Are Jump Cues Worth It

A

AvidCynergy

Member
Just wondering what you guys think about jump cues.

Currently have a Cuetec Cynergy Truewood and a Cynergy Breach. Been debating on a Cynergy Propel for a while now. Didn’t mind buying a break and playing cue since they are used quite often. Just wondering, how often are you guys using your jump cues?

My friend said I should buy a cheaper jump cue since you don’t really use it. He recommended the Raven jump cue.

Would you guys go for the Cynergy propel or get a cheaper jump cue or not even bother with a jump cue? I play just for fun and don’t plan on doing competitive tournaments. I would like to join a small league for fun in the future though.
 
I bought an $80 jump break cue at a Reno BCA event ages ago. The 3 piece cue is a great tool for me. Good Canadian maple shaft and looks like a house cue. Plus it gives the option of 2 different jump configurations. Removing the longer butt piece gives a small jumper. Removing the smallest mid piece gives a little longer and heavier jump cue. The small configuration gets the ball up quicker the longer heavier cofiguration works best if the ball I need to jump is farther away.
A stiff shaft, phenolic tip and light weight are qualities that allow the ball to come up quickly and with practice jumping a full ball at close range is possible.
The biggest factor in jumping is the skills. It takes practice and practicing jumps is hard on the cloth. Will get you reprimanded or even removed from the pool room.
I just used mine in leagues last night. Not to jump but to take advantage of the longer configuration. My shot with ball against the rail had the wall keeping me from any back swing to execute a stroke. The mid configuration (removed the mid piece) gave me enough length to get down on the normal shot and have a full stroke without bumping the wall.
More often than not when my opponent pulls out a fancy jumper they end up putting a ball on the floor. It ain't the arrow it's the Indian. 🤷‍♂️
 
I tend to think it is worth it if you ever compete in anything that allows jump cues. My thinking is along these lines. Whether you like it or not jump cues are allowed. If someone has one and you don’t, you are at a disadvantage. The modern game includes jumping. If you can’t jump, you are at a disadvantage. Jumping is a skill, but it is a skill that is much easier with a jump cue. You can break with a playing cue a lot more effectively than you can jump with a playing cue. Kind of like what the sand wedge did in golf. Yes, you can play green side bunker shots with a 9 iron like they did in 1920. Or you can buy a sand wedge. The shot still requires skill but is way easier. You can in that sense buy a better game.

I like wasting money on equipment anyway. So I have experimented with jump cues. I don’t jump so well that the Propel did much for me. Haven’t used the Air Rush. I am improving as I am practicing the jump more. If you can’t practice it, a jump cue won’t be very useful. If you can practice it some, you can at least jump to hit a ball sometimes. I am not a great jumper but have avoided giving up ball in hand and saved games on occasion in tournaments or league. To me that is worth it.

Why don’t you consider an Avid Surge or Pechauer or other 2 piece non carbon fiber jump cues? Less than half the cost of a Propel. If you have a place to practice them. I have been doubling up a cloth protector and a scrap piece of cloth. Minimizes the marks on the cloth. And I need to practice them more.
 
JPB2 said:
have been doubling up a cloth protector and a scrap piece of cloth.
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I have done the same on my equipment but be aware that the type and thickness of the cloth effects the jump. The old wool cloth made jumping a full ball with a shooter possible. The new nylon blends are much slicker and less conductive to jumping. To be effective it's critical to know how high and far whitey is going before it reencounters the bed of the table.
I would prefer that jumps were not allowed but since they are I practice them. Mike Massey included some good jump demonstrations in his exhibitions. One was just a slight hop to clear the edge of the blockers. He introduced the demonstration by showng that the cueball doesnt fit through a gap then says, "the balls are made of shrinkaflex and if hit hard will fit". I saw him execute an incredible jump with full table draw in competition. It was with his shooter too.
 
I don't play a ton of rotation and my j/b cue is a J&J(big wood screw on shaft) with a White Diamond tip. I have zero issues jumping balls with it. I've hit a couple dedicated jumpers and if i played more rot. i 'might' get one but right ow i'm good. Spending big $$ on a pure jump cue is not in my future.
 
AvidCynergy said:
Just wondering what you guys think about jump cues.

Currently have a Cuetec Cynergy Truewood and a Cynergy Breach. Been debating on a Cynergy Propel for a while now. Didn’t mind buying a break and playing cue since they are used quite often. Just wondering, how often are you guys using your jump cues?

My friend said I should buy a cheaper jump cue since you don’t really use it. He recommended the Raven jump cue.

Would you guys go for the Cynergy propel or get a cheaper jump cue or not even bother with a jump cue? I play just for fun and don’t plan on doing competitive tournaments. I would like to join a small league for fun in the future though.
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Get the Propel & be done. Any $$$ spent on a “cheaper” jump cue is money burnt when you end up buying the Cuetec at a later date.

The pool bug will bite hard & you will be playing competitively in no time at all.
 
To the OP, are jump cues worth it.
Only if it will make a difference in the outcome.

:coffee:
 
I prefer to kick at a ball so therefore I don't own a jump cue. I only play 1 league night these days, in that league jump cues are legal. Not legal in APA.
I agree that you are at a disadvantage if they are allowed and you don't have one,but only if you know how to use it. I like it when my opponent breaks out the jump cue in this league because most of the time I'm getting ball in hand.
So op if you get one and are half way serious about playing,buy the propel and like stated above PRACTICE. JMO
 
I use a cheap one.
That cue needs practice.
I usually only jump if the kick options are impossible or the object ball is right near the pocket.
Most players I see jumping.... scratch, foul, and/or sell out as often as they hit the ball.
 
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What the???
I must be slipping. I haven't yet thrown in the obligatory "cueball last" promotion. 😉
Just be careful success jumping can lead to doing it on "Normal" shots as well. 🤷‍♂️ 😉
 
Jumping a Ball is a SKILL, PRACTICING BUILDS SKILL.

Dr. Dave has U-Tubes to watch on Jumping.

If PRACTICE watch Dr. Dave teaches, you will be good at Jumping.
 
AvidCynergy said:
Just wondering what you guys think about jump cues.

Currently have a Cuetec Cynergy Truewood and a Cynergy Breach. Been debating on a Cynergy Propel for a while now. Didn’t mind buying a break and playing cue since they are used quite often. Just wondering, how often are you guys using your jump cues?

My friend said I should buy a cheaper jump cue since you don’t really use it. He recommended the Raven jump cue.

Would you guys go for the Cynergy propel or get a cheaper jump cue or not even bother with a jump cue? I play just for fun and don’t plan on doing competitive tournaments. I would like to join a small league for fun in the future though.
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Sounds to me like you have no need for a jump cue, if you’re playing largely recreationally against other recreational players, and you don’t play in tournaments.
 
If you are a Cuetec guy and want to be brand loyal, them be all means get the propel. If you want to spend you money on it, then who is anyone to tell you any different. However, if you have good jump fundamentals, she can jump with pretty much any jump cue. So its really up to you how much you want to spend.
 
It’s very worth it and the cuetec propel is one of the betters

You’d definitely will want to have it in the bag and practice with it
It can win you games more than a kick and hope can
 
Texas Carom Club said:
can win you games more than a kick and hope can
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Well yeah if it's kick and hope. Just like jumping kicking rewards practice. A person skilled at 3 cushion will have a high success rate kicking. Efren is a perfect example. You will have a hard time catching Efren shooting a jump shot. His billiards skills helped put him above the rest when he first came to the USA back in '85. I did have the pleasure of watching him execute a jump shot. He used his 3 cushion skills to take the cueball around the table and have whitey brush a ball to leave the cueball in the Jaws with the brushed ball going to the rail and rebound to close the door behind. 3 balls all within 4 inches of the pocket formed a impenetrable barrier. As luck would have it a stray ball was pocketed leaving the object ball near the rail adjacent the middle pocket and the only way to hit was a jump off the corner pocket point. Efren did it and got a hit and hook. 🤷‍♂️ Never said he couldn't jump just said he didn't need to.(well normally).
 
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Kicking vs jumping is game dependent. In rotation kicking can lead to a safe where you are only playing position on one specific ball. Playing bar box 8 ball there are many times where you can't hide from everything. The jump shot & make is often the best & only option.
 
gregcantrall said:
Well yeah if it's kick and hope. Just like jumping kicking rewards practice. A person skilled at 3 cushion will have a high success rate kicking. Efren is a perfect example. You will have a hard time catching Efren shooting a jump shot. His billiards skills helped put him above the rest when he first came to the USA back in '85. I did have the pleasure of watching him execute a jump shot. He used his 3 cushion skills to take the cueball around the table and have whitey brush a ball to leave the cueball in the Jaws with the brushed ball going to the rail and rebound to close the door behind. 3 balls all within 4 inches of the pocket formed a impenetrable barrier. As luck would have it a stray ball was pocketed leaving the object ball near the rail adjacent the middle pocket and the only way to hit was a jump off the corner pocket point. Efren did it and got a hook. 🤷‍♂️ Never said he couldn't jump just said he didn't need to.(well normally).
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Bruh I’m not reading that
 
Texas Carom Club said:
Bruh I’m not reading that
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Not sure I understand. Is it my sketchy description of Efrens jump shot? It came at the Reno Sands 9 ball in 85 or 6. He played one of the most incredible safeties I had ever seen then escaped it with a jump. Havent seen him jump before or since.
 
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