Jumping---to chalk or not to chalk

Anderson79

Anderson79

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have been trying to work on my jump shots lately and I've been noticing that several players in my league use different techniques. I have figured out that the way I feel most comfortable jumping is with my hand in front of my shoulder, or "spear chucking" as I've heard it called, as opposed to hand behing my body and jacking up to hit the ball. Now I'm wondering if it's best to use chalk or not as I have seen people do both. Is there a way that works best or is this also just mainly a comfort thing??
 
Anderson79 said:
I have been trying to work on my jump shots lately and I've been noticing that several players in my league use different techniques. I have figured out that the way I feel most comfortable jumping is with my hand in front of my shoulder, or "spear chucking" as I've heard it called, as opposed to hand behing my body and jacking up to hit the ball. Now I'm wondering if it's best to use chalk or not as I have seen people do both. Is there a way that works best or is this also just mainly a comfort thing??
Click to expand...

Without chalk? :eek:

Part of US 9 ball rules:

JUMP SHOT: Any miscue on a jump shot is a ball in hand foul. A legal jump shot must be executed by stroking down through the cue ball (no scooping or miscues).
 
Anderson79 said:
I have figured out that the way I feel most comfortable jumping is with my hand in front of my shoulder, or "spear chucking" as I've heard it called, as opposed to hand behing my body and jacking up to hit the ball.
Click to expand...
You need both overhand and underhand jump shot technique, I am of the opinion that the default should be underhand. You shoot pool underhand so why not jump underhand by default? I have taught many people how to jump and I know that it is easier to get over the ball when starting out overhand but underhand with some practice will yield the more accurate shot. Look at some pro matches.
Now if the CB is out too far in the center of the table to get over it then you will have to go overhand or use the bridge to jump so you need to know how to do both that's just how I see it.
Anderson79 said:
Now I'm wondering if it's best to use chalk or not as I have seen people do both. Is there a way that works best or is this also just mainly a comfort thing??
Click to expand...
I chalk up before every shot, I use layerd tips; can not imagine what would be the advantage in NOT chalking, and what if you need to put some english or action on the CB with the jump like draw or swerve? If you are not chalked and have a standard tip you stand a big chance of a miscue, those hard tips that are on jump cues allow for very little tip offset without a miscue WITH chalk let alone without it. As I say this is just how I see it, other opinions welcome
 
Anderson79 said:
I have been trying to work on my jump shots lately and I've been noticing that several players in my league use different techniques. I have figured out that the way I feel most comfortable jumping is with my hand in front of my shoulder, or "spear chucking" as I've heard it called, as opposed to hand behing my body and jacking up to hit the ball. Now I'm wondering if it's best to use chalk or not as I have seen people do both. Is there a way that works best or is this also just mainly a comfort thing??
Click to expand...

To me it depends on the length of the jump shot. The shorter the distance of the jump means more angle is needed to clear the blocking ball. I use a underhand grip so long as it is comfortable. As PGHteacher stated, underhand is more accurate.
This is where being taller helps some imo.

It's also worth noting that the angle in roughly equals the angle out as long as it is struck with the correct amount of power.
jumpangle.jpg
 
Definately chalk.

Lots of reasons for using either technique. Nowadays I use the 'dart' technique the most.

Modern jump cues makes jumping possible with very little effort...
I can sight down the cue better in that position, easier to be accurate...
And also I have shoulder issues that just make it easier and more comfortable that way.
 
Cdryden said:
... It's also worth noting that the angle in roughly equals the angle out as long as it is struck with the correct amount of power.
...
Click to expand...
I think Dr. Dave has a high-speed video of this. His result and the theoretical result from related but simpler measurements is that the angle out is roughly only 50% of the angle in.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I think Dr. Dave has a high-speed video of this. His result and the theoretical result from related but simpler measurements is that the angle out is roughly only 50% of the angle in.
Click to expand...

Useful Bob very useful; thanks that is going to help me as a player and a teacher.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I think Dr. Dave has a high-speed video of this. His result and the theoretical result from related but simpler measurements is that the angle out is roughly only 50% of the angle in.
Click to expand...

Good to know, I think the amount of power is strongly related to how much angle you get after hitting the CB.
 
Considering that the jump shot is a power shot I highly suggest using chalk.
 
gunzby said:
Considering that the jump shot is a power shot I highly suggest using chalk.
Click to expand...

Actually, it is a technique shot, and can be performed without much power at all. Try jumping over a ball (center) and having the CB roll less than the width of the table.
 
Thanks for all the answers. I will definitely try to get used to the underhand technique but as of now it's def easier for me to use the dart technique. I was mainly asking about the chalk because I've seen severale people using no chalk to jump, also, I was at a state Valley tournament in Indy last year and was watching Dave Pearson give instructions on how to jump (he was also selling one of his jump sticks) and I watched him jump all day and not chalk up once. Now, he wasn't going for aiming shots or english or anything, basically just showing people how easy it was to jump the cue ball with his cue he was selling. I've seen several that have bought that cue and use it with no chalk as well. I have a pechauer jump cue I just got last week and just wondering the best way. I've had other jump cues before but have never really put much effort in learning the best way to jump, still working on that lol
 
Anderson79 said:
Thanks for all the answers. I will definitely try to get used to the underhand technique but as of now it's def easier for me to use the dart technique. I was mainly asking about the chalk because I've seen severale people using no chalk to jump, also, I was at a state Valley tournament in Indy last year and was watching Dave Pearson give instructions on how to jump (he was also selling one of his jump sticks) and I watched him jump all day and not chalk up once. Now, he wasn't going for aiming shots or english or anything, basically just showing people how easy it was to jump the cue ball with his cue he was selling. I've seen several that have bought that cue and use it with no chalk as well. I have a pechauer jump cue I just got last week and just wondering the best way. I've had other jump cues before but have never really put much effort in learning the best way to jump, still working on that lol
Click to expand...

Maybe you should ask yourself what benefit could come from not chalking? And as far as your technique goes, learn them both. They each have equal importance.
 
Anderson79 said:
I ... Now I'm wondering if it's best to use chalk or not as I have seen people do both. Is there a way that works best or is this also just mainly a comfort thing??
Click to expand...
I think the only purpose of not chalking is to allow a miscue. (Lots of jump shots sure sound like miscues.) An intentional miscue is a foul and is covered by the unsportsmanlike conduct rule.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I think Dr. Dave has a high-speed video of this. His result and the theoretical result from related but simpler measurements is that the angle out is roughly only 50% of the angle in.
Click to expand...
This might be the video Bob had in mind:

For those interested in technique advice for both stroke types, I have lots of good resources (including video demos) here:

Regards,
Dave
 
The only reason I've ever heard to not use chalk is that... you are going out of your way to get a very hard tip, and a thin layer of chalk adds some 'cushion' that makes the impact less crisp, more 'spongy'.

I was told the same thing about breaking, that you shouldn't chalk your break cue.

When I was younger I just swallowed this and accepted it. Now though I think it's probably hogwash. You can't possibly lose that much speed or 'bounce', and you have a chance of preventing an accidental foul. You shouldn't be cutting it that close when jumping over balls, to the point where chalk makes the difference between "I got over the ball" vs "I nicked it on the way up".
 
Generally speaking the style used (normal or dart style stroke) is determined by how close the ball you want to jump is to the CB. While there are some that can jump close using a 'normal' underhand stroke, most will find the dart style stroke much easier to learn, and will be more accurate, for close jumps. When the distances between the two balls is more than a diamond apart, the underhand style works better in most cases. Again, while some players use quite a bit of "force"/muscle, the jump shot is, imo, more easily accomplished with a very light cue, and a very light grip. What I see, in players trying to jump close shots with an underhand grip is the cuestick tip ending up in the air (a result of driving/forcing the cuestick down through the CB). The tip should be resting on the cloth, as the cue is simply thrown through the CB. As mentioned, you will need more elevation of the cuestick the closer you are to the ball being jumped. Jumping isn't that difficult, and there will be many 'brands' that people say jump the best. IMO, the Stealth jumpcue is the best one I've seen. I prefer a leather tip on my jump cue. Stealth is one of the few jumpcues that come with a leather tip standard.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
I've been wondering about this a lot lately. I also use a Pechauer Jump cue. I was told by the person who sold it to me that I should not chalk it (as opposed to other jump cues.)

I wonder what Pechauer has to say. I'll give them a call and post result.
 
Just spoke with Pechauer. They said that the jump cue should be chalked. No reason not to chalk it. They also said you might want to rough it up a bit with sand paper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top