Rule question: Playing with a break cue.

inside_english

inside_english

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I ran a local tournament recently and the guy who finished second played all day with a break cue (phenolic tip).

Another player complained that it should have been against the rules.

I have not heard of such a rule, at least not in smaller tournaments.

Any input on this?
 
Why should it be against the rules there is no real gain from it it's a lot more prone to miscue.I have shot with break cues and g 10 tips and your stroke has to be real good to keep from miscueing.
 
inside_english said:
I ran a local tournament recently and the guy who finished second played all day with a break cue (phenolic tip).

Another player complained that it should have been against the rules.

I have not heard of such a rule, at least not in smaller tournaments.

Any input on this?
Click to expand...

Was the player who was doing the complaining in the money?

Whomever won first place may be lucky that the 2nd place finisher didn't play with a cue with a leather tip.

People will complain about anything no matter how small when money is involved.

It's your tournament, if it was not stated before the tournament started that phenolic tips were not permitted then there's no case to be made.

He's probably just upset because he got beaten by a better player.
 
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Wow...

I would like to buy tis guy a beer. How in the world did he draw the ball or use any english? It's tough to win using center ball on every shot.

If local tourney allowed it, I don't see a problem. Personally I wouldn't play with a phenolic tip. I tried breaking with one for a while and could not control the cue ball. I switched back to a leather tip.
 
I am just saying

I have played and won many a game playing with my break cue. I have finished second in a tournament using my break cue but never first. Using a break cue helps keep me centered. You don't need to go that far outside to get english on a CB. Right now I am playing with my Mike Gulyassy Sledge Hammer that just happens to have an OB2 shaft on it and I am loving it. Now One Pocket is really, really tough with a break cue with a phenolic tip but is possible if you change your game to a speed positioning game rather than English and finesse.
 
What rules did you run the tournament by?
You where the TD, it's your call.
randyg
 
I'm a little surprised there was only one person using a phenolic tipped cue (on their jump/break cue). I see tons of them around up here. Quite a few people have those combo J/B sticks that i assume almost all have phenolics on. That being said, just sounds like sour grapes, I'd had told him that he's more than welcome to use a phenolic tip to play an entire tournament whenever he wants, and that I apologize for not letting him in on the secret to placing in the money earlier. It was an oversight and will never happen again, such a terrible thing, not letting him know he could play at LEAST a ball better with that rock hard tip!
 
inside_english said:
I ran a local tournament recently and the guy who finished second played all day with a break cue (phenolic tip).

Another player complained that it should have been against the rules.

I have not heard of such a rule, at least not in smaller tournaments.

Any input on this?
Click to expand...
Sure. The WSR equipment specs say:

The cue tip may not be of a material that can scratch or damage the addressed ball. The cue tip on any stick must be composed of a piece of specially processed leather or other fibrous or pliable material that extends the natural line of the shaft end of the cue and contacts the cue ball when the shot is executed..
​
Of course you don't have to accept anything from the WSR and can modify them any way you please since you are the TD running a local tournament, but the specs do not allow the kind of phenolic tips I've seen.

If you're going to depart from the official rules, I think it's a good idea to write down all of your personal exceptions and make that list available to the players. On the other hand, I've met several TDs who would rather not have a clear, written set of rules so they can adjust the rules against the players they have problems with. Yes, I've actually had TDs tell me that.
 
I don't believe anyone played all day with a phenolic tipped cue,,and then to place in a tournament. I think not!! I have one,, I break and jump with it. Its a very good jumper!! As a shooter ,,it is terrible!!!
To the OP,,,are you meaning this guy used it to jump and break with all day,,or used it as his only stick??
 
flash5153 said:
I don't believe anyone played all day with a phenolic tipped cue,,and then to place in a tournament. I think not!! I have one,, I break and jump with it. Its a very good jumper!! As a shooter ,,it is terrible!!!
To the OP,,,are you meaning this guy used it to jump and break with all day,,or used it as his only stick??
Click to expand...

Why would it not be possible? Hell, I've played with a broom handle before, just not in a tournament. Lol
 
inside_english said:
I ran a local tournament recently and the guy who finished second played all day with a break cue (phenolic tip).

Another player complained that it should have been against the rules.

I have not heard of such a rule, at least not in smaller tournaments.

Any input on this?
Click to expand...

Some rules say that you cannot break with a cue that has a phenolic tip. This is so the cue ball doesn't get damaged. Outside of the break I can't imagine he was getting an advantage using the phenolic tip.

Why did the other player complain? Did he give you a reason?
 
Dave_C said:
Why would it not be possible? Hell, I've played with a broom handle before, just not in a tournament. Lol
Click to expand...

Well anything is possible,,and a broom handle would be a better shooter than a phenolic tip. I'm not joking at all!!!

I guess you could jump every ball weather needed or not!!!:grin:


But the sound of a phenolic tip hitting the cue ball,,time and time again should be against the rules. (terrible sound)

If someone did take 2nd while playing with a phenolic tipped cue,, it doesn't say much for the others in the tournament. Im not trying to be mean,,but you cant do much with that stick as a shooter,,other than make a ball. I believe it would turn a A player into a C player ,,at best.

If someone practiced shooting with this stick,,,maybe they could get a little better with it. But WHY would anyone do that???
 
I play with a BK2 phenolic tip and all... And yes I can draw, follow, and load the cueball... I actually got a clarification from the BCAPL which outlawed phenolic on breakcues. There is nothing illegal about PLAYING with phenolic in their events. You just are not allowed to BREAK with it...

And flash no offense but I'll happily play you some 9ball cheap if you want a demonstration :yes:
 
dr9ball said:
Was the player who was doing the complaining in the money?

Whomever won first place may be lucky that the 2nd place finisher didn't play with a cue with a leather tip.

People will complain about anything no matter how small when money is involved.

It's your tournament, if it was not stated before the tournament started that phenolic tips were not permitted then there's no case to be made.

He's probably just upset because he got beaten by a better player.
Click to expand...
You sir, hit the nail on the head...:)
 
tucson9ball said:
I would like to buy tis guy a beer. How in the world did he draw the ball or use any english? It's tough to win using center ball on every shot.

If local tourney allowed it, I don't see a problem. Personally I wouldn't play with a phenolic tip. I tried breaking with one for a while and could not control the cue ball. I switched back to a leather tip.
Click to expand...
Actually is was fascinating to watch him play. He shot fearlessly, drawing the ball almost the length of the table when he needed to (It was a 9B tourney).

I only saw him miscue once, and that was when he lost the 1st. set against the guy in the hot seat.
 
randyg said:
What rules did you run the tournament by?
You where the TD, it's your call.
randyg
Click to expand...
Agreed Randy. I was the TD and it was my call, and I saw no problem with it. I felt the guy was at a distinct disadvantage, but as another poster so accurately pointed out, the complainer had just lost to a better player and only finished 5th...but he still got some cash.

Everyone else was marveling at this guy's ability to play with a break cue all day and play as well as he did.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Sure. The WSR equipment specs say:

The cue tip may not be of a material that can scratch or damage the addressed ball. The cue tip on any stick must be composed of a piece of specially processed leather or other fibrous or pliable material that extends the natural line of the shaft end of the cue and contacts the cue ball when the shot is executed..
​
Of course you don't have to accept anything from the WSR and can modify them any way you please since you are the TD running a local tournament, but the specs do not allow the kind of phenolic tips I've seen.

If you're going to depart from the official rules, I think it's a good idea to write down all of your personal exceptions and make that list available to the players. On the other hand, I've met several TDs who would rather not have a clear, written set of rules so they can adjust the rules against the players they have problems with. Yes, I've actually had TDs tell me that.
Click to expand...
Well, I only have one rule for my 9B tourneys, and that is the 9 does not count on the break in any pocket. Other than that, you can shoot with a break cue if you desire. Ran my 7th tourney on April 23, and this was only an issue with one player who did have sour grapes...just curious as to what other people thought, thanks.
 
flash5153 said:
I don't believe anyone played all day with a phenolic tipped cue,,and then to place in a tournament. I think not!! I have one,, I break and jump with it. Its a very good jumper!! As a shooter ,,it is terrible!!!
To the OP,,,are you meaning this guy used it to jump and break with all day,,or used it as his only stick??
Click to expand...
He used it to jump/break/shoot all day, and still came in 2nd with a tough field.
 
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