Scratch on break - ball in hand - not in kitchen

This will probably cut down on the number of 8-on-the-breaks, since many folks won't want to risk the scratch and resulting BIH anywhere.

As for whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, that's not for me to say. I do know it'll be fun watching the arguments about it.

i've always played with the 8 on the snap not being a win. the breaker just gets to re-spot the 8 and continue or rebreak. his choice. i say his because women don't break hard enough to make the 8 on the break!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol. prove me wrong ladies!
 
scratching on the break and having BIH across the table is for bangers and tavern pool too brother

thats just making the game easier....not something I'm really down for

IE: More pool game bastardization

Whats next BIH in onepocket?

you know what's sick? i heard one of the commentators saying they'd like to see bih in 14.1 matches:eek:.

i tell you someone give me ball in hand playing straight pool they're looking to get 10-11 balls run on 'em!
 
i've always played with the 8 on the snap not being a win. the breaker just gets to re-spot the 8 and continue or rebreak. his choice. i say his because women don't break hard enough to make the 8 on the break!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol. prove me wrong ladies!

Being a lady has nothing to do with 8's on the break.

I had a match just a few weeks ago with a lady who dropped the 8 on the break. I've seen her do that a few other times, too. She doesn't crush the balls, either, just a good solid stroke. I've made more 8's on the break when I don't overhit than when I do try to crush the balls.

I do think scratching on the break and getting BIH anywhere will make people hit the break with more control, and more often from the center, rather than the side rail. I sure would.

It will be funny to hear the conversations in a bar in the future. "Wanna play? Bar rules, none of that APA or BCA crap!" That will be a refreshing change.
 
The purpose of the change surely isn't to speed the game up. Anybody who thinks it through should know that. Nobody's going to be free stroke busting the balls anymore. The way the game is played will change with this new rule because players will adjust quickly and begin soft breaking. There'll be much more safety play & defensive shot making. Mark my words, the BCA nationals next year are going to be in a fix because of time delayed matches due to this new rule restricting massive breaks & wide open tables. It's easy to assume lots of players are going to get ran out on & that will speed the game up. But what's not being considered is how the players are going to adjust to the new rule.
 
The purpose of the change surely isn't to speed the game up. Anybody who thinks it through should know that. Nobody's going to be free stroke busting the balls anymore. The way the game is played will change with this new rule because players will adjust quickly and begin soft breaking.

Beg to disagree. No one I play with is suddenly going to begin soft or safety breaking. Of the dozens of games I may play in a week, I might scratch once or twice on the break. Usually having the cue ball kicked into a pocket rather than go there directly. I'm not going to change. Neither will my better opponents. Taking away an opportunity to run a rack and keep my opponent in their seat is paramount! When I begin to play "scared", I'll join the APA.

If the BCAPL suddenly notices too many games taking too long at Regionals or Nationals, they'll institute a minimum number of balls must pass the centerstripe rule. The Pro's already have one in play. Mark my words, this is about speeding up play, not slowing it down!

Lyn
 
I don't imagine anyone is going to change their break over this. Would you break differently in 9 ball if it were BiH in the kitchen for scratch on the break? I wouldn't, and I would assume no one else would either.
 
Guess I hadn't taken the "everyone suddenly changing their breaks to adjust to the new rule" factor. There may be some of that, but the better players rarely send the cueball flying off the table now, and scratching is RARELY due to a blast it and hope type of break anyway. Most of the scratches I see from competitors is due to an unlucky kick in from another ball.....but maybe folks won't open the rack as aggressively....not sure. I do know that the ball in hand ANYWHERE is a change that 8ball DOESN'T need.

Your opponent just scratched on the break, and from the kitchen you don't have the exact angle you want on the easier suit of balls??? LOL. You are at the table - take advantage of it, control the table....plan your breakouts just like you ALWAYS have. If you can't run out from there, then lock them up, make them foul and get ball in hand that way...OR, work on the parts of the game you need to to get out from there in the future.

Like I stated, I play in a regional league (not BCA, Valley, APA, or others, related). We play take what you make on the break, and I'm just amazed at how many guys whine about it not being open after the break (I'm getting penalized for making a ball - etc.). When they pocket a stripe, and don't like the layout, and show their frustration, I'm tempted to offer them just passing it to me.....better than me just sitting and watching.

After all the discussion though, just do me one favor.....if it's a tournament, tell me the rules before I play (since every league or governing body seems to be different), and I'll deal with it! Even if it comes to a rule change stating I can make the 8ball with any of the suit of balls I have, for the win.....who knows, that could be next. :rolleyes:
 
I don't imagine anyone is going to change their break over this. Would you break differently in 9 ball if it were BiH in the kitchen for scratch on the break? I wouldn't, and I would assume no one else would either.

I know I would most certainly go back to breaking from the middle of the table, rather than off the rail. That much would change, straight away. Other than that, probably not much, I don't crush'em anyway.
 
If you don't consider it a penalty, what is their to deal with? Of course it's a penalty and open after break "deals" with it.

A scratch on break in 9-ball is pretty much loss of game. Why shouldn't it be in 8-ball?

If there is no shot from the kitchen, why reward a scratch on the break?

This rule makes perfect sense to me.

MM

I have NEVER, not once, seen a break that scratched in 8ball where, " there is NO shot from the kitchen". EVER. And, I don't think scratching on the break has ever been rewarded either....they are not still at the table.

As for my deal with it comment, it was geared towards the whiners who think 8ball cannot be played unless it is open table after the break :grin:
 
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Being a lady has nothing to do with 8's on the break.

I had a match just a few weeks ago with a lady who dropped the 8 on the break. I've seen her do that a few other times, too. She doesn't crush the balls, either, just a good solid stroke. I've made more 8's on the break when I don't overhit than when I do try to crush the balls.

I do think scratching on the break and getting BIH anywhere will make people hit the break with more control, and more often from the center, rather than the side rail. I sure would.

It will be funny to hear the conversations in a bar in the future. "Wanna play? Bar rules, none of that APA or BCA crap!" That will be a refreshing change.


it's a joke post son. stop being so serious!!!!!!!!!!
 
Guess I hadn't taken the "everyone suddenly changing their breaks to adjust to the new rule" factor. There may be some of that, but the better players rarely send the cueball flying off the table now, and scratching is RARELY due to a blast it and hope type of break anyway. Most of the scratches I see from competitors is due to an unlucky kick in from another ball.....but maybe folks won't open the rack as aggressively....not sure. I do know that the ball in hand ANYWHERE is a change that 8ball DOESN'T need.

Your opponent just scratched on the break, and from the kitchen you don't have the exact angle you want on the easier suit of balls??? LOL. You are at the table - take advantage of it, control the table....plan your breakouts just like you ALWAYS have. If you can't run out from there, then lock them up, make them foul and get ball in hand that way...OR, work on the parts of the game you need to to get out from there in the future.

Like I stated, I play in a regional league (not BCA, Valley, APA, or others, related). We play take what you make on the break, and I'm just amazed at how many guys whine about it not being open after the break (I'm getting penalized for making a ball - etc.). When they pocket a stripe, and don't like the layout, and show their frustration, I'm tempted to offer them just passing it to me.....better than me just sitting and watching.

After all the discussion though, just do me one favor.....if it's a tournament, tell me the rules before I play (since every league or governing body seems to be different), and I'll deal with it! Even if it comes to a rule change stating I can make the 8ball with any of the suit of balls I have, for the win.....who knows, that could be next. :rolleyes:


I noticed that you only play in your local league, not affiliated with the BCA. Why have you posted so many times in this thread? The OP states that it's a BCA rule.
If you like your local league then by all means, keep playing by those rules.
Now back to the OP, for those of us that play in the BCA, I like this rule.
 
I have NEVER, not once, seen a break that scratched in 8ball where, " there is NO shot from the kitchen". EVER. And, I don't think scratching on the break has ever been rewarded either....they are not still at the table.

As for my deal with it comment, it was geared towards the whiners who think 8ball cannot be played unless it is open table after the break :grin:


Sure, there may be an open shot, but maybe not toward the easier suit.
As for the "open table", the US Bar Table Championships uses this rule, so does the BCA, seems pretty standard to me.

Would you prefer we go back to the dark ages and start calling every kiss and carom and my all time favorite "did you call it clean or to rub the rail"?
I love all those old rules from dark lit bars.:rolleyes:
 
I noticed that you only play in your local league, not affiliated with the BCA. Why have you posted so many times in this thread? The OP states that it's a BCA rule.
If you like your local league then by all means, keep playing by those rules.
Now back to the OP, for those of us that play in the BCA, I like this rule.

Well, there is always the possibility that I could play in a tourney that doesn't follow my local leagues rules. Maybe I should have waited to post in the thread AFTER I played in a tourney that followed the BCA rules....or maybe waited until I played in a BCA league. Heck, I never can get the posting etiquette staight on here. I'll put a Post-It note on my laptop NOT to post on threads pertaining to leagues or rule changes that aren't directly effecting me right at this moment.....THANKS.

BTW, my OB Break cue (with it's Samsara tip) is legal in all leagues and tourneys....even though phenolic is still OK in my local league.

I'll get back to posting on things that I'm supposed to now, please excuse me. :rolleyes:
 
Sure, there may be an open shot, but maybe not toward the easier suit.
As for the "open table", the US Bar Table Championships uses this rule, so does the BCA, seems pretty standard to me.

Would you prefer we go back to the dark ages and start calling every kiss and carom and my all time favorite "did you call it clean or to rub the rail"?
I love all those old rules from dark lit bars.:rolleyes:

Like I said, tell me the rules, and I'll obey, but I can dislike rules just as much as anyone else can. BTW, don't know the darklit bar rules (never really spent very much time in them), but could play them too, if need be. :grin:
 
Well, there is always the possibility that I could play in a tourney that doesn't follow my local leagues rules. Maybe I should have waited to post in the thread AFTER I played in a tourney that followed the BCA rules....or maybe waited until I played in a BCA league. Heck, I never can get the posting etiquette staight on here. I'll put a Post-It note on my laptop NOT to post on threads pertaining to leagues or rule changes that aren't directly effecting me right at this moment.....THANKS.

BTW, my OB Break cue (with it's Samsara tip) is legal in all leagues and tourneys....even though phenolic is still OK in my local league.

I'll get back to posting on things that I'm supposed to now, please excuse me. :rolleyes:


Ok, you got me. LOL
It is an open forum after all, post away.
BTW, you made me laugh out loud at work, thanks.:smile:
 
The purpose of the change surely isn't to speed the game up. Anybody who thinks it through should know that. Nobody's going to be free stroke busting the balls anymore. The way the game is played will change with this new rule because players will adjust quickly and begin soft breaking. There'll be much more safety play & defensive shot making. Mark my words, the BCA nationals next year are going to be in a fix because of time delayed matches due to this new rule restricting massive breaks & wide open tables. It's easy to assume lots of players are going to get ran out on & that will speed the game up. But what's not being considered is how the players are going to adjust to the new rule.

I thought there is a minimum spread requirement to be considered as a legal break.
 
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At my BCA league on Tuesday night, the envelope had the usual stuff but also the following from "Behind The Line News Letter 7/27/10"

Captains, please share this with your players:

New BCA Rules starting tonight

Rule 2.4.3 The penalty for any foul on the break has changed from ball in hand in the kitchen to ball in hand. rules 2.3.3 (b), 2.3.4, 2.3.5, 2.4.2 (a) and 2.4.3 have been changed ind consolidated to reflect this change.

Rule 2.4.3 (c) If the breaker makes the 8-ball and fouls, the incoming player may no longer require the breaker to re-rack and break again.


Does anyone know if the world standardized rules for 8-ball are going to be following a similar pattern? Other 8-ball leagues?

Thanks

If you mean the WPA 8-ball rule then the new rule that you posted is more in-line with the current world standardized rule.

- Scratching on the break is a foul which means BIH
- Making the 8-ball and scratching is Kitchen. Then opponent can ask the 8-ball to be re-spotted, or he can re-break.
 
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Beg to disagree. No one I play with is suddenly going to begin soft or safety breaking. Of the dozens of games I may play in a week, I might scratch once or twice on the break. Usually having the cue ball kicked into a pocket rather than go there directly. I'm not going to change. Neither will my better opponents. Taking away an opportunity to run a rack and keep my opponent in their seat is paramount! When I begin to play "scared", I'll join the APA.

If the BCAPL suddenly notices too many games taking too long at Regionals or Nationals, they'll institute a minimum number of balls must pass the centerstripe rule. The Pro's already have one in play. Mark my words, this is about speeding up play, not slowing it down!

Lyn

I agree 100% with accomplished players. But there's only a handful of very good players in most leagues. Everybody else will be scrambling to find a way to prevent getting crushed. Just because they aren't top players doesn't mean they aren't competitive. They'll find a way & the break will be it. At the nationals, especially in team events, this rule is going to slow the game down. I don't dispute that the change was intended to speed things up. What i'm disputing is that it'll work. I expect it to backfire.
 
I thought there is a minimum spread requirement to be considered as a legal break.

There is. 4 balls mut hit a rail after contacting the rack. I can spit hard enough to drive 4 balls to the rail. Not really, but my point is that it's a very liberal rule & allows extremely soft breaks that result in a certain safety game. It's been an issue forever with players who prefer to play chess than run a rack, but I think this rule change will drive even more players to the safety style play.
 
Interesting that it's 2016 and I started playing according to this rule change a while back, but noticed in the official 8 ball BCA rules it still states that a scratch on break results in BIH behind the head string....

Does everyone still play by the newer version of this rule? BIH on break scratch?
 
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