A ruling that I don't know?

CaptainJR

CaptainJR

Shiver me timbers.
Silver Member
8 Ball (BCA)
It is my break. I break and make a ball. I look at the layout and the high balls are just horrible but they are the only balls I have a shot at. When in this position one of the things I look at is, what kind of shot could I play that would leave my opponent a shot only at a high ball. In this particular case the only shot I could find was a thin cut on a high ball where the cue ball would go back across the table leaving him only high balls to shoot at.

Problem - If I hit the high ball fuller the cue will not go across the table where I want it to. If I hit the high ball thin like I want to I may pocket it.

Normally it is no problem, just call safe and pocket the ball. In this case I don't want the high balls.

Question - If the table is still open and I call safe and make a ball. Have I determined who has what? I think not, but I'm not sure.
 
If a safe is called & acknowledged by your opponent when you pocket the ball, the table is still open and it is now your opponents shot. Until a legal shot is made, a grouping is not determined.
 
Seems like this came up in a thread not too long ago. I think the consensus was, it's still an open table, because despite pocketing a ball, you called safe - which means the ball pocketed isn't credited to you, and hence, the ball drop doesn't define which set of balls you're shooting on from there on.

Do a search and you may find that thread.
 
If you want to play safe but are afraid it will fall, call the ball to a pocket it can't possibly fall in.
 
You are correct Captain. No suit has been determined and it is your opponent's shot with an open table.

Brian in VA
 
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