Snooker enthusiasts are finally understanding the reason behind top players' habit of tapping their middle finger on the green baize before taking a shot. Though this routine is familiar to many fans, it has often left them puzzled about its purpose. Amidst the 2025 , this topic has sparked discussions on social media platforms.

The widely accepted explanation for this ritual primarily involves the player's bridge hand - the one not holding the cue - when they're lining up a shot. The act of tapping the finger on the table reportedly offers stability to the bridge hand, enabling the player to have a steadier cue when executing a shot. Other theories have been proposed as well, including the idea that the middle finger tap is an unconscious movement beyond the player's control.

Some also suggest it helps loosen up the hand holding the cue. One player known for making cue adjustments while planning a shot is , the 2019 world champion. Currently ranked as the world number one, the 35-year-old has been observed aiming his cue in a different direction before aligning it correctly when initially hitting the ball, reports .

The debate around the peculiar habit of players tapping the table in snooker continues to stir intrigue, with some fans convinced it's a tactic to avoid 'snatching' - a common error where the cue ball is hit too hastily. Proponents of the technique suggest that these taps create a necessary pause, as one expert detailed in the YouTube tutorial 'Snooker Technique Secret Tips 2023'.

"If I get used to tapping the table a few times at the end of my backswing, that guarantees that I can't strike the ball before I finish doing this, so there's going to be a pause," they explained. However, not everyone sees the merit in this practice. Snooker legend Terry Griffiths reportedly labelled the tapping a detrimental habit, according to a user on The Snooker Forum.

"Terry Griffiths has said it's a bad habit and no one should try to do it deliberately just to look good as it's a fault in your game (albeit a small one) that shouldn't be there," they wrote. Despite the differing opinions, the finger-tapping ritual remains a topic of fascination among snooker enthusiasts, with the possibility of witnessing more players adopting this curious method during the high-stakes drama of the World Championship final over the weekend.