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Being one of the first builders of jump cues back in the
1980s the concept of the jump cue was nothing new to me. The principles that make a jump cue work are commonly known. When
new rule changes were added in regards to the jump cue, many of the jumpcues being built became illegal. This included my
jump cue. This presented me with a challenge, not only to build a legal jump cue, but to build a cue that is superior to anything
I had built in the past. After many months, and a number of prototypes, I feel I have surpassed my goal.
In designing my jump cue, I wanted to meet a few needs I
felt were missing in most jump cues. First and foremost a jump cue must be light. Many achieve this by making the butt very
thin. Although this works, it does not make for a very comfortable feel to the average player. By contrast the butt of my
jump cue is just under the dimensions of the wrap area of a standard custom cue, making for a very natural and comfortable
feel. This is achieved through the use of a compound taper on the butt, and with an overall length of 42 inches does not have
that awkward feel often associated with jump cues. The weight problem is solved in several ways. One is by the use of a light
and strong alloy screw. The second and most significant difference is, the butt is built with a solid core of urethane foam.
This not only lightens the butt, but also produces a resilience that seems to make the ball jump with even greater ease.
The Picone jump cue is what I call a dedicated jump cue, unlike a jump-break cue that serves two purposes. The special
design features required in a jump cue, such as, tip, weight, butt dimensions, and so on, do not lend themselves to a duel
purpose. The front half of a jump-break cue, the jumping half, is by its nature not the best design for a jump cue. Although
carrying a third cue may seem to impose an inconvenience, if you are a serious player, having the right equipment is the only
way to go.
General Description
Length------42 inches
Weight------approximately 8.2ounces plus or minus a fraction
Shaft-----29 inches
Shaft mm.--13 1/2 mm.
Special Design Details
The Tip
The tip represents an important part of the jump cue. The
tip is made from "layered fiber in a resin base" and are produced right here in my studio. I only use this tip on
my jump cues and break cues. Although hard, it will take chalk for jumping with english and even draw.
The Butt
Built from selected hardwood, the over all designs are both
reminiscent of classic styles, as well as, unique and original designs. The joint is of flat faced style, with a 3/8 x 10
alloy pin and decorative linen phenolic joint collars. The butt cap is of the finest materials and finished off with a special
bumper custom cast in my shop.
The Shaft
The shaft is turned from hard rock maple with a strong taper
and a phenolic collar completing the overall joint design. Measuring 29 inches long, if fits in any standard case.
Designs
The Picone jump cues are available in different models. From
basic maple, to custom and exotic models, many one of a kind. Finished cues are then sealed, and sprayed with three coats
of hi-tech clear poly, and finally buffed to a mirror like finish.
Summing up
The jump shot is one of the most exciting shots preformed on the pooltable. I
doubt there is a professional player playing today that doesn't own and use a jump cue. If you have always watched other players
jumping balls and thought to yourself "I could never do that", think again. With a Picone Jump cue and little practice anyone
can perform spectacular jumpshots. In performance, quality and value, A Joseph Picone jump cue is in a class by itself.
Joseph Picone
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