need some advise regarding jumping.

9 ball

9 ball

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was wondering if there were any players out there who could give me tips on jumping balls because I can't do it, but before you wade in with your help I need you to bear in mind that I am slightly physically challenged on my right side which is the hand I shoot with.

So any help on jumping would be appreciated as the only way I can jump at the moment is by going under the ball and scooping the ball, and yes I know thats an illegal shot but I just cant seem to hit the centre of the ball to drive it into the slate and make it bounce.

Any help is appreciated.
 
first things first.

are using a jump/break cue? with a phenolic tip?

i used to try for hours, well not hours, but i couldn't jump it. then i got a break/jump cue. i did it first time.

a jump cue makes it MILES easier.

and btw from your desciption it's clear you understand how a jump shot works, although i think you are just very slightly wrong. you don't want to be hitting directly center ball, that's too much. just a tad lower.
 
Worried Beef I do have jump/break cue but I still can't jump the ball with the jump cue, it feels very awkward and I dont know what to do.
 
Try loosening your grip, hold it like a butterfly. The loose grip will stop you from trapping the cueball with the tip. This could help, hard to tell w/o seeing your technique....
 
You may want to try this. Set-up: Put a piece of chalk on the table, place your cue ball about 3 inches behind the piece of chalk. Place your object ball in the jaws on the pocket. Ok, lets line up the shot just like you would any other shot. Once you feel your lined up, elevate the back of your cue. You really do not need to be that high; experiment, everyone is different. I see people that can jump but they have a tendency to elevate the back of their cue to high. This may cause you to loss control of the cue ball, and as you get better and you will, you can do other things with the cue ball. Your going to want to make contact just above center of the cue ball. What I like to do, once I'm lined up, I concentrate on the reflection of my tip on the ball. (Do not grip the back of your cue that tight you can actually let it rest on your hand not really grip it.) I stroke my cue until I feel comfortable and then make contact with the cue ball. You want to use a normal stroke not to hard and not to soft. Most of all don't be intimindated with the shot it's a natural for the cue ball to go up. Once you can do this continue practicing with harder shots and senerio's using a ball to jump over instead of chalk. I just use chalk because it's short enough to help build up your confidence. It is really easy, I do not know the extent off your ability but if you can curve a ball you can jump ball. I hope this helps. My way, may not be the best, but it worked for me and several other people I have taught over the years.
 
Tony in md that video won't load for me.

edit: found it on youtube.

p.s please keep the advice coming.
 
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I'm just an average jumper, but the thing that was keeping me grounded for a while was my hesitance to follow through with the stroke. You need to "throw" your cue at the ball with no hesitation, as if you were trying to spear the table itself.

Ken
 
The biggest thing I see people who are trying to learn to jump do wrong is they do not keep their right elbow "tucked" (if they are right handed). Also, remember to keep your weight on your front foot and follow through with your stoke. Hope this helps.

Southpaw
 
I think the dart/stroke makes it easier. Also, make sure you pause at the end of your backstroke before you throw the cue forward. The pause made a big difference for me.
 
I am not an expert jumper by any measure, but some advice I received from a pro a couple of years ago made all the difference in the world: lean forward in your stance when you're stroking the cue ball. All the other advice here is right on, but this piece seems to be missing. You will see all good jumpers doing it, but you need to do it consciously: lean forward in your stance (after lining up your shot). This gives your arm the room that it needs to deliver a complete, firm (but loose/fluid) stroke. Trying to stroke a jump shot from your normal stance just doesn't allow you to be fluid enough with the elevated stroke needed to jump.
 
Most people stand too far back. Try standing much closer to the cue ball--it really helps. It's realy hard to be specific without seeing you try the shot. A good instructor would be the best thing for your game right now, trust me!!!
 
This is one thing that I have been working on very hard. I was told years ago you have to stroke the ball like you are hitting a iron anvil with a steel hammer. Like a firm pop. You know that you can't smash through the anvil with the hammer. You just have to give it a firm "dink". Recently I have grasped that concept and have been jumping better and better. I have been working on jumping with spin to curve around obstacles. Hope this analogy as helpful to you as it was to me.

SL2P
 
Not knowing the extent of your disability, I would suggest the darting method of jumping.

Start out with the cue ball near the rail so you can use the rail for extra hand elevation. Also, don't try to do a full ball jump immediately. Place the intervining ball where the cue ball only has to clear about and 1/8 or 1/4 of the ball.

There are a few mistakes that beginners make when trying to jump.

First, they try to power the shot. Jumping is not a power shot. It is a "feel" shot. You have to learn to jump the cue ball to a specific point on the table.

I grip the cue with my thumb and forefinger on most shots. There is not much arm movement on a good jump shot but a lot of wrist movement. The looser and wristier the better.

Second, don't collapse downward with your back hand or scoop at the shot. Maintain the angle of the cue throughout the shot.

Keep trying, it will happen.
 
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