Did you know? I grip, and the active pool pros grip, between 1 and 1.5 on a scale of 10 for most strokes!
Perhaps something close to a "2" is used for a stroke requiring exceptional spin or speed with the cue ball.
One-fourth the grip you use now is a great place to begin. Hold a cue in your hand (or a pen, pencil or ruler) as you read this article. Grip it as solidly as you do normally for practice strokes or a final stroke through the cue ball.
Next, lighten your grip by one-half force. Now, lighten it again by half as much. You are getting there with your new grip that is one-quarter of the previous strength.
I bet you don't believe me yet. Take this new "grip force" (or should it be "ease of grip?") to the pool table and see for yourself. Set up some easy shots you make often, and over different distances and angles, hitting one with the lighter grip for every one you hit with the old grip.
See the difference? If not, drop me a note and let's chat to see what else is holding you back in your pool fundamentals or stroke method.
For an extra-powerful break shot, my first move often becomes to relax my hold on the cue stick to such a light grip that the cue is in danger of falling onto the floor. I've dropped more sticks at more pool halls this way... seriously, hold it this loose and see, feel and even hear the difference.
Why Loose Works
As I've explained many times throughout this About.com Guide Site to Pool & Billiards, cue inertia is to be released in a classic stroke.
There are certain shots like the tight center stroke I demonstrate where you don't want much forward momentum released to the cue ball, however, for most shots, anything you can do (e.g. loosening your grip) that helps the cue fly forward is a plus.
On my best days, the cue goes forward into the cue ball and beyond without any sensation of impact, like a snake with a mind of its own striking smoothly and directly toward the target. If I played with this stroke constantly, I would never lose a game of pool. I would never miss an easy or difficult stroke. Never.
Let me encourage you to review classic grip, stance and stroke techniques if you need to add a refresher to this concept of the ultra-light cue grip.
As always, I welcome your questions and comments. I'm pleased to tutor you online and answer specific pool questions to improve your game and better the class of players at pool halls everywhere.
