Mike Sigel & Tony Robles Exhibition Tonight at Amsterdam Billiards in NYC

I looked this up for another thread and thought it might apply... tho it's WPA rules. Dunno how they'd feel about wpa vs. bca.

(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.

That sounds open ended enough to permit using the bridges the way Tony did, although I agree a 2nd person cannot help him here. I wouldn't invoke the "unintended use of equipment" bit. Not even in a serious match for money. If he can shoot a ball with the bridges stacked that way, god bless'm.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Actually, it doesn't. In Tony's shot, he is using the bridge handle to support another bridge. The definitions section of the BCA rules clearly defines the bridge and bridge handle as different. Also, you say "not in a way that is customary". That would also give weight to the "manner of intent" argument.

Like I said, as a player, I would assume I can't do this. I've seen it done. I've never tried it. I would really like to see a response from a BCA referee.
Click to expand...

I agree with Jude here. I hate to say that in a public forum but it's true.

I too would like to see a ruling from a BCA/WPA referee and whether they would all rule the same way. I've seen it ruled both ways in the past.
 
Interesting piece of trivia there...:)

My former partner making guitars with me was right handed but played guitar left handed.

This is the only case I know of a right hander playing pool left handed predominantly.

I try to shoot with both hands, but I am certainly stronger right handed.
 
Cue Guru said:
Interesting piece of trivia there...:)

My former partner making guitars with me was right handed but played guitar left handed.

This is the only case I know of a right hander playing pool left handed predominantly.

I try to shoot with both hands, but I am certainly stronger right handed.
Click to expand...

There have been several threads about this and this isn't uncommon. As a matter of fact, I am one of the above. ;)
 
It's weird how it works out. I am lefty and shoot lefty. When I "air guitar" I do it lefty. But when I play real guitar, I do it righty. Possibly cuz it's a pain to only be able to play the few lefty guitars out there. And the first time I walked up to hit a golf ball, I instinctively went righty (and I don't think it's just the righty club that made me want to do that).

I wonder if there's some link between people who use the 'wrong hand' for pool and people who are really good at shooting opposite handed?
 
I like to thank the promoter who put up the prize money to make this free match between Mike Sigel and Tony Robles possible, along with Amsterdam for hosting, and Chris for keeping the online community updated.
 
Cue Guru said:
Interesting piece of trivia there...:)

My former partner making guitars with me was right handed but played guitar left handed.

This is the only case I know of a right hander playing pool left handed predominantly.

I try to shoot with both hands, but I am certainly stronger right handed.
Click to expand...


The great Walter Lindrum, perhaps the greatest cueist of all time played left handed even though he was a natural righty.
 
Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I was asked for a response. I didn't see it at first because of my annual post-Vegas wind down, plus I normally only scan for rule related titles. Anyway, the situations are mostly covered by the BCAPL Rules already, and where they are not I have received rulings from the National Office:

For the situation shown in the pics in posts 106/111 - illegal in BCAPL play. By coincidence, this situation was addressed in the development of the 2009-2010 edition of the BCAPL Rule Book. The new BCAPL Applied Ruling 1.3, second paragraph for Rule 1.3(e) states:

"If two bridges are used, the upper bridge must rest on the head of the lower bridge."

Even if the lower bridge were being used in compliance, a referee would not be allowed to assist in its placement or stabilization. No specific guidance currently applies, but a new rule or Applied Ruling will be written and published soon.

On a side note, the first sentence of the second paragraph of BCAPL Applied Ruling 1.3, which required some part of a mechanical bridge in use to be in contact with the bed of the table, is being deleted. Errata Sheets will be included with all new books and the change will be posted on the BCAPL website next week. So the actual act of straddling the rails with a bridge is not illegal in BCAPL play, but you may still only use the head of the bridge to support the cue or another bridge.

For the situation described in post 114 - illegal in BCAPL play per BCAPL Rule 1.3.1(f):

"you may not use any item to support or elevate your bridge hand."

Buddy Eick
BCAPL National Head Referee
BCAPL Director of Referee Training
Technical Editor, BCAPL Rule Book
bcapl_referee@cox.net

Find the Official Rules of the BCA Pool League here:

http://www.playbca.com/Downloads/Rulebook/CompleteRulebook/tabid/372/Default.aspx

* The contents of this post refer to BCA Pool League (BCAPL) Rules only. The BCAPL National Office has authorized me to act in an official capacity regarding questions about BCAPL Rules matters in public forums.
* Neither I nor any BCAPL referee make any policy decisions regarding BCAPL Rules. Any and all decisions, interpretations, or Applied Rulings are made by the BCAPL National Office and are solely their responsibility. BCAPL referees are enforcers of rules, not legislators. BCAPL Rules 9.5.3 and 9.5.4 apply.
* No reference to, inference concerning, or comment on any other set of rules (WPA, APA, VNEA, TAP, or any other set of rules, public or private) is intended or should be derived from this post unless specifically stated.
* There is no such thing as "BCA Rules" other than in the sense that the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) publishes various rules, including the World Pool-Billiard Association's "World Standardized Rules". The BCA does not edit nor is responsible for the content of the World Standardized Rules. The Official Rules of the BCAPL is a separate and independent set of rules and, to avoid confusion, should not be referred to as "BCA Rules".
* Since 2004, there is no such thing as a "BCA Referee". The BCA no longer has any program to train, certify or sanction billiards referees or officials.
* The BCAPL has no association with the Billiard Congress of America other than in their capacity as a member of the BCA.
* The BCAPL has not addressed every imaginable rules issue, nor will it ever likely be able to, as evidenced by the seemingly endless situations that people dream up or that (more frequently) actually happen. If I do not have the answer to a question I will tell you so, then I will get a ruling from the BCAPL National Office and get back to you as soon as I can. If deemed necessary, the BCAPL will then add the ruling to the "Applied Rulings" section of The Official Rules of the BCA Pool League.
 
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