Pipe positioning?

[digitalshave]

I know this ultimately comes down to persoal preference but I just wanted to get others opinion. How far down on the pipestem do most of you put in your mouth. I was looking at pipe pictures on Google similar to this dapper looking gent http://www.dsphotographic.com/g2/england/haworth/1940s-weekend/Howarth+1940s+Weekend+-+006.jpg.html and I was watching "Red Tails" and noticed Cuba Gooding puts a fair amount of the stem in his mouth and it got me thinking if there was any real advantage to placing the stem farther back in the mouth. Just wanted to get other's opinions.

 

[hunter]

I hold the weight of my pipe in my hand, I usually just put the very tip of the stem in my mouth.

 

[pstlpkr]

For me it depends if I'm clinching or not.

If I'm sitting and puffing, the button is just inside my teeth.

If I'm clinching as deep as it needs to be to stable in contours of said teeth.
::

 

[lordofthepiperings]

As Lawrence stated, depends if I'm clenching or not.

 

[gwtwdbss]

What Lawrence said.

 

[hawk60ce]

+1 on lawrence

 

[bcirka]

I'm a holder, so just inside my lips.
When I try to clench, the rear of the pipe sits near my front molars.
However, I have tons of trouble clenching; the pipe seems to move to much, and I can't get a satisfying puff.

 

[chopz]

whether i clench or not i find i get the best flavor from sipping gently and having the smoke introduced closer to the back of my mouth, so i never have the bit right by my lips.

 

[ruggierm1]

I hold mine. I'm missing some back teeth on both sides, so no clenching.

 

[foggymountain]

I wonder if Mr Gooding is a pipesmoker outside the movies. Actors often do not know how to do things like hold a pipe or light it.

 

[zirbengeist]

+1 on Lawerence but I usually hold the pipe

 

[photoman13]

I worked too hard getting teeth marks out of my estates to put more in, so I only hold my pipe and put my mouth right near the end.

 

[mlaug]

Dang. :?
I must have a super-over-achieving gag reflex, because if it gets very far back it gets embarrassing.
I'm a holder and for that reason almost never put if very far in my mouth. Chopz has in interesting technique.

 

[chopz]

no i'm not saying i put the pipe far enough in my mouth to make me gag, but the bit does rest on my molar. the smoke enters my mouth and flows over the back of my tongue.

 

[seanavan]

+1 on what Chopz described. A p-lip fits just right between a couple of my teeth on the side.

 

[digitalshave]

Thanks for your replies. I performed an unofficial test with my pipe today and found that with the stem a little farther back the pipe stayed lit a bit longer than usual. But then again I usually have issues keeping it lit if I don't take a draw about every 15 seconds or so. I have tried packing as loosely as I can and drying and still seem to have issues. Oh well just more cause for further research...LOL.