Jump Cueless

DawgAndy

DawgAndy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was looking around the poolroom today and out of 10 people playing only me and one other person didn't have jump cues. I was wondering, am I that out of it? It's not a rule issue or short cut thing with me, I just don't use one and don't plan on getting one.

How many other people don't have a jump cue?

Andy
 
I don't have one... technically. LOL, I was looking for a break cue and was given a deal on a jump break cue so I took it.

I actually quit playing about 9 yrs ago and have only started being active (railbird style) in the pool world again the last yr and a half. Call me "old skool" but I'm having a difficult time adjusting.

When I did play all the time there were no jump cues that I saw. Only a small handful of people had a J/B cue... this was also back when you bought a cue, you got two shafts with it and everyone had a porper or Its George case. :p

Jump cues, Tiger/Predator/OB shafts, and the onslaught of different tips didn't exist. LOL, I feel like I'm too dumb to play pool these days! Heck, they even have all kinds of different sets of balls out there...

The pool world has definitely grown with technology in my absence. I've seen numerous threads with the debate as to whether they should be allowed or not. Personally, I don't use one in the rare times that I attempt to play anymore but I don't begrudge anyone having one. I hear it makes it easier to jump. If I were to try & play competitively in regional tours or gambling, I would put forth the effort to learn because I would be putting myself at a disadvantage otherwise. :)
 
not owning a jump cue leaves you at a serious dissadvantage especially if the guy your playing has one.. its easy to miss the easiest kicks but if you have to jump one ball.. you are almost gaurenteed to hit it..

your best bet would be get a jump break cue and that way, you have the best of both worlds.. a good cue to break with and if by chance you ever need to jump you can...

chris
 
That's it. Just you two. You guys are the last ones on Earth not to have one. :(

Just kidding. :D

Way to be strong and hold out, jump cueless. Jump cues change certain aspects of the game, whether that's good or bad, is a matter of opinion. Personally, my opinion is that the game is more fun and interesting, to play and to watch, without them.

However, I feel like, all other aspects of my game being equal to my opponent, I am at a disadvantage not to own a jump cue. That is why, when I bought a break cue, I chose to buy a break/jump. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, I guess. I'm glad that some tournaments have banned jump cues, and I hope that more do as well. JMO.

Perhaps they are "good for the game", though, as the fans in general seem to enjoy it when the 3rd dimension comes into play. I guess we need to compete with the X-games. Not cutting down extreme sports, I love skating & snowboarding, but catching air isn't why I play pool. JMO.
 
Cuebacca said:
However, I feel like, all other aspects of my game being equal to my opponent, I am at a disadvantage not to own a jump cue.
If I were going to attempt to play competitvely, that's what I would be thinking. You'll be hard pressed to find someone at any tournament....local or regional that doesn't have one. It can only hurt you not to... unless of course they ever end up banning jump cues.

Perhaps they are "good for the game", though, as the fans in general seem to enjoy it when the 3rd dimension comes into play.
Click to expand...
There's something to be said for a good jump shot. Perfect example... last yr at Valley Forge when Shawn Putnam played against Fabio Petroni in the finals. Shawn is one of the best out there with a jump cue and he proved it that day. I can't begin to count how many times he used it but he didn't miss a ball when he did... the best one... when Shawn used the bridge in conjunction with the jump cue... 1st & only time I've ever seen it done in a tourney...in the finals no less! :eek: He made it and it was a great shot! The place was abuzz when he did it.

Someone (Tom Simpson maybe???) was at the DCC this past Jan with a prototype bridge... made out of plexiglass for the express purpose of being used in conjunction with a jump cue...

The world is a changing my friend... LOL, I'm starting to feel like my grandparents... "what will those darned kids come up with next??!?!". ;)
 
If I get a jump cue i have to change my lifestyle, get different furniture, grow a moustache, new friends ah the list is endless...:p

Seriously, how much difference is their between a 200 dollar jump /break and a sub 100 dollar one? I'd guess the biggest difference will be in the 2nd joint by the wrap.

thanks
Andy
 
I don't have one and I don't want one. If I jump I do it with a full cue. A lot of amateurs with jump cues pull out every time they are hooked, they miss the shot and leave me something to work with. I am quite confident that I am far more likely to get safe by kicking at the ball then they are by jumping.
 
I think having a phenolic tipped jump cue is essential. You need it. There are some safeties where there's a 90% chance or higher that you'll give up ball in hand, but with the jump cue, you've got a 90% of hitting it.


I do think that one should have a jump cue and learn to use it. However, jump cues are HIGHLY abused/overused. I played in a weekly tournament and had around a dozen jump shots executed against my safeties in a single night. That's excessive. I have a jump cue, and opted to KICK instead on ALL of my safety situations. One was borderline jump or kick, but I kicked instead. I was far more successful kicking because with a kick you have a far greater chance of returning the safe (which I did more than 50% of the time). I was locked up about a dozen times myself that night. While I returned a safety more than 50% of the time, I NEVER coughed up ball in hand with my kicks.

With a jump, more often than not, if you don't make the ball - you're going to be left wide open. If you do make it, position isn't guaranteed. This is assuming you're not a pro and can play position from a jump shot.


There are some shots where no kick exists and the percentages favor a jump. This is where the shorty stick comes in handy. Like I said though, it is a crutch for most players as they are jump-crazy and have almost eliminated kicking from their games. That's a negative for them and is kind of laughable watching these guys smacking jumps all the time. I don't mind playing these folks since the percentages over the long haul will favor me since kicks are a higher percentage shot than jumps generally speaking.
 
I got a Varney jump/break cue recently in self defense against those around me. I am a pretty good kicker but there have been situations where the jump was most appropriate and I used it. I had to get a short lesson to learn how to jump though.

I do think the jump shot is overused by people who haven't learned to kick well and can present opportunities to your opponent if used at the wrong time.
 
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