The grip has a difficult job to do. The grip controls the cue including the controlled direction and power required. It also offers the feel of each shot. The cue should not be held too tight as tension can cause the cue to go off line or off the bridge hand. Firstly relax the grip hand allowing you to feel each shot. The grip is also called loading of the cue. And there are four different types of loadings.

 

Full loading

 

Full loading of the grip is rarely used in the modern game for players requiring improvement. This type of grip can cause over gripping and tension to each shot.

 

Front Loading

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Is when the rear finger is removed from the grip? This is often done to reduce and prevent a curving of the cue when drawing the cue back. This action is also called seesawing.

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Rear loading

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Is when the front finger is removed from the grip? This is often done to reduce or prevent the raising of the cue off the bridge hand when delivering the cue. Lifting the cue from the bridge hand when playing through a shot is a common problem in most club players.

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Centre loading

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Is when the front and rear fingers are removed from the grip, in order to counter-act both seesawing and raising the cue from the bridge hand. With the centre loading grip, the player holds the cue between two fingers and a thumb. With the modern game, this grip is more than ample due to the modern tips, snooker balls and modern cloths used.