The forefinger and thumb should form a "V" to form this channel. The fingers should be straight, well spread and braced at a suitable height to deliver the cue tip at the desired height on the cue ball. For central striking this would mean sufficient room under the bridge hand to cover a cube of snooker chalk. To achieve top spin or screw, the bridge should be raised or lowered by bridging the fingers in towards the base of the hand or spreading them further out, respectively. The bridge arm can be braced out straight or bent at the elbow to suit the physic or comfort of the player. The distance of the bridge from the cue ball should be dictated by the amount of the backswing required for the selected shot.

Common faults include movement in the bridge hand and poor formation of the "V". Movement can be reduced by ensuring a firm grip of the cloth. This can be achieved by watching for the amount of pressure required for the skin under the finger nails to turn pink to white at the ends. Poor formation of the "V" can be checked by holding a small piece of paper between the forefinger and the thumb during practice shots to ensure that a firm "V" is being maintained throughout the shot. Unlike many other hints on this site, both of these can be practiced far away from a snooker table.