Pool terminology question: Scratch

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bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
Please excuse the newbie question, but I'm kind of a terminology freak.

When playing, I hear people call any foul a "scratch" (not contacting lowest number ball first, no-rail, etc).

I've always assumed that "scratch" only referred to hitting the cue ball into a pocket; the others are simply fouls. In other words, a scratch is a kind of foul...but not all fouls are scratches.

Your expertise is appreciated.
 
It is a very good question.

I do not know the precise origin of the term, but I know that in some games that are played for cummulative points, a scratch foul (sinking the cue ball) resulted in losing a point. So it is concievable that "scratch" meant "scratching off a point."

It is not difficult to imagine some players calling other fouls scratches, but I have not heard that usage in the places where I play.

I call sinking a cue ball a "scratch," and other fouls "fouls."
 
DoubleD said:
It actually started from the fact that the pockets in the original tables usually had exposed irons, slate and tacks. Shooting the soft, ivory ball into the pocket would many times literally scratch the ball.

Later, as more rules developed, it was simply the term for a generic foul and go carried over.

dld
Click to expand...

Ahh, thanks. That makes even better sense.
 
It actually comes from the human anatomy.
When ever anyone (I'm referring to the males here) scratches their balls, a foul odor is emitted. This was especially true in olden days when hygenics wasn't what it is now.
Guys oftimes stood around the table, and when a player accidentally made the white ball they would start laughing and scratching. Before you knew it the whole place stank to high heaven. Someone would inveriably say, "Looks like another scratch is coming." This was eventually shortened to simply "scratch".
As you know, pool history is my passion. :smile:
 
To me "Scratch" falls under the umbrella term "Foul". Scratch being when the cue ball ends up in a pocket.
 
bdorman said:
Please excuse the newbie question, but I'm kind of a terminology freak.

When playing, I hear people call any foul a "scratch" (not contacting lowest number ball first, no-rail, etc).

I've always assumed that "scratch" only referred to hitting the cue ball into a pocket; the others are simply fouls. In other words, a scratch is a kind of foul...but not all fouls are scratches.

Your expertise is appreciated.
Click to expand...

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Pool-Billiards-2283/2010/6/Use-scratch-verses-foul.htm

This link references what Mike Shamos (the foremost billiard historian) is the origin of the term "scratch." It's also how Danny Dileberto describes the term.

I have always followed Shamos' and Dileberto's definition.

A scratch is a removal of a point or points due to a foul (like touching the cueball inadvertantly) or a failure to comply with the definition of a legal shot (like failing to hit a cushion after contact.

Hence, if you hear Danny D (or me for that matter), he will say that someone took an "intentional scratch" and normally won't say "intentional foul" if a player simply rolls e cueball without touching a ball and/or cushion.

Freddie <~~~ one man's opinion based on two pretty knowledgable men
 
Around here (Northern New Jersey) a "scratch" refers to hitting the cue ball into a pocket; but any other foul is referred to as either a "foul" OR a "table scratch".
 
I read somewhere that back in the day pool halls had little chalk boards that where used to keep track of fouls - hence scratching onto the board. In 14.1 straight pool three consecutives fouls is a 15 point penalty, so that's how they kept track. Players are required to warn each other when one of them is 'on two'. Nowadays the refs stop play while they review the video.
 
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