Expert: Pool_Teacher - 4/20/2005

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
am looking to buy a jump/break cue, but I don't know much about them. What should I look for when buying one and what it is a good price range? I have a $150 limit is that too little? Is a stainless steel joint the best for break/jump cues and regular cues? One other thing, what is the name of the rules that the professional pool players follow when playing on ESPN? Thank alot for your help.

Answer -
You can buy a perfectly adequate break/jump cue in about the $150 price range. In fact I have a specific recommendation: I think very highly of Lucasi Jump/break cues; just go to google and type in lucasi jump cue. See, for instance model LSS2--Jumps great and is a smart looking cue. On OzoneBilliards.com it is currently retailing for $159.20, and on billiardswarehouse.com, $160.

One thing to look for in a jump cue is a very hard tip. Some good tips that fit this bill are brown or black Water Buffalo tip and phenolic resin tip; there are many others. The Lucasis I mentioned above typically come with a super-hard tip made from bakelite, so if you do order one of these cues, you shouldn't have to change it. Note that you want a hard tip for breaking as well, so this has a dual purpose.

Stainless steel versus other kinds of joints is simply a matter of preference. A stainless steel joint usually makes a cue hit a bit stiffer. Some players like softer hits and other players don't.

The rules the professionals play with on ESPN varies based on the tournament played. Some tournaments use world standardized rules (go here to read them: http://www.bca-pool.com/play/tournaments/rules/rls_gen.shtml) others use texas express rules (http://texasexpress.com/index.html). Although this URL is to the official site of texas express rules, the link is down right now. Often whatever rules are played are varied for the specific format, but in general the world standardized rules set forth what is followed in most tournaments and will be all you need to reference to understand what is going on.    

Hope that helps.

I liked the Lucasi L2000JB better than the Lucasi LSS2.  Is their much of a diffrence in performance with those two or is it just which stick one prefers.  What weight and tip in millimeters is standard for a break/jump cue.  Thank alot for your help

Answer
I would think the two cue models will perform similarly. Although they are different models, having been made by the same company with the same copnstruction techniques, and having many of the same specifications, as detailed by the manufacturer, they are likely highly comparable.  Thus, although I have not hit with the L200JB, I would be very surprised if it varied significantly from the Lucasi jump/break cues I have used.

Most tips for jump/break cues come standard at 13 millimeters. As to weight, you can see here: http://www.billiardpro.com/products.asp?pageID=14&seriesID=204 that the L200JB model is available in 18, 19, 20 and 21 ounces. For me, a light break cue works better. You're going to have to make the decision based on what you like, but I do think that going with the light end of the scale is better for most players. Most players start out liking heavy cues both for playing with and for breaking, but as they get more experienced, they tend to start favoring lighter cues; again for both playing and breaking.