I think, the bottom line is, jump cues change the way pool is played and there are some people that don't like this change. We can sit here and argue all day as to which requires more talent but the fact remains, it's really just change we're complaining about. Personally, I worry about where this will all lead us? I would rather be confined to the equipment that is specific to pool rather than see pool go through a technology war with the only constant being the table and balls. I worry our equipment bags are getting too big but perhaps that's part of the problem with pool's economy. It needs more revenue circulation and a great way to make this happen is through equipment needs. Look no further than the rack wars which is just as exciting. :|
I've come to terms with the fact the jump cues aren't going anywhere. So long as they never make their way to 14.1, I think we'll be alright. I'm sure when I play in any event that allows them I'll be just as competitive as I am when they're not allowed.
Well if we are going to look towards socioeconomic motivations you have to consider that the reason we are at the state we are is through innovation. The drive to make things "better" and easier is what makes us human. The lion doesn't build a fence to trap his prey, he simply lays in wait and tries to surprise it. Humans don't do that, we build tools, we invent techniques, we improvise and adapt.
People bring up the "changes the game" and "way the game was meant to be" all the time but in fact the game has been evolving for hundreds of years. When the game of nine ball changed to one foul ball in hand the need to hit the lowest numbered ball on your turn became huge because giving up ball in hand meant loss of the game more than 50% of the time and probably closer to 90% against a pro.
That single rule changed the way the game was played.
The jump cue is the tool we invented to adapt to the rule change. And the way jump cues are made today are a direct result of competition to engineer the best solution which conforms to the rules and does not damage the equipment.
The argument has been put forth that jump cues were invented by manufacturers looking to sell more equipment. Kind of like how Hallmark cards invented Valentines day. I haven't seen this to be true. The evolution I witnessed from the late 80s onward is that jump cues were tinkered with by small cue makers and the idea was picked up by larger cue makers but the really good ones came through constant revision.
The fact of it is that modern jump cues have been part of the game for about 16 years now. The game is doing fine with them. Some of the greatest shots ever played have been jump shots in high pressure matches in difficult situations.
I agree that jump cues change the game but I think it's for the better. I could live without them but then I'd like to see the rules tweaked so that safeties must be called in all rotation games and the incoming player is not rewarded handsomely due to bad play on the part of the outgoing player. Because this is exactly what happens when a ball is missed and a lucky safe is the result.
I don't think that there is much more evolution to be had here. We have pretty much played out this particular aspect of the game and the equipment is about as good as it's going to get I think. At the end of the day the cue is inert and while it ALLOWS for the shot to be made it does not actually take the shot. The player does that and it's the player that makes the cue ball do whatever it does. My comparison is Mike Massey. No matter how many times Mike Massey has tried to teach me his circular draw shot I just can't get it down like he does it. I have used HIS cue so it's not the cue. He has used my cue so it's not the cue.
The skill resides in him and for me to get close I would have to practice as much as him and be as dedicated to the shot as he is. No one can give me a cue that will make this shot for me. You can give me a cue that draws better somehow but I will still be inconsistent with it. And if you did give me that super draw cue the result would be that Mike Massey would take it from me and invent 20 more shots that I couldn't do.
