Jump sticks have changed the game

u12armresl

u12armresl

One Pocket back cutter
Silver Member
I remember a time when you had to jump with the stick you either broke or played with.
Now we have players pushing out to jump shots (the Matlock thread reminded me of this.)

If you had to jump with a full cue, I wonder if people would take time to learn kicks, push out differently, or still jump?
 
u12armresl said:
I remember a time when you had to jump with the stick you either broke or played with.
Now we have players pushing out to jump shots (the Matlock thread reminded me of this.)

If you had to jump with a full cue, I wonder if people would take time to learn kicks, push out differently, or still jump?
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Just having a jump cue as an option doesn’t negate the need to kick well. It’s just another tool in the box.

I could even argue that the advent of jump cues has taught better safety play. Just putting a ball between the CB and the object ball isn’t a “safety”...
 
David in FL said:
Just having a jump cue as an option doesn’t negate the need to kick well. It’s just another tool in the box.

I could even argue that the advent of jump cues has taught better safety play. Just putting a ball between the CB and the object ball isn’t a “safety”...
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Speed control becomes a necessity to create great safes where the cb rests against the blocking ball or a cushion. So great players in the jump cue era now need to develop two more skills to the max- jumping skills and speed control of the CB on safety play.
 
Best event i've ever been to by far is DCC. You can jump but you have to use your playing cue. Kicking is far more of a skill than jumping. With a decent jump-cue even lower speed players can hop over trouble. They're here to stay i get it but imo they dumb down the game.
 
effs up cloth.

Not an issue if you're only buying the cheap stuff, I suppose.

Even better if someone else is paying for it.

I quickly found out that my own simonis is not the place to learn/practice jumping. There's a bar owner in town that's a real butthead. I usually pursue my jumping aspirations when I'm there with a clear conscience.
 
garczar said:
Best event i've ever been to by far is DCC. You can jump but you have to use your playing cue. Kicking is far more of a skill than jumping. With a decent jump-cue even lower speed players can hop over trouble. They're here to stay i get it but imo they dumb down the game.
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I agree.
Perhaps I'm a purist.
There is an art to kicking and determining the speed of a kick.

Sometimes I masse.
Maybe we should all carry masse sticks too.
Nope.
I even break with my player.
 
Have jump sticks changed the game: yes absolutely !
In which direction: For the better !!
Why:: safties are harder to accomplish and you can't kick your way out of a ball surrounded by other balls.
 
David in FL said:
Just having a jump cue as an option doesn’t negate the need to kick well. It’s just another tool in the box.

I could even argue that the advent of jump cues has taught better safety play. Just putting a ball between the CB and the object ball isn’t a “safety”...
Click to expand...
It does. Look at Filler . He's a world champion. Can't kick to save his life . Why would he ?
You make balls when jumping . Same with Gorst .
 
JessEm said:
effs up cloth.

Not an issue if you're only buying the cheap stuff, I suppose.

Even better if someone else is paying for it.

I quickly found out that my own simonis is not the place to learn/practice jumping. There's a bar owner in town that's a real butthead. I usually pursue my jumping aspirations when I'm there with a clear conscience.
Click to expand...
A competent jump doesn’t affect the cloth anymore than a firm break shot...
 
Call me old school, but I believe the game was designed to be played in two dimensions. I think the jump cue represents a huge step in the wrong direction. Maybe I can go with "jump with your playing cue," but I never liked the idea that we would show up with a series of cues like a golfer with clubs; one for each of many scenarios.
 
I am NOT a big fan of jump cues, but they are here to stay which I understand, and own one myself.


BUT, I cannot picture Willie Mosconi with a jump cue!
 
MitchAlsup said:
Have jump sticks changed the game: yes absolutely !
In which direction: For the better !!
Why:: safties are harder to accomplish and you can't kick your way out of a ball surrounded by other balls.
Click to expand...
I cant say its for the better, even some very low level players can jump yet they cant complete a simple kick. Thats not my idea of improving the game. My favorite safe against lower level players is where there is about twice as much area to jump as there is to land, they see a blocking ball and go for the jumper right away without thinking about landing on the blocker or jumping over their object ball or even off the table.
 
Looks like ABZ and my wife might be just sync'ing up. Looks like it's the time of month to discuss jump sticks again, and how they are ruining pool.

Maybe I should just keep a standard reply handy on my desktop so I can paste it in on demand.

The facts:
  • Do jump sticks make hopping over a ball easier...?..., yes.
  • Are single rail kicks difficult...?..., no.
  • Do jump sticks somehow damage cloth more than break offs...?..., no.
  • Do jump sticks instantly grant the shooter the ability to aim and control the CB after contact...?..., no.
  • Do jump sticks force players to play tighter safeties...?..., yes.
  • Do jump sticks completely negate the kick...?..., no.
The opinions:
  • What's more entertaining (the crux of pro pool) kicks or jumps...? There's video evidence of one of our naysayers not batting an eye at a one rail kick, but smiling/chuckling with amazement at a jump shot on an Accustats video.
  • Jumping with a full cue takes more skill...? No, it just severely limits the opportunity to attempt a jump, and nearly always amounts to a full swing flier. I'd argue there's more skill in using a jump stick. In fact I know that it certainly allows for the application of greater skill.
  • Jump sticks are bad because they allow players not to become proficient at kicking???? Cue extensions are good because they allow players not to become proficient with the mechanical bridge????
 
JessEm said:
effs up cloth.

Not an issue if you're only buying the cheap stuff, I suppose.

Even better if someone else is paying for it.

I quickly found out that my own simonis is not the place to learn/practice jumping. There's a bar owner in town that's a real butthead. I usually pursue my jumping aspirations when I'm there with a clear conscience.
Click to expand...
I am a pool room owner and I will concur, for a better players who know how to jump, I have no problem with them executing jump shots in the course of play. However, anyone including the best players will be quickly informed you will not be practicing jump shots in our pool room. You can find somewhere else to practice your jump shots. Only when we are within a month or so of recovering our tables will we then allow practicing jump shots.
 
ChrisinNC said:
I am a pool room owner and I will concur, for a better players who know how to jump, I have no problem with them executing jump shots in the course of play. However, anyone including the best players will be quickly informed you will not be practicing jump shots in our pool room. You can find somewhere else to practice your jump shots. Only when we are within a month or so of recovering our tables will we then allow practicing jump shots.
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A jump shot now and then doesn't do nearly the damage that the break shot does virtually every rack.
 
When I die, I would be OK with it if my epitaph is "he never owned a jump cue" and it would be accurate.

Over the years, I've often been asked why I never bought a jump cue. My answer has always been "I'd rather lose than play pool through the air."

Of course, it's all moot now as I haven't been a serious player since 2005. Add to that that I've played fifteen minutes of pool in total in the last fifteen months. "Fifteen minutes fifteen months." It sounds a bit like a Geiko ad.
 
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