Snooker - cue ball off the table

[snookered_again]

my lady friend was reading somewhere in snooker rules that if the cue ball is hit off the table that the opponent can shoot ANY ball after placing it in the D. we have always played that it is a foul, 4 unless the shot involved a higher point ball.

I'm thinking that actually could make sense as it gives a larger advantage to the opponent, so one would then try to be more careful.. and be less likely to damage balls etc.. it often happens when someone is getting a bit too overzealous.
Such a rule could make it possible for an opponent to then spot the CB in the D and go right on to a black for example.

I'm unsure where she read this, can't seem to locate it in a rule book, and wondering if others have heard of this rule or if it was perhaps just misinterpreted.

 

[Bob Jewett]

.... was perhaps just misinterpreted.

When the cue ball is in hand for whatever reason, the striker is allowed to shoot at any ball that is a legal target regardless of its location. The object ball is, of course, required to be a legal target according to the flow of the game. There is also the free ball rule that may occur with ball in hand and that could cause any ball on the table to be a legal target.

 

[snookered_again]

I'm aware of the free ball rule, this was specific to the cue ball being shot off the table, Yes perhaps it was some wording that was misinterpreted, thanks for the sanity check.

I think a fair house rule is knock a ball off the table you go add a dollar to the group kitty, but that is not a pool or snooker rule, just a fun way to reduce mishaps.
I wonder how many other rules vary?

I know on pro level they will replace a ball that was hooked and have the player shoot again from the same location , but that sort of requires a judge or maybe a camera or may cause disputes on initial location, so we dont incorporate it, just call the miss as a foul and continue. The result of that is often the free ball rule if the opponent is then hooked. or shoot again.

the only other difference I'm aware of , is it that there is an American snooker rule that prevents a hook unless a rail is involved. That would prevent a shot like hitting a red in such way as to give the cue ball a little bounce to stick it against a nearby color and leave most of the table blocked, without involving a rail... to me that's a fun part of snooker I wouldn't care to remove.