Easy Jumper Legal?

I would have to think that if mechanical bridges are legal, then this is too. That's really all it is, but without a shaft.
 
I'd say illegal, at least in events played under WPA rules/guidelines.

Here's the description of a mechanical bridge from the WPA Equipment Specifications:

18. Mechanical Bridge
The mechanical bridge, also called rake, crutch or rest, is an accessory of the billiard sports table and consists of a stick with a bridge head mounted at its end to support the shaft of the cue stick replacing the hand bridge during shots difficult to reach. The stick or handle of the mechanical bridge is very similar in shape to the cue stick. The bridge
head has notches or grooves, usually at various heights, in which the cue shaft can rest. The contour of the bridge head should be smooth in order not to mar the cue shaft or rip the threads of the table-cloth when being used.​

Since the EZ-Jumper has no stick or handle "similar in shape to the cue stick," it would not seem to conform.

Edit: I also found the following under General Rules:

1.3 Player’s Use of Equipment
The equipment must meet existing WPA equipment specifications. In general, players are not permitted to introduce novel equipment into the game. ...​
 
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AtLarge said:
I'd say illegal, at least in events played under WPA rules/guidelines.

Here's the description of a mechanical bridge from the WPA Equipment Specifications:

18. Mechanical Bridge
The mechanical bridge, also called rake, crutch or rest, is an accessory of the billiard sports table and consists of a stick with a bridge head mounted at its end to support the shaft of the cue stick replacing the hand bridge during shots difficult to reach. The stick or handle of the mechanical bridge is very similar in shape to the cue stick. The bridge
head has notches or grooves, usually at various heights, in which the cue shaft can rest. The contour of the bridge head should be smooth in order not to mar the cue shaft or rip the threads of the table-cloth when being used.​

Since the EZ-Jumper has no stick or handle "similar in shape to the cue stick," it would not seem to conform.
Click to expand...

I still say it is legal. The excerpt sounds more descriptive than definitive. It says that the "bridge...consists of" and not "bridge...must have." The only reason bridges have sticks is because up until now, no one had invented the stickless bridge.

Consider this viewpoint. Let's say we add a stick to the EZ-Jumper, but the stick is shorter than the usual bridge stick, say by a few inches. Now let's let the stick get progressively shorter. How short can we go until the bridge is no longer acceptable?

The WPA rules do not specify a minimum stick length. Given how precise some of the other equipment specifications are, this section looks to me to be more descriptive rather than definitive.
 
well then

can i stick my fingers in some blocks of chalk to elevate my bridge?:thumbup:
 
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thefonz said:
can i stick my fingers in some blocks of chalk to elevate my bridge?:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Nope. Paragraph 1.3 of the General Rules also contains this sentence: "The equipment must be used only for the purpose or in the manner that the equipment was intended."
 
I like the idea of this bridge, but what I've always done up to now is got two rests and put them together. I have a Batwing rest and a Rabbit (aka London Bridge) and I will stack one on top of the other if I feel a jump is my best option. Very rare it comes up but I'll do it if I have to - much to players disgust in the pool room I play in as it takes time to set up! :)

My other option is just not to snooker myself to have to jump in the first place :)

Do I think this should be legal? Only if used as a normal rest so it has to have a stick on it. But then is it just giving lesser players more equality over the top professionals and amateurs?

It takes skill to jump even with a jump cue...taking away the aiming technique and leaving it to a rest won't sit pretty with some people. I've worked hard to improve my jump and enjoy practising to get better, I don't want everything spoon fed to me to make me feel great straight away...
 
when i have to jump to far from the edge of the table to reach i use my justa bridge and it does just fine plus it has other uses as a bridge and elevates plenty high for jumps and is legal
 
I have tiny hands, size 6 1/2 surgical glove, and I can jump......well.....very well.....with jump cue, yes, and extremely well with my playing cue anyway.....

I'm short too.....do I carry a bridge? Yup. Use it much....nope.

What do I think of that "invention"? I don't hardly think it's an invention, I know I have seen it before, 20 years ago. Is it legal? I dunno. My jump cue ain't legal...it's too short. But I like it and I use it. Dan Janes made it so I don't care if it's too short...it's from before the length rule. You wanna pull rules on me in a bar room or local pool hall about that? OK. But you won't get much time at the table. I play better when I'm aggravated.

Short cues, long cues, heavy cues, light cues, now this.....



I have no idea if it's legal and personally don't care too much because I'm not in organized play. What I can say is that there are two things you never do in the bedroom simultaniously that are just fine when done independently.......point......and laugh....... When somebody pulls this thing out I would do just that. :wink: I mean I would sincerely make fun of you.

The lady demonstrating is a pro? :lmao: I think sometimes people are entirely too impressed with that. I met a lady "pro" at the flea market the other day. Chatted with her for a while as she tried really really hard to impress me. She told me all about her old Josh pool cue and how she worked in Dan James shop one year. Whatever.

Lady pro jumping thing-a-ma-bob gizmo demonstrator I am laughing at you.......sincerely.
 
I thought it was a foul if your hand touched the head of the bridge? If this is used as a bridge and held in your hand like the head of a bridge...FOUL.
 
I prefer to use a rail rather than jump.
Jumping does take practice and if you need one of these gizmos to jump, then you probably shouldn't own a jump cue.
 
In late 2009, when the device came out, Don told me that he had cleared the EZ-Jumper through the BCA, the Viking Tour, the Midwest Tour, and the Gateway Tour, and he was working on several others. I know that since then at least one organization told him "no", but I can't remember which one. Don played TAP league as recently as last fall, and, IIRC, he was using the device in that league.

For those who are considering trying one, I would say go for it. They are inexpensive, easy to use, they fit in your back pocket, and they really do make certain jump shots a lot easier. I think I still have a few left if you have trouble finding one. Or, if you want to PM me a phone #, I can put you in contact with the inventor of the device so you can learn more about it from the source.

Aaron
 
I hope not ... but then again, I still haven't come to grips with the idea of a jump cue being ok
 
Randyg are you sure? Because you are in disagreement with the BCAPL head referee.

check this thread
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=3222809

In post #2 I hotlinked to an image of the ezjumper. The image is no longer online so it doesnt show. In post #9 of that thread:
_________________
Both legal in BCAPL play.

Buddy Eick
BCAPL National Head Referee
Technical Editor, The Official Rules of the BCAPL Pool League.
 
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