Why is this?
surely this has happened in a big match, what's the rule??
- Thread starter The Old Jaybird
- Start date
Why is this?
I think it’s tradition/history. Snooker cues were historically made of ash and were one piece cues. At some point they developed two piece cues but they were largely 3/4 joint (see picture as an example).
I think top snooker players feel that you get a better hit with either no joint or a joint further away from the tip. Also snooker cues traditionally had brass ferrules. Now some have titanium (which is lighter so lower deflection). I’ve never heard of a 3/4 cue coming with a second “shaft”.
The top Canadian players in the 1980s played with two piece maple cues (with the joint 1/2 way like a pool cue) and fibre ferrules like a pool cue. World Champ Cliff Thorburn, Kirk Stevens etc. I think that’s what they grew up with.
Also, 7x world champion Steven Hendry of Scotland played with a cheap maple cue (I believe 3/4) until it was broken in transit.
For a player to switch cues is a big deal as they have to get used to the deflection and feel.
That said, I’ve seen snooker pros so unhappy with their tips that it effects their game. They don’t want to change mid tournament because they haven’t broken in the new tip. I would have thought they would be better off to buy (if they even pay) two cues that play as close as possible and keep one “backup” ready with a played in tip. But obviously the thought of switching cues is worse than the prospect of putting up with a bad tip.
Your right
its normally 15 minute break in snooker if your tip comes off. Sometimes if its been more than a couple frames, they will take the interval early.
What did the leper say to the prostitute?
"Keep the tip"
Please don't ban me!
"Keep the tip"
Please don't ban me!
had a few times got a tip popped off. aside from bringing a spare shaft, better to bring a superglue gel as well.
DieselPete
Well-known member
Actually, at the league and local tournament level, that sometimes is a rule that is in place to prevent or limit sharking. The enforcement is that if an opponent is at the table and you start to disassemble equipment, you have conceded immediately.
That likely is not a rule in bigger events because pros are not going to do it anyway.
In either case, you would just announce that you are making a change for a reason (the tip came off), not to concede, and it would be a non issue.
Contrary to Skor’s post, there is indeed a rule this this effect right there in the WPA rules.
1.12 CONCESSION
If a player concedes, he loses the match. For example, if a player unscrews his jointed
playing cue-stick while the opponent is at the table and during the opponent’s decisive rack of a match, it will be considered a concession of the match.
In the context of switching shafts (because of a tip issue for example) you probably wouldn’t be doing it while your opponent is at the table. And in any case I’d expect that players would understand you weren’t conceding if you had to switch shafts. That said, if I were playing with a hyper technical league player, I would probably announce “sorry, I’ve just got to switch shafts here” to avoid the argument.
The Old Jaybird
Well-known member
and he says, "break it down and you concede and I win. Continue play with it as is."
Then you crack him across the forehead with the butt and go to jail. Had to get a new cue anyway.
Well under the wording of the rules it’s only a concession if it’s his inning. Presumably I’d be switching at my inning. The announcement that I’m changing shafts would just be to avoid an argument that it was some other form of concession.
Then I guess I would assemble my spare cue, it only says you concede if you break down your cue, not assemble one. Besides, people put their jump cues together during a match all the time.
sudocrushms
Well-known member
This happened to FSR late last year. Something was up with his tip. Took a break after the rack and was talking to and showing the official. He grabbed his spare shaft and that was that.
If i were the official i wouldn't give them the time for a repair, but if you have a spare shaft go for it.
If i were the official i wouldn't give them the time for a repair, but if you have a spare shaft go for it.
sudocrushms
Well-known member
On that note: I noticed Szewczyk takes the whole butt off his AirRush and puts the gripped portion on the shaft when he needs it shorter. That would definitely classify as disassembling a cue. But it's not an issue because it's obvious what he's doing. Common sense, y'all.
The WPA rules only speak of unscrewing (a) your playing cue (b) while it’s your opponent’s turn and (c) when he’s on the hill. This example satisfies none of those three requirements.
The BCAPL/CSI rules are similar.
They also specifically give the example of you breaking by dry and hill hill and unscrewing your breaking cue not being a forfeit (obviously you won’t need to break again). However, they do make it clear that unscrewing can still be unsportsmanlike conduct:
“... Despite the specific wording of Rule 1-44 and the Applied Ruling that goes with it, if a referee judged that the timing, body language, relative positions of the players, or any other pertinent information relative to the unscrewing of the break cue gave the clear overall effect of an unsportsmanlike act, the player would still be subject to penalties under Rule 1-45.”
This makes sense to me. If you’re on the 9b (or really any ball on a cosmo out) and I start unscrewing my breaker in your sight line, it could distract you as a looking like I was unscrewing my playing cue and conceding.