Old 9-ball Rules

[LastTwo]

I saw an old 9-ball match when they were using the two push-out rule, and when someone would play safe, they would call a safety and the referee would say "safety allowed". I was just wondering if there would be any time after calling a safe the referee wouldn't allow it?

 

[Rich R.]

I was just wondering if there would be any time after calling a safe the referee wouldn't allow it?

I believe the safety would not be allowed, if a legal safety shot was not exectued. For example, if a ball did not hit a rail, after the cue ball hit the correct object ball.
Saftey not allowed = Foul.

 

[TeddyJ]

I was just wondering if there would be any time after calling a safe the referee wouldn't allow it?

If they fouled it wouldn't be allowed. I'd guess that calling it was probably a holdover from the straight pool days.

 

[VonRhett]

I believe the safety would not be allowed, if a legal safety shot was not exectued. For example, if a ball did not hit a rail, after the cue ball hit the correct object ball.
Saftey not allowed = Foul.

Well, that only applies in one-shot foul rules, which has become the defacto standard today. But the poster is referring to the old two-shot foul rule, which essentially makes every shot the same as today's first-shot-after-the-break. Under the two-shot foul rule you can push-out on any and every shot, without hitting a ball or rail, and your opponent then has the option.

I rarely, if ever, see anyone play 9-ball this way anymore. But it was very popular many moons ago.