How do you do a legal jumpshot in pool?

Question

I know you cant "dig" under the cue ball and that you have to strike it at an angle, but i cant get the cue ball to jump.

Answer 1

First, watch this video,

http://www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/pool/...

In the video, it shows three jumpshots in slow motion.  The first is a standard jump.  You have to find the point equidistant between the top of the ball and the equator of the ball.  Aiming directly at this point will place your cue at a 45 degree angle with the table's surface.  That's about the optimum angle for jumping.  Most jumpshots are executed at about this angle with a variation of speed depending on the distance between the obstruction ball and the cue ball.  

One thing to note, if you look directly at the ball along this 45 degree line what you see is not very different from what you see when you are shooting any other shot.  What I mean by that is, if you want draw you aim below the center.  If you want right, aim on the right.  The trick is to keep you cue at the same angle.  In other words, you have to move your bridge hand and cue to a position such that cue line is parallel with the original 45 degree line.  Many people trying to draw while jumping will drop their bridge hand.  This reduces the amount of support provided by that hand while increasing the angle of the cue.

The second clip in that video shows a proper jump-draw stroke.  The third video effectively shows why a jump-follow is an exception to the rule when jumping.  You can't maintain that angle and shoot high on the ball.  It will pinch against the table.  You have to lower the angle from 45 degrees to get the cue ball to pick up the running english.

One thing that can't be stressed enough is the motion of you bridging hand and arm or rather, lack of motion.  Most people try to overpower the cue ball.  They lunge at the ball.  In doing so, their bridge collapses, they hit to low and the ball never has a chance to get up because their energy transfer is weak.  You have to lock you bridge arm in position after you find your spot.  Like any other shot, the only thing that should move is the forearm of your shooting arm.  Anything else is extraneous movement and isn't adding anything positive to the outcome of the shot.

The best thing to do is practice, practice, practice.  But, before you do that, get a small square of billiard cloth, about 4-6 inches square.  Place that under the cue ball while practicing.  Many people have told me that the extra thickness gives the ball a little extra spring when it rebounds off the slate (that's actually what you are doing when you fire into the cue ball).  But, that's not the main point of it.  The main point is to not mess up the cloth on your table (or that of the place where you play).  Just call a billiard store that does recovering.  Ask them if they have any scraps.  It doesn't matter what kind of cloth.  I always find it easier to jump on cheap, thick cloth.  Simonis 760 that is stretched like a drum is about the hardest thing to jump on.  And if that is what you have been trying to learn on, it's no wonder you're frustrated.

I have much more on the topic of aiming but that should be enough to get you started.  The most important thing is to relax and have fun.  When you start getting frustrated, your muscles tighten up and that, again, leads to lunging at the ball, trying to force something to happen.

On thing that I neglected to mention is the presence of jump cues.  It's a bit of cheating but it works.  The cues are quite a bit lighter than a normal cue so acceleration of the cue is not a problem.  Also, they often have a phenolic tip rather than the leather that is common on shooting cues.  The tip drastically improves energy transfer.  It does reduce the area that you can aim at on the ball while avoiding miscues.  That's not really a problem in jumping anyhow.  You rarely try to put maximum draw on a jumpshot.

Answer 2

I usually just hit it near the bottom and it can clear 3 balls, I have done it before.

Answer 3

it all depends on the cue ball if the cue ball is two heavy, it will be very difficult to jump the cue ball.  don't use a magnetic cue ball that will be too heavy.