The jump shot is a play that allows you to jump the cue ball over an object ball in order to strike another object ball. It sounds fun, but it is a shot that has not been welcome in many billiard circles.

The jump shot does have a purpose — it's not just for showing off (even though that's the fun part). You use a jump shot when your cue ball is blocked behind other object balls and the shot you need is on the other side of those object balls — object balls that are in the path of the ball you need to pocket.

The Trouble with Jump Shots

There was a time when the jump shot was considered illegal in tournament play and in some clubs, but times have changed and the shot is now considered legal unless you are told otherwise. Most local pool halls would probably prefer that you not use the jump shot because when executed by a novice, it can be dangerous. It is not uncommon for a cue ball to be jumped right off the table surface to either hit the floor — or worse — someone standing nearby! You already know how heavy a cue ball is and you may have already have experienced the clattering thud when a billiard ball hits the floor. It's not a pleasant sound. The one thing you don't want is flying cue balls, especially in a crowded room.

Some establishments will not allow jump shots, so be sure to check the rules before you start jumping balls.

Flying pool balls aside, overuse of the jump shot can actually cause a great deal of wear and tear on the cloth, so use this shot sparingly.

Professional Concerns

The jump shot has also been a controversial one in the world of professional pool — not because anyone is concerned the ball will take an eye out, but because many traditionalists believe that the jump shot is changing the way the game is played. New cues were being introduced in the mid-1980s to make it easier to jump the ball and this did not go over very well with some of the old-school pros. Many feared that the introduction of new rules and equipment would change the game forever, while others felt that it was just a sign of the times. Other sports had changed over the years, so why not pool?

The increased popularity of pool and its prevalence on the sports channels put fancy shots, like the jump shot, in high audience demand. If you watch these TV exhibitions, you'll see many a jump shot, and you'll soon understand why this kind of shot is such a showstopper.

How to Make a Jump Shot

The first thing you need to know is that to make a jump shot you still have to actually strike the cue ball. In other words, you can't scoop the cue ball into the air. In most cases that would be considered an illegal shot — it depends on the guidelines set by the establishment or tournament in which you are playing, but official rules deem it to be a foul. Scooping is not the best way to go anyway, because you don't have the same kind of control over the cue ball.

Don't try to jump directly over a blocking object ball. Whenever possible, jump the edge of it so that you don't have to lob the ball as high.

There are rules that govern how you can legally and successfully make a jump shot. The correct way is to shoot down at it from a 30- to 40-degree angle. This is a lot different from what you've learned about striking the cue ball. Up until now you thought all shots had to be made with a fairly level cue stick. Now it's time to change that thinking.

A jump shot should be made with a V-bridge so you can balance the cue stick at a sharper angle. This stance will take a little time to get used to. It will feel a little awkward at first, and you'll have to do it a few times before you'll be able to make a smooth stroke. Some players choose to snap their wrists, while others just count on the velocity of a quick arm motion — but either way, the worst thing you can do is to allow the upper portion of your arm, above your elbow, to drop. That will stop the downward motion of the cue stick and actually start to scoop it upward. If you do that you'll either miscue or the cue ball will just roll and not jump.

This is the correct form for making a jump shot. Use an elevated bridge and angle your cue stick at about 45 degrees.

Follow these procedures to make the jump shot:

• Find the strike point on the cue ball the way you would in a regular shot — from a level position.

• With your eye on the strike point on the cue ball, elevate the cue stick to a 30- to 45-degree angle.

• With your arm lined up straight and your grip on the handle, strike downward on the cue ball at either center or slightly above. (Aiming below center will result in an illegal scoop.) Strike down at the ball and watch your cue ball jump in the air.

The force of the stroke and the angle at which you hold the cue will determine how high the ball will jump.

Keep in mind when making a jump shot that you want to make sure the cue ball ends up in a position you can play after the jump. Also you should make sure there is enough landing space for the cue ball, and consider the possibility that the cue ball might fly off the table. Don't take a jump shot if you're going to make the game worse for yourself (or markedly better for your opponent).

When to Choose the Jump Shot

You already learned that the jump shot is used when one or more object ball is blocking the object ball you are required to hit. The only time you should consider the jump shot is if you can't strike the object ball (the object ball you're trying to pocket) straight on. You'll have to be a little more accurate in your aim when you shoot a jump shot that's a cut shot, especially if it's a thin cut. If your aim is slightly off the mark, the cue ball may miss the object ball altogether, and depending on the game you are playing, you may be charged with a foul.

Jump shots are easiest for most players if the cue ball is anywhere from 12 to 18 inches from the ball you want to jump. Less than 12 inches and you'll have to elevate your cue stick even higher in order for the cue ball to be able to make it over the object ball. More than 18 inches is pretty far away, and although you can still jump over the ball, you risk the chance of jumping too early, with the cue ball landing before it clears the blocking ball.

Try to observe where the cue ball lands on your jump shot. If it lands right at the point of the back of the object ball, where the cue ball is hitting the object ball and the table at the same time, the cue ball will have a stun reaction on the shot. That means if the shot is straight in, the cue ball will stop. If there's a slight angle, the cue ball will slide off along a tangent line that creates a 90-degree angle with the object ball's path to the pocket. If the cue ball lands before the object ball, it will begin to start to roll and will continue to roll forward after it collides with the ball. In most instances, your worst-case scenario would be for the cue ball to land right on top of the object ball. In that case, one or both balls are liable to jump in the air and maybe off the table.