Purposely scratching in 8-ball?

[rowdyclassmate]

What happened was this: I had 2-3 balls left with no shot. My opponent had just the 8-ball left, but it was close to the rail on the other side of the table. Well within the mark where you cannot pass for ball in hand. So essentially, his only shot was shoot across the table (longways), hit one or more rails and pocket the 8-ball.

Now I've always played where you can purposely scratch... it's a defense move. Especially if you have no shot or an impossible shot leaving you in a bad position. He said it was illegal. Based on the additional information, what is your ruling? Legal or illegal?

[SpaceAce]

Legal, except for the fact that there is no "mark" that he can't take the ball behind; that rule only applies on the break. If you foul, he can put the ball anywhere he wants.

SpaceAce

[asofel]

rowdy,

If these types of situations come up a lot within the rules you and your friends play with, i'd just get really good at kicking off the end rail. People used to try this [censored] against me and its incredible sweet to let them try this bs and still make the ball.

That, and just play ball in hand. Anything else makes baby jesus cry (and contributes to this same idea being rehashed here every few months).

[Idiotex]

[ QUOTE ]
Legal, except for the fact that there is no "mark" that he can't take the ball behind; that rule only applies on the break. If you foul, he can put the ball anywhere he wants.

SpaceAce

[/ QUOTE ]

Space Ace is right, but professional American tournaments do not operate under these rules generally. I believe they stick with ball in hand as they do in 9-ball.

[h_ven]

Here's one for you.

Say you're getting killed and have a ton of balls left. You happen to have a clean shot on the 8 ball. Bet your oppenent that he won't get to shoot again this rack. Pocket the 8 ball, take the loss, and win the bet.

[Iplayragstoo]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's one for you.

Say you're getting killed and have a ton of balls left. You happen to have a clean shot on the 8 ball. Bet your oppenent that he won't get to shoot again this rack. Pocket the 8 ball, take the loss, and win the bet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct call, but good luck getting paid. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Iplayragstoo]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Legal, except for the fact that there is no "mark" that he can't take the ball behind; that rule only applies on the break. If you foul, he can put the ball anywhere he wants.

SpaceAce

[/ QUOTE ]

Space Ace is right, but professional American tournaments do not operate under these rules generally. I believe they stick with ball in hand as they do in 9-ball.

[/ QUOTE ]

All the major leagues in the US - BCA, APA, ACS, TAP, Vally, all use ball in hand on fouls. The only time its not ball in hand is if you scratch on the break. This prevents the situation you were in. It also promotes defensive shots which were frowned on by your typical "bar" players who don't play leagues. It also will stop the BS plays of players "tapping" the cue ball only an inch instead of going for a proper hit (your object ball and getting a rail after the hit)I have seen more then one fight over someone playing a defensive shot in a game. I see the most fights over someones quarters placed on the table for the next game.

[suzzer99]

I'm not talking bar league pool, I'm talking bar drunk dumbasses around the table pool. You can take a defensive shot, but you better pretend you're really shooting at something.

[Quadstriker]

Play ball in hand or don't play.

[suzzer99]

You play by the bar rules or don't play.