The "Slip Stroke"

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bigskyblue

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Willie Mosconi, Steve Mizerak, Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter, "Cowboy" Jimmy Moore, Joe Bachelor and Allen Gilbert were all famous as players and were all masters of the game.

They also had one other thing in common. They all used a "Slip Stroke", when they played. (Grip hand slides further back on cue on final back swing)

Questions:
1. Why did all of these great players elect to use the "Slip Stroke"?

2. What are the pros and cons of the technique?

2. If all of the above listed players used the "Slip Stroke" to such great success, why isn't the "Slip Stroke" being taught by today's instructors?
 
bigskyblue said:
Willie Mosconi, Steve Mizerak, Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter, "Cowboy" Jimmy Moore, Joe Bachelor and Allen Gilbert were all famous as players and were all masters of the game.

They also had one other thing in common. They all used a "Slip Stroke", when they played. (Grip hand slides further back on cue on final back swing)

Questions:
1. Why did all of these great players elect to use the "Slip Stroke"?

2. What are the pros and cons of the technique?

2. If all of the above listed players used the "Slip Stroke" to such great success, why isn't the "Slip Stroke" being taught by today's instructors?
Click to expand...

you forgot to mention new york blackie (al bonifie) among the great players noted for a slip stroke
im not an instructor but the more moving parts to a stroke the more that can go wrong
thats why its not "traditional" or taught as the "default" stroke
 
Funny this thread came up, because I just started experimenting with this. I used to grip the cue in a spot so at contact my arm would be at the traditional 90 degrees at contact. However, on the backswing, I always felt like my arm was not coming back in a straight line. No matter how hard I worked at, it just never felt right.

So I started gripping the cue about halfway up the wrap, closer to the joint. Now my back swing feels better. On power shots, I let go of the cue slightly, and then grip it again towards the back of the cue.
 
bigskyblue said:
Willie Mosconi, Steve Mizerak, Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter, "Cowboy" Jimmy Moore, Joe Bachelor and Allen Gilbert were all famous as players and were all masters of the game.

They also had one other thing in common. They all used a "Slip Stroke", when they played. (Grip hand slides further back on cue on final back swing)

Questions:
1. Why did all of these great players elect to use the "Slip Stroke"?

2. What are the pros and cons of the technique?

2. If all of the above listed players used the "Slip Stroke" to such great success, why isn't the "Slip Stroke" being taught by today's instructors?
Click to expand...

The players you have mentioned as well as many many more over the years have used the slip stroke very effectively. These players all have something else in common which must be recognized, they all played countless hours every day. Their fundamentals were exceptional as well. Their choice of shot was spot on 99.9% of the time. These players you mentioned were the cream of the crop. Not because of the slip stroke but quite possibly in spite of it. Who knows.

If you wish to develop a slip stroke of your own you will find that you will be able to generate more energy to your shots. You will draw your ball greater distances more easily. You will also find you will be losing control of the cue ball more often and you will in all likelihood miss more shots, at least for a while.

If you plan to play 8 to 10 hours a day you might find the slip stoke useful and develop control as well. You too may be exceptional. However, if you are a weekend warrior and prone to occasionally make tactical errors regarding the way you choose to play position. I would suggest you stick with a more traditional grip and follow through. Just try to maintain a light hold on the butt of the cue and with plenty of practice, patience, observation of the better players skills, and maybe a little instruction from a quality instructor, you will do just fine.

Tom
 
TRWpool said:
If you wish to develop a slip stroke of your own you will find that you will be able to generate more energy to your shots. You will draw your ball greater distances more easily. You will also find you will be losing control of the cue ball more often and you will in all likelihood miss more shots, at least for a while.
Click to expand...

This is a good and bad thing. I found out tonight, how much easier it is to shoot power stroke shots.

I had a full table straight in that I needed to draw back just a bit to get shape. I barely hit the ball, and drew back the length of the table.

Just means I need to rework on my speed a bit.
 
TRWpool said:
These players you mentioned were the cream of the crop. Not because of the slip stroke but quite possibly in spite of it. Who knows.

Tom
Click to expand...

I concur with Tom. There's like one men's pro who uses a slip now. The slip is a way to feel good about the position of the stroke hand pre-stroke but I prefer to have a student feel like both hands are where they need to be and "fully engaged" before they bend to the stroke.

It's more the current fashion to have the stroke hand way back and need to pull the cue stick back through the bridge while getting into the stance than it is to pull the stroke hand back along the cue stick itself.

Having said that, these strokes are kind of fun. The reverse is great for absolutely bombing the cue ball around the table a huge distance:

Slip Stroke, Baby!

Reverse Slip Stroke, Baby!

What the...? A Body Slip Stroke?
 
bigskyblue said:
Willie Mosconi, Steve Mizerak, Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter, "Cowboy" Jimmy Moore, Joe Bachelor and Allen Gilbert were all famous as players and were all masters of the game.

They also had one other thing in common. They all used a "Slip Stroke", when they played. (Grip hand slides further back on cue on final back swing)

Questions:
1. Why did all of these great players elect to use the "Slip Stroke"?

2. What are the pros and cons of the technique?

2. If all of the above listed players used the "Slip Stroke" to such great success, why isn't the "Slip Stroke" being taught by today's instructors?
Click to expand...

I think that's a very good question. Before anyone can teach it, we first need to figure out why they did it. I have ideas why, but I'm not certain. I have a friend who plays with a slip stroke. He comes from the end of that era of players. I'll talk to him..

Unfortunately, most of those players aren't around to ask but I know people who were close friends with some of them. I'll try to do some research.

Maybe others here have had conversations with some of them as well.
 
For me , a slip stroke lets me get a little more stick/weight on the forward stroke. It adds to my sense of acceleration and power. Another benefit is a straight backswing as my hand follows the cue backward instead of relying on my arm motion.

Best,
Mike
 
That's a good video of the stroke.

Note how 'short' he holds the cue initially so when he 'slides' back & grips it, he is near 90*.
 
Would this be a modified slip stroke?

While facing the shot and aiming I hold my cue at the top of the wrap and use that length to set my stance. When I go into my stance and bridge I have my thumb touching my chest in my finish position( just below the nipple). My cue tip is aprox 1/2" behind the cue ball. Once I have confirmed the aim I move my hand to the back of the wrap and then my practice strokes. When I shoot I just take my hand back to the finish position against my chest that I established initially.
 
Type of game

When I first started playing in the 60s I too used a slip stroke. Back then the game was straight pool not 9-ball. Most of the great players mentioned above were straight pool players. Could it be that straight pool calls for a different touch?
 
wswhiting said:
When I first started playing in the 60s I too used a slip stroke. Back then the game was straight pool not 9-ball. Most of the great players mentioned above were straight pool players. Could it be that straight pool calls for a different touch?
Click to expand...

I think that is some very good food for thought.

I'm not playing much straight pool but early in a game of 8 ball the slip stroke might be a good choice at times.
 
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