I meant to type "not unusual". I'm tired. It's Monday. The refs here are often inexperienced.
Moving balls back: What's the call?
- Thread starter Jude Rosenstock
- Start date
I meant to type "not unusual". I'm tired. It's Monday. The refs here are often inexperienced.
The BCAPL and USAPL rules seem to state that anyone can move it, and in most cases, the person moving the ball moves it back that I have seen. The rule about moving a ball without the opponents permission seems to be really overlooked or unknown by many, it happens often. I have to say I usually let it go when it happens. I don't know what the official rules of the tours are that may differ.
If a disturbed ball has no effect on the outcome of the shot, your opponent has the
option to leave the disturbed ball where it came to rest or to restore it to its original
position before the next shot. If the disturbed ball is to be restored, a referee may restore it, your opponent may restore it, or you may restore it with your opponent’s permission.
It is a foul if you touch or restore the disturbed ball without your opponent's permission.
The BCA rules don't even state that a player can do it, they say the tournament director will if there is no ref. WPA rules also seem to only state it's a foul to touch any ball.
Yes, it does make sense, and normally I'd agree with you about this, however,
this is The APA that we're talking about, common sense has little to do with this.
Generally in pool (or snooker?) if you contact any ball isn't usually it would be a foul?
Not so in The APA, but any time you make contact with the cue ball when not in the
normal course of play it's a foul, it would be my best guess that would include in the
circumstances described in the opening post
Gotcha. The OP introduced the topic with regard to APA rules, so I figured that's what we were discussing. APA rules state that the opponent must move the ball back. Non-optional, and must be done by opponent. For sure there are lots of holes in their wording. For example, what about the extremely common tactic of the opponent liking the new location of the ball and just saying "leave it there I don't know where it was". Many other issues too. I really wish the APA took its rule book more seriously.
KMRUNOUT
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Aside from scoring and handicapping, I don't think there should be any differences in the rules the leagues us vs the WPA rules or the BCA rules, there is really no benefit to them. If our junior league can teach 8 and 10 year olds how to play and behave under WPA rules, I don't see why any adult league has to modify things. Then everyone knows the same rules and we don't need to list 5 different variations LOL
Funky rules just teach people to cheat in different ways, like all the bar 8 ball players that say no safes then loudly proclaim how horrible they are to miss a shot that left you hooked, I normally can make those 3 rail kick caroms, don't know why I missed now. Sorry you can't see your ball, oops.
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Oh, when you start to really pay attention to the wordage of APA rules, there are some really odd (and interesting) gaps. Like, the opponent has the right to move the ball back UNLESS a foul was committed. Then, the balls stay where they are. Imagine having BIH and you just want to move a ball slightly off the rail to tie it up. Why shoot it? Just take that cue-ball in your hand and nudge the offending object ball. The shooter will have no choice but to accept your silly play and leave the balls as is.
As a league operator and tournament director, If I ever saw someone do this I would call a gross unsportsmanlike conduct violation and that player would lose the game.
Sure, if it looks intentional.