Jumping in the game of pool - yes or no?

[sjm]

Jump cues aren't the reason that NO AMERICAN PLAYER other than SVB can win anything and he can jump as good as anybody with or without a jump cue. A jump cue might determine the outcome a a given match, but it wont determine who will generally be in the finials... it'll be someone fro somewhere other then the USA and those Players aren't whining about them, their just winning.

Not sure you've said anything I disagree with.

I just feel that pool is a game meant to be played in two dimensions rather than three. The jump cue, too often, amounts to a full or partial pardon for position poorly played. I don't feel I've weighed in on the matter of which group of players the use of jump cues favors, and can't even say I've given the matter any thought at all.

As you note, the best players, over time, will win regardless of the equipment used, but as a serious fan of the game, I'm allowed to detest jump cues, which I feel detract from the majesty of the game.

 

[RakRunr]

I think you need another option in your poll for "Could go either way". As long as everyone has to play by the same rules, I don't care if they are allowed or not, but as long as the shot and cue are allowed I'm going to use a jump cue and practice my jumps.

 

[Jimmorrison]

Agreed

I don’t like jump shots and voted against them in the poll. However, they are part of the game. I prefer to play when they are disallowed but won’t stop me hooking when they are and I wont complain if my opponent jumps as it is part of the game. Don’t like winner breaks either but that won’t stop me playing that format.

Agreed, pretty much 100%. I got a jumper and learned to use it, felt like I had to.

 

[HawaiianEye]

Does that mean you would ban BCA and Valley leagues from your room, and only allow APA players?

It means you wouldn't be jumping on my tables.

I don't care what the rules are for your leagues.

You'd adapt to my rules for MY tables or play elsewhere.

 

[JC]

There is no compelling reason in my mind to allow jump shots. And that includes full length cues. Someone arbitrarily decided that since you're not scooping it it's a legal hit therefore it's all good. And others believed it and here we are. The logic of this totally escapes me. You're hooked? Find a kick or go home.

Now everyone has their silly little short sticks whether they can control them or not. There is nothing good that happens to equipment when jump shots are used. Bad things happen. People who claim otherwise are wrong.

Pool is a two dimensional game. Whoever thought it would be a good idea to allow it to go air born is an idiot. Want 3D? Take up golf. I would gladly burn my jump stick if it was universally outlawed. That would be a great day for pool.

JC

 

[hang-the-9]

Jumping has been around since pool was started.

Jump Sticks, that's a different story.

randyg

Yep, same for me, jumping is OK with your playing cue or full break cue, trick sticks to do it, nope.

The only concession I will make for jumping with your non-playing cue like a break cue is due to the fact that LD shafts make jumping very hard vs a standard shaft.

 

[philly]

There is no compelling reason in my mind to allow jump shots. And that includes full length cues. Someone arbitrarily decided that since you're not scooping it it's a legal hit therefore it's all good. And others believed it and here we are. The logic of this totally escapes me. You're hooked? Find a kick or go home.

Now everyone has their silly little short sticks whether they can control them or not. There is nothing good that happens to equipment when jump shots are used. Bad things happen. People who claim otherwise are wrong.

Pool is a two dimensional game. Whoever thought it would be a good idea to allow it to go air born is an idiot. Want 3D? Take up golf. I would gladly burn my jump stick if it was universally outlawed. That would be a great day for pool.

JC

Agreed. I don't use a jump cue and believe in kicking which adds a certain purity to the game but I love it when the majority of my opponents uses a jump cue.

5 players out a hundred are proficient with a jump cue. Often, when my opponent uses one the result is ball in hand for me. If they make a hit who knows where the cue ball goes? If they pocket their ball then shape is a matter of luck.

I do know a few guys that are deadly with a jump cue but it is rare.

 

[hang-the-9]

Does that mean you would ban BCA and Valley leagues from your room, and only allow APA players?

You can have league rules, but local room rules over-rule those. I play in a few places that don't allow jumping or even masse shots "over the shoulder" even though the leagues have no rules against jump shots or jump cues.

 

[Runner]

Jump sticks are for children trying to impress people and get noticed.
Learn to kick and play curve shots.

 

[rikdee]

I've used my player for jumping in 14.1 for forty years. Couple examples: (1) jump to go over the edge of a ball otherwise obstructing the path to the pocket (2) jump into the OB to be pocketed. Usually done at close range, the slightly airborne QB can be used to 'cherry bomb' a cluster or wall of balls that might not part easily by simply powering into them. Total ban of jump shots would negate these little nuances of straight pool.

 

[JC]

Total ban of jump shots would negate these little nuances of straight pool.

So be it. The jump shot was given an inch and took a mile.

JC

 

[MattPoland]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[zeeder]

I voted for full cue only but I don't have incredibly strong feelings one way or another. I do jump with my full cue fairly often but it's mostly partial ball stuff that's fairly easy. It's only on rare occasions that I break out my cheap Lucasi jump cue. I'm much better at full cue jumps than with the actual jump cues due to the practice I've had and the frequency with which I use them.

 

[Straightpool_99]

By outlawing jumps of all kinds, you risk getting into all sorts of arguments, as you may jump over a balls edge with just the slightest elevation of the cue. So, were you in fact hooked or not? Every time you are slightly hooked the opponent will have to look to see and then watch the shot like a hawk...Even a massè will sometimes make the ball jump a bit. No, I don't like this. Snooker is a very different game to pool, and it's much harder to hook someone on the larger surface, without leaving some kind of rail route. The no jump rule works fine for this game. Pool...not so much.

I think one cue for the entire match, except the break, is fair. Then you can shoot any legal shot you want and you won't get people showing up with broomsticks with tips, coke cans with tips and all sorts of stupid contraptions...One of these, which I REALLY hate is the "jump bridge".

If you like ld-shafts that you don't want to jump with, that is tough luck. I don't like the current developments where everyone has 3 different jump cues, a massè cue etc..IMO a part of the game is being able to shoot these shots with the playing cue, yes it's tougher, but it's not supposed to be easy to do everything.

I've practised extensively with my playing cue, so I'm not entirely unbiased, but I do feel that removing the jump cue will put the skill back in the jump shot. Jump shots will be used less, and the penalty for getting out of line will be harsher. On the other hand, poor safes will still be defeatable by a good player. Everybody wins.

 

[Runner]

I've used my player for jumping in 14.1 for forty years. Couple examples: (1) jump to go over the edge of a ball otherwise obstructing the path to the pocket (2) jump into the OB to be pocketed. Usually done at close range, the slightly airborne QB can be used to 'cherry bomb' a cluster or wall of balls that might not part easily by simply powering into them. Total ban of jump shots would negate these little nuances of straight pool.

^^^^^^^
I think there's a big difference in what I call a 'pop' shot, which you described.. popping the CB over the edge of an obstructing ball (been doing that with my player forever) and someone with a jump cue with a phenolic tip basically hammering the CB across the table... THAT doesn't impress me.

Old school One Pocket players know a few pop shots.. you're next to the short rail,
elevate and pop up on the edge of the cushion while clearing a ball, CB goes straight downtable, etc.

 

[tim913]

Until I become better at it....NO!

 

[jimmyco]

Did not vote. Do not care.

As a spectator, jumps bore me. But witness to a properly executed masse is something to behold.

 

[JC]

The obnoxious jump cue culture does not exist in one pocket and straight pool because there is always a better way to play it than launching the cue ball. Let these games be what they are if necessary. All rules don't have to apply to all games.

JC

 

[Kim Bye]

The cat is out of the bag and since jump cues now is a established "must have" product I can't see it beeing banned. Personally I don't like jump cues and only a few players seems to be able to use one with some measure of consistency.
I think it takes away from the game, but I'm a straight pool guy where I hardly ever see someone use a jump cue. I do make jump cues though, as it's a product customers ask for.

 

[Meucciplayer]

I voted "I like the current rules".

I can understand why a pool table owner does not allow them. Well, the current rules provide for that - the jumps are not allowed in places where the owner disagrees with their use.

However, in a game where jump shots are allowed there are a couple of possible outcomes:

1) Since close to 90% of all jump shots I see are more or less useless for the person executing them, I don't mind if my opponent uses them. Way over 50% of the jumps I see don't even pocket the intended ball. In those cases where the ball is pocketed position on the next ball is often so lousy that there is a decent chance it's my turn after the following shot anyway.

2) If a jump shot is executed beautifully I applaud the opponent. You don't see those too often in regular play. Even the pros miss a significant proportion of jump shots so I don't really see why some people claim that jumps are so damn easy. If I see a great jump shot I don't see it any differently than any other nicely done shot.

3) There are not too many cases where a jump shot is an easier alternative to a kick shot considering the chances of pocketing the ball AND being left with a good position on the next ball. Even if pocketing itself may be easier the position is at least as important. Thus, a kick may have less of a chance of pocketing the ball but often the chances of playing a better safe with a kick more than make up for that.

I don't see a reason why the current rules should be changed. In reality, I always get ready to go to the table when my opponent picks up his jump cue. In the few cases where I face a really good jumper he is usually a better player than I am anyway. So it does not make a lot of a difference in actual gameplay.