Jumping rule

[Da Poet]

A guy that runs a weekly local tournament here said that jumping using the "darting" technique was against BCA rules. He said that you had to keep your shooting arm in the standard shooting position and you were not allowed to basically turn the hand that you hold the cue with around and use, for lack of a better word, more of a spear motion to execute a shot.

Now, automatically, we all know that when many players are using a bridge, it is quite common to "dart" the shot, but for some reason, this guy is claiming it is different on jump shots. I find nothing in BCA rules that says anything more detailed than striking the cue ball needs to be done with the tip of the cue.

I remember somebody mentioning something like this a long time time ago, so maybe there is some sort of rule that came from somewhere like this? I was wondering if anyone ever heard anything like this before and what the source might have been since I'm reasonably convinced it's not a BCA thing.

But maybe for the first time in my life I might be wrong about something?

 

[Snapshot9]

He's

full of bullshit. There is no such rule. Sounds like one of those 'make'm up as you go guys' ..... LOL

 

[NeZ]

Here are the two BCA rules regarding jumping....

3.26 ILLEGAL JUMPING OF BALL
It is a foul if a player strikes the cue ball below center (“digs under” or “lofts” the cue ball) and intentionally causes it to rise off the bed of the table in an effort to clear an obstructing ball. Such jumping action may occasionally occur accidentally, and such “jumps” are not to be considered fouls on their face; they may still be ruled foul strokes, if for example, the ferrule or cue shaft makes contact with the cue ball in the course of the shot.

3.27 JUMP SHOTS
Unless otherwise stated in rules for a specific game it is legal to cause the cue ball to rise off the bed of the table by elevating the cue stick on the shot, and forcing the cue ball to rebound from the bed of the table. Any miscue when executing a jump shot is a foul.

 

[Flex]

Print out a copy of the BCA rules and keep it in your cue case for guys like that. There are more of them than you realize.

Not surprising how quickly creative rules like the one he made up will vanish into thin air when folks know you've got the rule book with you.

On numerous occasions a printout of those rules have saved the day for me.

 

[seanjonsean]

i hardly ever jump a ball but wen i do it makes a miscue sound but ive asked others to view my shot and they it is good legal shot and it goes long but others say im scooping ball how do i argue that??if u scoop the ball i think it goes high and short but done right it sounds loud and goes long oh and not as high , but what do i kno ....

 

[Da Poet]

Here are the two BCA rules regarding jumping....

3.26 ILLEGAL JUMPING OF BALL
It is a foul if a player strikes the cue ball below center (“digs under” or “lofts” the cue ball) and intentionally causes it to rise off the bed of the table in an effort to clear an obstructing ball. Such jumping action may occasionally occur accidentally, and such “jumps” are not to be considered fouls on their face; they may still be ruled foul strokes, if for example, the ferrule or cue shaft makes contact with the cue ball in the course of the shot.

3.27 JUMP SHOTS
Unless otherwise stated in rules for a specific game it is legal to cause the cue ball to rise off the bed of the table by elevating the cue stick on the shot, and forcing the cue ball to rebound from the bed of the table. Any miscue when executing a jump shot is a foul.

Exactly. I agree 100%. I poured over the rules myself. There must be some weird local rumor thing going around these parts because I heard someone say something like this a few years ago, but I couldn't jump back then and it didn't matter.

He didn't have his rule book with him last night so I asked him to bring it with him next week. If it was just some random shmuck that said this, I would have not wasted everyone's time here, but since the dude runs the tournament at Chris's, I figured it might help to try to find out how this idea might have gotten started.

Thanks!

 

[Flex]

Exactly. I agree 100%. I poured over the rules myself. There must be some weird local rumor thing going around these parts because I heard someone say something like this a few years ago, but I couldn't jump back then and it didn't matter.

He didn't have his rule book with him last night so I asked him to bring it with him next week. If it was just some random shmuck that said this, I would have not wasted everyone's time here, but since the dude runs the tournament at Chris's, I figured it might help to try to find out how this idea might have gotten started.

Thanks!

I play in those tournaments often, and use the dart stroke to jump frequently. The TD has seen me, plus numerous other fellows and ladies shoot like that and never created a problem. Is the TD who runs the Wednesday night tournaments the same as the ones on Sunday night?
BTW, who were you playing when this happened?

Flex

 

[Cory in DC]

Exactly. I agree 100%. I poured over the rules myself. There must be some weird local rumor thing going around these parts because I heard someone say something like this a few years ago, but I couldn't jump back then and it didn't matter.

He didn't have his rule book with him last night so I asked him to bring it with him next week. If it was just some random shmuck that said this, I would have not wasted everyone's time here, but since the dude runs the tournament at Chris's, I figured it might help to try to find out how this idea might have gotten started.

Thanks!

They guy probably confused the prohibition on jumping with just the shaft of a cue (which I think is always done dart-style) and is illegal with jumping with a real jump cue using the dart-style grip.

Cory

 

[Flex]

They guy probably confused the prohibition on jumping with just the shaft of a cue (which I think is always done dart-style) and is illegal with jumping with a real jump cue using the dart-style grip.

Cory

I've seen people jump with just the shaft in that tournament. Once, when my opponent got ready to shaft jump, I said he couldn't do that, that the cue had to be at least 40 inches long. We called the TD, who just might be the same one Da Poet is referring to, and he allowed him to jump with just the shaft. He said there were no governing rules for all of pool. In other words, his word goes, and that was it. Not worthwhile getting him upset or ticked off at you, if it is who I think it is. Some people's handicaps seem to mysteriously rise even when they don't win. Not sure why, but it's happened.

 

[Da Poet]

I play in those tournaments often, and use the dart stroke to jump frequently. The TD has seen me, plus numerous other fellows and ladies shoot like that and never created a problem. Is the TD who runs the Wednesday night tournaments the same as the ones on Sunday night?
BTW, who were you playing when this happened?

Flex

Fortunately it didn't happen during the tournament. It was after the tournament when myself and a couple others were messing around with some jump shots. I'm sure it was the same TD you are referring to. I have too much respect and admiration for Ron to mention his name here on the forum. It just wouldn't be right.

I didn't doubt him on it in front of everyone because I only do that here. I have a lot of respect for him and I really appreciate what it is that he and everyone who works there does to keep things as cool over there as thery are. I don't think at all that he just made this up out of thin air. I'm kinda thinkin' someone probably pulled a fast one on him or it was some sort of mix up with the shaft or length issue like Cory in DC said.

 

[Bob Jewett]

A guy that runs a weekly local tournament here said that jumping using the "darting" technique was against BCA rules. ...

It's hard to find good help. Some leagues or league operators are isolated from reality. I have heard of a league rule that forbids having the hand higher than the elbow (or shoulder?). To the best of my knowledge, no such rule has ever been in a main-line rule set.

I doubt that the guy has ever read the rule book. You might consider buying one and paging through it with a puzzled expression on your face at the next tournament. Then ask him what section the "dart grip" rule is in.

 

[Da Poet]

I have heard of a league rule that forbids having the hand higher than the elbow (or shoulder?). To the best of my knowledge, no such rule has ever been in a main-line rule set.

That's exactly what he was trying to describe. I know I heard something like that some time ago. It must be some weird local thing circulating around.

Yeah, I'm just going to order the damn BCA book and keep it in the friggin' bag, if it will fit.

Thanks!

 

[Cheez Dawg]

The league I used to play in completely outlawed jump shots and masse shots. I think the main reason was because the guy that ran the league couldn't do it, and he figured no one else should be allowed to either.
They play with a bastardized set of rules anyway, and rules tend to get made up as they went along to suit a few cry-babies.

 

[supergreenman]

I suppose this is a little off topic, since I'm not commenting on the rules aspect, but, I would encourage people to use an underhanded stroke for a jump shot as opposed to the dart stroke where possible. the underhanded stroke in my opinion is a lot more mechanically sound and stable which leads to better accuracy.

The only time I use a dart stroke is when I have to reach across the table(and at that point I'm looking to see if a kick is the better choice)

 

[Cory in DC]

The league I used to play in completely outlawed jump shots and masse shots. I think the main reason was because the guy that ran the league couldn't do it, and he figured no one else should be allowed to either.
They play with a bastardized set of rules anyway, and rules tend to get made up as they went along to suit a few cry-babies.

I bet a lot of people can jump and masse without him knowing it.