Slip Stroke/Shot:

W

willie_527

New member
Hi all, I'm new here and have a quick question that i hope someone can help me out with. I have read quite a bit about the old school pool players and hear quite a lot about the slip shot/stroke. I have a rough understanding of what it consists of, but could you all make it more clear for me? How is it performed? Does it give any advantages over a regular stroke? Thanks for the help....
 
In my experiences it helps when you dont have a good solid foundation stroke. But when everything gets straightened out you dont need to "throw" the cue at the ball to make sure its straight.
 
willie_527 said:
Hi all, I'm new here and have a quick question that i hope someone can help me out with. I have read quite a bit about the old school pool players and hear quite a lot about the slip shot/stroke. I have a rough understanding of what it consists of, but could you all make it more clear for me? How is it performed? Does it give any advantages over a regular stroke? Thanks for the help....
Click to expand...
Willie, the traditional slipstroke was performed like this: the player addresses the shot, usually with the grip hand a little further up on the wrap. As he takes his final backswing, he slips his grip backwards a few inches, then pulls the cue back, then does a normal forward stroke. The "slip" is done quickly and smoothly, so that it appears to be one fluid backswing. There are variations, but that is the classic style. There is no advantage to accuracy, but some players feel they get a better follow-through using the slipstroke.

Doc
 
gulfportdoc said:
Willie, the traditional slipstroke was performed like this: the player addresses the shot, usually with the grip hand a little further up on the wrap. As he takes his final backswing, he slips his grip backwards a few inches, then pulls the cue back, then does a normal forward stroke. The "slip" is done quickly and smoothly, so that it appears to be one fluid backswing. There are variations, but that is the classic style. There is no advantage to accuracy, but some players feel they get a better follow-through using the slipstroke.

Doc
Click to expand...

A guess from somebody who's never done it:

It's easier for some to keep their practice/aiming strokes straight by keeping their backswing short and their grip a little forward of vertical. But it's usually best on the shot stroke to grip farther back - to avoid excessive tip-dipping and get a longer backswing for smoother power increase.

pj
chgo
 
Last edited:
In videos of Willie Mosconi, you will see that he only slipped his hand back a little bit. It's barely even noticeable. In the video of Jimmy Moore, it is much more obvious...he slips his hand back farther.

cubc,
FYI: I think you are referring to the stroke-slip for throwing the cue at the ball. In the stroke slip, the cue slides through your grip hand at the ball during the forward motion of the stroke. I have rarely ever seen an experienced player used the stroke-slip.

The slip stroke is a slip during the back motion of the stroke.
 
The best videos of Moore in action is The Legendary Stars of Pocket Bulliards, 80's era. I played using the slip-stroke for near 40 years. After warm up strokes and usually with back hand forward, the bridge hand snugs around the shaft so the back hand can slide back. Then the cue is brought back to the end of the backswing.

To me the advantage was a very smooth stroke and good follow thru. Players that use this stroke usually have a velvet grip on the cue. When you watch Moore, although out of his prime, still makes the stroke look effortless.

Obviously one does not have to use this stroke to make it look effortless. It's just how I grew up playing and I emulated Jimmy Moore as well as a very good local player.

Rod
 
I can't see how using the slip stroke would have anything to do with the follow through but could well be useful in insuring a light grip. Obviously, the grip must be ULTRA-light to accomplish the slip and if the shooter doesn't "snatch" down on the grip to stop the slip, the result would be a very light grip.

My friend Bobby Pickel uses the slip stroke (and was not even aware that he did until I asked him about it) so I've seen thousands of such strokes. What amazes me is the precision with which he accomplishes getting his butt hand in EXACTLY the same place...every time!

Regards,
Jim


Rod said:
The best videos of Moore in action is The Legendary Stars of Pocket Bulliards, 80's era. I played using the slip-stroke for near 40 years. After warm up strokes and usually with back hand forward, the bridge hand snugs around the shaft so the back hand can slide back. Then the cue is brought back to the end of the backswing.

To me the advantage was a very smooth stroke and good follow thru. Players that use this stroke usually have a velvet grip on the cue. When you watch Moore, although out of his prime, still makes the stroke look effortless.

Obviously one does not have to use this stroke to make it look effortless. It's just how I grew up playing and I emulated Jimmy Moore as well as a very good local player.

Rod
Click to expand...
 
Slip Stroke

A friend of mine that posts on here plays jam up with a slip stroke. His username is 1-pocket-player. I'm sure hew ouldn't mind sharing with you how he started using it and what he feels are the advantages. He also might have a little different perspective as he is only 21. I remember at the Utah Open last year he was playing Surfer Rod and Rod said he had a sweet slip stroke.
 
Poolfiend said:
A friend of mine that posts on here plays jam up with a slip stroke. His username is 1-pocket-player. I'm sure hew ouldn't mind sharing with you how he started using it and what he feels are the advantages. He also might have a little different perspective as he is only 21. I remember at the Utah Open last year he was playing Surfer Rod and Rod said he had a sweet slip stroke.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the compliments Kevin.

The slip-stroke was just something I developed naturally. I've been told it is usually a result of playing on slow equipment (if anyone has played at the Ritz you know what I'm talking about).

I really didn't know I had a slip-stroke until Tommy Baker pointed it out.

I feel like I can generate more power and have a smoother follow through with a slip-stroke. Plus, my stroke feels smooth as butter when it's right.:D

Maybe it's a bad thing maybe it's not but, it doesn't seem to affect my play negatively and it's something I do unconsciously so I don't think it's going anywhere....

Thanks,
-Andy
 
I used to use the slip stroke a lot when I first started playing. Ive learned to play without it but if Im not stoking the ball well and Im facing a long stop shot.... I always go back to it. Its kind of like an "old faithful" stoke. However, if I use it too much, I start to get sloppy and it hurts more than it helps.
 
Most of the really good old-timers had slip strokes, which they developed naturally. Some slipped slightly, like Willie. Others were much more noticable, such as Al Whitlow - it was said he reached so far back that he would occasionally miss the butt of the cue entirely.

Because the move comes naturally, it doesn't surprise me that Bobby Pickle didn't realize he was slip-stroking until someone pointed it out to him.

Slip-stroking is not a part of my game but I noticed this last weekend that I was slipping slightly. I thought this was odd and didn't realize it until well into my practice session. After 30+ years of playing, I suddenly had a slip-stroke! I'm stunned and not sure what to make of it.
 
Last edited:
av84fun said:
I can't see how using the slip stroke would have anything to do with the follow through but could well be useful in insuring a light grip. Obviously, the grip must be ULTRA-light to accomplish the slip and if the shooter doesn't "snatch" down on the grip to stop the slip, the result would be a very light grip.

My friend Bobby Pickel uses the slip stroke (and was not even aware that he did until I asked him about it) so I've seen thousands of such strokes. What amazes me is the precision with which he accomplishes getting his butt hand in EXACTLY the same place...every time!

Regards,
Jim
Click to expand...

Well, if your grip gets tight most likely your follow-thru is cut off short. Going freely through the cue ball should be a prime concern.

Rod
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top