Usually works -- I do it often on certain plants (not trees). Occasionally when I pinch a leader off, one of the two sprouts dies and the remainder keeps growing again as a single leader. In that case, just pinch it off again.

First, shrubs rarely have a very strong, primary vertical growth point....that's why they are shrubs and not trees :-) So no real leader to speak of. As to whether removing tip growth will encourage new tip growth depend on the type of shrub. Some will continue apical growth, some will respond with more side branching and some will generate new stems from the root crown.

I don't think it is safe to make broad generalities :-)

all TREES releader .... period

LOL!! Ken, you really do need to stop making these absolute statements (aka, the "broad generalities"). All trees do NOT releader!! In fact, some never produce a leader at all unless at a very early, sapling stage. That is the difference between a decurrent and an excurrent growth habit.

And the question pertained specifically to shrubs so the whole leader issue is moot!!

Figuered there was not universal answer amongst shrubs on the behavior of top growth on any stem when cut/pinched. side shoot growth and at some point down in time, does top growth also continue. Had to ask as sometimes I question I'm making the right cut