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Victor
USA
34 Posts |
 Posted - 08/17/2007 : 2:32:59 PM
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I was in a practice game using APA 8 ball rules. My opponent had ball in hand and was setting up his shot when the 8 ball fell off the playing surface and into a pocket. As he was re-setting the ball, I told him that I believed he had fouled when the 8 fell into the hole. He protested: being as I am a gentle soul,  , I let it slide. What is the rule on this?
I believe the rule in the APA Rules Manual applies (pg. 6), which states:
THESE ARE THE ONLY FOULS RESULTING IN BALL-IN-HAND:
a. Anytime the cue ball goes in a pocket, on the floor, or otherwise ends up off the playing surface.
The rule does not specifically address this situation; but I believe it still applies. Anyone out there have a valid/coherent answer? 
Quote: If you can't do something well; enjoy doing it badly!
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Kerry Randolph
USA
172 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2007 : 3:24:38 PM
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In your situation it would depend on what caused the 8-ball to fall into a pocket. If he bumped it with his hand or stick, or leaned over and pushed it in with his belly than there is no foul, You simply put the ball back where it was and continue.
Now, If he was setting the cue ball into position and the cue ball struck the eight even ever so lightly and knocked it in than it would be ball in hand for you, and the 8-ball gets put back where it was.
When a player gets ball in hand they have to be carefull when picking up and setting down the cue ball. The cue ball is always live, and if it touches another ball while ball in hand is in effect than that player loses ball in hand and gives it to their opponent.
Also it does not mean you are not a gentle soul if you follow the rules and insist your opponents do the same. The rules are there for a reason.
Hope this helps
It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt |
Edited by - Kerry Randolph on 08/17/2007 5:26:37 PM |
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Victor
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2007 : 2:36:27 PM
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Thanks Kerry! To clarify; my opponent placed the cue ball on the table on the very edge of the side pocket. After he set it down, the cue ball slipped into the pocket for no apparent reason other than gravity. Since the cue ball is always active, wouldn't that qualify as a foul?
Thanks again!
Victor
Quote: If you can't do something well; enjoy doing it badly! |
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Kerry Randolph
USA
172 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2007 : 3:33:10 PM
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In your first post you said it was the 8-ball that fell into the pocket.
The cue ball is live and can not touch another ball, but with ball in hand you can set it down pick it up, toss it on the floor, push it into a pocket, twirl it on the end of your stick, just about anything within reason as long as it does not touch another ball that is on the playing surface.
It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt |
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Torsten
USA
401 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 1:10:58 PM
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Either way, I recommend exercising caution when placing the cue ball. A few seasons ago in a nine ball match, I earned a ball-in-hand after playing a brilliant defense. While reaching onto the table to place the cue ball, I drilled my pinky on the edge of the table, sending the cue ball rocketing out of my hand and into about five different balls on the table. Not only did I just give ball in hand to my opponent, I caused myself great embarrassment and a few innocent bystanders to nearly die of heart attacks from laughing so hard.
"When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandpa -- not screaming like the passengers in his car" |
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Victor
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2007 : 06:22:44 AM
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Kerry, you are correct: I did say it was the 8-ball which fell into the pocket. My error! "It takes a village" to keep me on the straight & narrow.
Thanks,
Victor
Quote: Don't go with what I say, go with what I mean! |
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Kerry Randolph
USA
172 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2007 : 08:28:06 AM
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Torsten I did the same thing . My opponent scratched and handed me the cue ball across the table. As I was taking it from him I was looking around at the table to see where my next shot would be, and I dropped it on the table. I tried to grab it on the first bounce and knocked it across the table into several balls. It is a humbling experience to say the least.
It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt |
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Keith
USA
242 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2007 : 02:00:15 AM
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I was told by a former captian of mine that you can drop the cue ball on the table and that the balls stay were they lie and that it is considered a table scratch. He said he did this when he was on the eight and the other person had blocked it with his balls as it was in the corner and there was no way to get to it. H dropped the cue ball on the eight and the cue fell in the pocket and the other player got ball in hand with the balls scattered away from the eight. Is this true and if not is this loss of game?
You only lose when you stop learning |
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Question on cue ball fouls
