Break, Jump, Game Cues I'm So Confused

MDSPHOTO

MDSPHOTO

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I'm getting myself a decent playing cue and I see a lot of other types like break and jump cues. As a purely recreational player I most likely don't need them, but how many of you actually use different cues for the different facets of the game?

Note, I have been watching more pool on TV and I have never seen pros use different cues to break or jump. Of course, it could just be the editing.
 
MDSPHOTO said:
So I'm getting myself a decent playing cue and I see a lot of other types like break and jump cues. As a purely recreational player I most likely don't need them, but how many of you actually use different cues for the different facets of the game?

Note, I have been watching more pool on TV and I have never seen pros use different cues to break or jump. Of course, it could just be the editing.
Click to expand...

Like you I am a recreational social player :D so I just only use house cues to break, jump, shoot and scratch by back
The cameras do not pan close enough to see them pros switching stuff but they do variety of gear :D
 
I play APA masters league, so here's what I see with those players:

A lot of the players own jump cues, but jumping is pretty rare. For every 10 race-to-seven matches I play, I probably only see someone jump 1-2 times total. I recently bought a Steve Lomax jump cue and have practiced with it at home a lot. But I'm waiting for my new JB case to arrive so I'll have room to bring it to league.

A lot of the players own break cues and use them. I break with a $25 cue that came with my home table. It's about 1.5oz heavier than my player and has a harder tip, so I seem to break better with it. And I like the idea that it spares my player cue/tip the abuse.
 
MDSPHOTO said:
So I'm getting myself a decent playing cue and I see a lot of other types like break and jump cues. As a purely recreational player I most likely don't need them, but how many of you actually use different cues for the different facets of the game?

Note, I have been watching more pool on TV and I have never seen pros use different cues to break or jump. Of course, it could just be the editing.
Click to expand...

Most pros do have break and jump cues that they'll use when playing rotation games like 9 ball or 10 ball or open break games like 8 ball.

I have a break cue and a jump cue. I figure you might as well take any advantage you could possibly get. I would say roughly 90 percent of the league players around here have some type of cue they use to break with other than their shooting cue. Significantly less have jump cues even in leagues that allow them.
 
MDSPHOTO said:
So I'm getting myself a decent playing cue and I see a lot of other types like break and jump cues. As a purely recreational player I most likely don't need them, but how many of you actually use different cues for the different facets of the game?

Note, I have been watching more pool on TV and I have never seen pros use different cues to break or jump. Of course, it could just be the editing.
Click to expand...

If you have not noticed top level players using different cues for play, break and jump you need to watch closer - because everyone does.

Now do you need to, as a recreational player - no, not at all.

Break with a house stick and just forget about jumping, for now.

However, once you find a player you like do not use it to break with. Protect your playing cue and keep that tip and shaft playing the same.

After you can run a rack or two, it will become obvious to you why the break is so important, and at that time you will want your own breaker, one that will allow you to control the cue ball better than a house stick can.

Good rolls.
 
Over here every serious competitve player wouldn't be caught dead without their breaker and jumper for rotation games.

I've heard Oscar Dominguez say Ernesto has separate cues for long jumps and short jumps lol.
 
I have a break/jump cue and a playing cue. I used to break with my playing cue when I liked hard tips more than I do now. I can jump with a full cue, but it is easier to do with a jump cue. A stand alone jump cue, often jumps better than a jump/break cue combo in my opinion. I sold my jump cue, and have regretted it since.

To me, having the break cue is a good thing, keeps me from going thru tips as fast, and it gives me a few seconds to look over the rack as I'm picking up my playing cue.

The j&j break/jump combo cues are inexpensive, but well worth the price for example.

I think the last time I played, I had to jump balls probably 5 times in one of the sets. Shots where I could easily kick to hit the ball, but had a much better chance of making the ball by jumping. On long jumps, where I have a foot or so between the cue ball and the ball I'm jumping, I prefer to use a full cue. I find it is easier for me to control, and really ups my chances of making the ball.
 
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In my area we don't have a lot of overlap between the league players and the regular pool hall players.

The league players run the whole gamut: very few have jump cues, and most of those are jump/break, not dedicated jump cues. Honestly, I've never seen anyone but me jump a ball in a league game. About half the players have separate cues they use for breaking, but very few of those are "real" break cues (meaning they are designed for the break or have special tips). The other half just have a playing cue, some of which are used for breaking and some use just house cues. We even have a handful of players who just use house cues all the time.

Almost all the regular players at least have dedicated break cues. More than half of those are jump/break. Maybe 10% have dedicated jump cues. The guys with jump/break and jump cues definitely have an advantage when the need arises. I've gotten out of plenty trouble and even won some games/matches because I can jump, both close and far. Very few of our regular players have just a playing cue, although there are a couple that come to mind. For them, breaking is not a particularly strong part of their game, and jumping is essentially out of the question, but they still manage to play well and compete.

Having a break cue that is designed for that purpose, even a cheap one, seems like a worthwhile investment to me. A jump/break is probably the best bet for a recreational player, both value and flexibility wise. A dedicated jump cue is a highly specialized item, so I would do without that until it gets to the point where you honestly think it can help your game.

As for me personally, you can see in my signature that I have both a jump/break and a dedicated jump cue. For most jumps I use the dedicated cue. My j/b has a jump extension on it, so for full table jumps I use that. I also have a Jump Caddy bridge head (and my own bridge stick), which helps tremendously with bridge jumps in the middle of the table. So I definitely use technology to my advantage when I can.
 
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I have a playing cue, a break/jump cue, and a separate jump cue. Each excels in it's own way.

A recreational player certainly doesn't need a break cue or a jump cue, but they can be nice to have so if you plan to take the game seriously and can easily afford them, I'd suggest getting them.

I find it pretty easy to break with a house cue most of the time so I think a break cue is the least needed of the three.

A jump cue doesn't get used often at all, but there are times where they can come in really handy. A good jump cue makes jumping pretty easy and instead of kicking to just hit a ball you can jump to make it. While a long jump can be done easily enough with a full cue and some skill, a good jump cue can get you out of some really tight spots. I prefer to not have to pull my jump cue out, but when I need it I'm sure glad I have it. (if you play in any sort of league or tournaments that don't allow jump cues then you don't have to worry about them, but if other people can use them and you don't have one it can put you at a disadvantage)

I have a jump/break because I love breaking with it and I actually strongly prefer it for longer jumps with more room to get over a ball, the weighting is just more suited to an underhand stroke for those types of shots and I'm more accurate with it. My jump specific cue only gets pulled for really tight and short jumps where I go to a dart stroke...it can get me out of some amazingly tight spots!

Considering you can get a JJ jump/break for $60-80 and it's a pretty decent cue for both applications I think most anyone who takes this game seriously would benefit from having at least that. The expense is minimal for what you get.
 
I have a playing cue and a Jump/Break cue.

Breaking is one of the hardest things on your tip/stick. That with being able to have a thicker shaft and a much harder tip is the benefit I see with it.

I have never personally jumped a ball and after playing for some time probably never will unless I plan to get to a semi-pro / pro level. Beyond that, kicking is great practice for learning a lot about angles and such.
 
Break cue and jumpers

Rotation games need jumpers or you can be caught at a big disadvantage, that being said there are a lot of affordable J/b cues from Players and Action that do a great job same w dedicated jump cues. I would recommend you try different weight break cues concentrating on cue ball control. A lot of break cues have become lighter than playing cues nowadays, but it's strictly preference. I like a hard phenolic ferrule w a hard leather tip for control on my breaker. As for jumpers I think you need to practice the stroke w a jump break cue until you will see the benefit of a dedicated jumper, just my opinion. I have a heavy custom Purple Heart shaft jumper but it will not jump close up balls unless I employ a dart method. I am currently awaiting a new light jumper that will take some getting used too, but should cover all aspects of jumping once I develop the right stroke. Hope this helps, break w control and use your jumper as a last resort. Get a cloth swatch and jump away til you develop a feel. There is no magic cue just what you get used to using and become proficient with!!!
 
Thanks to all for the replies!

I want to say that I continue to be impressed by the members of this forum for their keen insight and their willingness to share information with new players like me looking to expand their knowledge of the game.:thumbup:
 
I prefer using a break cues when you do need to hit them hard, pretty much all the players in our local room who play quite a bit have one. Jump cues not so much and actually the room owner doesn't allow jump cues . He has his reasons that I won't go into.
 
MDSPHOTO said:
So I'm getting myself a decent playing cue and I see a lot of other types like break and jump cues. As a purely recreational player I most likely don't need them, but how many of you actually use different cues for the different facets of the game?

Note, I have been watching more pool on TV and I have never seen pros use different cues to break or jump. Of course, it could just be the editing.
Click to expand...

I'll offer this tidbit of advice, from a once purely recreational player to another:

Buy a solid playing cue and learn everything you can about the game. Then ask yourself, do I really need a break cue? Do I need a jump cue? Time and time again, we've seen how many professionals break "soft" and run the table. No one declared that you must have a phenolic tip and break 30mph. No one declared that you must have a jump cue to play pool.

I grew up watching professionals like Earl Strickland and Efren Reyes. Earl never used a jump cue, because he could jump with his playing cue, so I learned to do the same. Efren never used a jump cue, because he could kick like a magician, so I learned to do the same.
 
If he is not sure he wants to get into pool that would be one thing Dave_M. But if he plans on playing a lot then he should get a separate break cue and save on a playing cue. You can get decent ones of each for little money. You dont have to spend $200+ on either until you are ready to commit to it.

Not many people break hitting 30mph so if they were only needed for those people then there would be very few made, sold and used.

Breaking soft is not allowed in many leagues as there is a required minimum of balls, other than the cue, that must hit a rail often. Some rules even stipulate you hit it as hard as you can with control so being a pansy and just trying to meet the minimum ball rule does not give justification on soft breaking. Pro's may be able to still run it out, but it is probably a rare case for even a good amateur to do it.

I too would encourage the development of kicking over jumping and would encourage learning to do it with your player cue as some leagues may not allow you to change sticks for a specialty shoot other than the break. I know the APA has that rule.
 
I use a break cue in addition to my playing cue because the playing cue has a very soft tip on it. Not much good for breaking and would probably mushroom like crazy.

I'm not opposed to jump cues but I don't own one. I'd rather kick.

I'm a very recreational player. C+ on a good day.
 
I watched the ladies 9-ball yesterday and did see Alison Fisher (sp) using a jump cue for some shots and her regular cue for other jump shots. I tried to focus on the breaks to see if they went to different player cues, but the editing still looked like they were breaking and playing with the same cue.
 
I have
Player = les blevins
Break = bk2
Jump = Alex brick
I have some other cues but these are the three that I use most. Really don't like breaking with my playing cue.
 
MDSPHOTO said:
So I'm getting myself a decent playing cue and I see a lot of other types like break and jump cues. As a purely recreational player I most likely don't need them, but how many of you actually use different cues for the different facets of the game?

Note, I have been watching more pool on TV and I have never seen pros use different cues to break or jump. Of course, it could just be the editing.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you were watching, some tournaments do not allow jump cues (although it's not likely that those events were on TV, but are streamed online).

I would say every pro owns a jump cue and a break cue, or a J/B combo. Not all use them, Shane is famous for breaking with his playing cue, I know there are others but can't really think of them off the top of my head.

Depending on the shot and the rules, a player may jump with his/her playing cue also.

I find jump cues a bit funny, I have never seen an interview with a pro where they said the would rather have jump cues allowed than not, yet most events have them in the rules. Many pro interviews have a question about jump cues and every one I have seen they said they would rather not have them in the game.

They make things too easy to get out of your mistakes or a safety, my son when I got him his first jump/break cue at 12 or so, was able to jump a full ball on his 3rd attempt. Imagine how easy it is for the good players. It's a non-skilled piece of equipment, based on what you can afford to buy and try rather than how good of a player you are. Can't jump well with this cue, let's spend another $200 on this one, that will let you jump. Then you can get a jump cue for jumps 3 inches from the ball, another for those 4 inches from the ball, some for 1 foot away. The final result is that the good players are not really for jump cues but if they don't use them they are at a disadvantage so are pretty much forced to use them.
 
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