BCA Eight Ball Rule Question

the chicken

the chicken

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm playing 8 ball following BCA rules. I make a legal safe. My opponent, for whatever reason, thinks I fowled and picks up the cue ball.

I point out to him that I made a legal safe. He says, Yeah, Okay, and agrees that he screwed up.

Question: What to do with the cue ball? Do I now have ball in hand?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

John
 
Yes you have ball in hand. However even in tournaments and league matches I have seen, and also have done myself, that you just place the cueball where he picked it up from and let him shoot from there. Basically it was a mistake but one that I've seen ignored in favor of sportsmanship.
 
hang-the-9 said:
Yes you have ball in hand. However even in tournaments and league matches I have seen, and also have done myself, that you just place the cueball where he picked it up from and let him shoot from there. Basically it was a mistake but one that I've seen ignored in favor of sportsmanship.
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Would it be unsportsmanlike to follow the rules and take ball in hand? Its good practice to ask if it is ball in hand even when you know it is, then there is no issues.
 
I too have placed it back and allowed them to keep shooting.....if it was a new, inexperienced, player. If it was somebody that should have known better, I would take ball in hand.
 
While playing in front of Buddy Hall I once attempted to be very sportsman like and point out a foul my opponent was about to make. Mr. Hall made it very clear that it is my opponents job to make sure they do not foul and it is my job to take the ball in hand when they do. Now, this was in a major tournament, so you must weigh each situation for yourself.
 
a1712 said:
Vegas= Ball in hand.
League= Put it back.
A-Hole in League= Ball in hand.
Brian.
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I'm sorry that you're not willing to pay attention to the rules and expect free handouts in league. But if you notice, over time it's always the same players making this mistake. Got to make sure they feel like a bumbling idiot each time.
 
I think it's your opponent's responsibility to insist that you take ball in hand. Any time I make a mistake like that during a tournament or league match, I just hand the ball to my opponent.
 
It depends on the situation. If I feel I am much better than my opponent I have let them slide in situations where they accidentally bump cue ball with tip during warm up stroke. If its a tournament or a tough league match I will follow the rules as stated in rule book. We had a situation where a player did not know you could shoot straight thru object ball if cue ball is frozen to it. How is he supposed to know its a foul if he is unaware of the rule even existing? I suppose its up to his teammates to bring it to his attention but does that fall under coaching which is also illegal during league matches?
 
When I first read the OP's post I was thinking just put it back, taking ball in hand would be a dick move, unless they handed the ball to you, but then after reading some comments I'm inclined to agree with ball in hand, sucks to be them, but whether their mistake was scratching, fouling, or not paying enough attention, a mistake is a mistake and it's very annoying when you have opponents who don't pay enough attention, there's been plenty if times I've fouled and they were just off in space and not even with the game, and I just sit down and they suddenly remember they r playing a game and get up and take there shot were the cue ball laid. It's your opponents job to call fouls, watching is all part of the game
 
Letter of the law

There is the letter of the law and there is the spirit of the law. Letter says you get ball in hand, spirit says you be the judge. I do think BCA does frown on any deviation from the letter in tourney play (no concession, no raking, etc.). Big penalty for that.
Tommy
 
I'm shocked so many think you should put it back. I've never seen anyone not take ball in hand in 10 years of playing league.

I used to give lessons to a girl I was dating and we would play games and she really wanted to win but whenever she would accidentally tap the cue ball during a warm up stroke I would take ball in hand because it was a habit she needed to break.
 
Ball in hand all day everyday. If they have the stones or lack of courtesy to pick it up without verifying then have the stones to take what is rightfully yours. I would remind them that they should verify but I would still take the BIH.
 
Last edited:
the chicken said:
I'm playing 8 ball following BCA rules. I make a legal safe. My opponent, for whatever reason, thinks I fowled and picks up the cue ball.

I point out to him that I made a legal safe. He says, Yeah, Okay, and agrees that he screwed up.

Question: What to do with the cue ball? Do I now have ball in hand?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

John
Click to expand...

Of course it's BIH... However, most real shooters will confirm a foul by the other player before lifting the cue ball from the table (if it's in the pocket then it's a given).
In a casual game I would likely give the other player a pass and let them make their own yes/no decision.
As for me... I will call a foul on myself when I know I'm the only one who is aware. Practice sloppy rules and you'll train yourself to play sloppy. But when my opponent sees me calling a foul on myself and insisting that he/she take the BIH... then they will get the idea.
It just depends on how weak or strong a player is. I'll play lefty against really weak players and give them every slop shot they make while I only take called ball and pocket shots myself (unless I feel like I'm embarrassing them).
It all depends on how well you play and how well (or badly) your opponent is, if there is no money on the table. If you're playing for $$$... it's got to be BIH.
 
Diogenes said:
However, most real shooters will confirm a foul by the other player before lifting the cue ball from the table (if it's in the pocket then it's a given).
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Agreed. I think it's just good practice to confirm fouls before touching the cue ball.
 
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