Ball Falls in the Pocket on It's Own
12/11/2013 5:17:06 PM
Ball Falls in the Pocket on It's Own
I was playing pool against a guy that is luckier than he is good at pool and something occurred that I was always wondered about, but had never seen before tonight.
He took his shot and when everything came to rest, the object ball was at the lip of the pocket and less than a fraction of a hair from dropping. After observing how close the ball was to dropping and laughing about how close it was, I went to line up my shot. Just as I put my hand on the felt, this ball dropped into the pocket.
So the question is whose gets the ball?
He claimed it was his shot because his object ball dropped in but in my opinion it hadn't dropped on his turn. It fell after very minor table vibration shook the table.
What are the rules on this?
This question relates to the following billiard rules:
Ball Falls in the Pocket on It's Own
Replies & Comments
Zeke on 12/11/2013 7:25:11 PM
What game? 8-ball? Straight Pool?
I'm too lazy to look it up but a ball that hangs for less than 5 seconds - is deemed to count for the player. After 5-seconds, the ball is deemed "dead" and is simply spotted.
kllswtch8473 on 12/12/2013 3:36:25 PM
Just straight pool i tried looking for the rule but couldnt find anything
This is an 8-ball rule - for when not playing on a coin-op bar pool table (where recovery of a ball is prohibited):
11.3 HANGING BALL: If an object ball hangs in a pocket and drops in 5 seconds or less after coming to complete rest by the hole, the ball is considered to be pocketed. If a hanging ball drops in the pocket after being at rest for more than 5 seconds, the ball is returned to the original position on the edge, and the incoming player may begin his/her inning. Both players will have the opportunity to argue their case, and the referee's decision is final.
I can't find anything else but we are serious Straight Pool players and that's the rule we used once or twice. I was mistaken in my post above. The "late-drop" OB is "placed" as close as possible to the original spot - but not so close that history repays itself.
Sorry, I can't find it either. Also, there are always two sets of rules. "The General Rules" and those specific to a particular game, e.g., 9-Ball, Chicago, and the ubiquitous 8-ball - and all its endless variations.
Update: I stumbled upon what I believe to be the "on-point" rule for your "hanging ball" question. The source of the rule is from "The general rules of pocket billiards" and is therefore applicable to ALL games, not just 8-ball:
General Billiard Rules - Spontaneous Movement of the Balls (Regulation 3.31)
If a ball shifts, settles, turns or otherwise moves by itself, the ball is to remain in the position it assumed, and play is to continue. A hanging ball that falls into a pocket by itself after being motionless for 5 seconds or longer is to be replaced as closely as possible to its position prior to falling, and play shall continue. If an object ball drops into a pocket by itself as a player shoots at it, so that the cue ball passes over the spot the ball had been on, unable to hit it, the cue ball and object ball are to be replaced to their positions prior to the stroke, and the player may shoot again. Finally, any other object balls that are disturbed on the stroke are also to be replaced to their original positions before the shooter replays.
Fenwick on 7/21/2014 7:44:10 AM
It gets spotted as close to it's original position as possible if it has remained hanging over 5 seconds. That's playing 8 ball.
Ball Falls in the Pocket on It's Own
- Title: Ball Falls in the Pocket on It's Own
- Author: kllswtch8473
- Published: 12/11/2013 5:17:06 PM
