APA Ruling?

homepc

homepc

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Last night, after several innings, one of my team mates realizes that he is playing with his break cue. In the middle of an inning he switches back to his normal playing cue. The other team calls a foul stating that you can not change cues in the middle of a game. I cant seem to find that rule anywhere. Does anyone know for sure what the rule is for changing cues in the middle of a game? This is after the break.....

thanks
Ray
 
homepc said:
Last night, after several innings, one of my team mates realizes that he is playing with his break cue. In the middle of an inning he switches back to his normal playing cue. The other team calls a foul stating that you can not change cues in the middle of a game. I cant seem to find that rule anywhere. Does anyone know for sure what the rule is for changing cues in the middle of a game? This is after the break.....

thanks
Ray
Click to expand...


It's not worded great and can be interpreted a few ways.

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 (see REGULAR GAME CUE described in Definitions). 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.
Click to expand...

REGULAR GAME CUE: The cue used for the majority of shots in your
match.
Click to expand...


That's what they're citing. To clear things up, you should just tell them about the mistake prior to switching cues. I mean, it's a nit thing to even protest switching to an obvious shooting cue but it's always best to ask potential nits before you do. It says nothing about it being a foul, though.
 
homepc said:
Last night, after several innings, one of my team mates realizes that he is playing with his break cue. In the middle of an inning he switches back to his normal playing cue. The other team calls a foul stating that you can not change cues in the middle of a game. I cant seem to find that rule anywhere. Does anyone know for sure what the rule is for changing cues in the middle of a game? This is after the break.....

thanks
Ray
Click to expand...

not even close to right. you can't change cues to execute a jump shot or masse type shot. that's it. you used to be able to use a different cue to jump but now you have to use your regular shooting cue. there is no rule about shooting regular shots with a different cue. what would happen if your tip came off in a game?
 
Thanks for the ruling. We did tell them that it was an honest mistake. they insisted that he continue using his break cue for the rest of that game. I did think it was pretty stupid....but we went alone with it....

Thanks for your comments.....
 
This should answer your question

Here is a direct response from the APA national office to an email I sent about switching cues during a game. Obviously there is no penalty for switching cues and this would be allowed as often as you like.



Daniell,
Thanks for contacting the APA with your questions.
It is perfectly acceptable to switch cues during a game to perform
different shots. As long as you are not using a cue designed especially for jump shots. Which means if you have a cue that you use for breaking and want to switch to it (and it is a regular game cue) to attempt a jump shot that would be fine.

Glenda
Team APA
 
Samiel said:
Isn't there a sportsmanship rule in the APA somewhere? I'd call it about then... :p
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Switching cues would be acceptable and not a foul.

Sportmanship on the other hand can be called and the other team could have been accused of sharking. Sportmanship usually has to be called by an official or ref though for it to be a foul.
 
Recent Changes

I do not know if it changes from local league to local league.

The rule until 2 sessions ago for APA here in North Alabama was the APA response iba7467 posted:

Thanks for contacting the APA with your questions.
It is perfectly acceptable to switch cues during a game to perform
different shots. As long as you are not using a cue designed especially for jump shots. Which means if you have a cue that you use for breaking and want to switch to it (and it is a regular game cue) to attempt a jump shot that would be fine.

Then is was changed at the beginning of summer session to the same posting as jrt30004 posted:

you can't change cues to execute a jump shot or masse type shot. that's it. you used to be able to use a different cue to jump but now you have to use your regular shooting cue. there is no rule about shooting regular shots with a different cue

I would like to know when the APA gave the response to Daniel in that they the terminology used by our league operators was "regular shooting cue" and they were specific that you could not change to your break cue for a jump or masse

In this particular case however, Your opponents are nits for making him use the breaking cue as a regular shooting cue for the remainder of the game. As defined by APA it was not his regular shooting cue at all.

Just a mistake and they are so weak as to try and take advantage it. These are the kind that suck all the fun out of pool.

Automatic Zero for Sportsmanship.

I would have been tempted tp delay the game and called the League Operator for a ruling just because they were such arses

I was just wondering if it was a true Breaking cue with Phenolic or otherwise tip. Not that it would matter at all in the issue.
 
Local rules always superced National Rules, unless you are at Nationals.

That said, as long as it is YOUR turn at the table, you can change cues on every single shot if you want. There is no rule about not being allowed to shoot a shot with a break cue.

The only rule(s) I know of that prohibit this would be to use a non-leather tip to jump. I believe that is just a rule here in Maryland. If the shot was/is not a jump shot, nothing says you can't use your break cue to shoot.

Something good to remember for league night: If someone calls a foul or brings up a rule(s) violation that you don't know about, make them show you in the local bylaws. I say local, because local bylaws supercede national league rules. If they can't show you, NO foul.
 
iba7467 said:
Here is a direct response from the APA national office to an email I sent about switching cues during a game. Obviously there is no penalty for switching cues and this would be allowed as often as you like.



Daniell,
Thanks for contacting the APA with your questions.
It is perfectly acceptable to switch cues during a game to perform
different shots. As long as you are not using a cue designed especially for jump shots. Which means if you have a cue that you use for breaking and want to switch to it (and it is a regular game cue) to attempt a jump shot that would be fine.

Glenda
Team APA
Click to expand...


Good source. This changed or rather the rule changed to this one a couple years back. Maybe even just a year or so ago.

About the same time they changed the Timeout rule where anyone on a team can call one and any member can give the TO. It used to be that only the person calling the TO could give advice. IMO that was a bad rule and the new one is better.

I keep hearing that they changed to allow jump cues but I have never seen anything from the APA. I would be against this change even though I can jump. Much easier to say no jumps and save bunches of equipment and drama about what is a legal jumper.
 
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