Do You Have to Call Safety?
5/18/2014 7:09:48 PM
Do You Have to Call Safety?
My partner, without announcing safe and without trying to pocket his ball, just kicked the cue ball 2 inches towards his ball just enough to touch it. Is that legal?
This question relates to the following billiard rules:
Do You Have to Call Safety?
Replies & Comments
Zeke on 5/19/2014 7:59:06 AM
"Legal"? As in "forfeit" or as in BIH penalty? It is a B-I-H penalty only.
P.S. BIH means BALL-IN-HAND - as in placing the cue ball anywhere your opponent wants to put it on the table.
shakh on 5/19/2014 12:22:36 PM
Thank you for quick response, but I don't know what "BIH" stands for. Can you clarify what that abbreviation means?
Fenwick on 5/20/2014 4:35:45 PM
What rules are you playing by? You need to drive a object ball to a rail. Either that or strike a object ball then drive the cue ball to a rail. Or both.
And...
If you don't do that - it's ball in hand.
I think you reflect solid logic on why BIH-A (ball in hand anywhere on the table) vs. BIH-K (ball in hand in the kitchen only) is complicated, but doesn't address the nefarious reason the rule was changed.
It's about money and greed at the expense of the better players. I'm not talking about the shot 'n a beer joints with 6' tables that have more house rules than a potato has eyes and play is governed by whomever has 4-quarters lined up on a nearby table for "next turn buy-ins"
I'm referring to league play which is usually pretty consistent with established national rules and players who prioritize playing pool over getting a bag on. Those are the players that have been hurt by the BIHA rules change.
But because the coin-op pool table leasing and sales companies are in bed with bar owners with the revenue increases that the the "new rules" generate, are "organized" and can by dominating the industry, promulgate such rules, which ultimately, overwhelm the individual players that are then forced to abide by these money making schemes - or have no place to play - is evident.
I posted the same thesis some months ago - and agree completely.
It is apparent the "rules makers" are not interested in rules that result in diminish revenues - but rather "what the players will tolerate" - while in the act of appearing to be much more than they truly are...
With our financial support, they would all be dismissed as interlopers.
I would like to see rules promulgated that are based purely upon skill and competition - and not revenue influenced.
But I ain't holding my breath.
Most rule makers make the penalty for scratch or foul, 8-ball only, as B-I-H - anywhere on the table.
No, it was't always that way and yes, one or two "organizations" call for 8-ball to be B-I-H - kitchen only - but they are in a distinct minority.
Panchal Billiards on 6/3/2014 8:54:40 AM
Fouling on the white ball would kill him without safety.
gibson on 6/7/2014 8:08:53 AMBall in hand is a stiff penalty in eight ball and was instituted in my mind to handle the problem of intentional scratching when the player on the eight ball has the eight in the kitchen. For some reason, spotting the object ball in the kitchen after the scratch was done away with years ago. This solved the problem. Player A scratches, Player B is on the eight ball which lies behind the kitchen, Player B spots eight ball and must make that shot to win with cue ball placed anywhere in the kitchen. Full ball in hand on the eight ball is an almost automatic win. Cue ball foul by opponent gives player shooting eight an automatic win as well unless eight ball is snookered. Further, bar rules are stupid. It is all about taking a made ball away from an opponent if they don't call caroms and rail touches, etc. Eight ball is not a true test of skill IMO because the position of the balls determines who has the edge between evenly matched players. It also allows a player of lesser ability a chance to beat a much better player who has clusters and blocked pockets and the lesser player has all clear shots to pocket.
Do You Have to Call Safety?
- Title: Do You Have to Call Safety?
- Author: shakh (Vladimir Chakharian)
- Published: 5/18/2014 7:09:48 PM
