Push shot foul?

Bob Jewett

Bob Jewett

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In the 2026 European Open, Quinten Pongers got called on a foul for this shot. Let's assume the ball was called frozen. Do you know what the rule is?

The shot:


Commentators' discussions...

 
Legal shot.

WPA 3-7:

If the cue-stick contacts the cue-ball more than once on a shot, the shot is a foul. If the
cue-ball is close to but not touching an object-ball and the cue tip is still on the cue-ball when the cue-ball contacts that object-ball, the shot is a foul. If the cue-ball is very close to an object-ball, and the shooter barely grazes that object-ball on the shot, the shot is
assumed not to violate the first paragraph of this rule, even though the tip is arguably still on the cue-ball when ball-ball contact is made.

However, if the cue-ball is touching an object-ball at the start of the shot, it is legal to shoot towards or partly into that ball (provided it is a legal target within the rules of the game) and if the object-ball is moved by such a shot, it is considered to have been contacted by the cue-ball. (Even though it may be legal to shoot towards such a touching or “frozen” ball, care must be taken not to violate the rules in the first paragraph if there are additional balls close by.)

—

I don’t see anything in the WNT rules which would override the WPA rule.
 
bpeacock said:
Also, the announcers clearly thought it was a foul...
Click to expand...
I believe the announcers minds were poisoned by long exposure to the rules of snooker, and even worse, the rules of English 8-ball. At those games you get to shoot away from the ball and get credit for the hit, and you are forbidden to move the ball.
 
looks like a legal shot, but cant be really seen as it happens so fast.

but no one said it was frozen just assumed it was here.

im going to ask before he shoots what he is going to do and how is he going to not foul. or i wont let him shoot it,
without a ref standing over the shot.

and even though legal no reason it should be allowed in pool.

the announcers have no idea if they are even alive in this spot.
 
Foul.... cb and obj. ball had same forward speed. and he hit straight at it.
I then watched the ref/discussion.
If shooter would of cued from an angle then it's waaaaaaaaay more likely when hitting this shot with ''follow thru'' to be legal.
Him shooting this shot this way, shows he doesn't understand ''frozen ball'' principles.
Push Shot.... is what he did.
 
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maha said:
looks like a legal shot, but cant be really seen as it happens so fast.

but no one said it was frozen just assumed it was here.
Click to expand...

Pongers called the ref over to inspect the balls and the ref said something after inspection. If he said “frozen” or “touching” then the shot was legal. If he said “not frozen” then it’s the clearest foul ever and Pongers is an idiot (I’m assuming he declared it frozen).
 
Island Drive said:
Foul.... cb and obj. ball had same forward speed. and he hit straight at it.
I then watched the ref/discussion.
If shooter would of cued from an angle then it's waaaaaaaaay more likely when hitting this shot with ''follow thru'' to be legal.
Him shooting this shot this way, shows he doesn't understand ''frozen ball'' principles.
Push Shot.... is what he did.
Click to expand...

This just isn’t the rule and shows that is you who doesn’t understand frozen ball principles. WPA rule 3.7 is very clear on this IMO.
 
Bob Jewett said:
In the 2026 European Open, Quinten Pongers got called on a foul for this shot. Let's assume the ball was called frozen. Do you know what the rule is?
Click to expand...
WPA 3-7: DOUBLE HIT / FROZEN BALLS

If the cue-ball is touching an object-ball at the start of the shot, it is legal to shoot towards or partly into that ball (provided it is a legal target within the rules of the game) and if the object-ball is moved by such a shot, it is considered to have been contacted by the cue-ball.
 
loggerhead12 said:
Marcel again? What a shocker that he got it wrong.
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Not exactly. The call was made by another ref. Marcel was called over afterwards and the call stood. What I don’t know is if he agreed with the call or if he felt bound by the call of the ref (the WNT rules say you can appeal if there is an area ref who makes the call but not if there is a table referee presiding over the match).
 
Bob Jewett said:
I believe the announcers minds were poisoned by long exposure to the rules of snooker, and even worse, the rules of English 8-ball. At those games you get to shoot away from the ball and get credit for the hit, and you are forbidden to move the ball.
Click to expand...
Ultimate Pool uses this rule. I don’t like it or get it really. Have to play by it but I don’t get how you get credit for the hit playing away from it. It’s a fictional hit. Why not allow an option to spot it like in the carom games? But that doesn’t work in 8 ball I guess.
 
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