Are Jump Cues Worth It

[SBC]

That may be when you don’t need one. I asked a well seasoned money player about being old school and showing up to a tournament with a 1x1 case. He said that’s all you need. Break with your player and if we match up at something other than 1 pocket I just make a no jump cue stipulation. (He won the tournament without a jump cue naturally ).

Yeah...that isn't how it goes anymore

Real world.
Get a jump cue you can jump a ball from 2 inches away.
Jump stop, draw and follow.
Practice jumping and kicking rails.

Give up ball in hand on a good player....it's games.

 

[boogieman]

You'd be silly to not get up to speed with one if they are allowed in anything you play in. Bunjee makes a great one for $64. A month ago I ended up with the 3 piece one Rhino sells. I like it a lot, but I'm still getting onto it. My old jump cue was/is an extension of my arm. The Rhino is close to being there but I've not put in practice with it yet.

I can kick as good as anyone. I can guarantee that you better have me locked in a real hopeless situation to get BIH, but between you and me, you're only getting BIH 1/10 times at best. The real kicker (pun not intended) is that simply hitting a ball and not giving up BIH is a losing mindset. You have to make some magic happen, even if it's just a return safety. I honestly don't think of a legal hit as any kind of accomplishment, that ball better have a good chance to make, or the CB better be hidden after the shot. Speed and "thickness of hit" are crucial to the formula. The best thing is to "slop" in the 9 this way... not my fault if an opponent doesn't see caroms and cross banks.

Jump cues can save your bacon. It's especially funny when someone thinks they played a good safe and you easily make the OB like it was in the clear the whole time. I'll be honest though, the most fun part about getting good with a jump cue is listening to the complaints from people who can't use them.

They are part of the game, it's up to you if you want handicapped or not.

If I were to run tournaments I would toss around the idea of only allowing a jump cue at your first inning at the table, aka when your opponent leaves you hooked. I'll admit it's kind of frustrating to see a player hook themselves then use a jump cue to get out of jail... but that's part of the game, if they can do it, so can I!

 

[iusedtoberich]

I don’t have one, nor a break cue. My opinion is if you or your routine competition regularly miss at least once per rack, it won’t help you win any additional games.

 

[gregcantrall]

I don’t have one, nor a break cue. My opinion is if you or your routine competition regularly miss at least once per rack, it won’t help you win any additional games.

Could be an accurate assessment. A jump cue is a high performance race car that an amateur wouldn't be able to control. Lots of skills to develop first. Baby steps.
Kinda like Quigley Down Under. I didn't say I can't jump it's not preferred.
In little league baseball it was forbidden to throw a curve. No mater what kind of shot you are shooting you need to control whitey. First things first. You have to be able to control elevation and hang time. How high its going to bounce and where in the decending arcs the contact will occur. It's a skill. I developed but have left dormant for ages.

 

[The_JV]

My opinion is if you or your routine competition regularly miss at least once per rack, it won’t help you win any additional games.

Interesting take...

 

[SBC]

I don’t have one, nor a break cue. My opinion is if you or your routine competition regularly miss at least once per rack, it won’t help you win any additional games.

Actually the less the table is turned over...the more significant each occirrance is.

Besides, once a good player knows you can't do anything but kick....you are gonna be getting locked up.

 

[Fore Rail]

I don’t have one, nor a break cue. My opinion is if you or your routine competition regularly miss at least once per rack, it won’t help you win any additional games.

If one of these misses is a purposeful safe that you can't kick your way out - then what?

Your statement just might be your opinion. I would almost think it is a comment made to elicit a response.

 

[iusedtoberich]

If one of these misses is a purposeful safe that you can't kick your way out - then what?

Your statement just might be your opinion. I would almost think it is a comment made to elicit a response.

No, it's my valid opinion, not meant for a response. If one's speed is below 600 and their main competition is below 600, there are enough misses in a typical game that extending an inning one shot due to a successful jump/hit won't matter much in the grand scheme of things. For higher level run-out players, its a different story.

 

[gregcantrall]

Besides, once a good player knows you can't do anything but kick....you are gonna be getting locked up.

Must be a commercial for my Kicks Like A Mule fitness program. Just an hour a day In the morning. Leaves plenty of time for practicing or investigating other ass specks.
Never held Efren back. Pretty sure he kicked their teeth in on more than one occasion. Pluss the only jump he executed in my presence was greatest jumper of all time material. Of course Mike Massey would be my pick in a jump competition.

 

[Fore Rail]

No, it's my valid opinion, not meant for a response. If one's speed is below 600 and their main competition is below 600, there are enough misses in a typical game that extending an inning one shot due to a successful jump/hit won't matter much in the grand scheme of things. For higher level run-out players, its a different story.

I don't want to miss period with the company I keep in tournament play. Continuing my inning & keeping my opponent in his/her chair is of the utmost importance. There is absolutely no guarantee of another shot when giving up the table.

Of course I'm mostly playing 8 ball on a kiddie table.

 

[JPB2]

No, it's my valid opinion, not meant for a response. If one's speed is below 600 and their main competition is below 600, there are enough misses in a typical game that extending an inning one shot due to a successful jump/hit won't matter much in the grand scheme of things. For higher level run-out players, its a different story.

I have to disagree here. Not that I think jumping is the primary skill to work on etc…. But as Danny DiLiberto said a gazillion times in commentary, anything is better than ball in hand. I am below 600 and have saved ball in hand and/or games against less than 600 players with the jump cue. I’d rather win that game than not.

Pretty much anybody runs out more often or can play a better safe with ball in hand. I really don’t like
My odds giving ball in hand to the 525-595 guys I see. So like I said before, if you play any competition or game that allows jump cues you should get one IMO. If you can practice with it at least.

 

[sudocrushms]

Jump cues have won me quite a bit of $. There are times when you can use them to really turn the tide of a match. Don't neglect kicking though, sometimes a kick is the better option.

My "coach" in college used to yell at me for leaning on my jump cue too much. He'd occasionally smack me on my way to it when we were playing matches. Especially if there was an obvious kick.
After college i neglected the jump cue for years (was mostly playing bar pool) and struggle with it now. Definitely need to practice consistently to stay sharp with it.

 

[JolietJames]

One thing worth noting is the differences in how tables bank.
When I am playing in a tournament on unfamiliar equipment kicking requires adjustments.
Jumping does not.
I am an over 600 player but this fact does not change regardless of rating.

 

[boogieman]

One thing worth noting is the differences in how tables bank.
When I am playing in a tournament on unfamiliar equipment kicking requires adjustments.
Jumping does not.
I am an over 600 player but this fact does not change regardless of rating.

I'm going to be a tiny bit pedantic. Jumping does require some adjustment. For example if I shoot a jump shot the same way on a Valley that I would a Diamond, the ball isn't going to jump as good and might even hit the blocker. I don't know what it is, be it thinner slate, construction, or setup, but Valley's usually require more "oomph" to get the CB to jump. But it's a much easier adjustment than trying to clock an unfamiliar rail. Especially when a lot of times you get into situations with tables owned by amusement companies with 6 different rails on it (depending on location and brand of course).

 

[JolietJames]

I'm going to be a tiny bit pedantic. Jumping does require some adjustment. For example if I shoot a jump shot the same way on a Valley that I would a Diamond, the ball isn't going to jump as good and might even hit the blocker. I don't know what it is, be it thinner slate, construction, or setup, but Valley's usually require more "oomph" to get the CB to jump. But it's a much easier adjustment than trying to clock an unfamiliar rail. Especially when a lot of times you get into situations with tables owned by amusement companies with 6 different rails on it (depending on location and brand of course).

I almost mentioned the Valley caveat.
I play 99% of my pool on diamonds and each location seems to bank shorter or longer than the last.