The "whip" stroke

Straightpool_99

I see dead balls
Silver Member
Has anyone ever experimented with a different kind of stroke? I've mostly been very conventional in my stroke work, but there is one stroke which I find very interesting. The stance is pretty much the same as normal but the stroke arm is usually forward of perpendicular at impact, and the follow through is short. You shoot with a pronounced "whip snap" (yep, go ahead with the whipper-snapper jokes now) and the tip strikes the ball at the precise moment the speed is the largest. That last part sounds like textbook stroke stuff, but in reality it doesn't look like a smooth push like most strokes of high standard. It looks almost like a poke. I believe CJ Wiley has mentioned it once or twice, but I used it way before I even started logging on here. I just stopped using it for some reason.

It is not smooth or beautiful, but the cueball does seem to get a lot of speed and revs this way. The follow through is quite short and the cue almost recoils from the ball (thats what it feels like, but of course it doesnt actually do that). I call it a whip stroke because like a whip the tip has a lot of speed, but not a lot of "push" behind it.

Anyway, has anyone got comments or insight on this kind of stroking?
 
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I've always thought the whip stroke or whipping style involved a long follow through to get that "whipping" action.
 
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I've always thought the whip stroke or whipping style involved a long follow through to get that "whipping" action.

If you are close to the object ball and need huge draw you can actually stop the forearm and let the wrist complete the motion. It's like a fly-cast with wrist action in reverse. You start the movement by cocking the wrist backward . as you move your forearm back. On the forward swing the wrist rolls forward together with the forearm but when the forearm stops the wrist is not at the end of its motion. When the forarm stops the wrist is still rolling forward and completes the follow through. You get huge speed the same way a whip does, but with little follow through. This is a special way of using the same kind of stroke (you don't necessarily stop the forearm on normal type shots).
 
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I've used that type of 'wrist/finger pop' stroke for nearly 48 years. I use it for drawing the ball when I don't want much forward momentum on the ball.

Some will probably come on & present some arguments, but I'm just saying what I've done & my thought process. Perhaps I should offer more & say that I've used soft Elk Master tips almost all of that time.

One can & I do at times draw the ball with a more fluid stoke 'through' the ball. When I do that the ball gets more momentum & spins more in place before taking off.

For me, the 2nd. method is more difficult to control & be precise.

I hope that is something of which you were looking.

Best 2 Ya,
Rick
 
I've used that type of 'wrist/finger pop' stroke for nearly 48 years. I use it for drawing the ball when I don't want much forward momentum on the ball.

This would be the most common situation in which it is used. I think a lot of people do this subconsciously, too.

Some will probably come on & present some arguments, but I'm just saying what I've done & my thought process. Perhaps I should offer more & say that I've used soft Elk Master tips almost all of that time.

Nothing wrong with elkmasters. I prefer making milkduds out of them , though.

One can & I do at times draw the ball with a more fluid stoke 'through' the ball. When I do that the ball gets more momentum & spins more in place before taking off.

This is the standard way in which I draw the ball. I use the whip stroke more infrequently.
For me, the 2nd. method is more difficult to control & be precise.
My experience is the opposite of yours, though the "whip" method has other advantages.
I hope that is something of which you were looking.
It was indeed. Thanks a lot Ps tried to green rep you, but couldn't. Apparently I need to spread it around some more....
Best 2 Ya,
Rick

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I would say that there is a length between the balls that the wrist finger pop stroke sort of peeters out in that it might come up short but not long.

To me that can be used as a form of control.

If I need to get more draw when the balls are separated much I would go to your predominant method in that I would rather be long than short.

That too is a form of control.

Sort of using a .32 caliber pistol or a .30 caliber rifle.:wink:

Best 2 Ya,
Rick
 
Has anyone ever experimented with a different kind of stroke? I've mostly been very conventional in my stroke work, but there is one stroke which I find very interesting. The stance is pretty much the same as normal but the stroke arm is usually forward of perpendicular at impact, and the follow through is short. You shoot with a pronounced "whip snap" (yep, go ahead with the whipper-snapper jokes now) and the tip strikes the ball at the precise moment the speed is the largest. That last part sounds like textbook stroke stuff, but in reality it doesn't look like a smooth push like most strokes of high standard. It looks almost like a poke. I believe CJ Wiley has mentioned it once or twice, but I used it way before I even started logging on here. I just stopped using it for some reason.

It is not smooth or beautiful, but the cueball does seem to get a lot of speed and revs this way. The follow through is quite short and the cue almost recoils from the ball (thats what it feels like, but of course it doesnt actually do that). I call it a whip stroke because like a whip the tip has a lot of speed, but not a lot of "push" behind it.

Anyway, has anyone got comments or insight on this kind of stroking?

I don't whip mine out till I need it.

Seriously, I have a draw stroke that I can snap and increase drawing ability. Snap the cue into bottom of cue quickly and immediately back again,. I started out long ago with this stroke that's not taught today. I only use it for bottom center, left and right draws if needed. All other strokes have follow through. I know it makes for more motion but it's how I started where the cloths were slow and no AC.
 
Never really messed with my follow through, but i make small changes pretty often. I believe it creates kind of a placebo affect and boosts my confidence.
 
I've used that type of 'wrist/finger pop' stroke for nearly 48 years. I use it for drawing the ball when I don't want much forward momentum on the ball.

Some will probably come on & present some arguments, but I'm just saying what I've done & my thought process. Perhaps I should offer more & say that I've used soft Elk Master tips almost all of that time.

One can & I do at times draw the ball with a more fluid stoke 'through' the ball. When I do that the ball gets more momentum & spins more in place before taking off.

For me, the 2nd. method is more difficult to control & be precise.

I hope that is something of which you were looking.

Best 2 Ya,
Rick

Exactly how I've been playing the stop or draw for 54 years. Don't like the follow through draw. All other shots I use follow through.
 
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