Here's something you don't see every day, what's the ruling on it?

[OneHandedBreak]

Out at our local last night and one of our group crushes a break almost popping the 8 in a side pocket, but that's not what got everyone's attention, it was the two stripes that had jammed themselves into the other side pocket. Several minutes pass while we're all laughing and taking photos and somebody asks Siri for a ruling but comes up dry. No other balls went down, so there is much discussion about who goes next. The balls are below the playing surface if that matters. Finally after another minute or two they both plop in and the guy who broke keeps shooting with a big grin on his face.

Anyone else ever seen this? Is there a rule on it? Too funny.

 

[maha]

they are in and should be allowed to fall all the way.

but if ruled not in. the the breaker doesn't shoot again as they took too long to fall. then house rules about spotting or replacing balls comes into play.

 

[ShootingArts]

Maha is correct. If balls jam and moving one would cause the other to fall it is a pocketed ball. If both would fall if the other one is moved they are both considered pocketed. The balls are pocketed when they are below the playing surface also. No doubt these two balls should be considered pocketed.

Hu

 

[Fore Rail]

Most rule sets have a section that covers jawed balls.

They all pretty much say something like this.

If two or more balls are locked in the jaws of a pocket, the referee (or players) must project each ball directly downward.

A ball is considered pocketed if it would fall into the pocket, and not pocketed if it would come to rest on the bed of the table. Balls are placed accordingly, and play continues.

 

[middleofnowhere]

I actually saw that happen at the US Open in Chicago in the 70s . Miz shot it. I forget the ruling. In your case both balls are clearly off the table. But in Miz case it had to be termined if the ball was still on the table. They were jammed in the pocket.

 

[dr_dave]

Out at our local last night and one of our group crushes a break almost popping the 8 in a side pocket, but that's not what got everyone's attention, it was the two stripes that had jammed themselves into the other side pocket. Several minutes pass while we're all laughing and taking photos and somebody asks Siri for a ruling but comes up dry. No other balls went down, so there is much discussion about who goes next. The balls are below the playing surface if that matters. Finally after another minute or two they both plop in and the guy who broke keeps shooting with a big grin on his face.

Anyone else ever seen this? Is there a rule on it? Too funny.

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The rules on this situation were recently clarified. The balls are dropped into the pocket. See: