Can someone please explain a slip stroke?

spliced

spliced

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am still not sure exactly what this is or how to do it. Any benefits over a regular stroke?

Thanks
 
fullsplicefiend said:
I am still not sure exactly what this is or how to do it. Any benefits over a regular stroke?

Thanks
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Someone correct me if I’m wrong (and I’m sure they will) but a slip stroke is when you use an extremely loose grip and just before the point of contact the cue slides through your hand. In all actuality the cue is slipping through your hand your not gripping it, hence the name “slip stroke”. It is my understanding that using this stroke allows you to put more juice on the ball but is less accurate.
 
I'll try to put how I use a slip as simply as I can. Your down on a shot with all the normal thought processes and feel completed in your head, and by slipping your hand back during the last draw back of the cue, and not changing anything else in your head, the shot becomes "Early or Late" when you let it go depending on what you want to do with the shot. Freddie perfectly explained this concept in that other post.

5 years ago I would not have understood that concept. By playing a TON one pocket, and actually billiards, you will see what this concept means IMO.

There are times when teachers have explained things to me in a seemingly vague way and it frustrated me. I'm now learning why this is done. Years ago I was not ready to learn about slip strokes and advanced theory, and if any of my instructors were to try to teach me more than anything but basic stuff at that point, it would have been detrimental IMO.

Gerry
 
No, the cue doesn't slip out of your hand with this stroke. If you watch Steve Mizerak or Shannon Daulton's back hand when they are making practice stroke, they truly do a slow-motion slip. They will start off lining up the shot with their hand in a higher position on the butt. As they are getting into their form, their hand will slip back into the correct spot - before they pull back and follow through. They do this so slowly though, it isn't a textbook slip stroke. Cowboy Jimmy Moore (for example) did this same thing, but very quicky - and in one foul swoop....thus textbook slipstroke.
 
Matt_24 said:
No, the cue doesn't slip out of your hand with this stroke. If you watch Steve Mizerak or Shannon Daulton's back hand when they are making practice stroke, they truly do a slow-motion slip. They will start off lining up the shot with their hand in a higher position on the butt. As they are getting into their form, their hand will slip back into the correct spot - before they pull back and follow through. They do this so slowly though, it isn't a textbook slip stroke. Cowboy Jimmy Moore (for example) did this same thing, but very quicky - and in one foul swoop....thus textbook slipstroke.
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Matt - Jimmy Moore from Albuquerque was the quintessential (sp?) master of the slip stroke. Hate to date myself - but he came thru Phoenix on a regular basis and once you see him slip back, its hard to forget it. I talked to him several times and asked him about it once and he said that he originally started doing it because he wanted to take the variable (I'm paraphrasing) out of hinging and cocking his wrist and it worked so well, he never quit doing it. Also - he said when he moved his right hand back, he slightly increased he pressure in his bridge (left hand) to keep the cue on line.

Also-Brunswick had a touring pro named Verne Peterson. As part of his routine (Brunswick sent out pros, including Mosconi sometimes when they opened up new pool rooms) Petersen explained why he used a slip stroke and then ran 50 balls (Straight Pool) using the slip stroke and turning his head away and not looking at the shot as he made his stroke.

A well timed slip stroke is a neat thing to watch. Mosconi used a slip stroke from time to time also.
 
The typical slipstroke actually allows the shooter to increase the length of his backstroke with his forearm, but not the cue itself. Usually the player aims the shot with his grip hand slightly forward on the cue, then he slides (or slips) his hand backwards just prior to gripping it and taking the whole cue back. I think this then allows the player to follow through more completely or naturally. In that way, it's definitely a "feel" or psychological aid. I don't think the slipstroke necessarily allows for any increased accuracy however. I used one for years playing 3-cushion, but when I tried it in pool it seemed to hurt my accuracy. Many great players have used one though. The modern day incarnation of the slipstroke is the shoulder rise and drop that some of the guys like Lil John use.

Doc
 
Just to clarify for previous posters: The slip stroke happens on the back swing. Letting the cue slide through your hand on the forward stroke is not what is known as a slip stroke. I've heard that called "throwing" the cue... meaning, obviously, that when letting it slide through the hand one has let go or throw the cue. I use that method a lot and like it as I believe that using it minimizes the chances of moving the cue off line while it goes through the hitting area.
 
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fullsplicefiend said:
I am still not sure exactly what this is or how to do it. Any benefits over a regular stroke?

Thanks
Click to expand...
See the two articles 2005-10 and 2005-11 (October and November, 2005) at http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/BD_articles.html which describe about two dozen different strokes. Illustrated in the first article are the slip stroke (which Mosconi used) and the "stroke slip" in which the stick slides forward at about the time of tip-to-ball contact.
 
JimS said:
Just to clarify for previous posters: The slip stroke happens on the back swing. Letting the cue slide through your hand on the forward stroke is not what is known as a slip stroke. I've heard that called "throwing" the cue... meaning, obviously, that when letting it slide through the hand one has let go or throw the cue. I use that method a lot and like it as I believe that using it minimizes the chances of moving the cue off line while it goes through the hitting area.
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I throw my cue all the time. Across the room, through a windshield, at the current girlfriend, etc etc etc. :D :D :D

I use that stroke a lot. I break with it and on shots I have to hit with authority. I agree that it reduces variables, unless inertia decides to change its mind on me.
 
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