Question about call-shot 8-ball rules

B

bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
I'm making some progress in convincing my friends to play call-shot rule in our next tournament (8-ball). I detest Smash Ball so this is a major accomplishment.

But I find that I'm not certain about some of the rules:

In non-tournament play we've spotted balls made in unintended pockets and opponent gets BIH.

The World Standardized Rules basically says the ball stays down but the shooter loses his turn. CB plays from its position (no BIH).

Am I safe to assume that we've been playing it wrong? Does anyone else play Spot/BIH?

Thanks.
 
bdorman said:
I'm making some progress in convincing my friends to play call-shot rule in our next tournament (8-ball). I detest Smash Ball so this is a major accomplishment.

But I find that I'm not certain about some of the rules:

In non-tournament play we've spotted balls made in unintended pockets and opponent gets BIH.

The World Standardized Rules basically says the ball stays down but the shooter loses his turn. CB plays from its position (no BIH).

Am I safe to assume that we've been playing it wrong? Does anyone else play Spot/BIH?

Thanks.
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Yes, you have been playing it wrong.
 
not a foul

Making the ball in the wrong pocket isn't a foul, so no BIH. The ball stays down. Congrats on taking some luck out of the game, it will make you play better.
 
World Standardized does not currently spot any balls made by accident, in 8-ball.

The question have to your rules, is why does the incoming player get BIH? Basically, you're saying, if you miss your shot and nothing falls, it's not BIH to your opponent. But if you miss your shot, and it accidently goes in the wrong pocket, the penalty for this is the same as a foul? To me that's a huge penalty for something that was chance.

If you wish to spot the ball, that's fine, but it is not currently part of any rule system that I am aware. However, if you're wanting to have that, you may wish to have it as an option for the incoming player.

Example: You and I are playing. I bank a ball, and it goes into the wrong pocket. But by spotting it, this locks up or blocks one of your balls. Now you're being penalized for this. So, instead of having the rule be that all balls must spot, you could have it where it is the choice of the incoming player on whether or not it would spot.

Just a suggestion. My $.02
 
It is not a legally pocketed ball, therefore forfeiture of turn...however, if it is a legally hit ball, there is no BIH foul. No balls are spotted.

BTW..are you playing Call Shot (where ever little nuance of the shot is detailed, and must be met) or Call Pocket (where the pocket is indicated, doesn't matter how it gets there)?
 
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ridewiththewind said:
BTW..are you playing Call Shot (where ever little nuance of the shot is detailed, and must be met) or Call Pocket (where the pocket is indicated, doesn't matter how it gets there)?
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Sorry to chime in slightly off subject, but this semantic distinction drives me crazy. Taking "call shot" to mean, as you said, "every little nuance" is strictly a geographic distinction, and is contrary to the language of the World Standardized Rules.

WSR 1.6, which describes the called ball getting to the called pocket while disregarding the path it takes, is titled "Standard Call Shot".

Outside of WSR, whether "call shot" means every little nuance or not is a function of the bar or room you are standing in. :smile:

Buddy Eick
BCAPL National Head Referee
BCAPL Director of Referee Training
Technical Editor, BCAPL Rule Book
bcapl_referee@cox.net

Find the Official Rules of the BCA Pool League here:

http://www.playbca.com/Downloads/Rulebook/CompleteRulebook/tabid/372/Default.aspx

* Unless specifically stated, the contents of this post refer to BCA Pool League (BCAPL) Rules only. The BCAPL National Office has authorized me to act in an official capacity regarding questions about BCAPL Rules matters in public forums.
* Unless specifically stated, no reference to, inference concerning, or comment on any other set of rules (WPA, APA, VNEA, TAP, or any other set of rules, public or private) is intended or should be derived from this post.
* Neither I, nor any BCAPL referee, make any policy decisions regarding BCAPL Rules. Any and all decisions, interpretations, or Applied Rulings are made by the BCAPL National Office and are solely their responsibility. BCAPL referees are enforcers of rules, not legislators. BCAPL Rules 9.5.3 and 9.5.4 and the BCAPL Rules "Statement of Principles" apply.
* For General Rules, 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball, and 14.1 Continuous: there is no such thing as "BCA Rules" other than in the sense that the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) publishes various rules, including the World Pool-Billiard Association's "World Standardized Rules" for those games. The BCA has no rules committee. The BCA does not edit, nor is responsible for the content of, the World Standardized Rules. The Official Rules of the BCAPL is a separate and independent set of rules and, to avoid confusion, should not be referred to as "BCA Rules".
* Since 2004, there is no such thing as a "BCA Referee". The BCA no longer has any program to train, certify or sanction billiards referees or officials. The BCAPL maintains what we consider to be the most structured, complete and intensive referee training program available.
* The BCAPL has no association with the Billiard Congress of America other than in their capacity as a member of the BCA. The letters "BCA" in BCAPL do not stand for "Billiard Congress of America, nor for anything at all.
* The BCAPL has not addressed every imaginable rules issue, nor will it ever likely be able to, as evidenced by the seemingly endless situations that people dream up or that (more frequently) actually happen. If I do not have the answer to a question I will tell you so, then I will get a ruling from the BCAPL National Office and get back to you as soon as I can. If deemed necessary, the BCAPL will then add the ruling to the "Applied Rulings" section of The Official Rules of the BCA Pool League.
* All BCAPL members are, as always, encouraged to e-mail Bill Stock at the BCAPL National Office, bill@playcsi.com, with any comments, concerns or suggestions about the BCAPL rules.
 
One thing that isn't mentioned is that you can call safe and make your ball in a pocket, then giving your opponent their turn. They don't get BIH. This is a great strategy sometimes, especially on a bar box.
 
tatcat2000 said:
Sorry to chime in slightly off subject, but this semantic distinction drives me crazy. Taking "call shot" to mean, as you said, "every little nuance" is strictly a geographic distinction, and is contrary to the language of the World Standardized Rules.

WSR 1.6, which describes the called ball getting to the called pocket while disregarding the path it takes, is titled "Standard Call Shot".

Outside of WSR, whether "call shot" means every little nuance or not is a function of the bar or room you are standing in. :smile:

Buddy Eick
BCAPL National Head Referee
BCAPL Director of Referee Training
Technical Editor, BCAPL Rule Book
bcapl_referee@cox.net

Find the Official Rules of the BCA Pool League here:

http://www.playbca.com/Downloads/Rulebook/CompleteRulebook/tabid/372/Default.aspx

* Unless specifically stated, the contents of this post refer to BCA Pool League (BCAPL) Rules only. The BCAPL National Office has authorized me to act in an official capacity regarding questions about BCAPL Rules matters in public forums.
* Unless specifically stated, no reference to, inference concerning, or comment on any other set of rules (WPA, APA, VNEA, TAP, or any other set of rules, public or private) is intended or should be derived from this post.
* Neither I, nor any BCAPL referee, make any policy decisions regarding BCAPL Rules. Any and all decisions, interpretations, or Applied Rulings are made by the BCAPL National Office and are solely their responsibility. BCAPL referees are enforcers of rules, not legislators. BCAPL Rules 9.5.3 and 9.5.4 and the BCAPL Rules "Statement of Principles" apply.
* For General Rules, 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball, and 14.1 Continuous: there is no such thing as "BCA Rules" other than in the sense that the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) publishes various rules, including the World Pool-Billiard Association's "World Standardized Rules" for those games. The BCA has no rules committee. The BCA does not edit, nor is responsible for the content of, the World Standardized Rules. The Official Rules of the BCAPL is a separate and independent set of rules and, to avoid confusion, should not be referred to as "BCA Rules".
* Since 2004, there is no such thing as a "BCA Referee". The BCA no longer has any program to train, certify or sanction billiards referees or officials. The BCAPL maintains what we consider to be the most structured, complete and intensive referee training program available.
* The BCAPL has no association with the Billiard Congress of America other than in their capacity as a member of the BCA. The letters "BCA" in BCAPL do not stand for "Billiard Congress of America, nor for anything at all.
* The BCAPL has not addressed every imaginable rules issue, nor will it ever likely be able to, as evidenced by the seemingly endless situations that people dream up or that (more frequently) actually happen. If I do not have the answer to a question I will tell you so, then I will get a ruling from the BCAPL National Office and get back to you as soon as I can. If deemed necessary, the BCAPL will then add the ruling to the "Applied Rulings" section of The Official Rules of the BCA Pool League.
* All BCAPL members are, as always, encouraged to e-mail Bill Stock at the BCAPL National Office, bill@playcsi.com, with any comments, concerns or suggestions about the BCAPL rules.
Click to expand...

I understand what you're saying....but since it's a reality in many areas of the country, I had to ask.
 
You might be a bit careful if your already the best player in the tourney. From my experiance when the best players get rules changed, and it makes them an even bigger favorite, the tourney ends up going bye bye.

I understand this wasn't part of your question, but if you already have the best of it, just shut up and play.

Good luck with everything.
 
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