Foul - Billiard Term Definition
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Definition of Foul
Foul is a billiards term that is a part of Game Rule Terminology.
In the most basic form, a foul is a rules violation for which a set penalty is assessed to the offending player. Normally, committing a foul causes the offending player to lose his or her turn at the table. It also normally affords the incoming player to begin his or her inning with ball in hand privileges from behind the headstring. Some game's rules specify that a foul is to result in the loss of points for the offending player. In games such as straight pool, the rules specify that one shall lose 16 points should they commit three successive fouls. They lose 15 points, plus one point for the actual third foul. In other games, three successive foul plays results in the loss of game for the offending player. In one pocket billiards, an offending player must return their ball to the table upon committing a foul. There are numerous possible foul situations including, but not limited to: -The shooting player performs the shot in way where the cue tip remains in contact with the cue ball as it begins to roll, and for more than an instant. -The shooting player causes the cue ball to strike a non-legal and/or non-object ball. -The shooting player which has ball in hand, strikes an object ball with the cue ball while in the process of selecting a place to shoot from. -The shooting player marks the table in any way, shape, or form, in order to aide himself or herself in aiming the shot. -The shooting player has completed his or her shot, and no ball is pocketed and neither the cue ball nor a numbered object ball contacts any cushion. -The shooting player pockets (or pots) the cue ball, thus, performs a scratch. -The shooting player contacts any object ball or any ball other than the cue ball. -The shooting player strikes the cue ball before all other balls have come to a rest on the billiard table from the previous shot. -The shooting player neglects to keep at least one foot on the floor at all times while shooting. -The shooting player causes any ball to leave the playable surface of the pool table without it returning automatically before coming to rest. -The shooting player strikes the cue ball more than one time during a single shot. This is commonly referred to as a double hit. -The shooting player contacts the cue ball with anything other than the tip of the pool cue. As mentioned earlier, this list is not complete, and what constitutes a foul will really depend on the particular game's rules.
See: flagrant foul, professional foul, fault, deliberate foul, back scratch, miss, miss rule, intentional foul for more on the meaning of "Foul".
Foul - Usage
Joe has to leave the table now because his inning is over. He committed a foul by shooting the cue ball off of the pool table, and now his opponent's inning starts.
Billiards - Foul
- Title: Foul
- Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
- Published: 3/13/2006
- Last Updated: 10/24/2007 9:49:13 AM
- Last Updated By: billiardsforum
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