Is it a stroke if you whiff the cue ball?

[DieselPete]

OK, I am looking for actual rules (If you have an opinion just state it as such).

A player is lining up a jump shot, masse, or is "tree topped" over an interfering ball. He clearly attempts his stroke and completely misses the cue ball. No ball is contacted at all. The player admits they attempted to hit the cue ball.

I believe this should count as a stroke and a foul (no ball was pocketed or driven to a rail).

Another perspective could be that no stroke was made because the cue ball was not contacted and the player can try again.

I would guess different governing bodies could have different rules and definitions.

Anyone know an actual rule (rule #) on this?

EDIT TO ADD:

ChatGPT tells us this:

Under the current WPA/BCA rules, no. If the player swings at the cue ball but completely misses it, no shot (stroke) has been made for rules purposes.

The key rule is found in the Definitions section of the WPA Rules:

Rule 8.2 – Shot

"A shot begins when the tip contacts the cue ball due to a forward stroke motion of the cue stick."

 

[GideonF]

OK, I am looking for actual rules (If you have an opinion just state it as such).

A player is lining up a jump shot, masse, or is "tree topped" over an interfering ball. He clearly attempts his stroke and completely misses the cue ball. No ball is contacted at all. The player admits they attempted to hit the cue ball.

I believe this should count as a stroke and a foul (no ball was pocketed or driven to a rail).

Another perspective could be that no stroke was made because the cue ball was not contacted and the player can try again.

I would guess different governing bodies could have different rules and definitions.

Anyone know an actual rule (rule #) on this?

EDIT TO ADD:

ChatGPT tells us this:

Under the current WPA/BCA rules, no. If the player swings at the cue ball but completely misses it, no shot (stroke) has been made for rules purposes.

The key rule is found in the Definitions section of the WPA Rules:

Chap GPT gets partial credit. Wrong rule number.

But yes, I agree the conclusion that, unlike golf, a swing and a miss is not a shot or a foul.

 

[garczar]

No contact, no shot, no foul.

 

[DieselPete]

No contact, no shot, no foul.

Yeah, so it seems.

No contact, no shot, no foul... but some embarrassment.

 

[skor]

no foul
might as well be considered just another practice stroke before the shot

 

[JohnnyOzone]

That's when you pull out a softball and offer to let them use it as their cueball.

 

[InsertCleverNameHere]

No contact, no shot, no foul.

This new czarGPT is great! Bout time NAAI got something right. I’d pay a subscription for this one.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

“A shot begins when the tip contacts the cue-ball due to a forward stroke motion of the cue-stick.”

So if I lift the tip vertically into the CB with no forward motion (trying to move it as little as possible) it’s not a shot so not a foul?

pj
chgo

 

[Bob Jewett]

So if I lift the tip vertically into the CB with no forward motion (trying to move it as little as possible) it’s not a shot so not a foul? ....

So..... You moved the cue ball other than by a shot?

 

[InsertCleverNameHere]

So if I lift the tip vertically into the CB with no forward motion (trying to move it as little as possible) it’s not a shot so not a foul?
did you strike the cueball or not?

In this particular case I do believe this is a "special foul" but only if youdid actually strike the cueball. You must make a forward motion for the contact to be legal. I believe.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

So..... You moved the cue ball other than by a shot?

Well, if you put it that way…

pj
chgo

 

[gregcantrall]

You could always petition the rules committee to enact a balk rule.

 

[trob]

This isn’t golf lol this isn’t stroke play. You can do whatever you want as long as you don’t make contact with the cue ball

 

[Patrick Johnson]

You can do whatever you want as long as you don’t make contact with the cue ball

…or any other ball on the table.

pj
chgo

 

[trob]

T

…or any other ball on the table.

pj
chgo

that to lol

 

[Jimmy_Betmore]

It's not. But you should have to buy everyone a drink.

 

[loggerhead12]

It's not. But you should have to buy everyone a drink.

That's what causes you to whiff the cue ball.