Stroke with wrapped v. unwrapped cue?

[ozarkguns]

I own both. I'm right-handed. When shooting with a wrapped cue, my right hand will allow the cue to "slip" in my hand after the shot. When I shoot with my sneaky-pete, (no wrap) my grip does not "slip" on the follow through. My question is whether the "slip" in the grip hand is a good thing or not? Thank you, Bob

 

[highsea]

I own both. I'm right-handed. When shooting with a wrapped cue, my right hand will allow the cue to "slip" in my hand after the shot. When I shoot with my sneaky-pete, (no wrap) my grip does not "slip" on the follow through. My question is whether the "slip" in the grip hand is a good thing or not? Thank you, Bob

Better ask Larry.

 

[THE SILENCER]

i have two different types of grips i like to employ. one is all fingers on and a fairly tight grip, snooker style if you will, the other is the complete opposite, almost all fingers off the butt, and just the index finger and thumb. these two work for me. now, weather the slide is a good thing or bad? it may have no effect either way. forget about slide, and think technique, try my two styles and incorporate both on different shots, like open and closed bridges.

 

[weelie]

I own both. I'm right-handed. When shooting with a wrapped cue, my right hand will allow the cue to "slip" in my hand after the shot. When I shoot with my sneaky-pete, (no wrap) my grip does not "slip" on the follow through. My question is whether the "slip" in the grip hand is a good thing or not? Thank you, Bob

I don't think slip is a good thing. You can make it work for you, but I don't think it's 100% reliable, so you are better off.

Wrap vs no wrap depends. I live in dry climate, and don't sweat. So some cues can be slippery to me, which is a bad thing. Particularly noticed this with very clean snooker cues some friends have. Generally the finish on cues is sticky enough, and a linen grip on my pool stick is fine too (I might grip behind it most of the time, though... I don't know).

Being originally a snooker player, I guess I grip the cue very slightly (& use all 5 fingers). I do loosen the grip a bit for the break shot, for more power... but have thrown the cue across the room a couple of times doing that...!

I think some people put too much emphasis on the way they grip the cue. If it's natural, not TOO tight or forced, that's enough for me. Naturally I have put some work in as a snooker-playing kid 10-15 years ago. But now, if I feel like gripping a bit or not, I do it. That's it.

 

[Celtic]

The slip on the stroke is just fine, many pro players "throw" the cue into the shot in this way and it can be controlled and actually forces a more straight follow through the cueball.

 

[Buddha Jones]

Wrapless cues are actually 'stickier' than a wrapped cue, they generally don't slip in your hand while playing so you can't throw them like you can a wrapped cue and let the friction of the linen wrap stop it from flying out of you hands. If your hands are sweaty they will still slip more with a linen wrapped cue, the wrapless will just get 'stickier'.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I own both. I'm right-handed. When shooting with a wrapped cue, my right hand will allow the cue to "slip" in my hand after the shot. When I shoot with my sneaky-pete, (no wrap) my grip does not "slip" on the follow through. My question is whether the "slip" in the grip hand is a good thing or not? Thank you, Bob

Well, Mosconi used a slip stroke in which his hand slid back on the wrap prior to taking a grip before the forward stroke. It can be argued that this technique keeps the stroke straighter because there is less real backswing. On a long backswing, it might be argued, the stick has more chance to be pulled off line.

The curious or even bizarre technique mentioned above of "throwing" the stick at the cue ball is another matter. I can't think of any shot on which it might help.

Most carom players use rubber wraps. I was once taking a class from a top Artistic Billiard player who held the European record at that form of billiards. He tried my stick which has a leather wrap briefly, and said, "How can you play with a wrap like this?"

(Example artistic billiard shot for the pool table: place a ball on the head spot, and another ball in a foot pocket. Place the cue ball behind the ball on the head spot and 1/4 inch away. Draw the cue ball straight back to the head rail and then spin two cushions to the ball in the foot pocket.)

If you want to keep your mechanics simple, do not let your grip hand slip. A stickier grip means you don't have to grip so tightly on hard shots.

 

[Joseph Cues]

The slip on the stroke is just fine, many pro players "throw" the cue into the shot in this way and it can be controlled and actually forces a more straight follow through the cueball.

YUP! Efren does. Instructor Scott Lee says a good stroke is a good throwing action.