Is this banned in the APA?
- Thread starter Blackball75
- Start date
Wow I would like to try that out but it seems counter productive to a lot of peoples breaking style. Anyone try it?
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I would say yes, it's allowed. Even if it's not, who will enforce it? I've never questioned a break cue in my life.
I know someone who has one, it seems like a fly by night gimmick. They probably sold about a dozen and thats why they say they are banned.
I have a friend who recently bought this cue. He loves it. When i pick it up it just seems a bit ridiculous. It seems so slow my stroke/follow through down. It seems counter productive to me. I would never spend a dime on this but hey whatever floats your boat right?
Where did you hear this? Does the APA know about it?
I have been using a 25+ ounce Stealth for years, but for practicing break shots. When I compete, I use an 18 ounce break cue and smash the rack.
As Jude said, it's not illegal. However, I think it's a gimick. A lighter stick seems to let you get more cue speed on the break shot.
Absolutely, positively, 100% agree.
Reminds me of the marketing ploy "keep calling if the lines are busy" yet hardly anyone is calling, lol, but they make you think it's a top selling item and you better hurry!
I wonder if "Banned" is a marketing ploy? Pretty clever if it is, however it does state some leagues have banned it.
I guess I need to carry my scale to league with me and also a phenolic-tip checker-machine. Oh, and a photo of what a collared shirt looks like.
Ahhhh....
I wonder if "Banned" is a marketing ploy? Pretty clever if it is, however it does state some leagues have banned it.
I guess I need to carry my scale to league with me and also a phenolic-tip checker-machine. Oh, and a photo of what a collared shirt looks like.
Ahhhh....
Blackball75
I would suggest that you call the APA and ask them directly.
I know you thought that by asking your question here, you would get an accurate and succinct answer but as you can see, the answers can be quite diverse.
A few guys actually know what they are talking about, a few would like you to believe that they know what they're talking about and those that haven't a clue, just resort to being rude to hide their ignorance.
Call the APA and get your answer direct from the horses mouth.
I would suggest that you call the APA and ask them directly.
I know you thought that by asking your question here, you would get an accurate and succinct answer but as you can see, the answers can be quite diverse.
A few guys actually know what they are talking about, a few would like you to believe that they know what they're talking about and those that haven't a clue, just resort to being rude to hide their ignorance.
Call the APA and get your answer direct from the horses mouth.
This is true for the most part, but isn't the only contributing factor to an effective smash break.
When your goal is to get the cue ball traveling as fast as you possibly can, you are actually trying to transfer as much linear momentum as you can on that cue ball. How effective you are depends on two things - how much linear momentum you can create, and how much of that momentum gets transferred when you strike the cue ball.
Since momentum is mass times velocity, it's obvious that you can change momentum by changing either of the two factors. But these factors are not independent. You are applying force to create momentum, and the force you are capable of applying is pretty much constant. We all know the physics principal that force = mass X acceleration, so increasing mass will decrease acceleration, thereby decreasing velocity. All other things remaining equal, an increase in mass will decrease velocity by a corresponding amount, and momentum will remain unchanged.
But all other things don't remain equal, and this is where the weight of the cue can make a difference. For a lot of people, a heavier cue means they have to expend more energy just to move the cue in a straight line. This extra requirement reduces the amount of energy they can put into acceleration, and in the end they are able to produce less momentum than they could if they were using a lighter cue. People who are physically stronger and have no problem handling the heavier cue don't tend to have this problem.
The other factor is much more important in an effective smash break. How much of the linear momentum is transferred to the cue ball? This all depends on the elasticity of the collision between the cue and the cue ball and the squareness of the hit. Elasticity depends on the materials involved, and is why people prefer the phenolic tip when breaking. It doesn't absorb as much energy during the collision, so the collision is more elastic and more momentum (speed) is transferred to the cue ball.
The material and construction of the cue itself also affects elasticity. Imagine that you have a giant sponge, and you carve a cue-shaped piece from it. Add enough water to the sponge to make its weight equal that of your cue. Now try to break with it. Not gonna work, is it? The sponge absorbs most of the energy of the collision and very little momentum is transferred to the cue ball. Similarly, if a cue vibrates upon contact, it absorbs energy and reduces the elasticity of the collision.
The squareness of the hit is a big player in transfer of linear momentum. If you don't strike the cue ball perfectly square, part of the linear momentum is converted into angular momentum (spin) during the collision, and the cue ball won't travel as fast. An off-center hit is also a glancing blow, meaning the cue will retain more of it's linear momentum and less will be transferred to the cue ball. A heavier cue that is harder to control may very well affect your ability to contact the cue ball squarely.
There's probably a lot more detail to it, but these are the general physics of the break. To be most effective with the smash break, you should break with the heaviest cue that you can easily control, made of the hardest materials available and constructed in such a manner as to reduce vibration.
I recently bought one of these second hand, with the weight bolt removed, and have to say it's the best break cue I've broken with yet. There's some great feedback to mine, which I would probably attribute to the wood pin, which I thought was unusual for a break stick.
Reminds me of the marketing ploy "keep calling if the lines are busy" yet hardly anyone is calling, lol, but they make you think it's a top selling item and you better hurry!
I wonder if "Banned" is a marketing ploy? Pretty clever if it is, however it does state some leagues have banned it.
I guess I need to carry my scale to league with me and also a phenolic-tip checker-machine. Oh, and a photo of what a collared shirt looks like.
Ahhhh....
i have heard that , same old song and dance . you better hurry only three left. johnqbs : anderson sc
I think the irony of the rules about weight, length, and size is who checks? Does your equipment get inspected before a match or tournament to make sure it is legal? After the match or tournament is your equipment checked to make sure it is legal?
Who carries around a weight scale, or calipers?
Has anyone ever been disqualified for using equipment that was not "legal"?
Who carries around a weight scale, or calipers?
Has anyone ever been disqualified for using equipment that was not "legal"?
Let me weigh in here. One of my APA 8-Ball teammates won one of these in a raffle. I was playing at one of the shirthole bars we play at. Trying to get a good break was next to impossible. The balls are so old and bad it's like trying to hit marshmellows. I have a Gulyassie Sledgehammer for my break cue. It weighs in at 19 1/2 oz. I could not get much of a spread on my first rack. I used the big monster on my second break. I got a much better spread on the break. It definately helped bust up the mellows. It would take some time to get used to it. But damn if it didn't work well on the old worn out cheapie balls the bar has. I think it is worth the money their asking for it.
Mark Shuman
Mark Shuman