Cueball on the rail? Rules Question

[Double-Dave]

Hi guys, just a quick (but not simple, I don´t think) rules question about 9-ball, or 8-ball for that matter.

When you have ball in hand are you allowed to place the cueball on top of the rail and play down from there? This in a rare situation where the objectball "on" is completely surrounded by several other balls and the rail.

On most tables you will only be able to do this by placing the cueball in the groove between the wood and the cloth, which may or may not make this a foul, but there are many tables where this is not necessary, like the converted snooker tables.

There is a rule which states that balls that end up on the rail AFTER a shot are to be counted as jumped off the table. But I don´t think that applies in this case since the balls end up on the slate.

p.s. If we´ve had this question before, a link to the thread would be nice.

gr. Dave Heijboer

 

[pooltchr]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the top of the cushion is considered to be a part of the playing surface.
Steve

 

[GADawg]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the top of the cushion is considered to be a part of the playing surface.
Steve

I haven't searched through the rules, but I am 99.9% sure that Steve is correct and that balls must be played from the flat playing surface of the table.

 

[BillYards]

Come on guys! No way can you do that!!! (Unless, of course, you are playing against a real HACK in a bar or make it part of the rules of the bet.)

 

[CaptainHook]

I would keep my mouth shut and let someone shoot that, then call "FOUL".
That way the cluster would be broken up.

 

[TheBook]

Good question.

Here is a rule from the BCA

3.28 BALLS JUMPED OFF TABLE
Balls coming to rest other than on the bed of the table after a stroke (on the cushion top, rail surface, floor, etc.) are considered jumped balls. Balls may bounce on the cushion tops and rails of the table in play without being jumped balls if they return to the bed of the table under their own power and without touching anything not a part of the table. The table shall consist of the permanent part of the table proper. (Balls that strike or touch anything not a part of the table, such as the light fixture, chalk on the rails and cushion tops, etc., shall be considered jumped balls even though they might return to the bed of the table after contacting items which are not parts of the table proper). In all pocket billiard games, when a stroke results in the cue ball or any object ball being a jumped ball off the table, the stroke is a foul. All jumped object balls are spotted (except in 8 and 9-Ball) when all balls have stopped moving. See specific game rules for putting the cue ball in play after a jumped cue ball foul.


I think the key words are "return to the bed of the table under their own power". Under this circumstance a ball may bounce off the top rail and still be in play.

 

[iacas]

Come on guys! No way can you do that!!! (Unless, of course, you are playing against a real HACK in a bar or make it part of the rules of the bet.)

Agreed. That's just silly. Just intentionally scratch and make him break the ball out if it's in that situation. Obviously he's fouled first, so he will reach three fouls (and lose) or be forced to break the balls out first.