I want a new jump cue

[SeniorTom]

Looking to upgrade my basic Lucasi jump cue to one of these below. Does anybody own either of these and have recommendations? I am not a great jumper but looking to improve, and I am thinking one of these two are pretty easy jumpers. Any advice would be appreciated, they are a bit pricey, but would be willing if they are highly recommended. Thanks.

Predator Air Rush Jump Cue - Sport Wrap

Predator Air Rush Jump Cue - Sport Wrap

www.predatorcues.com

or
Cynergy Propel Jump Cue

Cynergy Propel Jump Cue

Designed and developed to provide the most effortless and dynamic jumping experience, every component of these jump cues was engineered for performance.

www.cuetec.com

 

[Texas Carom Club]

The air rush is worth every cent
and several color options to choose from
Red black , gold currently available
All with or without sports grip as well

 

[Paul_#_]

Slide13 liked Air Rush and did not like Cuetec's other jump cue, the Avid Surge:

For jumping though, I see big differences. Didn't do super great with the Treadway. It's as good or better than any jump break I've used but not as good as the best jump cues. The Cuetec Avid Surge surprised me by not being nearly as easy to jump with as I expected. Not a huge fan. The Jacoby I've had forever and always found it easy to jump with dart style, but it's a little short for other styles. I typically do jump dark style for closer jumps though so that isn't a huge problem and it gets up quick and easy. Then the Air Rush is just really good....gets up super quick and easy, versatile for all styles, and jumps the best. It's small edge over the Jacoby but both of those have a huge edge in my hands over the Surge or a jump/break.

Rocket34 couldn't tell much difference in jumping between the Cuetec Propel and a wood Jacoby jumper:

I have a $140 wood Jacoby jumper. I also have a $420 cf cuetec propel jumper. I do like the selectable handle lengths of the cuetec. For actual jumping, though, I can't tell a lick of difference.

YouTuber Diamond Dave found Cuetec's Propel much easier to use than older jump cues. He figured the Propel was better because of the elasticity of maple wood versus carbon graphite. Maple wood on average has a Young’s Modulus of 10 verus carbon graphite of 50 to 200. Higher values mean higher tensile strength and more ability to transfer force to cue ball.

BrianKenobi figured carbon fiber jump cues were better:

The cue that I use in competition to jump 6 balls out of the rack into the side pocket, one handed without touching the rack, retails for $135. It isn't the cue. Now I will say this about the carbon fiber jump cues I have hit, they are more forgiving. Meaning that if your fundamentals are 90% of where they need to be, you will get over the ball. However, like the guy I mentioned, if you don't have good fundamentals it doesn't matter what you have.

RocketCEO found Propel better than Air Rush:

've been happy with my Air Rush, but have tested 2 additional jump cues that jump much more easily (both pretty close to each other). Here are some specs I put together to help me compare them. I have to give the edge to the Cuetec Prope

Runemout08 figured Mezz air drive 3 better than Predator (Air Rush?) and Cuetec (Propel?):

The new mezz air drive 3 hands down for me. I will be posting a review of it in the next week or so.

better weighting and more solid hit that both predator and Cuetec.

Sudocrushms figured Air Rush the best cue he's owned

I think my AirRush is the best *cue* i've had. But i was the best with my old Players jump/break. Used to be able to jump over gaps less than a ball pretty easy. That was like 10 years ago now and i'm sure lack of practice has absolutely nothing to do with it...

 

[Paul_#_]

A sort of brand new Predator air rush on auction now at $450 ($600 at PoolDawg):

Predator Air Rush Jump Cue | eBay

<p>This is a brand new Predator Air Rush Jump Cue. It comes with joint protectors, butt sock, shaft sock, and Predator soft sleeve (everything in picture). I bought the bundle from Predator a few days ago and I already had an Air Rush so I’m selling this one. If you have any questions please...

www.ebay.com

 

[Fore Rail]

If you have to get something new the Jacoby Jumper at $200.00 will perform just as well or better than it's way more expensive counterparts.

 

[SeniorTom]

I presently have a Lucasi jumper, but have never got along with the dart technique. I could jump a ball about half the time appropriately the other half I either miscued or did not clear the ball in front of me. The jump cues in my opening post are both lengthier sticks than the more common lengths. I wanted to see what this extra length would do to improve my jumping game, although a pricey endeavor just the same. I wondered what I could do with some of the components I have at home in order to simulate the extra length of the Propel and Air rush. Well the photos below show what I did with my Lucasi, I added an extension, totaling 50.5 in long. Even with the instability that this particular extension added on my jump cue, I was able to jump at will, easily. This extra length allows an under the shoulder approach with your stroke. I got to believe that an Air Rush jump cue would be even easier.

Jump cue 9.8 oz, 41" long Ext 6.7 oz, 9.5" long
Total(all) 16.5 oz 50.5" long

 

[Paul_#_]

The jump cues in my opening post are both lengthier sticks than the more common lengths.

That is right: The AirRush and the Propel are longer than the average jump cue. (along with Jacoby xTreme; See below). Predator website touts the longer length as making jumping easier and longer jumps easier. YouTuber Karl Boyes, however, used the Propel with the butt end removed to make jumping easier.

Another big difference among jump cues is the very light shaft of the jumpers for very short distances: the Martey Carey, Dr Popper and Jacoby nano jump cue. You can add weights to the Predator Airrush to make it even heavier.

I think the length helps for some stroke types and some player heights.

Jacoby xTreme 17oz 49" $550
Champion break/jump cue 11oz, 3oz butt, 8oz shaft; 41" 13.5mm, 12" butt, 29" shaft $60
Monster 10oz, 5oz butt, 5oz shaft, 42", 13mm $100 (I think)
Cuetec Avid Surge 10oz, 5oz butt, 5oz shaft, 44", 14mm $210 (black) $2
Combo jump/break AZb 11oz, 6oz butt, 5oz shaft,
Air Rush 12oz, 8oz butt, 4oz shaft, 52", 14mm, $600
Cuetec Propel 11oz, 7oz butt, 3oz shaft, 48", 14mm, $460 Taom 2.0 tip
Dufferin's jump cue 8oz 3 or 4oz? 42", $65 used
Jacoby nano jump 5oz, 2oz butt, 3oz shaft, 40", 13mm, $550 cue oz=Surge shaft
Dr Popper 4oz
Marty Carey 4oz 12" butt, 28" shaft 40" 14mm $170

Karl Boyes review of Propel and AirRush:

 

[SeniorTom]

That is right: The AirRush and the Propel are longer than the average jump cue. (along with Jacoby xTreme; See below). Predator website touts the longer length as making jumping easier and longer jumps easier. YouTuber Karl Boyes, however, used the Propel with the butt end removed to make jumping easier.

Another big difference among jump cues is the very light shaft of the jumpers for very short distances: the Martey Carey, Dr Popper and Jacoby nano jump cue. You can add weights to the Predator Airrush to make it even heavier.

I think the length helps for some stroke types and some player heights.

Jacoby xTreme 17oz 49" $550
Champion break/jump cue 11oz, 3oz butt, 8oz shaft; 41" 13.5mm, 12" butt, 29" shaft $60
Monster 10oz, 5oz butt, 5oz shaft, 42", 13mm $100 (I think)
Cuetec Avid Surge 10oz, 5oz butt, 5oz shaft, 44", 14mm $210 (black) $2
Combo jump/break AZb 11oz, 6oz butt, 5oz shaft,
Air Rush 12oz, 8oz butt, 4oz shaft, 52", 14mm, $600
Cuetec Propel 11oz, 7oz butt, 3oz shaft, 48", 14mm, $460 Taom 2.0 tip
Dufferin's jump cue 8oz 3 or 4oz? 42", $65 used
Jacoby nano jump 5oz, 2oz butt, 3oz shaft, 40", 13mm, $550 cue oz=Surge shaft
Dr Popper 4oz
Marty Carey 4oz 12" butt, 28" shaft 40" 14mm $170

Karl Boyes review of Propel and AirRush:

Thanks for the post, very informative! I would like to get one or the other, but not sure which. Edging toward the Air Rush, but have plenty of Cutec equipment. I hear some say the AR is easier to jump with, but I wonder if this is so?

 

[SeniorTom]

A sort of brand new Predator air rush on auction now at $450 ($600 at PoolDawg):

Predator Air Rush Jump Cue | eBay

<p>This is a brand new Predator Air Rush Jump Cue. It comes with joint protectors, butt sock, shaft sock, and Predator soft sleeve (everything in picture). I bought the bundle from Predator a few days ago and I already had an Air Rush so I’m selling this one. If you have any questions please...

www.ebay.com

How does one know if this is not a knock off?

 

[Zerksies]

I'm not much of a jumper either, But a few decent videos and using the air rush with a very hard tip I can jump over two balls

 

[Paul_#_]

How does one know if this is not a knock off?

The popular Predator knock-off is something like PREOAIDR. In that case, make sure its predator and not preoaidr. The panther and other markings will look pretty much the same --- the name won't.

Other than that brand, I am not aware of fake predator cues.

For what its worth, there must be many Air Rush cues sold but its harder than hell to find a used one for sale. Its certainly reasonable to think that there may be a used one for sale (or even this supposed brand new one where fellow happened to have two brand new cues).

Also, buy with a credit card. eBay will give you a refund if you bought this but got that.

On another note regarding Runemouth08 who figured Mezz Air Drive 3 is the best, Karl Boyes reviewed that jump cue:

 

[SeniorTom]

The popular Predator knock-off is something like PREOAIDR. In that case, make sure its predator and not preoaidr. The panther and other markings will look pretty much the same --- the name won't.

Other than that brand, I am not aware of fake predator cues.

For what its worth, there must be many Air Rush cues sold but its harder than hell to find a used one for sale. Its certainly reasonable to think that there may be a used one for sale (or even this supposed brand new one where fellow happened to have two brand new cues).

Also, buy with a credit card. eBay will give you a refund if you bought this but got that.

On another note regarding Runemouth08 who figured Mezz Air Drive 3 is the best, Karl Boyes reviewed that jump cue:

Very good video, and I could see it as an option. It seems like all the manufacturers are now going to a longer multi-piece jumper.

 

[Paul_#_]

I think that the people with jump cues around here still jump poorly enough that it is an overall net gain for me, the nonuser.

I suspect this is true for a lot of jump-cue users. Some players like using them in hopes of getting out of a bind, looking good, and feeling good knocking the hell out of the ball but things usually aren't so positive. The player instead should have spent his time practicing kicking and banking . . . . Maybe the Propel, AirRush, AirDrive will change things for these amateur jumpers ,. .

 

[SeniorTom]

Anybody have input on this jumper?

Dominus Cues

dominuscues.com

 

[Paul_#_]

See JV's post about the Propel at

What differences are there between Mezz AirDrive2 jump cue and the newer AirDrive3?

There are few used carbon-fiber jump cues Mezz AirDrive2 and AirDrive3 for sale. What is different between the AirDrive2 and the new $650 AirDrive3? https://mezzusa.com/products/airdrive-3 For example, here is a used AirDrive2 for sale...

forums.azbilliards.com

Part of it copied here:

The Propel is easily the best jumper I've ever hit. Although there are some models available now that should be comparable that I haven't tried. (Latest Predator and Mezz among those.) The long distance range is incredible. Almost nothing I can't reach if I really wanted to. It comes with practice of course but distance control is also easy to dial in. I can consistently fly the cb >4ft, land it within small inches of target zone and keep everything on the table if I choose to. Removing the weighted extension allows me to clear close obstructions. I still don't typically bother with anything under 3". Success rate with the Propel is notably lower than my previous cues. Yes, lower... The options the Propel provides has me swinging at shots I would have never bothered with prior. In competition, the Propel has saved me a few games my other jumpers definitely would not have.

 

[SeniorTom]

Here is what I ended up ordering, not sure how it's all going to work out, but I love the specs and the reputation of this particular jumper made in Finland. I guess the Fins are very good jumpers so I expect this one to be as good as any, and at a lower price. I think it looks sharp as well not gimmicky:
Dominus jump cue $445
Dominus Whip Hard Tip 13 mm
Shaft = 29" 4.35oz
Butt mid=13" 7oz
Butt End=12" 5oz
Total Length = 54"
Total Weight = 16.4 oz

Dominus Cues

dominuscues.com

 

[SeniorTom]

I received my Dominus cue stick from Finland today and it is a beauty. It is elegant and I am jumping at will with it. I like the length and the weight of this jumper, it makes jumping pretty easy. The close in Dart style jumping is still a work in progress but I am getting it. I was hesitant from ordering something overseas, but it only took 10 days from start to finish to receive it. I attached a few photos, and they reflect the high quality of this stick!