i have a question about apa rules regarding jump shots. my friend in the league claims it is legal to use his break cue with a phenolic tip to jump, saying because it is full length it is not a jump cue. however the rules read that jump shots must be attempted with your "regular shooting cue", which i interpret to mean you can't switch cues for anything, full length or not. he says he has asked our league operator about this and she said it's OK, but i'm not sure she really knows...
apa rules question
- Thread starter McChen
- Start date
My understanding is that if the cue is full length, APA will typically allow a player to use that cue to jump with. I do not stop anyone in my local league from using a full length break/jump cue with a phenolic tip.
What the APA team manual is really disallowing in the use of equipment is the specifically designed shorter jump cues, like the Frog.
Of course, local bylaws should be checked for your local league area regarding the use of break/jump cues and/or phenolic tips.
What the APA team manual is really disallowing in the use of equipment is the specifically designed shorter jump cues, like the Frog.
Of course, local bylaws should be checked for your local league area regarding the use of break/jump cues and/or phenolic tips.
APA LO said:
Regular game cue seems very specific to me.
http://www.poolplayers.com/tmanual.pdf
page 40
Steve
You are absolutely allowed to go get your break cue and use it to shoot a jump shot - w/2 conditions. One, you must shoot the shot full stick. Two, it cannot be a 3 piece cue (ie a J/B cue), it must be a 2 piece cue (the Predator BK cues are legal and work well).
That is the current APA ruling, and was enforced as such during this years regional and national events.
I'm getting a Joss butt to use w/my X-Breaker shaft so I can meet those requirements.
That is the current APA ruling, and was enforced as such during this years regional and national events.
I'm getting a Joss butt to use w/my X-Breaker shaft so I can meet those requirements.
The ban of jump cues is just one of the reasons why I don't care for APA.
I think we will see a change of rules regarding jumping this year.
At least thats what I have been hearing. Jump cues will be allowed or
at least allowed in half the US.
Probably not at nationals though I would guess. Strange that it would be half the US and not the whole thing.
IMO all the bars and pool rooms will ban league players from jumping within
a couple weeks after it goes through.
At least thats what I have been hearing. Jump cues will be allowed or
at least allowed in half the US.
Probably not at nationals though I would guess. Strange that it would be half the US and not the whole thing.
IMO all the bars and pool rooms will ban league players from jumping within
a couple weeks after it goes through.
Not exactly....but bylaws may differ.Endymion said:
They changed the rules so it is now legal to change cues, grab your break cue and jump a ball. It doesn't matter if your break cue is a j/b (3pc) or not. The cue must be used full length to jump balls and nothing can be removed or added to the cue at any time. You can not use 2pc of the 3pc cue...you must have it all together. I have been making a lot of j/b's for some of the top local league players and they are having them made with removable weight bolts. They remove the weight before their APA match making their cue weigh 14-15oz or less...making it extremely easy to jump full cue. Then they can add the weight back for regular use. I'm pretty well up to speed on the correct rules...I made our League Operator a new one.
Hmm...interesting, i had interpreted "regular game cue" to exclude any other cue, including the break cue. So could i have a separate full length cue that was very light, say 13oz with a phenolic tip, to use for jumping in APA? but use a different heavier cue for breaking? or does it have to be the same cue used for breaking?
Your reading an old copy of the rules. Head on over to www.poolplayers.com and click on Materials.McChen said:
You can switch cues as many times as you want as long as it is a full size cue (which I interpret as a 50/52".
the document on the apa website entitled "Team Manual for 2006/7 - 2007/8 League Years" still states "Jump shots are legal, when executed properly but such shots must be attempted using your regular game cue." Which newer copy of the rules are you referring to?
Ok, aside from what is printed, I think what is assumed is that the break cue is going to be as difficult to use for jumping as a short cue. The fact is, there are cues out there now that work quite for jumping and they're full length. The Stinger Jump/Break cue is an amazing jump cue if it's broken down or not. It's worlds better for jumping than my Predator.
IMO, the only times a player should be allowed to switch cues is when they're breaking or if an obstruction prevents them from shooting with a full cue. Cue technology is moving so fast lately that it's important to have set rules with simple guidelines. If you allow players to switch cues for special situations, you will inevitably change the way the APA founders intended the game to be played.
FYI, in a tournament I played in yesterday, I played a total of 61 games of 9-ball and used my jump cue once. That would mean I'm using a jump cue for less than .5% of all shots (assuming I pocketed at least half the balls throughout my matches). If you're using it more than 1% of the time, you're using it way to much.
IMO, the only times a player should be allowed to switch cues is when they're breaking or if an obstruction prevents them from shooting with a full cue. Cue technology is moving so fast lately that it's important to have set rules with simple guidelines. If you allow players to switch cues for special situations, you will inevitably change the way the APA founders intended the game to be played.
FYI, in a tournament I played in yesterday, I played a total of 61 games of 9-ball and used my jump cue once. That would mean I'm using a jump cue for less than .5% of all shots (assuming I pocketed at least half the balls throughout my matches). If you're using it more than 1% of the time, you're using it way to much.
i agree jude, full length isn't that much of a limitation. you can always make a super light full length cue that would jump pretty good. there is a cue called the lightning bolt with a g10 tip and weighs only 12oz full length which would probably work well. as far as i know there is no APA minimum weight requirement for cues (perhaps this is needed). i think the apa rules were intended that you could only switch cues for the break and if there is an obstruction like jude mentioned. however, it seems there is some disagreement and vagueness regarding the rule and it's implementation. so i guess there's really 2 issues:
1. could you use your full length break cue to jump?
from the responses it seems like yes?
2. could you have a separate full length cue that is NOT your break cue to jump?
still unknown....
1. could you use your full length break cue to jump?
from the responses it seems like yes?
2. could you have a separate full length cue that is NOT your break cue to jump?
still unknown....
I think it'd be funny if they made a rule that you can use onle 1 special cue to both jump and break, but it has to be the same cue and you can't break it down or change the weight or whatever. I wonder how many people would try breaking with a 41 inch jump cue just so that they could have the jump cue option later in the match.
Ok that was dumb, nobody would do that, but the mental image made me laugh.
Ok that was dumb, nobody would do that, but the mental image made me laugh.
Jude Rosenstock said:
Agree 100%
What I don't get is that this same question comes up year after year after year and it still never gets directly addressed in the team manual. Here's the latest I could find for 2007/8:
33. EQUIPMENT
In general, any piece of equipment designed specifically for pocket billiards,
with the exception of jump cues and laser devices, is acceptable in APA
League play. Special equipment, such as bridges and cue extenders, are legal.
Jump shots are legal, when executed properly (see JUMP SHOTS described
in Definitions), but such shots must be attempted using your regular game
cue. Those cues especially designed for jump shots MAY NOT be used in
competition. Players are not allowed to break their cues down to attempt
jump shots.
*Any piece of equipment not covered by this rule and in question will be ruled
upon by APA. Cues with moveable parts will generally NOT be allowed.
Exactly the same as before.
Did I miss something? I mean really, how difficult is it to simply say on a national level that switching cues for a jump shot is illegal and be done with it?
Again, maybe I missed something. But until someone can point me to an official APA link, or document that says switching cues for jumping is okay, I remain respectfully skeptical.
John Barton would.CreeDo said:
