Question about cue ball scratch rule

bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
Actually it's a two-part question:

1) What's the name of the game we're playing?

Three players, fifteen balls racked. Each player chooses his "group" (1-5, 6-10 or 11-15) by pocketing a ball in that group at his turn at the table. The objective is to pocket your group (unlike CutThroat where the objective is to pocket the other players' balls). Is anyone familiar with the game and know its name?

2) In the game described above, what happens if a player scratches the cue ball WITHOUT pocketing an OB?

This occurred last night and I spotted one of the offending player's balls. He objected, saying he didn't pocket a ball on the shot, hence no ball-spot. I was thinking more along the lines of one-pocket where a cue ball scratch results in a "ball-spot penalty". If you pocket a ball and scratch, the ball spots. If you didn't pocket a ball but still scratch a previously-pocketed ball spots.

Your thoughts?

Related: In 8-ball, if you scratch without pocketing an object ball, do you spot one of the offending players' balls?
 
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Can't help with the name but in your senerio, I think the minimum penalty for a scratch would be to spot a ball...if an object ball is made during the scratch, that ball would spot - PLUS - a penalty ball.

Your game, your rules. Another example of failing to explain ALL the rules before you start...not calling you out, because this happens all the time, and probably always will.

L8R...Ken
 
Actually it's a two-part question:

1) What's the name of the game we're playing?

Three players, fifteen balls racked. Each player chooses his "group" (1-5, 6-10 or 11-15) by pocketing a ball in that group at his turn at the table. The objective is to pocket your group (unlike CutThroat where the objective is to pocket the other players' balls). Is anyone familiar with the game and know its name?

2) In the game described above, what happens if a player scratches the cue ball WITHOUT pocketing an OB?

This occurred last night and I spotted one of the offending player's balls. He objected, saying he didn't pocket a ball on the shot, hence no ball-spot. I was thinking more along the lines of one-pocket where a cue ball scratch results in a "ball-spot penalty". If you pocket a ball and scratch, the ball spots. If you didn't pocket a ball but still scratch a previously-pocketed ball spots.

Your thoughts?

riiiiight.

Post padding.
 
The game you refer was generally called "First One Home", but in certain parts of southern Missouri, and northern Arkansas, was referred to as "Joe Bob's Turn In The Barrel". It was very popular during the forties and fifties.
If you scratched you were required to bend over the table and allow your opponents to strike you smartly across the ass with their pool cues, hence the name. :smile:
 
When I play this with some friends we call it cut-throat. When you scratch next person would play out of the kitchen. No ball in hand.

Here is a link on wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutthroat_(pool)

We play CutThroat as "keep your balls on the table; pocket your opponent's balls". The widipedia article appears to define it that way too. I think it got the name CutThroat because of the emotional response of having the other player(s) eliminate you from the game.

The game described in my original post is sorta/kinda the opposite: you win by pocketing the balls in your group.
 
We play CutThroat as "keep your balls on the table; pocket your opponent's balls". The widipedia article appears to define it that way too. I think it got the name CutThroat because of the emotional response of having the other player(s) eliminate you from the game.

The game described in my original post is sorta/kinda the opposite: you win by pocketing the balls in your group.

I know that game.

It is called My Balls.
 
We play CutThroat as "keep your balls on the table; pocket your opponent's balls". The widipedia article appears to define it that way too. I think it got the name CutThroat because of the emotional response of having the other player(s) eliminate you from the game.

The game described in my original post is sorta/kinda the opposite: you win by pocketing the balls in your group.

^I think all it is, is a variation of cut throat. It's just backwards.. So, in following the cut throat rules (which if you scratch oppenent gets to bring a ball up), whoever scratches should have to bring a ball up, or the other two players get to remove one :)

Either or would be pretty beneficial.

My vote is in for "My balls" btw.
 
Actually it's a two-part question:

1) What's the name of the game we're playing?

Three players, fifteen balls racked. Each player chooses his "group" (1-5, 6-10 or 11-15) by pocketing a ball in that group at his turn at the table. The objective is to pocket your group (unlike CutThroat where the objective is to pocket the other players' balls). Is anyone familiar with the game and know its name?

2) In the game described above, what happens if a player scratches the cue ball WITHOUT pocketing an OB?

This occurred last night and I spotted one of the offending player's balls. He objected, saying he didn't pocket a ball on the shot, hence no ball-spot. I was thinking more along the lines of one-pocket where a cue ball scratch results in a "ball-spot penalty". If you pocket a ball and scratch, the ball spots. If you didn't pocket a ball but still scratch a previously-pocketed ball spots.

Your thoughts?

Related: In 8-ball, if you scratch without pocketing an object ball, do you spot one of the offending players' balls?


It seems like a reverse of cut-throat. Instead of pocketing their balls, you pocket your own. I would imagine the penalty for a scratch would be to spot one of your balls. If you spotted theirs, it would be more of a penalty to them. Makes sense to me......
 
that is what we call it too...and fouls mean other players get to bring a ball up.

bingo!!!!!!.........

Cut throat..... scratch and opponents get to bring a ball up

Sorry didnt read post well enough....... but maybe its a screwed up way of playing cut throat
 
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This version, where the objective is to pocket your group (1-5, etc) is actually a lot more interesting than regular CutThroat (keep your group on the table and pocket the others). You don't have as many balls to shoot at and the game gets tough pretty quickly; very few, if any, run-outs.

Plus there's not the animosity of a player feeling like the other two are ganging up on him (hey, can we help it if your balls are the easiest shots on the table?).

The other rule we use is scratch results in BIH behind the headstring. BIH anywhere on the table would make it too easy to run your group...and with three players it makes little sense to penalize the player who didn't scratch (i.e. the "3rd" player).

I hope we stick with the rule that a CB scratch results in a spotted ball penalty. If you pocketed a ball on the shot, that one comes up. If not, a previously pocketed ball comes up. I guess if you don't have any balls down, nothing comes up and you don't "owe" a ball.

CutThroat players might want to give it a try.
 
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This game seems to fall into the category of Social Games (any game that entertains a group of players).

Another type of game for social entertainment would be to pick up and roll the cue ball by hand. Perfectly levels the playing field and totally discards any cue skills.
 
This game seems to fall into the category of Social Games (any game that entertains a group of players).

Another type of game for social entertainment would be to pick up and roll the cue ball by hand. Perfectly levels the playing field and totally discards any cue skills.


Yes, it's for those weird birds who actually want to have fun.

It's not for Shane, Dennis or Allan.

On second thought it would be a lot more fun to tell the third person, "No you can't play. We're busy working at pool. Get lost!" Yeah, I think I could enjoy that.
 
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