Best Jump Break Cues (Review)

Jump break cue, more commonly referred to as J/B cue, is a special cue that performs dual functions. You can use the cue to play jump shots, and at the same time, you can use it to break the rack. But the important question is, how do they perform with respect to dedicated Break or Jump cue. 

Well, there is no straight answer to this. You see, breaking or jumping is 80 to 90% skill, and rest is equipment, i.e., the cue. A pro may pull off the perfect break from a substandard cue while an average Joe would not get close even with the world's best cue. With that said, Jump break cue is ideal for casual to semi-serious players who like to keep things simple. At a pro or competitive level, it makes more sense to go for dedicated cues.

"Personally, I prefer dedicated cues. I like my jump cues to be light and break cues to be heavy. Somehow with jump break cues, I couldn't find the right feeling and weight. But, hey it's just me. Most of the players I play with use Jump break cues, and they do fairly, or I would say remarkably well with the setup."

The performance difference is definitely there between a dual purpose and a dedicated cue. But the difference can be compensated with SKILL. Moreover, Jump break cues are cheaper than dedicated cues and easier to maintain, as well. You can fit your jump break cue and regular playing cue comfortably in a 2x4 cue case, which otherwise might require a 3x3 or bigger case. 

The market is flooded with hundreds of jump break cues from dozens of companies, each claiming to be the very best. This makes the selection process quite tricky. To save you the hassle, I reached out to the top players from my local club, asking them for their recommendations. Based on the inputs, here are the best five J/B cues currently available.

What does it take for a perfect jump or break stroke? For starters skills, but the next important factor is the right equipment. Jumping and Breaking are two shots with a lot of similarities and slight differences. That's the reason they're paired together in a single cue.

Let's talk about the similarities first.
Both the strokes (jumping/breaking) require transferring maximum energy onto the cue in the least amount of time. For this to happen, you need a cue with:

<Hard tip>

Both the strokes require a really hard tip like phenolic, bakelite, or G10. The reason is quite simple. Harder tips do not compress and stay on the ball for lesser duration resulting in maximum energy being transferred with minimal spin or English. Additionally, these tips play more consistently and require less maintenance. One thing to note here is that hard tips can't be scuffed and needs through chalking to avoid miscues.

<Large Sweet spot>

A larger tip above 13mm is recommended for such strokes. This gives you a bigger sweet spot allowing you to put more energy on the ball while limiting the chances of miscues. A 13mm tip is the most commonly preferred size, but some of the new manufacturers include a tip as big as 14mm.

<Hard Ferrule>

Similarly, for both the strokes, you would need a hard ferrule made of a material like phenolic or fiber. There are two reasons for this - to absorb the shock of the hit and preventing the shaft from splitting. Jumping and Breaking require a lot more energy than standard strokes. Naturally, it creates more vibration and pressure on the shaft. For this very reason, you don't use your normal shooting cue for these strokes as it's more prone to damage. A hard ferrule limits the impact of the stroke while allowing to put more energy on the cue ball.

<Stiff Shaft>

A harder shaft does not vibrate as vehemently as a normal shaft resulting in less energy wastage and more force transferred on the cue ball. Stiff shafts are usually made out of hard Maplewood. Some of the newer cues are even made of fiberglass or carbon fiber.

Coming to the differences:

<Weight>

Weight is the most crucial difference between a jump and a break cue and a major factor on which the performance depends on. 

Break cues generally weigh in the range of 19 to 25 oz. The heavier weight is a prerequisite for any break cue as it allows you to generate more force. In contrast, jump cues weigh 5 to 10 oz. The lighter weight allows for better control on the cue. 

<Length>

Jump cues are shorter in length - broadly in the range of 40'' to 48''. In contrast, break cues measure 56'' to 58'' inch.

Most Jump/Break cues come with three-piece construction. You use a full cue while breaking and remove the butt while jumping - as simple as it sounds, isn't it? But how is the performance, feel, and comfort? Is it the same as what you expect from dedicated cues, or you're compromising somewhere?

There is no straight answer to this because a lot of this depends on the individual's skill. But I will try to answer it in the best possible way I can. A jump break cue does a fine job of breaking, almost equal to what you get from a dedicated break cue. It's the jumping part where it partly struggles at. You might find it a bit tricky to pull off short jumps from the setup. For long jumps, it does a fine job.

The inferior jumping performance can be attributed to two factors. First is weight distribution. Jump cues tend to be tip heavy, but most jump/break cues are center balanced. The second factor is the shaft width. Jump cues tend to have a thinner shaft, but jump break cues have a slightly thicker shaft. This causes a bit of compromise on the control.

But the million-dollar question is how big of a difference is - Well, it really depends. A lot of players can compensate for the performance drawbacks with their skills, and some can't. With that said, if you're a beginner or an intermediate level player, you won't find much difference between jump break cues and dedicated ones. For advanced and serious players, it makes all the sense in the world to choose dedicated cues.

Moreover, Jump break cues are more versatile and offer you the best bang for your buck while occupying the least space in your cue case.