Jumping vs. Kicking.

> I've only seen a couple people use a jump shot as a means to play an intentional safe,which theoretically,says that a jump shot is more of a offensive,stay at the table type maneuver in the minds of high-level players.

When you've seen Efren make any of his unbelievable kicks,unless I'm mistaken,he might have known he would be in the neighborhood to make it,but I'm about certain that he didn't look at it as a hanger,like Earl does/did when he was at his best jumping with a full cue,or in similar conditions (fuzzy cloth). I've never been able to communicate with him well enough with Efren to point-blank ask him about this.

I watched Earl very closely in Memphis very early in my pool life,on a Gold Crown with unbacked Mali cloth,make full cue jumps from up to 5-6" away from a full blocker and pocketed the object ball 40-something times in a row. He was following 2 rails for position,drawing the length of the table and off the end rail,sweeping them in from the middle of the table and drawing one rail for position,as well as controlled 6" draws,dead stops,and short follow punches.

He was much more approachable then,and I asked him that when faced with shots like these in battle conditions,how often he expected to make the ball with position,and his answer was this. "That's exactly right,I EXPECT to make it,PERIOD. :cool: On nappy cloth like this the jump itself is automatic,if you have any stroke at all,so then it's just like any other shot,I NEVER expect to miss,it's always a surprise :eek:."

The kick-safe skill set has both offensive (getting BIH) and defensive (not giving up BIH) components,putting it right smack in the middle.

You have to be able to do all 3. Tommy D.
 
I look at a jump or kick shot the same way I do a straight in shot. I hit either one with the intention of MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE TABLE, whether that means I make a shot or play a good safety.

Pros and cons... I really don't think there are any. Take a kick when your percentage of keeping control of the table is higher with the kick... take the jump when your percentage of keeping control of the table is higher with a jump.

There are times when you MUST jump to get out of a good safety... sometimes a kick just won't work. Watched a YouTube thing today with Dong VS Foldes and Dong escaped a 3 foul with a jump shot. It was his ONLY option for not losing the game.

Practice both, master both and both will serve your game well... of course, I'd still like to learn that 1mm seperation jump shot... haven't got there yet. About a chalk width is my inside limit.

Bob
 
So, here's a great example from a real match between Darren Appleton and Niels Feijen during the International Challenge of Champions during set 2 rack 4. This was Darren Appleton's shot. I already know what he play's, so if you've seen this match please don't spoil it for everyone else. I want to know what YOU would play, and why.

So, here's the shot. What do you play?

CueTable Help



The kick?

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Or the jump?

CueTable Help

 
JCurry said:
So, here's a great example from a real match between Darren Appleton and Niels Feijen during the International Challenge of Champions during set 2 rack 4. This was Darren Appleton's shot. I already know what he play's, so if you've seen this match please don't spoil it for everyone else. I want to know what YOU would play, and why.

So, here's the shot. What do you play?

CueTable Help



The kick?

CueTable Help



Or the jump?

CueTable Help

Click to expand...


I think in this example, the jump is the much higher chance of getting out. The 5 is sitting very good for the pocket, the 5 is not close to a rail, the blocker is sitting at a very good place ( not too close or too far).


I personally favor kicking ball than jumping them. I have a jump cue, and I play a lot of nine ball. I may pull my jump cue out one time foe every ten hours of pool that I play. I am not afraid to go to it, if the shot is required, but I like to kick. I think it usually gives me a better chance of maintaing control of the game.


I think a big consideration is how the ball you are going for is sitting and how your blocker is sitting. If you are 4 inches behind a blocker and you are only blocked ny a half a ball or less, and the OB is a hanger, JUMP away!

If the OB is sitting an inch off the rail and you are one ball width behind a full ball blocker going for a thin cut down the rail, then the kick is prob a much better choice. You may hit your ball and then fly the cue ball off the table.


I think all decisions should be made based on the higher chance of a winning outcome. That may not be the same thing as the highest chance of pocketing a ball. What will give you the best chance of mainbtaing control of the table? Sometimes pocketing a ball is the WORST possible play. All factors should be considered, not just making contact, not just pocketing the ball, etc.


Jw
 
I take rails out of play whenever I can so I often favor jumping. For me there is also alot of weight to what I am trying to do. If I am trying to make the ball I will jump 90% of the time. If I am playing safe vice versa. I am very comfortable with jump shots and if I am not on a table I know then I am very inconsistent with kicks.
 
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I'd say if you are jumping 10 times in a match, your cueball positioning may not be that great. :)
 
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