Can the bridge be used to support your bridge hand on a jump shot?

SlateMan

SlateMan

Registered
I was just messing around on my table and I played a poor position shot and needed to jump a ball. The cue ball was close to the blocking ball and far out on the table. I set the bridge down, then used it to hold my bridge hand, I then used a dart stroke and popped the cue ball over the blocking ball and made a good hit.

It was a bit wobbly but gave me a good angle.
You have to be ready to grab the bridge quickly.

Is that legal?
 
One or two bridges can be used but must be used in the intended manner, or so some rules say. I have slept a bunch of times since I have read a rule book! Of course gambling it comes down to who has the biggest cohunes!

Hu
 
I guess I should use my GoogleFoo.
Players may not use equipment or accessory items for purposes or in a manner other than those for which the items were intended (refer to rules 3.42 and 3.43). For example, powder containers, chalk cubes, etc., may not be used to prop up a mechanical bridge (or natural hand bridge); no more than two mechanical bridges may be used at one time, nor may they be used to support anything other than the cue shaft. Extra or out-of-play balls may not be used by players to check clearance or for any other reason (except to lag for break); the triangle may be employed to ascertain whether a ball is in the rack when a match is unofficiated and the table has not been pencil marked around the triangle area. (Also see Rule 2.3)
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I’ve seen Corey do what you’re describing in a match once. Rules have probably changed since then.
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marek said:
This very topic has been questioned here in the past, definitely not legal as far as WPA rules go. Simply put every piece of equipment must be used in the intended manner and using the bridge the way you did is not the intended use. And I would like to point out that this is not my opinion, this ruling has been confirmed by couple of WPA referees ;)
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that is true
and coreys use is a foul
whether he got called on it or not is another story
 
SlateMan said:
I was just messing around on my table and I played a poor position shot and needed to jump a ball. The cue ball was close to the blocking ball and far out on the table. I set the bridge down, then used it to hold my bridge hand, I then used a dart stroke and popped the cue ball over the blocking ball and made a good hit.

It was a bit wobbly but gave me a good angle.
You have to be ready to grab the bridge quickly.

Is that legal?
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You cant do that, but you can stack two of them on top of eachother.
 
As a normal banger would do, I played around and practiced with a one handed dart stroke and hit a few of them pretty good. So I am ready for the one time in 10 years that shot may arise. Now if I could only hit a straight in shot....

The one handed jump stroke probably wouldn't be so bad but I have an essential tremor so my hand starts shaking as I am fine tuning the aiming. The poke stroke actually goes pretty smooth all things considered.

What's weird is I actually jump pretty good. When closer to the rail I hold my jump que between my index finger and my middle finger with the cue pointing upwards. I choke up on the jump cue (about 3/4 down the grip towards the tip) I then tuck my wrist back towards the underside of my arm. My jump stroke is a very small movement of my shooting arm and a flick of my wrist. The ball jumps and lands very softly. I can jump and not fly the cue off of the table.
 
The intended use of a mechanical bridge is to replace your bridge hand, not elevate it. That would be an unsportsmanlike conduct foul for using equipment differently than its intended use.
 
Rules like that border on stupid. The extended bridge itself is a prosthetic to aid um, you didden growed big nuff. Pool is challenging enough without governing bodies stifling its evolution.
 
Similar but different: a few years back, in a tournament up in Chicago, I was playing Ike Runnels and his only shot was over a ball and he goes to his case and brings out a bridge head -- just a standard moose style bridge head with no stick -- and holds it in his bridge hand and uses that to shoot.

I let it go but afterwards asked him about it and he claimed he'd done it in tournaments and no one had ever said it was illegal.

Not so sure.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Similar but different: a few years back, in a tournament up in Chicago, I was playing Ike Runnels and his only shot was over a ball and he goes to his case and brings out a bridge head -- just a standard moose style bridge head with no stick -- and holds it in his bridge hand and uses that to shoot.

I let it go but afterwards asked him about it and he claimed he'd done it in tournaments and no one had ever said it was illegal.

Not so sure.

Lou Figueroa
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I carry one and will use it in the same manner. No tourneys to concern myself with. I'll also use a magic marker, table brush, book, my stick case, and anything else handy...
 
lfigueroa said:
Similar but different: a few years back, in a tournament up in Chicago, I was playing Ike Runnels and his only shot was over a ball and he goes to his case and brings out a bridge head -- just a standard moose style bridge head with no stick -- and holds it in his bridge hand and uses that to shoot.

I let it go but afterwards asked him about it and he claimed he'd done it in tournaments and no one had ever said it was illegal.

Not so sure.

Lou Figueroa
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The best discussion of bridge use I know of is in the CSI rules. I think his use would have been legal according to those, since "whether there is a handle" is not considered a disqualifying criterion. Here is their equipment spec for bridges:

10. Mechanical Bridges​
The primary consideration for determining whether a mechanical bridge is legal is that it supports the cue, as opposed to elevating the bridge hand above the bed of the table or significantly enhancing the stability of the hand holding the bridge.​
The particular construction of the bridge is not relevant as long as it does no more than support the cue, and does not damage the table or other equipment. Items that are not considered disqualifying include, but are not limited to:​
 The overall size, or the height of grooves above the bed of the table;​
 whether there is a handle, sliding extensions, wheels, or accommodations to straddle balls;​
 the shape of grooves;​
 whether the grooves have linings or mechanisms to retain the cue in the groove.​
If the above information is not sufficient to determine to whether a particular bridge design is considered legal, please contact the CSI National office, and include a picture of the bridge in use on a table with your communication. (AR p. 73)​

Under Use of Equipment, CSI rules say:

d. You may not shoot while using more than two mechanical bridges at any one time. A bridge may only be used to support the cue or another bridge. If two bridges are used, the upper bridge must rest on the head of the lower bridge. (AR p. 73).​
e. You may not shoot while using any item to support or elevate your bridge hand. You may hold chalk in your bridge hand while bridging, but the chalk may not be used to elevate your hand off the table.​
Penalty for (d-e): foul upon execution of the shot. If no shot is executed then there is no foul.​
 
Bob Jewett said:
The best discussion of bridge use I know of is in the CSI rules. I think his use would have been legal according to those, since "whether there is a handle" is not considered a disqualifying criterion. Here is their equipment spec for bridges:

10. Mechanical Bridges​
The primary consideration for determining whether a mechanical bridge is legal is that it supports the cue, as opposed to elevating the bridge hand above the bed of the table or significantly enhancing the stability of the hand holding the bridge.​
The particular construction of the bridge is not relevant as long as it does no more than support the cue, and does not damage the table or other equipment. Items that are not considered disqualifying include, but are not limited to:​
 The overall size, or the height of grooves above the bed of the table;​
 whether there is a handle, sliding extensions, wheels, or accommodations to straddle balls;​
 the shape of grooves;​
 whether the grooves have linings or mechanisms to retain the cue in the groove.​
If the above information is not sufficient to determine to whether a particular bridge design is considered legal, please contact the CSI National office, and include a picture of the bridge in use on a table with your communication. (AR p. 73)​

Under Use of Equipment, CSI rules say:

d. You may not shoot while using more than two mechanical bridges at any one time. A bridge may only be used to support the cue or another bridge. If two bridges are used, the upper bridge must rest on the head of the lower bridge. (AR p. 73).​
e. You may not shoot while using any item to support or elevate your bridge hand. You may hold chalk in your bridge hand while bridging, but the chalk may not be used to elevate your hand off the table.​
Penalty for (d-e): foul upon execution of the shot. If no shot is executed then there is no foul.​
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Which is an interesting contrast to WPA discussion of the mechanical bridge. Which would lead you to believe a handle is required.

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And this is from their equipment specification page.

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