on the work piece being made up or broken out in the preferred embodiment we have chosen as a matter convenience to orient one pair of slides parallel to the pipe axis called z slide one pair of slides parallel to a radial of the pipe extending through a point mid way between this pair of slides called y slide and the third pair of slides parallel to a line tangential to the pipe at the same mid way point called x slide any other mutually perpendicular orientations could be selected so long as the physical structure of the itt isolated torsional transfer joint does not interfere with operation of the tongs and said joint is conveniently adaptable to the tong bodies the slide parallel to the pipe axis callet z slide allows the distance between the tong bodies to increase or decrease as the pipe joint loosens or tightens the z slide also cooperates with the lateral slides called x slide and y slide respectively to produce couples paired forces of equal magnitude but opposite direction to prevent relative rotational movement torsional rigidity between the tong housings the lateral slides permit relative linear movement in any direction in the lateral plane the relative linear movement allowed prevents any net linear force from arising in the lateral plane no force may arise unless something resists it conversely by virtue of the.