Seems like it wasn’t uncommon during the era of Mosconi and a bit beyond that. I don’t know of any greats from later generations using it. My knowledge is of course limited to what I’ve been able to gather from videos I’ve seen. In modern generations I can’t think of a single player using it. What caused it to more or less go extinct?
What killed the slip stroke?
- Thread starter cuetechasaurus
- Start date
And slimmer/lighter cues, and tighter pockets.
The games have changed, and so has the equipment, hence the techniques evolve.
I think it was the discovery of contact points.
Was the slip stroke used as a necessity for some because of that? I wasn’t entirely sure what it was for. I’ve tried it and found it easy enough to do but couldn’t understand what advantage it offered.
Necessity?
I highly doubt that.
More of a style I would say.
Advantage? I think in practical performance terms none. But like many things in pool it is psychological or ritualistic.
Removes the cue distortion at the back of the stroke for one. Just a guess.
It's mostly bicep give or take the wrist snap. Could be perceived as more linear. Might be useful for those using the Hopkins delivery.
We still do slip stroke at my house.
Did it just a few hours ago.
Did it just a few hours ago.
I'd guess the loss of the slip-stroke as a technique was natural as players transitioned from playing mainly 14.1 to 9 ball. Those 14.1 players tended to grip the cue much further forward than today's players. All the short, precision shots required in 14.1, just didn't need as much cue power. On the odd shot where a player would need a little more oomph, they would naturally slide their grip hand back.
Fast forward to playing mainly 9 ball, and players realized it made sense to move the grip hand back. I do think here in the past 10 years or so, players have greatly exaggerated their "need" for more cue as more and more players added cue extensions. I think a lot of players, even really good ones, misunderstand where cue power comes from. Just putting your grip hand further and further back, doesn't necessarily give you more power. It may actually be the opposite. It's all a bit counter-intuitive.
Fast forward to playing mainly 9 ball, and players realized it made sense to move the grip hand back. I do think here in the past 10 years or so, players have greatly exaggerated their "need" for more cue as more and more players added cue extensions. I think a lot of players, even really good ones, misunderstand where cue power comes from. Just putting your grip hand further and further back, doesn't necessarily give you more power. It may actually be the opposite. It's all a bit counter-intuitive.
I would think that a slip stroke would provide the advantage in that it can cause the tip to close the set point gap perfectly straight. For players who aren’t aware of the importance of tip position accuracy, a slip stroke would provide them more predictable results. Old era players cued further from the ball on average.
Now players train to have precise tip position awareness while also knowing about the effects of squirt and swerve, and can practice closing the gap deliberately.
Now players train to have precise tip position awareness while also knowing about the effects of squirt and swerve, and can practice closing the gap deliberately.
what about real leather?
I have a slippedup stroke.
Exactly!!! Once a player reached a certain level of play, adding in a bit extra to liven things up often happens. The slip is one of these. For some, just making balls over and over becomes rote. Gotta spice things up a bit. Keep it fresh and interesting.... And it looked kinda cool too.
Don't over think it.
I would say that depends on the finish of the leather. There is a huge variety.
Interesting observation.
Me and Jeremy Jones still use it but we both like nappy cloth as well.
maybe that's why he dries his hands with a towel every shot..