I can see how vibrating the rail is one way to make a ball that involves normal physics,
and fits all the requirements of a legal shot.
That observation is technically correct under both WSR and BCAPL rules. Nowhere in either rule set is there actually a requirement for the cue ball to contact an object ball during a shot. And in this particular situation, the remainder of the "legal shot" requirements have been met since a ball was pocketed.
However, as a practical matter I can see that argument being lost, since most protest authorities would have a valid argument that the rules requiring a legal object ball to be struck first logically presume a requirement that an object ball be contacted. Not saying that the other argument is wrong - just saying I would bet dollars to donuts that more often than not you are going to lose that fight if it were to come up in a tournament.
In any event, that does not excuse the rule writing bodies for the oversight. I have added it to the agenda for discussion for the next edition of the BCAPL/CSI rule book, and can predict that the problem will be remedied. Can't answer for WSR or any other rule set.
One of those extremely odd situations that the rule writers never thought to cover.
Not true for CSI/BCAPL. The BCAPL rules do cover it. Despite the lack of an actual requirement to contact an object ball, the specific situation is covered by BCAPL Applied Ruling 1-48/1-49 Situation 1. The ruling is that the ball is not pocketed. BCAPL Rule 1-49, Balls Settling or Moving, applies and the result of the shot is per the provisions of 1-49-4-b or 1-49-4-c, whichever applies. :smile:
For the OP situation, the answers have already been provided. Replace the ball and continue play. Under BCAPL Rule 1-49-3 applies. Under WSR Rules 1.7 and 8.3 apply.
Buddy Eick
CSI National Head Referee
CSI Director of Referee Training
Technical Editor, The Official Rules of the BCA Pool League
bca_referee@yahoo.com
Find the Official Rules of the BCA Pool League here:
http://www.playbca.com/Downloads/Rulebook/CompleteRulebook/tabid/372/Default.aspx
* Unless specifically stated, the contents of this post refer to BCA Pool League (BCAPL) Rules only. The BCAPL National Office has authorized me to act in an official capacity regarding questions about BCAPL Rules matters in public forums.
* Unless specifically stated, no reference to, inference concerning, or comment on any other set of rules (WPA, APA, VNEA, TAP, or any other set of rules, public or private) is intended or should be derived from this post.
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* For General Rules, 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball, and 14.1 Continuous: there is no such thing as "BCA Rules" other than in the sense that the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) publishes various rules, including the World Pool-Billiard Association's "World Standardized Rules" for those games. The BCA has no rules committee. The BCA does not edit, nor is responsible for the content of, the World Standardized Rules.
The Official Rules of the BCAPL is a separate and independent set of rules and, to avoid confusion, should not be referred to as "BCA Rules".
* Since 2004, there is no such thing as a "BCA Referee". The BCA no longer has any program to train, certify or sanction billiards referees or officials. The BCAPL maintains what we consider to be the most structured, complete and intensive referee training program available.
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* The BCAPL has not addressed every imaginable rules issue, nor will it ever likely be able to, as evidenced by the seemingly endless situations that people dream up or that (more frequently) actually happen. If I do not have the answer to a question I will tell you so, then I will get a ruling from the BCAPL National Office and get back to you as soon as I can. If deemed necessary, the BCAPL will then add the ruling to the "Applied Rulings" section of The Official Rules of the BCA Pool League.
* All BCAPL members are, as always, encouraged to e-mail Bill Stock at the BCAPL National Office,
bill@playcsi.com, with any comments, concerns or suggestions about the BCAPL rules.