Newly Entering the 3rd Dimension: Jumping

Da Poet

Da Poet

Pool is Cool
Silver Member
Okay I'm reluctant to accept reality, but to quote a phrase from Pulp Fiction, I am trying real hard. Jumping is a part of the game I don't like but I am willing to accept the challenge of having a respectable jump game when needed.

I am interested in opinions on how to begin my quest to have a solid jumping game. How did you start your journey? What have you learned about technique, equipment, strategery, (spelling intentional :D ) since you've embarked on this option?

I can pop the ball like popcorn with my break shaft, but before I embark on my journey into the 3rd dimension permanently, I would like any and all advice on the subject both idealistic and technical. :D

Thanks!
 
Jumping has it's place, but it is important to realize that it is not a substitute for good kicking ability.

That is the only comment I have. Good luck!
 
Da Poet said:
Okay I'm reluctant to accept reality, but to quote a phrase from Pulp Fiction, I am trying real hard. Jumping is a part of the game I don't like but I am willing to accept the challenge of having a respectable jump game when needed.

I am interested in opinions on how to begin my quest to have a solid jumping game. How did you start your journey? What have you learned about technique, equipment, strategery, (spelling intentional :D ) since you've embarked on this option?

I can pop the ball like popcorn with my break shaft, but before I embark on my journey into the 3rd dimension permanently, I would like any and all advice on the subject both idealistic and technical. :D

Thanks!
Click to expand...

A good way to start is to jump some pieces of chalk. Put your CB about a chalk-width away from a rail. Now put a piece of chalk about 4-6 inches in front of the CB. Put an OB on the other side and try to make it. You want to use a cue with a hard tip. This part is important, make sure you stroke through the CB. No stabbing at it. Elevate your cue to about 30 degrees. And you have to hit center-ball or just a hair below center. So essentially your cue should pass through the exact middle of the CB. The slower the felt, the easier to jump. So practice on a slow table. Also, many room owners will castrate you if they see you jumping on their tables, so make sure you ask before you start putting little burns on the tables. And put a napkin under the CB because the napkin won't change your ability to jump but it will protect the table. Now take flight young man and don't look back.
 
I forgot to add some drillage:

1. Spot shots- You have a weird angle off the rails so you'll need to adjust your bridge. This also helps your spot shot making abilities.

2. Balls in pockets- Many times you'll be jumping to make balls sitting in the pockets. You'll need to know how your CB is going to react off the rail. These are also scratch shots. You can't hit the OB straight in, you might roll into the pocket too.

3. Straigh in shots- These are the important jump shots. They show up a lot and they are by far the easiest to control. Learn how to pocket the ball and stop your rock.

Remember, while in the air, the CB is just a trajectory, it will not curve and it will act exactly as Newton intented. You have no control over that. You must learn how to control the CB once it lands. Don't jump into rails. If you're OB is sitting on a rail, don't jump. You have no way to predict what's gonna happen when that CB hits the rail and you have a good looking kick-shot. Kicks are so much easier when the OB is close to the cushion. Alright, now go get your pilot's goggles.
 
The easiest way to learn how to jump balls is to get yourself a quality jump cue (Lucasi and Bugee come to mind... there are others)... and have someone who is skilled in jumping balls show you how it is done. The most important advice I can give you after that is... to align your jump stick shaft such that it is going directly through the core of the cue ball... the core being the very center of the ball.... and regardless of how high you are trying to jump the cue ball... either a shallow trajectory or a very steep trajectory, your stroke must be such that you are stroking through the core of the cue ball.

Start off by jumping over a piece of chalk that is several inches forward of the cue ball... then two pieces stacked verically and so on. And it's easiest to learn when bridging off a rail. Learn to jump this way before graduating to bridging on the cloth.

There are two basic strokes in jumping... the dart stroke, where the jump cue is held with your thumb and forefinger like you would hold a dart... with your hand just above your shoulder... and make sure that you use an extremely light grip on your actual stroke of shot. The other basic jumping stroke is a more traditional way of stroking, with your grip hand directly below your elbow, which it quite raised due to the downward angle that you must hit whitey with... and the actual stroke of shot in this case is a very short, punch-type stroke (~3" in length)... and done with a firm grip on the cue. This method requires a very quick acelleration of the cue to drive down and through the cue ball... making it jump off of the slate.

Next... you need to work on what elevation works best in what situations... and what speed of stroke is needed in order to hit your object ball correctly. Most of my jump shots are intended to hit the object ball "on the fly"... which results in less cue balls jumping off the table for me. If you can't hit your object ball on the fly... or shouldn't because of where it sits relative to a rail... then you need to have a target landing area in mind for whitey.

Like most things in pool... practice, practice and more practice... and good luck. There's few things in pool more fun that shooting a sweet jump shot that allows a run to continue... or you jump a ball or two in order to hit to a safety that locks up your opponent. :)
 
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Drew said:
A good way to start is to jump some pieces of chalk. Put your CB about a chalk-width away from a rail. Now put a piece of chalk about 4-6 inches in front of the CB. Put an OB on the other side and try to make it. You want to use a cue with a hard tip. This part is important, make sure you stroke through the CB. No stabbing at it. Elevate your cue to about 30 degrees. And you have to hit center-ball or just a hair below center. So essentially your cue should pass through the exact middle of the CB. The slower the felt, the easier to jump. So practice on a slow table. Also, many room owners will castrate you if they see you jumping on their tables, so make sure you ask before you start putting little burns on the tables. And put a napkin under the CB because the napkin won't change your ability to jump but it will protect the table. Now take flight young man and don't look back.
Click to expand...

Tap Tap Tap. Very similiar to my practice method as well.

I take 2 object balls and the cue ball. Cue is between the 2 OB's. Line them up parallel (and touching each other) to the side rail in front of the side pocket about 4-5 inches off the rail. I then move the cueball back to about an inch from the lip of the side pocket. And aim at making the object ball in the opposite side pocket. The first jump is basically thru your 2 object balls. As you practice, you move your object balls closer together where you are basically jumping over a full ball when they are finally touching. Angle of cue is about 30-40 degree's, aim thru the center/just below center of cueball with a firm stroke. Almost snapping your wrist. I learned to jump with a full cue and then practiced with a jump cue as I don't always have a jump cue handy, but know I will be put in situations where I will need to jump. :)

I also agree, a good kick could be just as good a shot if not better then a jump. Each choice has its time.

ez
 
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