Bob Jewett said:Well, OK, but if it shouldn't be allowed, there needs to be a specific rule.
I agree, there should be a specific rule. This, IMO is one of the biggest problems for pocket billiards in general, no consistency in the rules.
Bob Jewett said:Suppose you are playing nine ball and after the break the cue ball is frozen to the one ball. What should happen? Then consider similar situations in 14.1, one pocket and eight ball. If it is a foul to shoot into a frozen ball, does the nine ball player above have to kick at the one ball? Does something spot? Ball in hand anywhere? Like snooker, where you get credit for shooting away?
Let me play Devil's advocate: There is no rule at pool that will work if shooting into a frozen ball is changed to a foul. Prove me wrong by proposing a rule that will work. I say you can't.
Besides pushing out (after the 9B break), the shooter can make legal contact by shooting sideways or off angle, rather than straight away. Just because a player CAN shoot it straight away into a pocket, why should they be allowed to do so? It should probably be declared by the non-shooter, like it is when frozen to the rail. No kicking, nor spotting and no ball in hand are necessary. And, the rule should apply to 14.1, Onepocket, and all other pocket billiard games.
The rule should state it is a foul to shoot directly through the contact point of a frozen CB and OB. A legal hit requires the shooting player to contact the CB at an angle greater than, say 15 or 30 degrees, to the tangent line. Or something similar.
I realize this maybe unfair, and as the incoming player it sucks, but many situations are unfair.
Rick