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

[Monti]

“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.”

That’s interesting. So the propel made you over estimate your ability and you tried to jump where previously you would have tried a kick?

 

[garczar]

To quote, sorta, the great Nigel of Spinal Tap: its one better.

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?

Airdrive 3 Jump Cue

Aerial Dominance The Mezz Airdrive 3 is the latest advancement in jump cue technology that will revolutionize your game. The innovative 3-piece design and full-carbon construction make the "Airdrive 3" your ultimate solution for superior jumping power and impeccable accuracy. the specifically...

mezzusa.com

For example, here is a used AirDrive2 for sale:

Mezz Air Drive 2 Jump Cue | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Mezz Air Drive 2 Jump Cue at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Maniac]

I would not recommend high dollar "performance" equipment to a regular joe. If a seasoned/schooled player needed something to squeeze a little more out of their heavily developed game..?..., then yes I would.

A more truer statement hasn't been made on these forums in quite a while.

Low level to intermediate players should take note. There is no need for these type players to go out and spend money on equipment the pros use thinking it's going to elevate their game to the next level. Pool is like baseball in that many are called to it, but few are chosen for it. All the $$$ we low/intermediate players throw at it aren't going to have any fruitful returns. Being on the cusp between a low level and intermediate player myself, I know well enough where my place in the pool world is and because of that knowledge, I spend accordingly.

 

[Paul Bell]

I would not recommend high dollar "performance" equipment to a regular joe. If a seasoned/schooled player needed something to squeeze a little more out of their heavily developed game..?..., then yes I would.

A more truer statement hasn't been made on these forums in quite a while.

That may be true for the expensive $700 Predator Revo cue stick but not the $600 Predator Air Rush jump cue.

The advantages of the Revo is lost on the beginner but not the expensive jump cue The newer jump cues may allow the beginner to jump balls that he could not otherwise.. It is the more-experienced player that may be able to get by without buying the expensive jump cue. The experienced player can make the older cheaper jump cues work—some beginners will not be able to.

I’ve tried a Temu carbon-graphite jump cue (Monster) and the Avid Surge fiberglass jump cue and both were no better than my wooden Dufferin. Players say, however, that some of the newer carbon-graphite jump cues allow them to jump better than they had before. That the newer jump cues are more forgiving----a stroke that wouldn’t jump the ball before allows one to jump the ball now. Others complain that the newer jump cues should be banned because its not skill now that determines a player’s abilities but merchandise (of course, that has been said forever but maybe its more true now).

Even the used jump cues are expensive. If sellers were more needy, the $600 Air Rush would to go used for $300 and not the +$500 listed. Or the Cuetec Propel would go for $230 instead of the +$400 listed.

 

[SeniorTom]

That the newer jump cues are more forgiving----a stroke that wouldn’t jump the ball before allows one to jump the ball now. Others complain that the newer jump cues should be banned because its not skill now that determines a player’s abilities but merchandise (of course, that has been said forever but maybe its more true now).

Good post, and it's not only true for the game of pool but for every other sport out there the equipment continuously gets better with time. I think of bowling, golf, and just about every other sport has the benefit of using new technology in their equipment making the game easier to play. I think of old golf clubs from the '70s and '80s compared to the equipment now a days and it is laughable how much better the Equipment Technology is today. Billiards is just following suit like every other sport.

 

[Maniac]

That may be true for the expensive $700 Predator Revo cue stick but not the $600 Predator Air Rush jump cue.

The advantages of the Revo is lost on the beginner but not the expensive jump cue The newer jump cues may allow the beginner to jump balls that he could not otherwise.. It is the more-experienced player that may be able to get by without buying the expensive jump cue. The experienced player can make the older cheaper jump cues work—some beginners will not be able to.

Just my opinion here, but I opine that the beginner shouldn't even be concerning themselves with a jump cue at this juncture of their pool journey. More time (and probably money) should be invested in mastering the fundamentals of properly played pool. When the beginner moves from that stage and has become at least somewhat proficient at what he/she has learned up to this point, then, and only then should they even consider started to learn the basic fundamentals of jumping.

I see people at the pool halls all the time that can rarely run 5 balls constantly practicing masse' shots. This is wasted effort. Get proficient at the game before you go and start getting gimmicky with it.

 

[misterpoole]

Just my opinion here, but I opine that the beginner shouldn't even be concerning themselves with a jump cue at this juncture of their pool journey. More time (and probably money) should be invested in mastering the fundamentals of properly played pool. When the beginner moves from that stage and has become at least somewhat proficient at what he/she has learned up to this point, then, and only then should they even consider started to learn the basic fundamentals of jumping.

I see people at the pool halls all the time that can rarely run 5 balls constantly practicing masse' shots. This is wasted effort. Get proficient at the game before you go and start getting gimmicky with it.

Agree, learn how to kick properly first.

 

[trob]

Agree, learn how to kick properly first.

learn how to do both. They are both equally important .

If you golf you know what’s going on. This is how company’s make money. Golf club manufactures make new clubs every year because if you don’t you’ll lose a huge chunk of the market share . I never buy new golf clubs. The iron’s Taylor made made a couple years a go will be just fine for a hacker like me. This is no different honestly. If your jump cue is 5 to 10 years old then the new one will help. The new predator air rush I just got is worlds better then the old air 2 I was using. Then again I have a friend with one of the jump cues Lucasi has been making for years Before they made the air hog even and that guy makes everything with it lol If you have the money and it makes you happy buy it.. you could be dead tomorrow so in the end who cares. It’s just money.

 

[SeniorTom]

learn how to do both. They are both equally important .

If you golf you know what’s going on. This is how company’s make money. Golf club manufactures make new clubs every year because if you don’t you’ll lose a huge chunk of the market share . I never buy new golf clubs. The iron’s Taylor made made a couple years a go will be just fine for a hacker like me. This is no different honestly. If your jump cue is 5 to 10 years old then the new one will help. The new predator air rush I just got is worlds better then the old air 2 I was using. Then again I have a friend with one of the jump cues Lucasi has been making for years Before they made the air hog even and that guy makes everything with it lol If you have the money and it makes you happy buy it.. you could be dead tomorrow so in the end who cares. It’s just money.

I like Callaway golf equipment, it's what I generally buy in the driver and fw metals. I was considering upgrading my driver and metals that were about 5 years old because of the cost, and I couldn't believe how much easier the new technology was to use. Especially in the driver, it was much more forgiving and the result was getting drives that were longer and more often in the fairway. I know for a fact that the new jumping cues are much easier to use than the older jumpers. To suggest that a player wait until a certain time to buy a jumping cue, and learn how to bank and kick first, I don't totally agree with. Learning to bank and kick and such is very important, but jumping can be just as important. I think it's a good thing to groom both disciplines from the start. I don't think one has to wait to a certain time to purchase a jump cue, I think it's a discipline that can coexist with banking and kicking. With that in mind, I'm having a hard time spending that kind of cash on a stick that I might not use in an entire evening of play. Although, if I want a new $600 stick I'm going to buy it.
Here is an interesting option that you can order from Finland that looks fantastic:

Dominus Cues

dominuscues.com

 

[The_JV]

That may be true for the expensive $700 Predator Revo cue stick but not the $600 Predator Air Rush jump cue.

The advantages of the Revo is lost on the beginner but not the expensive jump cue The newer jump cues may allow the beginner to jump balls that he could not otherwise.. It is the more-experienced player that may be able to get by without buying the expensive jump cue. The experienced player can make the older cheaper jump cues work—some beginners will not be able to.

I don't agree with anything quoted above. Fortunately we don't have to.

 

[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

 

[spin-right-round]

OP @Paul Bell

Not a single response with any useful information. Forums are awesome lmao.

Anyway, seeing as to how I was able to procure an AD3 recently and have had an AD2 since 2022, thought I would post some of the key differences, with photos.

The main difference is the AD3 is a longer jump cue, and no, the “third” piece will not fit the shaft. But that was probably obvious.

AD2/3 mid piece = 12”
AD2 extension = 4”
AD3 extension = 10”

The shafts/ferrules are different, the AD3 shaft is 0.8oz lighter. The AD3 butt (ie mid without extension) is an ounce heavier, meaning just that the balance point is different. Also probably obvious since the AD3 has a longer 3rd piece.

Do I notice that difference? Nope.

The joint pins are different, but Mezz has always had tight manufacturing tolerances and I do not notice any massive advantage in the newer pin. Perhaps it was made slimmer to accomodate the 3rd piece. As someone rightly said before, the AD3 was designed as a 3 piece jump cue.

All this said, would it not be possible to just make a custom AD2 extension that would make the length and balance point closer to the AD3? More than likely.

“Feel” wise, I personally really did not notice that jumping is “easier” with any one version. The Tsubasa tip is slightly more responsive, but that’s about it.

Hope I answered your question.

Cheers!