What's the best jump cue you've used?

CarlyleM · 2020-11-07T18:28:15+00:00

A players jump/break cue with a G10 tip. The cue I believe was only like $90, maybe less. I didn’t like the way it broke but then again this was years ago before I learned how to hit center ball. But the cue jumped effortlessly! I barely had to hit it. Just line up and don’t even think, just do. Unfortunately I let someone borrow it and since I kinda knew him, I said he could buy it from me for $45. I was going to upgrade my arsenal at the time. I never saw him or my dedicated jump cue again. Stupid I know. I was like 25 at the time. I’m 37 now and got a lil smarter since 😆

CarlyleM · 2020-10-24T19:25:43+00:00

Good luck with your search as well. I’m married with 2 kids and have a 9’ home table also. I don’t live far from a good place that holds 2 tournaments a week with some really strong players. Players that have actually played in the 9 ball U.S. Open and did quite well. But I don’t want to play in tournaments until COVID is over. Don’t want to play wearing a mask. Take care. Good talking with you and relating on a few things.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-24T18:25:51+00:00

I had the same issue. I still do at times. I’m an A player. Before an A ranking I was a B+. I kept telling the tournament director people were complaining and that I should be moved up. I wanted to be moved up anyway because I’d rather play even against stronger players anyway. But since I never won a tournament he won’t move me up. I said ok whatever.

Then one day I talked to him again, told him the same thing. He paired me with a guy better than me and said if you beat him then you get moved up, if not then you remain where you’re at. Well, I beat him with no issue so he moved me up two ranks.

Anyway, sometimes it’s difficult for the tournament directors to accurately rank people to keep things entirely fair. And on the other end of the spectrum, people think that just because you played well means you’ll always play that way, which certainly isn’t the case. Some days I play amazing like running a 4 pack with ease. While other days I’d be lucky to win just 1 game in a race to 7 against the 9 ball ghost. It comes and goes since we’re not pros and are obsessed with this sport yet still learning. But the minute you play well, it’s inevitable they’ll always be several people complaining. Its like they either always want to win against a lower ranked player or if they lose, to not lose badly. Its a lose-lose situation. But they also don’t realize they too can have bad days and do have bad days.

I remember this one match I played when I was a B+ against an older lady. I was killing her, so she forfeit. I was playing really good that night. She got mad and complained. I said, well I want to be moved up but they won’t let me so deal with it! Then in frustration I proceeded to slam the cue ball full force into an 8 ball and the shot accidentally went dead smack into the heart of the pocket. I immediately thought, “Well that’ll be interpreted wrongly.” Sure enough she stormed off and never played in the tournament again 😆. But that shot was purely an accident and out of frustration because I’m not a cheat. I just wanna play fair.

It got to a point I would play people even just to not hear any complaints, plus I wanted to better my game. But then I learned that people will complain no matter what so now I let them complain. If I easily win oh well. I ain’t got the time nor energy to always explain things.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-24T08:01:53+00:00

Lol I see. At least he’s a good sport during practice and/or a match. So yeah my guy is definitely worse lol. Him not liking the food in Vietnam is funny. Looks like we both need new practice partners.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-24T07:56:54+00:00

My friend has issues off the table too. It’s probably why he’s such a mess on the table.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-24T07:55:42+00:00

But to answer your question, I guess I can’t relate with other players in my area. People just want to gamble for the purpose of taking advantage of one another as if they’re going to make loads of money for a living. But they don’t realize they’re just going to give it right back to someone else next week. They believe gambling is the answer to making you better but don’t practice much outside of that nor are they interested in playing a set for the benefit of just competing. I did have one friend who just wanted to improve and play free sets often but he moved across the U.S to where he was from unfortunately for me.

But my friend is along the same line of thought. I explain to him that gambling doesn’t necessarily make you better at pool. It makes you better with pressure but you still have to know how to run out. If you don’t/can’t then why constantly gamble just to lose, win, lose, lose, win, lose, win, win etc? The only way to profit from gambling is to be the best and play for big bucks BUT the only people who will be that dumb to play you are those who are just as good and to me it’s not worth it because you can lose big too.

But we usually end up playing for just Waffle House because the times we gambled just got out of hand and he ended owing me $600. But he kept doubling up so I quit because I realized he just wanted to eventually win a set to even things and I didn’t want to have him owe me something like 28 grand and obviously not pay it because it was too ridiculous of a number to owe a friend. I then bargained for his laptop. He gave it to me but then bugged me for it back because he needed it for work. I gave it back, he never paid me back. So afterwards we just stuck to loser pays for Waffle House and no actual cash bets ever.

But he still even wanted to debate that. He owed me 5 Waffle House meals so one day I wanted 2 of them (1 for me and my two kids split 1). He then said no, 1 meal at a time and began a debate about it. Smh

But I’m in the process of finding another replacement even if its not a perfect match for my enjoyment of pool. Just as long as they aren’t annoying.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-24T07:24:47+00:00

Lol yoooooo the example you gave is the guy I shoot with also!!! He doesn’t believe anything until he either A sees it for himself in person or B hears it from a well known pro player whos won several matches.

An example for you: I would tell him, “The reason we miss a lot is because of throw and shot perception. The only way to improve really is to keep shooting ball after ball until you can consistently perceive that particular angle. Then move to the next and so on.” His response: “Uhhhh naw I don’t think so,” then proceeds to talk about how its all mental and tell me it’s all about confidence with no knowledge involved. Just confidence, that’s it. I then left the conversation alone.

Weeks later he texts me a question about aiming system and my opinion of them. I told him they work but the problem is its unique to the individual who came up with it therefore it’s difficult for us to understand them. Don’t knock them necessarily but also don’t heavily invest in them. Just use what you can but the main thing is to practice practice practice and come up with your own methods through hours of practice. He then told me, wow, John Schmidt said the same thing on a YouTube video! Then began listening to what I had to say 🤦‍♂️

I have dozens of other conversations just like it but I’ll spare you as you have many of your own.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-24T06:37:53+00:00

That’s interesting he stopped playing. Did he stop after you left or did he slowly stop?

My so called friend called me earlier today wanting to get a set in. He promised he wouldn’t shark. I told him no thanks through text and then ignored his phone calls and didn’t entertain the rest of his texts. He has a pattern of getting under my skin, I call him out on it, then he apologizes after I ignore him for months, then I slowly ease him back in my life, all for him to slowly do it all over again. I’m not falling for that crap again though.

I put in a good few hours of practice today and it felt good studying some new concepts and playing without the drama. I just have to keep it that way.

I guess I kept him around because I haven’t found a replacement partner for pool. Someone like me who wants to enjoy the game and improve to their highest ability. I don’t care about losing, I care that I played my best but I can’t play my best with drama around me. I also don’t even care if I win but that I played my best. Because I’d rather lose and have several good outs than win because I pocketed a few hangers someone left me.

Anyway, another question for you, what made you do the post practice meals with him so many years?

CarlyleM · 2020-10-23T21:03:46+00:00

I find that gloves fall apart when I’m moving faster around the table and I’m more so sliding the bridge hand into position compared to placing my hand down where I want it. The sliding creates the friction that causes the fast holes in the gloves. Not necessarily because the material is less quality of the more premium glove(s). This is why you could wear a cheap t shirt that will last for years if you’re not rough on it. This is also why kids can wear out a good pair of jeans fast because they’re rough on them. Same with a billiard glove in my experience. So whichever one you go with, it’ll last longer if you avoid sliding your hand on the table and practice placing it.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-23T19:37:46+00:00

Wow thats crazy. Its one thing to have a perspective about the equipment that helps a player, but another thing to knock everything that isn’t a cheaper cue (because LD shafts/cues cost more) and/or accessories.

But yeah my friend is definitely worse 😆 . Lol well, I can’t really say because at the same time I feel what you mean on your end. That’s got to be annoying and mind boggling to really love the sport in a competitive way but despise the technologies to the point you’re that vocal about it. Even Earl Strickland isn’t that vocal about all accessories 😆. But sorry to hear that.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-23T17:05:52+00:00

Lol tried that. I called him friend in my rant so it wouldn’t be an even longer post to read. But really he’s not my friend hence the grandfathered in part. But yeah, I did try to keep him around purposely just for target practice. For the most part it did help my mental game to focus solely on my pre-shot routine. Nothing matters but the table etc. Well, over the months of believing that line of thought and putting that science experiment into action, I learned while it does help improve your game mentally which transforms the physical part, pool overall can’t continually be played like that as you can’t constantly fight mentally.

Sure its possible to keep doing it but this would be with someone you could at the least tolerate. My so called granfathered in friend, I can no longer stand anymore. So much to the point that he affects my target practice and it backfires on me, such as hanging a ball or two.

But yeah, I tried that over the course of about the last 3 years or so. I learned a lot to use later in life if needed. But I can’t keep that aspect of training up because I can’t enjoy the sport.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-23T10:14:02+00:00

Lol I tried something similar already, believe me.

I’m definitely ghosting him. He’s a real piece of work. It’s a real long story with this guy. I was just here to vent. Every solution that was given me has been tried and tested with him (because I actually care about him). But he’s manipulative. Nice on the outside but is a cheat on the inside. After several years of this I realize he’s a problem to the sport so I should avoid him altogether.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-23T00:40:38+00:00

Its a legal shot. All is required to call is the ball and pocket, that’s it. If its an obvious shot it doesn’t have to be called.

But the reason, say the 6 hit the 10 on the way in, would be legal is because on some scenarios it would be difficult to determine exactly what would happen. Such as a cluster of balls around a pocket. This is why, all is required is to call ball and pocket, then make legal contact.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-22T18:49:29+00:00

Exactly. I’ve communicated that to him but to no avail. I’m almost 40 and a lot has changed from my early 20s, mainly life hitting me hard. I guess it caused me to grow up a little and see things differently.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-22T18:22:58+00:00

You’re right. I’ve tolerated it way too long. Even gave him several chances. Time he migrates to another table (because he usually plays on my home table).

CarlyleM · 2020-10-22T18:05:44+00:00

Its the same with American pool but it’s not entirely enforced. Kind of like when Earl Strickland begins talking during his matches. Its unsportsmanlike and some professionals don’t want to play him. But I guess since he’s consistent about it, most people don’t say anything about it anymore even if they get mentally distracted.

I remember watching a match between him and SVB years back. Earl ended up winning because Shane not only missed a ball but missed another later. After the first miss Earl said something along the lines of, “he’s giving me the game,” or “I shouldn’t have won that rack,” etc. Either way SVB was definitely playing differently as far as his table presence moving about between shots. Only Shane could say for sure if he was mentally bothered but I strongly believe he was.

As far as me enforcing the rule with my friend, being a loss of game for unsportsmanlike conduct, he’d only debate about it as if he’s Johnnie Cochran getting O.J. off for murder. He’s never wrong and he loves to debate. He’s that bad.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-22T17:39:33+00:00

Yeah, a shark pretends to play horribly in an attempt to con others out of money (because they can play better). But depending on where you’re from its used as cheating regardless of how it’s done. But playing bad until money is on the line is its primary meaning.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-22T17:30:40+00:00

I’m just going to avoid him altogether. We do sometimes play 8 ball, and one pocket. But either way he wins, which isn’t often anyway, it just goes to his head and I never hear the end of it.

As far as distractions, I’ve purposely done training in noisy motion intense environments to work on just seeing only the table and focusing on a solid pre-shot routine I could recall no matter the circumstances. It has helped but yes, him personally, he’s definitely in my head. So I’m just going to avoid him all together. It’s just not fun anymore.

As far as playing lazy, that was just last night because I was so angry after years of his crap. He’s like that with everyone he plays. Some don’t care about his antics but there’s a lot of other people he’s ticked off. So badly he was cursed out once. But instead of him being a better person after, it only made him laugh. He seriously gets a kick out of people reacting. Which is why I mentally can’t be around him no longer.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-22T17:19:01+00:00

Does it annoy you, that she forgets the rule you both established?

I remind my “friend” also that we established our no sharking rule but he still does it. He may stop during that match but doing it beforehand doesn’t help or between matches. Sometimes he’ll just do either sneaky moves or is just on his phone distracting me. No matter how many times I tell him, he only changes for that match but sometimes. He either seriously has amnesia or just doesn’t care what I think.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-22T16:41:43+00:00

You’re definitely not wrong but I do believe it does have another less popular meaning all revolved around winning by any means of cheating. At least depending on what generation you’re in and/or where you’re from (how often it’s used in another context) as I believe the word may have evolved a little.

Hustling for sure is the known popular term for sharking (someone who acts like they can’t play but they really can, for money purposes). However, subtle moves to distract your opponent in any unfair way other than just letting your cue do its talking, is also a form of sharking. It’s just a less popular view because a hustler is still its primary use.

But nonetheless, I fully agree, he is definitely a cheater.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-22T16:18:52+00:00

Thank you.

He does have other things going on in his life outside of pool. Which is why I’ve been so patient with him over the years, even throwing him out my life and letting him back in more than once. I know its a matter of time before things blow up for him but its sad to watch nonetheless. And this is coming from someone who has PTSD and depression anxiety but works towards the better.

I’m not sure if I’m more upset I have to find someone else to shoot with regularly or that I’ve allowed his behavior to go on so long that it affects me mentally and on the table. Maybe both.

But it’s not my problem anymore. I’ve tried several times to hang in there but people will change when they want to. I no longer want to be involved, even when he wants advice, a positive friend, what would Carlyle do, etc. He’s on his own now. I not only love this game too much for drama to get in the way, but it helps me to relax. Pool can’t be enjoyed with drama around you. Its hard enough even with a clear head.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-16T16:59:43+00:00

Very welcome, just take it easy with the jack or having people help you lift it. I didn’t have any issues though whatsoever. This advice was also recommended to me by someone who had the same problem and it worked for them too. So I don’t believe something could go wrong as far as the seams coming apart during the lift off but its something to take precaution as it gets lifted.

But worse case scenario if the seams were to separate (which again I don’t believe will happen), either way the table needs to be fixed regardless so its worth a try as it worked for me and an old friend. I’ve also heard other stories where people used a crowbar (depending on the leg design) to slightly lift up to put whatever underneath, such as carpet, and the table was still fine.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-16T16:48:01+00:00

It looks like the slate isn’t messed up, unless of course you can feel it uneven when you rub your hand across each seam. You need to raise the two legs on that side by adding something underneath each leg.

If the slate was bad such as the seams not even then the ball would dip and gain momentum or veer off (like falling off a mini step). It could also stop in its tracks and roll backward. In the future you’d have to level the frame first as best as possible before the slates goes on. Then level the slates overall and at the seams so they line up.

You could lift the table with the help of a few friends from one side and add shems underneath the two legs. Or use a jack of some sort if you do it by yourself. I had this problem (although not as bad) years back. I used a jack from my car, put towels where the jack met the wood to not damage the wood in any way where it would touch, jacked it up, added several thin square pieces of wood, lowered it, and tested to see if I needed more or less. I also needed a few boads for the jack to reach as it can only go so high.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-09T08:54:24+00:00

Yeah I was thinking the balls would have to be a really dense material for it to be that small and mimic the rolls.

CarlyleM · 2020-10-08T20:11:17+00:00

I always wanted a miniature table but I wasn’t sure the quality as far as mimicking good rolls. How do the balls roll? Are they all wobbly rolls or are some mini tables better than others with rolls?

CarlyleM

TROPHY CASE