EZ Jump Tool

John Novak

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The Jump Shot From Van Den Berg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ0R7bzNdUw I have to admit was an amazing shot, however when I saw the shot I said to myself is that legal? What I mean is the Jump tool was intended to be a hand held tool which limits the user by his reach and stability to preform the shot. By drilling a hole in the center and mounting it to a bridge handle was not the intention of the manufacturer, if it was it would have had a mounting collar like a regular bridge head has. I understand that this tool is BCA approved, but, there is a rule in the WPA that clearly states using a piece of equipment in the manner it was not intended for is not allowed.
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. The following uses, among others, are considered normal. If the player is uncertain about a particular use of equipment, he should discuss it with the tournament management prior to the start of play. The equipment must be used only for the purpose or in the manner that the equipment was intended. (See 6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct.)

Im curious if this was discussed and approved at the players meeting for the Mosconi Cup
 
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This is an EZ Jump, Nick used a bridge. There is a difference.
 
It's a bridge, it's being used the way that was intended.

no it isnt. In the very beginning of the vid it say a HAND HELD billiard tool.It wasnt intended to be mounted to a bridge handle. It has no pre drilled hole or a mounting collar like a regular bridge head has. Im sure if Don Crump the inventor intended this to be mounted on a bridge handle he would have drilled a hole in it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz2_DaYVM0s
 
no it isnt. In the very beginning of the vid it say a HAND HELD billiard tool.It wasnt intended to be mounted to a bridge handle. It has no pre drilled hole or a mounting collar like a regular bridge head has. Im sure if Don Crump the inventor intended this to be mounted on a bridge handle he would have drilled a hole in it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz2_DaYVM0s

I wouldn't be surprised if future models of this device have a hole drilled in the center and have mounting brackets included.

The Stretch System, I think it was called, utilized a bridge system to jump balls in the middle of the table also, originally designed by Mike Danner who has since passed away.

I wonder if I took one of those long Shoe Horns and converted it to be able to bridge over balls with it, if it would be considered illegal?
 
The Jump Shot From Van Den Berg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ0R7bzNdUw I have to admit was an amazing shot, however when I saw the shot I said to myself is that legal? What I mean is the Jump tool was intended to be a hand held tool which limits the user by his reach and stability to preform the shot. By drilling a hole in the center and mounting it to a bridge handle was not the intention of the manufacturer, if it was it would have had a mounting collar like a regular bridge head has. I understand that this tool is BCA approved, but, there is a rule in the WPA that clearly states using a piece of equipment in the manner it was not intended for is not allowed.
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. The following uses, among others, are considered normal. If the player is uncertain about a particular use of equipment, he should discuss it with the tournament management prior to the start of play. The equipment must be used only for the purpose or in the manner that the equipment was intended. (See 6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct.)

Im curious if this was discussed and approved at the players meeting for the Mosconi Cup

I used two standard bridges on top of each other one time to jump CB, granted it was my 1st attempt in a money one pocket game, failed miserably. Later i practiced it, it worked good. Is this illegal!
 
Actually, the inventor's intention from the beginning was to make a version of the EZ Jumper that would have a hole in the center of it so it could be used in precisely the manner that Nick used his. Don is a friend of mine, and he consulted with me about his plan to make the EZ Jumper adaptable in that manner, which I told him I thought was a great idea. When I saw that shot, I immediately thought of Don's device, and I can only speculate that slow sales combined with less than universal acceptance of it's legitimacy have put EZ Jumper version 2.0 plans on hold.

Aaron
 
I used two standard bridges on top of each other one time to jump CB, granted it was my 1st attempt in a money one pocket game, failed miserably. Later i practiced it, it worked good. Is this illegal!

yes thats legal.. 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. The following uses, among others, are considered normal. If the player is uncertain about a particular use of equipment, he should discuss it with the tournament management prior to the start of play. The equipment must be used only for the purpose or in the manner that the equipment was intended. (See 6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct.)
(a) Cue Stick – The player is permitted to switch between cue sticks during the match, such as break, jump and normal cues. He may use either a built-in extender or an add-on extender to increase the length of the stick.
(b) Chalk – The player may apply chalk to his tip to prevent miscues, and may use his own chalk, provided its color is compatible with the cloth.
(c) Mechanical Bridges – The player may use up to two mechanical bridges to support the cue stick during the shot. The configuration of the bridges is up to the player. He may use his own bridge if it is similar to standard bridges.
(d) Gloves – The player may use gloves to improve the grip and/or bridge hand function.
(e) Powder – A player is allowed to use powder in a reasonable amount as determined by the referee.
 
For the record....

He used an "EasyCue Rest" .

It's stick mounted and as I said , he used it PRECISELY as it was intended.

;)

/End Thread/

Thanks. :)


(For reference... https://www.facebook.com/easycuesports )

Thanks for the link, I guess that answers my original question. After the match when they interviewed them it was mentioned that a friend of appleton made that contraption and gave it to darren, thats why I was curious
 
No prob. :)

I have a version I made myself years ago , much like the EasyCue Version (Guess I shoulda patented it back then ;)

Mine accepts a cue as well. I had plans of doing a more 'typical' bridge head with an additional jump leg for this purpose but never got around to it.
 
It's a jump bridge. I have something similar and it works very well. Notice it is made of clear plastic. That helps in a couple of ways. You are able to look through the bridge to see where you need to hit the ball also you can see an impeding ball if you need to get the bridge very close to it so you don't foul the ball. Later I'll try to post a pic and a video of a cool shot you can do with it.:)
 
I used two standard bridges on top of each other one time to jump CB, granted it was my 1st attempt in a money one pocket game, failed miserably. Later i practiced it, it worked good. Is this illegal!

Commonly accepted 1p rules prohibit jumping.
 
DO the WPA rules explicitly apply to 1p? I don't recall them ever sanctioning 1p events...

but what do I know?! :crazy:

yes thats legal.. 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. The following uses, among others, are considered normal. If the player is uncertain about a particular use of equipment, he should discuss it with the tournament management prior to the start of play. The equipment must be used only for the purpose or in the manner that the equipment was intended. (See 6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct.)
(a) Cue Stick – The player is permitted to switch between cue sticks during the match, such as break, jump and normal cues. He may use either a built-in extender or an add-on extender to increase the length of the stick.
(b) Chalk – The player may apply chalk to his tip to prevent miscues, and may use his own chalk, provided its color is compatible with the cloth.
(c) Mechanical Bridges – The player may use up to two mechanical bridges to support the cue stick during the shot. The configuration of the bridges is up to the player. He may use his own bridge if it is similar to standard bridges.
(d) Gloves – The player may use gloves to improve the grip and/or bridge hand function.
(e) Powder – A player is allowed to use powder in a reasonable amount as determined by the referee.
 
this thing is junk

First time I used it, it put 2 gouges in my Pred Air. It was flawless till them and we all know how hard they are to come by.
 
I would think the rules folks should look at this and make a statement. To me, it is a bridge. It would be very easy, if it were important enough to you, to drill a hole in the device and fix it to a cue stick. I would think this would clearly qualify it as a bridge at that point. I don't see where holding it with your hand versus having it fixed to a cue stick changes the legality of it but again, that's just MHO.

I don't have large hands and for most jump shots, I don't find the bridge being the deciding or limiting factor in performing a good shot. Purchase the Dobson Jump Shot Training DVD, practice a little bit and this device won't be needed so the entire legal/illegal deal is a moot point anyway.
 
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