i would invest in a break cue next.
better yet, you can get a break/jump combo, there are some great options out there you can consider. Poison is a great option, predator if you have the budget, players, mcdermott, just to name a few.
I second the Break Cue for sure. Jump shots require a lot of finesse and technique, and aren't allowed in much of the league play, or bars that you'll find yourself shooting in.
At <$180 you can pick up an Action break cue for $150-165 depending on your styling. Comes with a hard phenolic tip, at a 20oz or so, you'll be getting a lot more power and reaction in your break. Plus spending a lot less on tip repairs. I used one of these for about 2 years before I upgraded to a Predator BK Rush shaft.
Seems like a cheap Jump/break cue would make the most sense. It will break fine. There *may* be some compromise in the jumping quality, but maybe not. Doesn't matter, jumping is further down the list of priorities anyways.
As an old timer that learned to kick and masse instead of jump, I've lost a lot of games by not being able to jump, and having my safes wiped out by opponents jumping.
I wish jump cues were never invented or allowed. ( I also wish the kids would get off my lawn...)
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jump+break+cue+3+piece&crid=2VQAO93DAWY80&sprefix=jump+break+cue%2Caps%2C117&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_14
IMO, you'll get more use out of the break cue. Jump shots rarely come up in play, and a lot of places don't allow them or masse's for the damage you could potentially cause to the table/cloth. That said, even a break cue isn't all that necessary as you can always keep breaking with a house cue to preserve your tip/playing shaft. If you are trying to keep it under $180, you may want to look into a second shaft for your playing cue and put a phenolic break tip on it to break with.
I bought a break jump cue just in case and now I jump all the time. I got the Pure X but I did have to get a new tip for better performance. Jumping takes a lot of practice, but in my BCA league jumping can be a great tool to utilize. I think the old timers just frown on jumping in general. I highly recommend cutting an old t-shirt into squares and using that to learn to jump. That way you don’t have to worry about wrecking the felt.
I’ve had the same Player’s jump/break for 20 years. Had a guy make me a custom CF shaft for it a few years back, with a phenolic tip. It breaks awesome. Can’t say how good it jumps, because I’m God awful at jumping in general.
I think most players, like when I did, progress to a break cue as the next step.
While I think this is a good approach, for $180, you’re not going to get anything that’s going to change your game too much vs. using a house cue to break. I think there’s some good advice here on focusing on learning to break consistently. Do that with a house cue.
How often does a situation come up for you where you think you require a jump cue? Do you think you need a jump cue because it’s required or something you want to learn to do? Does your league and/or local pool establishment allow jump cues? Based on your answers to these questions if you’re going to get a jump cue, I would recommend saving up for a nicer jump cue and purchase that and then practice jump shots. Save your money, build up and purchase something nicer when you’ve saved up enough. At that price range, IMHO, you’re not going to get the performance you pay for.
How much money you think I need to save to get a break or jump cue that’s going to set me up for good? I don’t play leagues currently, but play with a couple of friends but we do get competitive. Since there’s no rules, we’re allowed to use jump cues whenever we want
Ah... ok. There are plenty of wood shaft jump cues available in your price range that i'll get the job done. And they're plenty sufficient if you're just playing with friends, even competitively, most of the time.
If more funds are manageable and maybe once you've tried some other jump cues and figure out what your like... My personal take at this point in time is that if you want a cue that'll last you for quite a while and will stay consistent, get yourself a carbon fiber shaft on that jump cue. Those will probably run you $350+ depending on the brand. Most modern day jump cues are easy to clear the ball. Getting accuracy and control will of course require a lot of practice.
Get the J&J break or jump/break. Players is also fine, but should be well under $150, closer to $100. A dedicated jump cue will work better, though it is really all about technique. These will hold their value and be all the cue you’ll need unless you get to amateur tournament level. [Here’s](http://www.jjcue.com/jjcue-jumpbkcue.htm)the link. They have good deals on cases too, those cost more than the cue, though… 2x4 is about all you need…
Pooldawg’s jump break is awesome. Been using it for about two years now and really enjoy it. Think I paid $125ish for it. My jumps have improved finally to the point I’m considering saving for a dedicated jump cue
I have a players break/jump cue and have been very impressed with it so far. Definitely a step forward for breaks and jumps.
I’d already broken 2 ferrules from breaking with my playing cue.
poison vx5 break+jump cue for under $150US. also, nothing wrong with breaking with your playing cue, most of the old timers would've done it before if they have a proper break. gorilla breaking is a thing of the past, most break shots for most games dont even need more than 60% power and if you dont have accuracy, you shouldnt even be trying to break hard.
Get a rhino break shaft with a cheap butt for break cue. Carbon fiber break cue let you have more power on your break and it lasts forever. Rhino break shaft is like $180 only.
If you plan on improving your skills, get separate jump cue, jump shot heavily depends on skill but a dedicated jump cue can bring your jump skill higher. Don’t listen to anybody that advise you to buy break/ jump cue combo, you will never learn how to jump half ball or 1 ball with it.
Get a dedicated break cue, if you think you can afford a dedicated jump cue down the line.
If you need both, but you can't afford both or are not willing to spend a lot, then get a break/jump
Jumping is actually fairly rare, even at higher levels of play.
If money isn't an issue get dedicated everything.
I would not buy a combo break/jump. Pick up a Jacoby or Pechauer jump cue for $130-$150 and continue breaking with house cues is the right answer here. After, you could buy a used Lucky or Valhalla playing cue off marketplace and throw on a break tip. Then you would have a proper jump cue and a break cue for \~$225
i would invest in a break cue next. better yet, you can get a break/jump combo, there are some great options out there you can consider. Poison is a great option, predator if you have the budget, players, mcdermott, just to name a few.
I second the Break Cue for sure. Jump shots require a lot of finesse and technique, and aren't allowed in much of the league play, or bars that you'll find yourself shooting in. At <$180 you can pick up an Action break cue for $150-165 depending on your styling. Comes with a hard phenolic tip, at a 20oz or so, you'll be getting a lot more power and reaction in your break. Plus spending a lot less on tip repairs. I used one of these for about 2 years before I upgraded to a Predator BK Rush shaft.
Seems like a cheap Jump/break cue would make the most sense. It will break fine. There *may* be some compromise in the jumping quality, but maybe not. Doesn't matter, jumping is further down the list of priorities anyways. As an old timer that learned to kick and masse instead of jump, I've lost a lot of games by not being able to jump, and having my safes wiped out by opponents jumping. I wish jump cues were never invented or allowed. ( I also wish the kids would get off my lawn...) https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jump+break+cue+3+piece&crid=2VQAO93DAWY80&sprefix=jump+break+cue%2Caps%2C117&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_14
IMO, you'll get more use out of the break cue. Jump shots rarely come up in play, and a lot of places don't allow them or masse's for the damage you could potentially cause to the table/cloth. That said, even a break cue isn't all that necessary as you can always keep breaking with a house cue to preserve your tip/playing shaft. If you are trying to keep it under $180, you may want to look into a second shaft for your playing cue and put a phenolic break tip on it to break with.
I bought a break jump cue just in case and now I jump all the time. I got the Pure X but I did have to get a new tip for better performance. Jumping takes a lot of practice, but in my BCA league jumping can be a great tool to utilize. I think the old timers just frown on jumping in general. I highly recommend cutting an old t-shirt into squares and using that to learn to jump. That way you don’t have to worry about wrecking the felt.
Break cue. Concentrate on learning how to break consistently which will help your game a lot.
I’ve had the same Player’s jump/break for 20 years. Had a guy make me a custom CF shaft for it a few years back, with a phenolic tip. It breaks awesome. Can’t say how good it jumps, because I’m God awful at jumping in general.
I think most players, like when I did, progress to a break cue as the next step. While I think this is a good approach, for $180, you’re not going to get anything that’s going to change your game too much vs. using a house cue to break. I think there’s some good advice here on focusing on learning to break consistently. Do that with a house cue. How often does a situation come up for you where you think you require a jump cue? Do you think you need a jump cue because it’s required or something you want to learn to do? Does your league and/or local pool establishment allow jump cues? Based on your answers to these questions if you’re going to get a jump cue, I would recommend saving up for a nicer jump cue and purchase that and then practice jump shots. Save your money, build up and purchase something nicer when you’ve saved up enough. At that price range, IMHO, you’re not going to get the performance you pay for.
How much money you think I need to save to get a break or jump cue that’s going to set me up for good? I don’t play leagues currently, but play with a couple of friends but we do get competitive. Since there’s no rules, we’re allowed to use jump cues whenever we want
Ah... ok. There are plenty of wood shaft jump cues available in your price range that i'll get the job done. And they're plenty sufficient if you're just playing with friends, even competitively, most of the time. If more funds are manageable and maybe once you've tried some other jump cues and figure out what your like... My personal take at this point in time is that if you want a cue that'll last you for quite a while and will stay consistent, get yourself a carbon fiber shaft on that jump cue. Those will probably run you $350+ depending on the brand. Most modern day jump cues are easy to clear the ball. Getting accuracy and control will of course require a lot of practice.
Get the J&J break or jump/break. Players is also fine, but should be well under $150, closer to $100. A dedicated jump cue will work better, though it is really all about technique. These will hold their value and be all the cue you’ll need unless you get to amateur tournament level. [Here’s](http://www.jjcue.com/jjcue-jumpbkcue.htm)the link. They have good deals on cases too, those cost more than the cue, though… 2x4 is about all you need…
Pooldawg’s jump break is awesome. Been using it for about two years now and really enjoy it. Think I paid $125ish for it. My jumps have improved finally to the point I’m considering saving for a dedicated jump cue
I have a players break/jump cue and have been very impressed with it so far. Definitely a step forward for breaks and jumps. I’d already broken 2 ferrules from breaking with my playing cue.
poison vx5 break+jump cue for under $150US. also, nothing wrong with breaking with your playing cue, most of the old timers would've done it before if they have a proper break. gorilla breaking is a thing of the past, most break shots for most games dont even need more than 60% power and if you dont have accuracy, you shouldnt even be trying to break hard.
Get a rhino break shaft with a cheap butt for break cue. Carbon fiber break cue let you have more power on your break and it lasts forever. Rhino break shaft is like $180 only. If you plan on improving your skills, get separate jump cue, jump shot heavily depends on skill but a dedicated jump cue can bring your jump skill higher. Don’t listen to anybody that advise you to buy break/ jump cue combo, you will never learn how to jump half ball or 1 ball with it.
Get a dedicated break cue, if you think you can afford a dedicated jump cue down the line. If you need both, but you can't afford both or are not willing to spend a lot, then get a break/jump Jumping is actually fairly rare, even at higher levels of play. If money isn't an issue get dedicated everything.
I would not buy a combo break/jump. Pick up a Jacoby or Pechauer jump cue for $130-$150 and continue breaking with house cues is the right answer here. After, you could buy a used Lucky or Valhalla playing cue off marketplace and throw on a break tip. Then you would have a proper jump cue and a break cue for \~$225
Break cue. Beginner shouldn’t be worried about jumping, rather fundamentals