the slip stroke

Yeah, that was my first time recording anything. I was trying to run around the table to get a look at his stroking arm.

Did you catch my little joke with him? He was talking to whitey to keep him from scratching, then said, "that camera doesn't have sound on it does it?"

I told him not to worry, I would bleep out all the cuss words. :)

Johnny-

Wayne cuss? Maybe, while telling Jonhston City stories....

Thanks again for the Wayne Norcross videos. Wayne shared a lot of knowledge on that corner table at DannyK's. What a sweet stroke. Often the slip stoke-but not always. Always the right stroke for the situation.

And I have always admired that nice Paul Cassanova cue with just the right amount of ebony, ivory and malachite accents.

Do you run into him at Danny's? If so, please say hello.

Take care

Bill
 
What exactly is the slip stroke? Is there a video out there on youtube a person can watch? Thanks for any info

Here's a video of Mosconi done in 1980. As you watch it you will be able to pick up his slip stroke, even hear his hand sliding on the linen as he slips back on the grip. At 3:20, even though this camera angle is from his backside, you can see has hand slip back on the cue and you can definitely hear it slip over the linen wrap. At 4:40 is an overhead view where you can see this stroke and at 5:20 is a good view from the front side where you can clearly see his slip stroke as well as hear his hand slip back on the wrap of the cue:

http://vimeo.com/4957545
 
Here's a video of Mosconi done in 1980. As you watch it you will be able to pick up his slip stroke, even hear his hand sliding on the linen as he slips back on the grip. At 3:20, even though this camera angle is from his backside, you can see has hand slip back on the cue and you can definitely hear it slip over the linen wrap. At 4:40 is an overhead view where you can see this stroke and at 5:20 is a good view from the front side where you can clearly see his slip stroke as well as hear his hand slip back on the wrap of the cue:

http://vimeo.com/4957545


First let me say, that's a great clip -- I'd never seen it before. At certain points you can see the grace with which Willie played the game and if you can see that, and imagine him sustaining that for an hour, you'll get a feel for what it was like to watch him for a full exhibition match, circa late 1960's when I saw him. (I believe I read that he was part of a dance act in his very young days and maybe that is what is showing up.)

But in all honesty, I see little evidence of a no-kidding slip stroke. What I do see are minor adjustment, or at best a very tiny slip stroke for one or two shots. True slip stroke players used it on every shot, so I'm still sticking to my story: Willie Mosconi did not use a slip stroke.

Lou Figueroa
 
First let me say, that's a great clip -- I'd never seen it before. At certain points you can see the grace with which Willie played the game and if you can see that, and imagine him sustaining that for an hour, you'll get a feel for what it was like to watch him for a full exhibition match, circa late 1960's when I saw him. (I believe I read that he was part of a dance act in his very young days and maybe that is what is showing up.)

But in all honesty, I see little evidence of a no-kidding slip stroke. What I do see are minor adjustment, or at best a very tiny slip stroke for one or two shots. True slip stroke players used it on every shot, so I'm still sticking to my story: Willie Mosconi did not use a slip stroke.

Lou Figueroa

OK Lou, I'll give you that. It's not as pronounced as some. Keep in mind also that the video was in '80, well past Willie in his heyday. For purposes of giving cshots a better idea of the slip stroke, take at look at this clip of Cisero Murphy at the 9:00 mark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxobcdPCYwE

Murphy also played with a distinct pause at the back, pretty unique among players in those days.
 
Great clip,thanks for posting it...just to see one of the greats in action now that's a great way to start off this new year!!
 
Hey Blackjack I just saw Pat's video,man he had one heck of a bridge(length).I play a guy with a slip stroke every wednesday night and never gave it a second thought...go figure!:embarrassed2:
 
Willie used a slip stroke. Maybe not all the time, but he used one.

How do I know.......cause I have one. Watching him shoot was like watching me shoot, was scary.

Now, I just can't run them like he did but my stroke is very much like his and this was the only video I have ever seen of him.

I started playing again after 30 years layoff. I was playing a Cal Billiards and Chet Itow informed me I had slip stroke and how cool it was to see someone using one.

I asked him what a slip stroke was. I had no clue what it was. I was just stroking and making balls. Once I started playing attention to what I was doing with my stroke, I realized what he was talking about. I slide my grip hand back along the cue, without moving the cue, to a point then stroke forward bringing the cue with my grip hand. I even have to same sound of my hand sliding on the linen.

I never was taught it, never saw anyone use one, but for some reason I developed one.

However, from some reason the past couple years I got away from it. Why, I have no idea. Maybe in a effort to just run more balls and figuring changing my stroke to the more conventional style would work. Plus, after a couple of accidents, I had to relearn my stroke and stance maybe had something to do with it.

But then the other Wille thread came up and the subject of his slip stroke came up. That rang a bell that I at some point I used one.

I've been using it lately and it feels so good to use. I feel more fluid in the delivery of my stroke. I feel likes a good ole pair of well broken in jeans. Muscle memory is a wonderful thing. I now feel I have a stroke to use for any shot on the table. My speed control and english application improved right away.

So, I think I'm just going back to the old ways of shooting. Things that were working for me before I tried to get book learning on how to play pool. I stroke like Mosconi, aim like Babe Cranfield, now if I could just run balls and thats all on me..

FWIW
 
Slip stroke is a SECRET SSHHHHHHH!!

Don't give it away fellas!!! Not a lot of people know and a ton sure don't believe...let's keep it that way..lol. Playing aside..the slip stroke is a great tool IF the person understands HOW to do it and WHEN to do it. One thing is for sure....I can make the cb dance like John travolta when i sue SS.
 
Here's a video of Mosconi done in 1980. As you watch it you will be able to pick up his slip stroke, even hear his hand sliding on the linen as he slips back on the grip. At 3:20, even though this camera angle is from his backside, you can see has hand slip back on the cue and you can definitely hear it slip over the linen wrap. At 4:40 is an overhead view where you can see this stroke and at 5:20 is a good view from the front side where you can clearly see his slip stroke as well as hear his hand slip back on the wrap of the cue:

http://vimeo.com/4957545

Nice clip, one I haven't seen in quite awhile. Thanks for posting it. Shame there isn't more of Mosconi on tape.

At about 1:33 right after making the opening combination, listed and watch as he makes the remaining ball by the pocket. Not only can you see the slip stroke, but you can hear it. :)
 
After watching that clip it only makes me want to practice! Just watching him hit the ball is such a pleasure,nothing flashy just pocketing balls and explaining the thought process was an invaluable lesson on how great this game is.
 
Nice clip, one I haven't seen in quite awhile. Thanks for posting it. Shame there isn't more of Mosconi on tape.

At about 1:33 right after making the opening combination, listed and watch as he makes the remaining ball by the pocket. Not only can you see the slip stroke, but you can hear it. :)

I watched that a couple times. Looked like he repositioned the grip, then moved the cue back, all in one motion. Maybe the cue moved back half as far as it would have without slipping the hand.
 
Some would argue , Willie didn't have it .
But, he sure looked like he held the cue in the middle of the wrap in his practice stroke then slipped down in the final stroke.

Video evidence of that is in this video at 5:25 and 7:08. I don't know what term you give to it but his hand slides back on the butt. I don't know how he did it with a wrap on the cue but he did.

http://vimeo.com/4957545

Imagine if he was alive today the money he could make giving lessons.
 
WARNING, THIS VIDEO WILL MAKE YOU SEASICK:grin:

Wow I felt like I was watching the Blair Witch Project besides the camera moving around everywhere , That's a classic slip stroke , Now On my practice stroke I'll side the cue a little bit but not to that extreme but what ever works for that fellow may not work for someone else .
 
First let me say, that's a great clip -- I'd never seen it before. At certain points you can see the grace with which Willie played the game and if you can see that, and imagine him sustaining that for an hour, you'll get a feel for what it was like to watch him for a full exhibition match, circa late 1960's when I saw him. (I believe I read that he was part of a dance act in his very young days and maybe that is what is showing up.)

But in all honesty, I see little evidence of a no-kidding slip stroke. What I do see are minor adjustment, or at best a very tiny slip stroke for one or two shots. True slip stroke players used it on every shot, so I'm still sticking to my story: Willie Mosconi did not use a slip stroke.

Lou Figueroa

Lou turn you sound up as loud as you can and you can hear Mosconi slipping on almost all of the shots. Several of the bigger stroke shots are visibly slipped but even on some of the soft shots where you cannot really see his grip you can hear the slip on the linen...

Thanks DPP I had not seen this one even tho I was looking for something like this awhile back.
 
I've taken a stab at the slip-stroke myself and understand the function/mechanics/appeal of it. I have a meticulous nature, so it is a no-go for me. I can do it and even have a great deal of fun while doing it.... even with a wrapless cue and no talc, but it's not something that I can make part of my precision driven game.

For people that play with more of a rhythm rather than a method, it makes more sense for them to just dance around the table all organic and let the sun shine in on that slip-stroke. So to each their own, but I do not advise it for those that can not afford the mental currency to introduce one more thing that can go horribly wrong in their stroke. (like me)

Regards,

Lesh
 
What exactly is the slip stroke? Is there a video out there on youtube a person can watch? Thanks for any info
As you draw your hand back the cue moves very little. As you start forward you then tighten grip to deliver the cue. Cicero Murphy and CowboyJimmy were probably most famous "slippers". Beautiful to watch when done by a master.
 
I hate the slip stroke.
One of the big reasons I only use wrapless cues is because they DON'T slip even if I use a loose grip.
 
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