don't ban jump cues, ban phenolic tips- ?

E

evergruven

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
watching yapp vs. capito now- these guys are incredible players
but I just seen them shoot three successive jump shots..
sure there's skill to it, and I realize jump rules are unlikely to change
but more often than not, jumping looks sterile, and sounds dissonant
kicking balls appears so much more attractive, doesn't it?
anyway, my proposition is this: keep the cues, lose the cueball tips
that would seem to make both jumping, and breaking more difficult
maybe we'd see a little more knowledge and creativity applied
really good safeties would be better rewarded, which seems fair
would be interesting to see breaking without the phenolic tip, too
 
I don't see changes being made to this industry wide. I do think we might see certain events no jump cues.
 
Zerksies said:
They now have leather tips just as hard as Phenolic. Banning a tip is pointless. Eventually we might get a tip that is even harder then phenolic.
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Um that would dent the balls? Unless that's what you meant because it's a joke. Inquiring minds want to know.
 
I'm old school, not a fan of jumping, especially at the pro level. The game is already becoming easy enough for these studs with their fancy ld shafts and near perfect playing conditions lol.
That said though, jump cues make cue makers money, so unfortunately jumping is here to stay for the next several years, especially with Predator sponsoring so many events. (I have a love/hate relationship with Predator btw lol).

Jump-escaping (with a specialized jump cue) out of a well-played safety is a cop-out imo. Any banger can learn pretty quickly how to at least clear a ball with a decently designed jump cue.
And the funniest thing is that most amateurs can't control their jumps in a manner that actually gives them an advantage over kicking! In fact, I welcome average players to jump (especially on a small bar table) when I play a safe against them in a league match. Their lack of control gives me ball-in-hand often lol. Anyways.....

At the pro level, however, it feels like jumping is cheating. It's just too easy for them with the specialized stick. (Use your playing cue like men!)
And it's definitely not how our pool fore-fathers intended the game to be played.
Hell, I can't think of one pro player over age 60 that says they're a good addition to the game.
The good news is that more and more leagues and tournaments, worldwide, are banning them, and it's a trend I think (and hope) will continue.

In the meantime I have three recommendations:
1) When you play a safety, don't roll the object ball near a pocket or the money ball. (I see women pros do this all the time btw lol.)
2) Learn to play really good lockdown safeties--- lock the cue ball up against another ball so they can't jump.
3) Send the object ball behind a row of balls, taking away the "landing area" for a jump shot.

Have a great day!

P.S.-- I can jump (and kick) well btw. I just don't agree with jumping as part of our sport. Gimmicky.
 
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The best players can succeed without a jump stick. Fedor Gorst, possibly the best jumper (at very least in the conversation with Jayson Shaw, Albin Ouschan and Ko Pin Yi for that designation) dominated at the 2022 Derby City Classic, winning about $60,000 in just nine days. Jump cues are not permitted at the Derby City Classic, and it makes for a better event.

Jump cues make the game look cheap and compromise its integrity. For those of you who watch snooker, do you feel the introduction of the jump cue would add anything? While there's no denying that the use of the jump cue requires skill, the net effect is that the value of safeties is diminished and the penalty for hooking yourself is reduced. That doesn't sit well with this old schooler.

All of that said, I'm pretty sure they are here to stay, so those who play or hope to play professionally should develop their skills with the short stick.
 
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sjm said:
All of that said, I'm pretty sure they are here to stay, so those who play or hope to play professionally should develop their skills with the short stick.
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Yep, sadly I've been forced to use one too, or I'd be at a disadvantage.
I do enjoy playing safeties that can't be jumped out of though. It's actually changed the way I (and others) play safe.
Stupid jump cues!!!
 
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