Rules question - USAPL

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Briantime

Member
Hey there!

As I work on my game and my understanding of the tangent line, I thought it would be helpful to have a visual cue that reminds me where the cue ball is likely to go. I saw this online at Pooldawg:

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It's a decal that goes on our cue. Is this against the rules? I think I could benefit from the help, but don't want to violate the rules...
 
I don't get it - is that the actual thing on the right? You could put some tiny white/black dots on your cue, who would ever know.
Is this just showing you a 30 degree angle?
 
Knock yourself out. At least you won't be banking everything that's not straight in.

Srsly, buy a starter mechanical drawing set and make your own diagrams.
 
I found they addressed that while I was trying to figure out if it really was $10 plus shipping, for a decal of a 30/60 degree angle and Patent Pending on it. Can you really get a patent on a sticker that has angles on it? I think that Patent is going to be Pending for a long time.

I think technically, one,
it could be construed as a training/practice aid
and
two, nobody would ever care if this was used in anything.

2025-06-11 22_55_02-Cue Ball Tracker.png
 
straightline said:
Sure it's allowed. Are you the seller? I gotta say every shot presents you with more detailed information.
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No, I don’t make or sell them. I bought them thinking it might help me visualize the tangent line of my shots as I develop my ability to do it myself but I was concerned about using it in league play because the USAPL rules vaguely mention prohibition on aiming devices.
 
Briantime said:
No, I don’t make or sell them. I bought them thinking it might help me visualize the tangent line of my shots as I develop my ability to do it myself but I was concerned about using it in league play because the USAPL rules vaguely mention prohibition on aiming devices.
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It might, it might be a distraction. Think; driving around town. Steering, pedals, visual acuity have to be intuitive and ingrained.

As to allowed or what, that's unfortunately up to your league.
 
Briantime said:
No, I don’t make or sell them. I bought them thinking it might help me visualize the tangent line of my shots as I develop my ability to do it myself but I was concerned about using it in league play because the USAPL rules vaguely mention prohibition on aiming devices.
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Try calling/emailing CSI if you want a definitive answer.

I think that if you work for 15 minutes just on 30- and 90-degree angles, you will have it down more accurately than you will ever get from that sticker. There are ways to use the (full) cue stick to help your estimation.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Try calling/emailing CSI if you want a definitive answer.

I think that if you work for 15 minutes just on 30- and 90-degree angles, you will have it down more accurately than you will ever get from that sticker. There are ways to use the (full) cue stick to help your estimation.
Click to expand...
You have to wonder, if a player doesn't understand tangent lines do they know that you need to measure the tangent line from the contact point on the object ball? Even after years of playing I still use my cue to determine exactly where my cue ball is going on a stun shot. I like stun shots because it is one shot where you know exactly where the cue ball is going with pin point accuracy.
 
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