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Hold the cue loosely

A tight grip twists the cue off line. Hold it firm enough not to drop it, and loose enough not to squeeze.

  • Stroke
  • Beginner
  • 10-second clip

Watch

head stillpausethumb and two fingers, lightstay loosestroke 0straight downelbow stays stilla hand’s width paststill on the line
1

Hold the cue lightly with your thumb and first two fingers.

Drawn on the site, with the CueSensei character.

Why it matters

When you squeeze the cue, the muscles in your forearm tense up. The cue then twists or lifts during the stroke, and the tip hits the cue ball in the wrong place. A loose grip lets the cue swing straight, like a pendulum.

How to do it

  1. 1

    Hold the cue with your thumb and first two fingers. Let the other fingers just touch it.

  2. 2

    Keep a small gap between your palm and the cue.

  3. 3

    Check that your forearm hangs straight down from the elbow when the tip reaches the cue ball.

  4. 4

    Keep the same light grip all through the stroke, even on hard shots.

Common mistake

Squeezing at the hit

Many players start loose, then grab the cue just before contact. That jerks the tip off line. Stay loose through the cue ball and let the cue do the work.

Try it tonight

Exercise · Beginner

Loose grip, straight pots

Object ball on the foot spot. Cue ball one diamond behind it, on the line to a corner pocket at the foot end. Pot it with a grip as loose as you can without dropping the cue. Every attempt counts.

  • Pass: 4 of your last 5
  • Then: Cue ball two diamonds back