Snooker Rest & Spider Bridge Hand Attachments for Greater Flexibility Comfort & Accuracy when Bridging over Multiple Balls
Identifying the Need & Defining the Problem
To play snooker successfully at any level, it is essential to develop a stable and adaptable bridge hand. This allows a snooker player to execute a wide range of shots from deep screw to acute swerves and everything in between, including cushion shots and bridging over intermediate balls to reach the cue ball.
However, a player’s bridge hand has limits and when these are reached, some form of artificial bridge/rest is required to extend the player’s range, elevation or angle in order to continue with the shot.
The problem with these artificial bridges/rests is that they take the player away from close contact with the cue ball and a fair amount of ‘touch’ or control can be lost due to the distance i.e. the length (and weight) of the rest/spider handle. Also, rests require a different cueing technique which has to be practiced and developed in its own right, in fact many professional players continue to have problems using rests and will often do everything they can in a match to avoid using them, including alternative shot selection.
Meeting the Need & Providing a Solution
My idea to help overcome the loss of control caused by the use of rests is to simply remove the ‘business end’ of rests and provide them as an attachment/glove that can be used/worn directly on the player’s bridge hand.
This would help the player to maintain closer contact with the cue ball and would allow the player to continue using their normal cueing action – with some slight adaptation. Also, the player’s normal line of sight could be maintained leading to greater accuracy.
The accessory would consist of two parts; a base unit/glove which would provide the stable platform, and various attachments for the base unit to facilitate a wide range of extended shots.
The base unit/glove (see photo galleries below) would sit flat on the snooker table with the player’s bridge hand inside, holding the base in position. The player’s cue would then rest on and run through the chosen attachment. I believe a wide range of attachments could be designed to accommodate most of the shots currently only reachable with the use of a normal snooker rest or spider.
Of course, there will be a limit to the stability of my hand-based accessory idea, and for extreme reach over large areas of the snooker table, a normal rest with an extended cue would still be required. However, I estimate that my accessory idea would be stable with up to a 0.5 metre reach at least, and even quite extreme elevation & angle changes could be handled with ease.
The materials used for my accessory idea could be chosen according to the market, price range and final quality. Plastics for the budget, club-based versions and possibly carbon fibre or aluminium for the more professional versions. To reach a final production design would require some experimentation and trials, with some ergonomic modifications, but I’ve drawn some 3D models below to indicate the basic idea.
Uses / Applications
I’ve tested this idea with some crude mock-ups, just enough to gauge whether I would be comfortable using such a device. The results were excellent, especially for the most common situations when I would normally have to use a rest or spider. The mock-ups also proved to be useful when bridging from the cushions, allowing me to relax my neck and shoulders more than with my normal fingertip cushion bridge hand.
- When bridging over an intermediate ball to strike down on the cue ball, the device was more comfortable than using my normal high fingertip bridge hand, which has always been a little wobbly at best. :-)
- Also, one of the most difficult shots for me is when having to bridge over a large part of the pack to reach the cue ball, I just can’t get enough elevation to strike the cue ball dead centre. With my crude but effective mock-up bridge hand spider, I was easily able to span over the pack and strike the centre of the cue ball; only raising my cue butt slightly higher than normal. When I played the same shot with the spider (and I also tried two rests, one on top of the other) I definitely felt less confident about striking the cue ball, I just couldn’t follow through with the same optimism – basically, it felt much better having my bridge hand on the table, albeit inside the mock-up device.
- One of the most effective uses I found whilst experimenting was one of the most basic; when the cue ball is out of reach, or when you have to really overstretch yourself to reach it, which affects the quality of your shot. Normally you would have to use a rest and a short cue extension, which is fine of course but you have to change your technique to suit, striking the ball with your cue arm out to the side at right-angles, with a less controllable follow through than when using the normal pendulum cue arm technique. With my mock-up I just added a 300mm straight-out extension piece, which allowed me to keep my hand on the table and use my normal cueing technique.
- There were lots of other minor situations where the device helped and one in particular which involved moving the cue run-through out to the side of my bridge hand. I found situations where I couldn’t get my bridge hand fully on the table where I would like it to be and still strike the cue ball correctly. Then as I moved to a position for correct striking, I would end up only being able to get a couple of fingers on the table due to avoiding the surrounding balls; one of those ‘in between’ situations. I made a sliding attachment for the device so I could place my hand in my preferred location, flat on the table, then slid the cue guide out to the side to line up the shot – perfect!
- Some further development is required though, to make the device more practical and more versatile, for example it may be helpful to hinge the base unit in the centre or near to the fingertip end in order to provide more control and allow the player to raise their stance for comfort. Also the exact ‘splay’ of the base unit finger flutes needs to be determined and may require a couple of different versions; maybe one for children and one for adults for example.
I can think of at least a dozen more attachments and variations on this product idea and I hope someone will develop the concept further. I think with a bit of development work and trialling (leave a prototype or two with a few professional snooker players, then use their feedback to adapt and refine the design accordingly – they may even provide endorsements for a percentage share) this could be made into a viable product for the snooker industry.
Resources
I have produced a few 3D models/drawings which I have included in the galleries below. However, I have not had time to develop a proper prototype so I can only offer my descriptions above coupled with 3D drawings as a representation of my invention. Please feel free to take the idea and develop it into a product, with my best wishes :-)
p.s. Prior to writing this post, I realised I needed a method of drawing/rendering my ideas for this product, since I didn’t have a proper prototype to photograph and the visual design was too complex to describe adequately in words alone (a picture paints a thousand words).
Although I use various CAD and pcb design software regularly, these tools are limited from an aesthetic point of view, being aimed more at schematic and engineering drawing/modelling.
I wanted something more visually descriptive and graphical like Fireworks or Photoshop but with proper 3D capabilities. I researched, downloaded, installed and tried around thirty different open-source 3D packages, eventually settling on Blender (a marvellous software with a very steep learning curve, for an engineer). So all the images/models in these galleries represent my first attempts at using Blender as a design tool :-) I will also make use of it to help convey many of my other inventions and design ideas in future posts – hopefully my skill will improve a little ;-)
Photo Gallery 1 – Hand Mounted Snooker Spider
These images represent my initial design thoughts – a hand mounted spider attachment to help when bridging over multiple balls such as sections of the pack. My elevated bridge hand is quite good and I can reach over quite a few balls, but I always feel uncomfortable and a bit shaky, and it’s difficult to maintain line-of-sight and a decent follow through.
This hand attached spider is short and sweet! The very crude mock-up I built brought me a lot closer to the cue ball, reduced my striking angle to a more horizontal plane, and overall, I felt I had more control over the strike. Much better than a long wooden stick with a brass claw on the end.
Photo Gallery 2 – Hand Mounted Offset Snooker Spider
This was an adaptation of my first design idea; a hand mounted spider but offset at an angle of about 30 degrees. If you’ve played any snooker you’ll know why this is useful. Often, the balls are placed such that you can’t get your bridge hand or enough fingertips on the table in line with the shot in order to bridge over the intervening balls. However, it is sometimes possible to place your bridge hand on the table, to the side of the balls.
Using the offset attachment allows you to get your hand on the table and still have the spider V in line with the shot offset to the right (or left) bridging over the awkward balls.
Photo Gallery 3 – Hand Mounted Adjustable Snooker Spider
The adjustable hand mounted spider attachment is a natural progression from the offset spider. A 30 degree offset is useful and can be ‘jiggled’ into a suitable position, however, a range of preset offsets would be more practical. I think 15 degree increments would be ideal, with a click-stop mechanism to lock the spider arm into place.
Photo Gallery 4 – Hand Mounted Snooker Rest
I believe this may be the most useful adaptation of this product idea. How often have you approached a shot only to find that it is just out of reach or just too much of a stretch? These are the diagonal – across the table – type shots, or the shots where being opposite handed would enable you to reach.
Normally when a shot is just out of reach, you have to use a rest and maybe a small cue extension which immediately pushes you much further away from the cue and object ball; it also requires a complete change of cueing action, something with which many players never feel completely comfortable.
The hand mounted rest attachment (bridge hand extension) effectively enables you to extend your bridge arm a few hundred millimetres thus bringing many more shots within range. With the hand rest and a cue extension, I believe almost all shots would be within range of the player enabling the use of a near normal cueing action. Only the more distant or awkward shots would still require a traditional rest or extended rest.
Photo Gallery 5 – Hand Mounted Snooker Spider-Rest Design Concepts
This gallery contains the product design models only, without all the clutter of the table demonstration setting. These close-up views give a better idea of the concept and mechanics of the design.
Photo Gallery 6 – Hand Mounted Snooker Spider-Rest – Two Finger Version
No, I’m not being facetious ;-) While I was playing around with the design of the four-fingered base unit (‘glove’), it occurred to me that a two-fingered base unit may be perfectly adequate as a stable platform for the spider and rest attachments; it may even be possible to design a base unit with a single-finger and thumb hook – it depends on the stability.
Obviously, a smaller profile for the base unit would be beneficial, enabling more scope for bridge hand positioning on the table, less manufacturing cost, and easier transport of part of a player’s snooker kit.
Hi,
This is a perfect product for my brother who lost the use of his right hand due to an accident. I think your product could help him go back to playing snooker again. How can we get one please? Many thanks
Hi Clare, thanks for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about your brother. I’m afraid the invention is just at the design stage so not available. However, if I manage to manufacture it I will let you know.
Hello,
I have a friend that suffered a stroke and has lost the use of his right hand. I am looking for something to allow him to play pool again and I think your designs might be perfect for this. Do you by chance have any 3D models of your designs that I might be able to try to 3d print to see if they would work for him?
Thank you,
Steve
Hi Steve, thanks for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about your friend. I don’t have a printable 3D model I’m afraid but if I continue product development in the future, I will let you know.
Have you thought about a variation of these to prevent hand contact with table in with COVID in mind?
Hi Noel, sorry for late reply. That would have been a great idea but I think now it would no longer be necessary.
I am a manager of a disabled service we are trying to teach some of the people we support to play pool and have been searching for equipment to help them achieve this
I have come across this aid and wondered if it is for retail
Hi Tina, thanks for your comment. I would love to help but unfortunately it’s not in production (just a design).
Hello
Can i buy it plz ?
Thx
Hi David, thanks for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Hey, is it possible to get any of the CAD files you worked with? I’d be interested in printing this.
Hi Derek, thanks for your comment. I don’t have a printable 3D model I’m afraid but if I continue product development in the future, I will let you know.
What an amazing invention. Are you selling any of these?
Hi Pierre, thanks very much for your kind comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Hi
Fantastic tool :)
Is it legal to use in snooker ?
Is it possible to order one ?
Best regards
Peter Poulsen
Hi Peter, thanks for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production. Yes it is ‘legal’, it’s another form of bridge.
hello
is it possible to have the stl of your rest snooker project so i can print it in 3d model iam a snooker player and i think that your product may help to play better
thanks
Hi Karim, thanks for your comment. I don’t have a printable 3D model I’m afraid but if I continue product development in the future, I will let you know.
I am interested in the spider bridge hand extension as I have a condition that stops me raising my thumb to make a bridge, were can I get one of these from?
Hi Christopher, thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Where can I buy these finger bridges.
Hi Bob, thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Hello is it possible foe me to get one of the disabled snooker hand/ claw thanks kevan llewellyn
Hi Kevan, thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
I would really like one of those bcause I have a disabled left arm due to a bit and run driver when I was two and I really like snooker. Can I buy one thank you kevan Llewellyn
Hi Kevan, thanks very much for your comment. Again, sorry – I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Hi,
I am interested in buying this spider bridge hand, but can’t find it anywhere. Is it just a concept you’ve designed or have someone started manufacturing them? Kindly inform.
Hi Anupam, thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest. It’s an invention of mine but not in production.
Looks like a great bridge are they available for purchase and where can you buy them
It looks like a good bridge are they available for purchase and where
Hi Art, thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Hello,
I’m Ridgeland SC I am quaudriplegic and have no wrisk extension in both arms. I can’t move my wrisk nor my fingers. I really need one of the “Snooker Rest & Spider Bridge.” Would you tell me how to get one, as soon as possible. I have been quadriplegic for 36 years. I own a pool table but I cant enjoy playing on it until find something like the “Snooker Rest & Spider Bridge Hand” to rest my stick on. Please contact me.
Ph:843 263 2844
145 Chapel Road
Ridgeland SC 29936
Hi Joe, I’m sorry for the very late reply. Thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design/invention at the moment and not in production. If I do decide to produce it I will let you know of course.
How do I purchase this and how much
Hi Donna, thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Hi,
Could you sens to me an idea if retail price ?
Thks
Antony
Hi Antony, thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Hi, I am very interested in your product. Where can I buy it??
Hi Ole, thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Need to purchase this spider hand bridge!? Please advice Thanks.. Kamran
Hi Kamran, thanks very much for your comment. I appreciate your interest but it’s just a design at the moment and not in production.
Hi:
Phenomenal products, I want some. I’m a new snooker player and not left hand oriented, so how can I obtain your product? I am a craftsman and cold build them out of brass/wood tubing, etc. but since you are the designer I think they should be on the market. I imagine tooling costs are very high, but I think you have a great idea, and looks like one for a Kickstarter campaign. Will you make/sell me some 3-D models, or what suggestion do you have so I may obtain some? Great job.
Hi Carl, thanks very much for your kind comments and for your interest in my invention. If I had 3D models I would be happy to give them to you. If I decide to progress this invention further I will let you know of course.
I like your idea here and you are obviously on to something here.
You probably have considered left and right handed players in this but one you glove definitely wouldn’t suffice for all even though it rotates.
Those horrible bridging shots will definitely be made easier with your invention.
All the best.
Hi Karl, thanks very much for your kind comments and for your interest in my invention. Yes, the idea is that the bridges should be universal (left and right-handed).
hello i am so glade i came across your snooker rest idea. Let me explain 2 and a half years ago i had a major motorcycle accident which has left me with complete nerve damage in my right arm. i used to love playing but when i went for the first time recently it was a real struggle and had lots of issues but your invention would really be a game changer for me and would really help me try find something i can even do anymore. If someone does help turn this into a product can you please let me no as like i said would really really make a big difference to me. I hope someone helps you and wish you all the best brian
Hi Andrew, thanks very much for your kind comments and for your interest in my invention. Sorry to hear about your accident. If I or someone else manages to produce these in the near future I will let you know of course.
Excellent idea. I suffer with Dupuytrens Contracture effecting the 3rd and 4th fingers of my left hand. The two finger bridge illustrated would overcome my problems bridging over adjacent balls.
I wish you luck in bringing these accessories to the market.
Hi, thanks very much for your kind comments and for your interest in my invention. I understand your difficulty (I have arthritis in my hands which creates a similar restriction). If I or someone else manages to produce these in the near future I will let you know of course.
i am a disabled person and this bridging device would enable me to play again could you let me know where to buy one please
Hi, thanks very much for your comment and for your interest in my invention. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid.
Where can I Purchase This at I have a friend that had a stroke and now his left hand shakes a lot I think this would be great for him I’m very excited to see this!!
Hi Ray, thanks very much for your kind comment and for your interest in my invention. I’m sorry to hear about your friend’s stroke. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
i need this kind of rest , can you ship it ?
Hi Antriksh , thanks for your comment and for your interest in my invention. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
I would love to try this out where can I get one and how much are they
Hi Patty, thanks for your comment and for your interest in my invention. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
I am extremely interested in purchasing one of these…can you get with me on how much and how long to ship to me…
Hi Steve, thanks for your comment and for your interest in my invention. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
I wanna buy this Hand Mounted Snooker Spider-Rest.
Hi Ravi, thanks for your comment and for your interest in my invention. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
Interesting concepts. Can you provide a hand mounted snooker rest for my use/testing. I have students of the sport that may want to try this out. I could possibly get some favorable reviews for you.
Keep up the great work!
Hi Mr Brown, thanks for your kind comment and for your interest in my invention. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
I’m inquiring purchasing one of your hand bridges. I have Multiple Sclerosis and finger stability and ball accessibility can sometimes be quite difficult. Please feel free to contact me via email, text or call. My number is 225-337-2507. Sincerely,
Evelyn
Baton Rouge, La.
Hi Evelyn, thanks for your comment and for your interest in my invention. I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
This tool is a great idea and much more versatile than conventional rests. It should sell well.
Hi David, thanks for your kind comment, much appreciated.
I have neuropathy in my hands and can’t form a bridge for my cue.
Hi Philip, thanks for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
would like to know more about hand rest what they are made of and can they be used like me who has little control in his left hand, that is very hard to make bridge. and also cost, Many thanks.
Hi Derek, thanks for your comment and for your interest in my invention. I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
I will be going in for shoulder surgery in the near future. I am right handed so I will be doing the one arm (left) snooker playing. Where could I purchase these aids?
Tks, Moe – Ottawa, Canada
Hi Moe, thanks for your comment and for your interest in my invention. I’m sorry to hear about your surgery. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
Hi Brian, like your inventions, just wondered do you actually have a piece that would fit to the hand, just to replace a standard hand bridge, i struggle cueing straight due to my thumb not being able to lift much from the bed of the table, thus making the cue more liable to movement on normal shots.
Kind Regards David
Hi David, thanks for your kind comment and for your interest in my invention. I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties. Unfortunately it’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
Hi can u buy these anyone help me out thanks
Hi Adam, thanks for your comment and for your interest in my invention. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
Like the bridge but can the length be made shorter. My hand shakes an this may work for me.
Hi Ike, thanks for your comment and for your interest in my invention. I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
How awesome is this, this would be much more preferred to the cumbersome Swan. Any possibility of acquiring one of these?
Hi Dave, thanks for your kind comment and for your interest in my invention. It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available.
Hi, I really enjoy a game of snooker but lately have been unable to cue properly due to arthritis in my thumbs rendering them usless for the game. I came across your inovations and am impressed by their originality. I am sure you will do very well with these. Do you have a shorter version which can imitate the upward bend of the thumb ? Also, do the extensions come off and are they adjustable. ie One glove, many adaptors.
Thanks
Hank
Hi Hank, thanks very much for your kind comment and for your interest in my invention. I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties (I also have arthritis in my hands). It’s just a design at the moment and not in production I’m afraid, so not available. If I or someone else manages to produce these in the near future I will let you know of course.
What an ingenious design. Pity they don’t use these in the World Championships!
Hi Sam, thanks very much for your kind comment.