Rests, spider, swan-neck and awkward bridges
Rests, spider, swan-neck and awkward bridges
Don't lose frames because you can't reach.
The rest
When you cannot reach the white with a normal bridge, use the rest (a cross-shaped head on a long stick). The technique is different, and it is worth practising, because a poor rest shot loses frames.
- Lay the rest flat on the cloth, a little to the left of the line of aim (for a right-hander), and hold it down firmly with your left hand.
- Place the cue in the higher groove for most shots and the lower one for screw.
- Hold the butt with your fingertips and thumb, with your elbow out sideways. Swing your forearm in a horizontal line, like pushing a door, rather than the usual pendulum.
- Keep your head over the cue and your eyes on the line. Stay still until the white has gone.
Spider, swan-neck and extensions
The spider raises the cue over a ball that is in the way. The swan-neck reaches round an intervening ball, so the cue can come down at a gentler angle. An extended spider or a screw-on extension gives you reach over a long distance. All are used the same way as the rest. The raised cue makes the shot less accurate, so hit nearer the centre and with less pace.
Awkward bridges
With the white close to a cushion, bridge on the rail: put your fingers on the cushion and the cue between your first two fingers, or against your thumb. You can only strike the top half of the white, so screw is limited. When a ball sits just behind the white, raise your bridge on your fingertips and lift the butt. Keep the cue as level as the obstruction allows, because a steeply angled cue puts swerve on the white.
Watch next
- 1BS #12 The Rest Part 1 (types)Snooker(opens on YouTube)
- 2BS #13 The Rest Part 2 (cueing straight)Snooker(opens on YouTube)
- 3BS #14 The Rest Part 3 (three grips)Snooker(opens on YouTube)
- 4BS #45 Spider & Swan-neck UsageSnooker(opens on YouTube)
- 5BS #28 Adapting the BridgeBoth(opens on YouTube)
- 6BS #79 On Cushion CueingBoth(opens on YouTube)
At the table
Play 10 straight pots with the rest and 10 with the white on the cushion.