Jump cue preference for sidearm jumping

newcuer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
For those that have somewhat mastered the sidearm jump technique, has your preference of type or configuration of your jump stick changed? And if so, to what?
 
I have almost exclusively switched to a sidearm jump. I find it a lot less stressful on my shoulder and physically more comfortable. It's also much easier to see where I'm aiming. No change in equipment.
 
My goal is to learn this technique in the first part of next year.

I started jumping with the dart stroke and if I have my Jacoby jump cue I'm quite adept at it for any sort of close jump, but aiming on longer jumps is a challenge.

I've tried learning the traditional under arm jump stroke and I just don't have the shoulder flexibility to make that comfortable.

So far my attempts at the side arm have gone no where, I struggle to accelerate in that position and aim feels off. But I think it's probably the best option overall and so I need to put the time in to learn how to execute it effectively.

As far as cues go, I don't think it'll much matter other than it needs to be one of the longer ones. Don't think I could side arm my short Jacoby but should have no problem with my Air Rush once I get the technique down.
 
As far as cues go, I don't think it'll much matter other than it needs to be one of the longer ones. Don't think I could side arm my short Jacoby but should have no problem with my Air Rush once I get the technique down.
Yes...that is kind of exactly what I am curious about. Does the sidearm jump require a longer cue? In other words, not the typical 2 piece 40", but 48" or 52" with the 3rd piece added?
 
Yes...that is kind of exactly what I am curious about. Does the sidearm jump require a longer cue? In other words, not the typical 2 piece 40", but 48" or 52" with the 3rd piece added?


Yes, I believe it needs longer than the typical 40" short jump cue.

I just did a little at home practice of just getting the side arm movement and position correct (no table at home, just setting up using a small table the same height as a pool table and working on the motion and position)

Anyway, I used a Cuetec Avid Surge for the practice and it's a 44" cue. So longer than most 1 piece butt jump cues like a Jacoby but shorter than the two-piece butt jump cues. Just practicing it felt too short for me. It was doable, but my hand was at the very end of the butt with a finger or two hanging off for the most comfortable position.

So for me, even 44" wouldn't quite do it comfortably. 47" would work, Propel or Predator Air II for example, and longer like an Air Rush is perfect.
 
In my experience, sidearm can be executed equally well with both short and long jump cues.

The following is easy to demonstrate in person but hard to describe in writing: one principle that is often overlooked while jumping is that you want to be bent at the waist and align the center of the cue with the center of your body mass. I see a lot of people trying to stand far too upright while jumping, which means the center of the cue is lower (closer to the table). This forces you to hold the cue too far towards the butt end and puts your shoulder and elbow into a contorted position. As a result, they try to force the jump with muscle/power instead of pop the jump with a light stroke.

The corresponding principle is to hold the cue with a 90-degree bend at the elbow. With a short jump cue, for short over hand jumps, your body mass will be closer to the table (farther down the cue?). As a direct result, getting your elbow to a 90-degree angle will bring the grip closer to the joint. For longer/shallower jump cues, the center mass changes and hence grip will be farther towards the butt of the cue.

For over-hand jumps, especially short ones with short cues, this makes it far easier to get the cue ball into the air, but it's difficult to aim because your line of sight is angled more extremely towards the cue ball and not the object ball. For longer and shallower jumps, using a longer cue, you can be farther away from the table and will have better line of sight.

For the sidearm technique, you still want to align the center of the cue with the center of your body AND maintain a 90-degree elbow. The only difference is the 90-degree is now on the horizontal plane instead of the vertical plane. The stroke is basically the same as the overhand, but I personally find it much easier to execute AND much easier to see where I'm aiming.
 
I think that physically a 3 piece style makes for easier side arm jumping. You're not as cramped as you would be doing it with a regular jump cue.
 
Wouldn't a longer cue work better for sidearm jumping because it makes it easier to keep one's shooting hand above their head allowing the cue to strike the cue ball at a steeper angle?

This is counter-intuitive to those who have only used the dart or underhand stroke where shorter cues are usually preferred.
 
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Musashi Tengu is the best Jump Cue I ever owned. I'm 6foot and the length when screwed fully together, and end unscrewed, is perfect. Works any which way I try it. I used to have one, it got broken and I replaced it with an Air Rush (Which is probably the best thing Predator produce to be honest), convinced my friend to get a Tengu second hand from Xianyu APP and to be honest, I am going to buy it and receive a little cash my way in trade for the Air Rush.
 
I struggle with aim on a side arm jump . I can’t seem to hit the center of the cue ball.

I think a longer jump cue would make it easier. The predator air rush is what I use and it’s almost as long as my break cue. lol I think the cuetec is the same way.
 
I struggle with aim on a side arm jump . I can’t seem to hit the center of the cue ball.

I think a longer jump cue would make it easier. The predator air rush is what I use and it’s almost as long as my break cue. lol I think the cuetec is the same way.
CueTec is a touch smaller than Air Rush, the Musashi Tengu a touch smaller again (Tengu is perfect length, both pieced together, and end unscrewed). I do like the Air Rush for mid-range jumping. But break cue can do anything long, and unscrewed the Air Rush is too short to be useful.
 
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