1-Pocket Situation

PhilosopherKing

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Both need 1. Drop pockets.

Player A hangs the ball. Leaves the table without clearing his pocket. Balls are protruding. (They've been there for a few innings.)

Player B comes to the table. Walks over to tell the guys on the next table to look-out. He's going to shoot the last ball into Player A's pocket and off the table. He comes back to the table. Has to go and warn the other guys again. Comes back to the table. Gets down to shoot, and player A walks over and reaches for the balls in his pocket.

Should Player A be allowed to clear the balls from his pocket?
 
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Both need 1. Drop pockets.

Player A hangs the ball. Leaves the table without clearing his pocket. Balls are protruding. (They've been there for a few innings.)

Player B comes to the table. Walks over to tell the guys on the next table to look-out. He's going to shoot the last ball into Player A's pocket and off the table. He comes back to the table. Has to go and warn the other guys again. Comes back to the table. Gets down to shoot, and player A walks over and reaches for the balls in his pocket.

Should Player A be allowed to clear the balls from his pocket?

So, he’s planning on using the stacked balls to skip the ball off the table?
 
This one is likely going to be subjective as I don’t believe this is specifically covered in writing, so here’s my take.

The player should have cleared the pocket.

That being said, when a ball is pocketed it is out of play as it never existed. So, I believe using those balls to help skip a ball off the table is the same as introducing an illegal object into the game.

I know some people are going to say “he didn’t clear his pocket, so that’s in him,” and I can see how some would feel that way.
 
Both need 1. Drop pockets.

Player A hangs the ball. Leaves the table without clearing his pocket. Balls are protruding. (They've been there for a few innings.)

Player B comes to the table. Walks over to tell the guys on the next table to look-out. He's going to shoot the last ball into Player A's pocket and off the table. He comes back to the table. Has to go and warn the other guys again. Comes back to the table. Gets down to shoot, and player A walks over and reaches for the balls in his pocket.

Should Player A be allowed to clear the balls from his pocket?


Yes.

Lou Figueroa
 
Both need 1. Drop pockets.

Player A hangs the ball. Leaves the table without clearing his pocket. Balls are protruding. (They've been there for a few innings.)

Player B comes to the table. Walks over to tell the guys on the next table to look-out. He's going to shoot the last ball into Player A's pocket and off the table. He comes back to the table. Has to go and warn the other guys again. Comes back to the table. Gets down to shoot, and player A walks over and reaches for the balls in his pocket.

Should Player A be allowed to clear the balls from his pocket?

removing the balls witht the guy down to shoot is sharking and unsportsman like behavior IMO
however in general yes the player A can clear his pocket prior to the shot
 
This one is likely going to be subjective as I don’t believe this is specifically covered in writing, so here’s my take.

The player should have cleared the pocket.

That being said, when a ball is pocketed it is out of play as it never existed. So, I believe using those balls to help skip a ball off the table is the same as introducing an illegal object into the game.

I know some people are going to say “he didn’t clear his pocket, so that’s in him,” and I can see how some would feel that way.

in this case the shooter is not "introducing "an illegal object into the game
the balls are already there
if it was his pocket and he shot into the pocket and the protruding balls spit his shot back onto the table
he doesnt get credit formaking the ball
play goes on wherever the balls come to rest
 
If I’m the shooter, I’m gonna let the guy clear his pocket...he caught on.
...won’t make any difference...I’ll jack up and still do the job.
 
Both need 1. Drop pockets.

Player A hangs the ball. Leaves the table without clearing his pocket. Balls are protruding. (They've been there for a few innings.)

Player B comes to the table. Walks over to tell the guys on the next table to look-out. He's going to shoot the last ball into Player A's pocket and off the table. He comes back to the table. Has to go and warn the other guys again. Comes back to the table. Gets down to shoot, and player A walks over and reaches for the balls in his pocket.

Should Player A be allowed to clear the balls from his pocket?
If the ball is hanging anyway,should be easy enough to follow it in. I wouldn't sweat the rest.

-td
 
What if Player a had run a couple balls and then hung one? He can clear his pocket after his turn.

Therefore...he can clear his pocket after his turn.
 
Why would anyone do this?

Just jack up ~30° and send it into orbit.

To make a point.

Player A was being sloppy.

A may also know that not following the norm of clearing your pocket and leaving visible balls gets under B's skin; so, B may have seen an opportunity to beat A at his own game.
 
Why would anyone do this?

Just jack up ~30° and send it into orbit.

I don't think one could ever be certain about the intent of the shot that didn't occur. Maybe he was gonna launch it in a manner that did not involve the previously pocked balls.

That said, it is always better to follow it in, given a choice. Sometimes one has to launch em, but not always and I don't think it should be primary consideration.
 
Absolutely not. When a players turn is over and he leaves the table he can not interfere until it is his turn to shoot again.
 
Absolutely not. When a players turn is over and he leaves the table he can not interfere until it is his turn to shoot again.

What about if you sit down and then realize you owe a ball but your opponent hasn't shot yet, do you spot it? Of course you do. Even if it leaves him straight in or blocks a ball to his hole.
 
IMO, the shooting player should have told the player with his pocket full to clean it out now, or he's going to slam the OB off his pocketeted balls.
 
I consider intentionally using a pocketed ball to send another off the table unsportsmanlike conduct. Just play the game.
 
Fair enough.

What about when a player moves a pocketed ball from one pocket to another to keep the ball he's about to shoot from climbing out? (Not talking exclusively about 1-pocket)

Also unsportsmanlike?
 
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Both players in the wrong, one for sharking, and one for trying to pull a shot that shouldn't be available. Although if someone did that to me (shoot a ball of pocketed balls) I wouldn't fight it too hard because like others have mentioned he had plenty of other opportunities to get the same result.
 
Fair enough.

What about when a player moves a pocketed ball from one pocket to another to keep the ball he's about to shoot from climbing out? (Not talking exclusively about 1-pocket)

Also unsportsmanlike?

That's compensating for bad equipment design. It makes the game fairer rather than less fair.
 
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