Call a foul on a newbie?

Bob Jewett

Bob Jewett

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So I'm playing in straight pool league last night, and while taking a long shot from being frozen on the head rail, I miscue and the cue ball rolls a foot without hitting anything. My opponent picks up the cue ball for ball in hand. What's your call?

(I have a fairly good excuse for the miscue. Earlier in the match the 5.6-magnitude earthquake you may have heard of on the news took place about 15 miles from the pool hall. I felt the first shock (p-wave) and then the second rolling motion (s-wave) and got the distance more or less correct. The time between the two waves multiplied by 3-5 miles per second gives the distance to the epicenter. Even with all the lights swinging in the pool hall, some players didn't notice that anything was happening. The room serves beer.)
 
I can understand why that's a tough call...Was he a newbie to straight pool or a newbie to pool? Either way, the league operator or TD should have let them know of all rules. So I would explain that it was a foul and get the TD to explain if need be.

Most likely you're giving this guy weight. He may play pool just not straight pool. You give him BIH and he might run a couple of points on you...enought to get him the win, and if you're league is for money, you might be costing yourself some.

Christian
 
Bob Jewett wrote:
> I have a fairly good excuse for the miscue. Earlier in the
> match the 5.6-magnitude earthquake

Aha... that's an excuse.

> The room serves beer.

It does..?

-- peer
 
If you are frozen on the rail and hit the cb on top and miscue, would it be possible for your ferrule not to hit that cueball after miscuing?
 
OK...have to admit...I'm not a straight pool player but I'm going to assume that with your miscue and not driving a ball to a rail that your op 'didn't' have ball in hand... if this being the case...

I would have simply asked him...'Hey, what's up?' (in a friendly tone) He might have responded with, 'you fouled' and you could have simply said...'well, not really... in straight pool it's not a foul, but go ahead..play on'... he would have probably given up the cue ball or questioned it and learned something....anyways, the whole idea is to educate him. Speaking of education.... if you were the newbie and he pulled the cueball calling the foul on you...consider it a learning experience and If I'm 'all wet' on my input, I'm a newbie also... :)

We have to remember, we are all newbies until we experience something for the first time, even when it comes to a rule we've never come across.

Just my 2 cents. Anyone got change for a nickel, I'm running low on pennies.
 
I've had this happen with experienced players, not just newbies.

I would have informed the player that it is Cue Ball in Place for table fouls and just put the cue ball back as close as possible into its original position. I would have also told the players that touching the cue ball in this case would be considered a foul also, but the cue ball still stays in position.

Isn't there a rule for ball movement or interference with ACT OF GOD (or ALI or Muhammad)?

Lessons learned and all that stuff. Never miss the opportunity.

I would have said something it's just my pigheadedness.
 
newbies have to learn

I was on the Newbie end of this one a couple of years ago. I picked up the cue ball and my opponent said, "Hey, I fouled but you don't get ball in hand". I immediately gave him the ball and said, "We're both on one" (with a sheepish smile). I wasn't about to let my rookie status give me a "bye" on the rules, and I'll always remember how stupid I felt. This is how we learn.:)
 
Bob Jewett said:
So I'm playing in straight pool league last night, and while taking a long shot from being frozen on the head rail, I miscue and the cue ball rolls a foot without hitting anything. My opponent picks up the cue ball for ball in hand. What's your call?
Click to expand...

The reasonable response here clearly depends on whether the newbie is a likable person. But I must admit that question pales in importance compared to mine below.

(I have a fairly good excuse for the miscue. Earlier in the match the 5.6-magnitude earthquake you may have heard of on the news took place about 15 miles from the pool hall.
Click to expand...

If between the p-wave and the s-wave, your newbie opponent played a safety by pocketing the fifteenth ball, and the fourteen-ball rack has morphed into an irregular tetradecagon (also known as a tetrakaidecagon), do you rerack the fifteen balls together?
 
I'd have called the foul on him. Life is tough and then you die.

Consequences elicit changed behavior.... usually :)
 
Foul for Newbie

worldison2 said:
I was on the Newbie end of this one a couple of years ago. I picked up the cue ball and my opponent said, "Hey, I fouled but you don't get ball in hand". I immediately gave him the ball and said, "We're both on one" (with a sheepish smile). I wasn't about to let my rookie status give me a "bye" on the rules, and I'll always remember how stupid I felt. This is how we learn.:)
Click to expand...

I would explain so he could understand and let it go the first time. Next time he's dead meat. Now he knows.....I find this all the time in my league I am still having trouble explaining the push shot.
 
I'd have called it. It puts you both on one, with you having the first foul, if I read your post right. I've had this happen with someone not at all used to
Straight Pool. This is what one-foul-ball-in-hand 9 ball has done for the other games. Newer players automatically assume othe games are played with the same rules.
 
If it was a friendly game, I'd at least let the guy know and just have him replace the cueball and let him shoot.

Since this was a league game, I'd have called the foul since the player should have been aware of the rules.
 
I'd cut him some slack. He clearly wasn't trying to cheat you or gain any unfair advantage, he was just mistaken about the rule. I'd correct him about the rule, and tell him he has to play the ball from back where it was before he picked it up. If the two of you can't come to an agreement (i.e. he won't accept your best estimate) about where the CB was, then I'd say you have no choice but to call the foul, to avoid him gaining any unfair advantage out of the situation.

-Andrew
 
Call it...

I would say the best thing for the newbie is to call it, explain the rules, and then run out:D . In all seriousness, if you don't call it, you are hurting them more than helping.
 
Andrew Manning said:
I'd cut him some slack. He clearly wasn't trying to cheat you or gain any unfair advantage, he was just mistaken about the rule. I'd correct him about the rule, and tell him he has to play the ball from back where it was before he picked it up. If the two of you can't come to an agreement (i.e. he won't accept your best estimate) about where the CB was, then I'd say you have no choice but to call the foul, to avoid him gaining any unfair advantage out of the situation.

-Andrew
Click to expand...

Aside from the one point penalty, what happens in straight pool if you call the foul here, once the cue ball is already in his hand? Would Bob take ball-in-hand in the kitchen? I suppose I could look it up, but maybe I'm not the only one who doesn't know. :)

Cuebacca <-- Straight pool newbie :D (please do call fouls on me if we play though)
 
WesleyW said:
I would hit him with my cue, how does he dare to touch the CB!
Click to expand...
It was in fact my own, personal ball, so I screamed when he grabbed it. This was the guy's second straight pool match of his life. I put the cue ball back and let him shoot and told him that it was his last warning. He seemed properly chastized. I was giving up 140-55 in the match and he won, but then he's supposed to win if I can't even remember to chalk.
 
Bob Jewett said:
It was in fact my own, personal ball, so I screamed when he grabbed it. This was the guy's second straight pool match of his life. I put the cue ball back and let him shoot and told him that it was his last warning. He seemed properly chastized. I was giving up 140-55 in the match and he won, but then he's supposed to win if I can't even remember to chalk.
Click to expand...

Well said. You too seem properly chasitzed. :D
 
Good call....myself not being a great straight pool player, but like the game, wouldve called out to his attention (gentlemans game remember?) and told him that was his last warning.
 
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