The Jump Shot
A jump shot is when the cue ball comes off the table surface before making contact with another object ball. You can make the cue ball jump by placing extreme spin on the ball and elevating the butt of the cue stick while shooting.
Beginners often shoot a jump shot by hitting the cue ball very low and miscuing. The most important factor in making a jump shot is the kind of cloth on the table. If it is very high quality, thin cloth, jumping will be very difficult. However, if it is thicker or maybe rubber-backed, jumping will be fairly easy. It's best to practice your jump shots with simple straight ahead shots until you get the feel for the table.
On a jump shot, your cue ball jumps at an angle equal to the angle at which it is struck. In other words, the higher you elevate the butt of the cue stick, the higher the jump angle. The harder you shoot, the longer the jump. The jump stroke must be shot with a very loose back arm grip. This allows the cue stick to get out of the way of the ball so you don't "trap" it in as you are trying the jump.
It is a foul if a player strikes the cue ball below the center, or "digs under" it, and intentionally causes it to rise off the bed of the table in an effort to clear an obstructing ball. Such jumping action may occasionally occur accidentally and while such "jumps" are not to be considered fouls on their face, they may still be ruled foul strokes. For example, if the ferrule or cue shaft makes contact with the cue ball in the course of the shot it is called a foul.
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Unless otherwise stated in the rules for a specific Billiard game, it is legal to cause the cue ball to rise off the bed of the table by elevating the butt of the cue stick on the shot, and forcing the cue ball to rebound from the bed of the table. Any miscue when executing a jump shot is a foul.
Everyone likes to show off, and nothing makes you look cooler than executing a proper billiard and pool jump shot technique and actually pocketing the intended object ball that nobody thought you could get at. However, since executing a jump shot perfectly is rare, you should remember to consider and assess all other options and angles for shot options first. You will not look cool if you miscue. On the other hand, if you use the jump shot when you don't really need to, your opponent and other spectators may regard you as a showboat and may lose existing respect for you and your game.
Jump shots are not easy to make, and are even harder to control. It takes a lot of practice and even more patience to master the jump shot. Beginners should start with a jump shot that is not of great height. It is best to get the technique down before you try to actually jump a full ball. The only way to become an expert at this technique is to develop your own style and perfect it.
