1 Pocket Rules question

[Duane Remick]

I have 5 balls, my oponent 0,
HE SCRATCHES, OWES 1,
But he presently doesnt have any to spot for the foul,
Can I use a ball I have to spot ?????

 

[David in FL]

I'm sure someone will tell me if I'm wrong, but I wouldn't think so. I've certainly never heard of it.

You'd effectively be adding a 16th ball to the 15 ball rack by doing that...

 

[Fore Rail]

Your opponent owes 1. If he had a ball to spot, he would do so & thus not be -1. Once he makes a ball(s), he would spot the 1 he owes and be out of the hole.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I have 5 balls, my oponent 0,
HE SCRATCHES, OWES 1,
But he presently doesnt have any to spot for the foul,
Can I use a ball I have to spot ?????

The score is traditionally kept with the physical balls, plus coins to mark owed balls. That means if you have no physical balls in your storage area, your score is either zero or negative according to how many coins are on the rail on your side of the table.

With that method of scoring, you really wouldn't want to spot one of your balls for your opponent's foul.