Would this be a legal-to-use shot aid???

Maniac

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
If I had a 6" by 6" piece of felt cloth that I would use to put over the metal corners (or the black plastic pocket lips for that matter) on a Valley pool table to keep the shaft of my cue from getting scratched/black-streaked on shots taken from the corners, would this be illegal? I find myself lifting the cue off of the rail on these shots with the fingers curled under the shaft and I don't want to elevate the back of my cue for this. IMO, it is not really a shooting aid so much as it is for the protection of my cue, but it does aid in not "jacking" the cue up so it could be considered a shooting aid.

So...is a piece of felt cloth legal or illegal? Links to rules???

Maniac
 
Huh?

i have been playing on valley tables for more than 30 years & have not had any of the problems that you mention.

I do not know what the rule is about covering the table, curious to see the answers you receive.

Slim
 
I've always hated those metal corners on Valleys for that same reason. I don't break from the rails because I don't like the scraping. Never seen anyone cover em though
 
I've been schooled to use a napkin for those shots. I don't know if it's approved or legal in tournaments.
 
I carry a piece of leather for that reason. I dont know of any rules against it, but I could be wrong.
 
Personally I don't see anything wrong with protecting your cue.

However, I imagine that we all know or have run into an opponent at one time that would get all anal over it.

There are halls that request you use a cloth patch to either break or jump from.

The 9 foot Dufferins we play on all have soft pockets and the shaft picks this up easily if you happen to have to shoot over top of one.

I'd just use a patch until someone mentions it to you and then say,"show me where it says that in the rule book please".
 
I just pull a bill out of my wallet, fold it in half and put it on the rubber. Takes only seconds...works best with a hundy!
 
Semi-official BCAPL response...

I can't imagine it being illegal, but I will get you an official answer from the BCAPL NAtional Office within a couple of days - BCAPL specific, of course.

If playing under WSR, it's going to fall to the TD/event management to decide per WSR 1.3. Were it in my hands, I would say OK as a TD bound by WSR. No significant advantage to be gained, and I don't think it qualifies as "novel equipment" under WSR 1.3. Just my .02. :)

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

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Provided it's from the corner you are shooting from (which of course it is, duh) I can't imagine any issue. I could only see an issue if the cloth was still over the pocket and a ball rocketed into that pocket you shot from. Someone could potentially say that you buffered the pocket with your extra cloth. I know it sounds like crap, but you know how people can be, especially at bar rooms (where I usually see the Valleys). Just keep the cloth completely outside of the pocket and I can't see anyone having a problem with it.

I could see the marks happening more with corner breaks, personally never had much of an issue with regular shots over the corners, I just adjust my bridge a bit.
 
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I also placed a cloth over the pocket to protect my cue. The opposing player, who doesn't own a cue, said doing that is illegal in Vegas. I said "THANKS, I will remember that when I am playing there." and then continued shooting.

I may be wrong but there is something in the rules that state that equipment cannot be used as something that it was not made for, such as using a piece of chalk as a bridge, unscrewing your cue to make it longer, and etc. I think using a cloth to protect your cue would be a valid arguement as a cloth could be made as a cue protector.

That rule seems full of loop holes. Can a regular cue be used for breaking since it is not a break cue? Can you use it to jump since it is not a jump cue?
How about using a cue as a bridge handle, did the cue maker make it for that?I am sure there are plenty of ways to stretch or bend the rules that may be up to the ref.
 
cloth

if opponent complains, maybe take the cloth and make a sort of tube around the shaft to make it work like a glove? Anyone else out there cut their hand on bar table metal parts? Bar tables suck.
 
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