I'm still relatively new to snooker; I've played exactly one game solo at my local pool hall which has a 12 foot table and my highest break was a 6, so I'm pretty terrible. I've also been watching quite a few matches online in the last couple of months and have got a pretty good handle on most of the rules of the game, however, I'm still a bit confused on the concept of the Free Ball. They don't seem to call it often in professional matches. From what I understand, if there's no possible way to hit a ball that's on, a free ball would be called and a player can nominate any other ball to replace that ball, and the nominated ball would be worth the same amount of points as the original ball on. From what I've seen though, there's always some way to hit the ball on, even if it requires banking off the cushions several times. In what types of situations would a free ball be called? Does anyone have any specific examples from matches? Thanks!
Please explain Free Ball to me
- Thread starter Waterland
- Start date
The Rules
http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/e2/c6/0,,13165~181986,00.pdf
A free ball occurs when a player has fouled and leaves the cue ball where the incoming player cannot directly hit both sides of the object ball.
If the object ball is red, and there is more than one red on the table, if one of the reds can be hit directly on both sides, no free ball.
You may see the referee measure to determine if a ball can be hit on both sides.
Players without sufficient points on the table to win a frame will try to set up a snooker hoping their opponent will miss and leave a free ball, increasing the points available. For example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkIkB3se944
http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/e2/c6/0,,13165~181986,00.pdf
A free ball occurs when a player has fouled and leaves the cue ball where the incoming player cannot directly hit both sides of the object ball.
If the object ball is red, and there is more than one red on the table, if one of the reds can be hit directly on both sides, no free ball.
You may see the referee measure to determine if a ball can be hit on both sides.
Players without sufficient points on the table to win a frame will try to set up a snooker hoping their opponent will miss and leave a free ball, increasing the points available. For example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkIkB3se944
A small wrinkle with this for reds.... A red ball cannot cause a snooker. From the D on the opening shot you are not snookered on the reds because you could hit both sides of a corner red if all the other reds were taken off the table.
Another small wrinkle is that you cannot be snookered by a cushion even when the cushion prevents you from directly hitting any ball on.
About the the last part. Exp. If I horn hook my opponent after a foul he can't call a free ball because only the cushion hooks him from a ball on? Is that correct?
Thanks Bob
Yes that's correct. In an older version of the rules, this was known as being "angled" and you could take ball in hand (place the cue ball anywhere in the "D"). Current rules do not classify this as a snooker - but you do have the option to make your opponent play again.