Good luck with this one, Jim...
- Thread starter gonzy11
- Start date
Hey Jim/AZBers,
I have a question on etiquette/rules about this shot. Maybe its the 9ball player in me, but what about playing safe? Aim red, without disturbing yellow, and jump your ball off the table leaving yellow where it stays and red down table somewhere. Your ball gets spotted leaving a difficult shot. One of the gentleman I used to shoot against when I was still learning to play always said "Safety allowed" when I would attempt a shot, execute horribly, and incidentally leave him difficult. Is there a rule about not playing safe or is it just poor form for this game? What are the penalties?
Thanks for any input on this everyone.
23. An intentional safety is not allowed. If played, it is a foul, and the player's inning ends. The incoming player may accept the balls as they lie, or set up the balls for a break shot. If there was a possibility of scoring on the shot, there is no foul. During a USBA tournament, in the absence of a referee, the Tournament Director may make this determination.
Thank you Jim. I guess I should have looked it up. Sorry for the laziness there. Anyway, I guess its up to interpretation on what is "intentional" Many of those shots back then were definitely un-intentional. It brings to point, does taking a low percentage shot constitute an intentional safety? Normally, I would tend to leave my opponent on a rail. I still intend for all purposes to make the shot, but knowing that if I missed it would leave him tough. Would that still be considered intentional safety? (attempting to make the point other ways still being considered low percentage, just opting to shoot one that leaves him tough). Again, thanks for the input on this. Safety shots are considered normal play for other games, but for carom its not...so how do you not sell out.
All good players play safety when appropriate. But there is a difference between "intentional" safety, and "resulting" safety, for lack of a better term.
If, for safety reasons, you play a shot that has no earthly chance of scoring, then I would call an intentional safety on you. Obviously, a lot is up to interpretation.
If, for safety reasons, you play a shot that has no earthly chance of scoring, then I would call an intentional safety on you. Obviously, a lot is up to interpretation.
Normal safety and intentional safety
Below are two shots that demonstrate acceptable safety play and unacceptable safety play.
In the first shot, you are trying to score the billiard of course. In this example, you miss the shot long and the cueball dies near the red. Your opponent's ball is way on the other side of the table. This is acceptable safety. It's part of the game.
The second shot however is a blatant attempt to play safety and there is no chance whatsoever that you can score the billiard this way. This is intentional safety.
Below are two shots that demonstrate acceptable safety play and unacceptable safety play.
In the first shot, you are trying to score the billiard of course. In this example, you miss the shot long and the cueball dies near the red. Your opponent's ball is way on the other side of the table. This is acceptable safety. It's part of the game.
The second shot however is a blatant attempt to play safety and there is no chance whatsoever that you can score the billiard this way. This is intentional safety.
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I cant recall any international match that a blatant intentional safety shot was played. Thanks for the rule clarification.