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impossible to hit?

Postby faeech

when the object ball is completely surrounded by other balls the cue ball cannot be played to hit it before hitting other balls and fouling. e,g. the object ball is yellow which is against a side cushion and completely hemmed in by the other colours. The white cue ball is some distance away but cannot be played to hit the yellow without hitting another colour first . How should the cue ball be played and how would the shot be scored??

Re: impossible to hit?

Postby Roland

It doesn't happen very often but it does happen, like a red being over a pocket hidden by a couple of colours so you can't get to it. A miss won't be called, so it's up to the player to conjure up the best outcome they can think of given they are going to foul. So in the example of the last red being covered over a pocket, plant the red in and don't leave the yellow on, but not so hard that you'll face a tough shot if you're put back in.

Re: impossible to hit?

Postby scMk

The rule is pretty simple:
The player has to play towards the object ball with a speed that would have brought the cue ball to the object ball if there were no other balls covering the object ball. Then a miss would not be called.
If, however, in such situation you play the cue ball not towards the object ball, then it would be likely to get a miss ;)

Re: impossible to hit?

Postby faeech

thanks for the replies. We have had this scenario twice recently when all reds were down and only colours left. If you play just hard enough and to reach the object ball then hit another without much disturbance it is likely that your opponents next shot will be similarly impaired. Perhaps it could take three shots before the problem is resolved.... should that be without any penalty??.

Re: impossible to hit?

Postby Roland

Then the opponent has a free ball surely? Anyway presuming you're only playing at club level there is no miss rule, just be clever and try to come out of the situation better than your opponent.

Re: impossible to hit?

Postby scMk

It's still a foul. Not a miss though.
As Sonny says, there would be a free ball for your opponent if you play the cue ball at a speed that could have reached the object ball, but did not quite disturb the picture. Actually, you will not do this, having in mind, your opponent would have a free ball after your foul. You'd rather play the foul in a way to uncover the object ball, i.e. to make your opponent play.
If you like, consider the situation as a negative fluke, i.e. you are destined to make a foul ;) You just have to be careful of keeping the number of possible fouls as low as possible.

Re: impossible to hit?

Postby Roland

This sort of scenario reminds me of why I like US 8 ball pool so much. Yes the table is easier to pot balls on but you've still got to get the better of your opponent, and that game throws up all sorts of thinking scenarios along the same lines as this.

Re: impossible to hit?

Postby faeech

So, give it a wallop to break through and expose the object ball but accept the penalty (4 points)

Re: impossible to hit?

Postby Souwester

scMk wrote:The rule is pretty simple:
The player has to play towards the object ball with a speed that would have brought the cue ball to the object ball if there were no other balls covering the object ball. Then a miss would not be called.
If, however, in such situation you play the cue ball not towards the object ball, then it would be likely to get a miss ;)


That's not quite right. If the ball on is impossible to hit, then you can play at it either directly OR indirectly, provided you play with sufficient strength to have hit it had the obstructing ball(s) not been there.

14. Foul and a Miss
The striker shall, to the best of his ability, endeavour to hit the ball on. If the referee considers the Rule infringed, he shall call FOUL AND A MISS unless only the Black remains on the table, or a situation exists where it is impossible to hit the ball on. In the latter case it must be assumed the striker is attempting to hit the ball on provided that he plays, directly or indirectly, at the ball on with sufficient strength, in the referee’s opinion, to have reached the ball on but for the obstructing ball or balls.