You've probably seen pool trick shots where the cue ball takes flight, soaring over obstacles before pocketing its targets and completing the shot. If you've ever wished to make shots like this, you should definitely invest in a specialized jump cue. While it's not impossible to execute a jump shot with a regular pool cue, specialized jump cues make it a whole lot easier.

So what makes a jump cue different from a regular pool cue? First of all, they tend to be shorter and lighter. Most are around 40 inches long, the legal minimum for tournament play, separating into a standard length 29 inch shaft and a shorter butt section. Some have two-part butt sections giving you more options on the length and weight. There is quite a range of weights jump cues come in. The lightest ones weigh around 4 ounces, the same weight as a normal shaft. Most typically weigh between 7 and 10 ounces (pool balls weigh 6 ounces). The jump section of a break/jump combination cue tends to be on the heavier end. The lighter weight helps you swing the cue faster, hitting the cue ball harder and giving it more energy to jump.

Another difference is that jump cues tend to have a harder tip instead of just regular leather. A majority of the tips are phenolic resin, the same material pool balls are made out of, or some other type of hard plastic. These generally don't hold chalk as well and will make it difficult for you to apply spin to the cue ball, which isn't usually a chief concern with jump shots. Other tips are specially hardened leather, but these aren't as hard as phenolic. A harder tip transfers more energy to the cue ball, which is needed to get it to jump off the slate.

So what kind of jump cue should you get? As a trick shot artist, I've tried quite a few and will usually carry three or four to a tournament. The ultralight cues are great for popping the cue ball over an object ball that's one ball width away or less with some control. The heavier and longer cues are great for longer jump shots, such as Mike Massey's famous Boot Shot. You can even use a full length break cue for some of these longer jump shots. For shots in between, it's more or less just controlling your stroke, namely your elevation and power. Furthermore, there are shots that require multiple jump cues such as my Twin One Handed Jump shot. One of my colleagues, Dave Nangle, will even use four at once. I usually carry one ultralight, two fairly standard ones, and a break/jump combination.