Pointers not required? Not entirely (7)
I believe the answer is:
needles
'pointers' is the definition.
(needle is a kind of pointer)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for needles that I've seen before include "Rocks off Isle of Wight" , "Christmas tree leaves" , "IoW rocks" , "Annoys the pointed implements?" , "Winds up" .)