Ok guys here is a little twist on official rules for illegally pocked balls in 8 ball that works for me and the people I play with. Thought someone might like the sound of it. For reference I have quoted the IPT and BCA Pool League rules.
IPT RULE
16.0 Illegally Pocketed Balls-
All balls that are illegally pocketed or jumped off the table stay “down,” with the exception of the eight ball which results in a loss of game for the shooter.
BCA Pool League
4.16 ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS
An object ball is considered to be illegally pocketed when (1) that object ball is pocketed on the same shot a foul is committed, or (2) the called ball did not go in the designated pocket, or (3) a safety is called prior to the shot. Illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed and are scored in favor of the shooter controlling that specific group of balls, solids or stripes.
I have been playing 8 ball with this twist for years and it is an improvement over the rules of automatically spotting or leaving down illegally pocked balls.
.
Optional spot rule.
All balls that are illegally pocketed or jumped off the table it is the option of the incoming player whether they spot or stay down.
It is much cleaner and the incoming player gets to determine what is the greater penalty for the offending player, thus minimizing the chances of a player being penalized for his opponent’s mistake.
I understand where the BCA rule must accommodate coin op tables and in that case it is not practical to spot balls, but when playing on non-coin op tables I almost always play by the optional spot rule.
IPT RULE
16.0 Illegally Pocketed Balls-
All balls that are illegally pocketed or jumped off the table stay “down,” with the exception of the eight ball which results in a loss of game for the shooter.
BCA Pool League
4.16 ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS
An object ball is considered to be illegally pocketed when (1) that object ball is pocketed on the same shot a foul is committed, or (2) the called ball did not go in the designated pocket, or (3) a safety is called prior to the shot. Illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed and are scored in favor of the shooter controlling that specific group of balls, solids or stripes.
I have been playing 8 ball with this twist for years and it is an improvement over the rules of automatically spotting or leaving down illegally pocked balls.
.
Optional spot rule.
All balls that are illegally pocketed or jumped off the table it is the option of the incoming player whether they spot or stay down.
It is much cleaner and the incoming player gets to determine what is the greater penalty for the offending player, thus minimizing the chances of a player being penalized for his opponent’s mistake.
I understand where the BCA rule must accommodate coin op tables and in that case it is not practical to spot balls, but when playing on non-coin op tables I almost always play by the optional spot rule.