How to Hold a Pool Cue Stick

Just as in sports like baseball, golf and even bowling, the way that you hold the cue stick in the sport of pool has a large impact on the way you play the game. Utilizing the proper grip on both ends of the pool cue ensures that the stick slides gently and evenly during the swing. This allows for the desired contact with the cue ball, whether you're trying to hit the ball flat-on, or attempting a more difficult shot, such as a “jump shot.”

Instructions

  1. Bottom of the stick

    • 1

      Curl the fingers of the “shooting” hand (usually your writing hand) so that they are less than an inch away from touching your palm. The fingers should never touch the palm.

    • 2

      Grab the bottom of the cue stick inside the middle of the curled fingers. The cue stick should cradle comfortably inside the fingers. Make sure the stick is not touching the palm of the hand.

    • 3

      Turn your wrist so that your knuckles are pointed directly toward the floor.

    • 4

      Wrap your thumb around the stick so that the thumb is in-between the middle and index finger and pointed at roughly 90 degrees toward the ground.

    • 5

      Position your grip hand so that it is somewhere between the bottom one-third and midway point of the cue stick. The exact positioning of the hand varies based upon your personal preferences.

    V-bridge or open bridge

    • 6

      Place the hand opposite your “shooting” hand (your weak hand) flat on the table a couple of inches directly behind the cue ball. The hand should be flat, with all four fingers and thumb together.

    • 7

      Spread your fingers slowly as far as you comfortably can do so. If you feel any pain or stress, you've spread them too far. The middle finger now points directly at the cue ball. Readjust if it does not.

    • 8

      Raise your thumb up so that it makes contact with the knuckle of the index finger. If this is not comfortable, raise the index finger slightly so the tip of the finger is the only part of the finger touching the table. The tip of the thumb is now just slightly above the knuckle of the index finger. The area between the finger and thumb tip is known as a “bridge” or “V.”

    • 9

      Place the tip of the pool cue into the “bridge” or “V” you created in Step 3. Slide the cue stick in and out of the bridge. Reposition your thumb down the index finger slightly if you feel any resistance when sliding the cue stick.

    Closed bridge

    • 10

      Make a fist with your non-shooting (“weak”) hand. Place your fist on the pool table directly behind the cue ball. Put the fist a couple of inches behind the ball. The bottom of the first hand (the pinky) rests on the table. Keep the top of the fist (the right side of the index finger knuckle if using your left hand) pointed directly up toward the ceiling.

    • 11

      Place the tips of the index finger and thumb together in order to form a circle or “loop.” The exact size of the circle does not matter as it can be readjusted later, if necessary.

    • 12

      Insert the cue stick into the circle.

    • 13

      Enclose the loop around the cue stick so that you have a firm but not too tight grip on the end of the pool cue. There should be some resistance, but readjust the grip if the pool cue hesitates at all while going through the loop.