Strangest rules you've ever seen?

[Push&Pool]

If you play with people who don't know the game you will hear all kinds of stupid rules. The most common variation is the one where you can't pocket an opponents ball together with your own without losing your turn. The "YMCA" rule mentioned earlier is also common. I played in a place once where you were not allowed to use the mechanical bridge, though every table had one?! I didn't make a lot of difference since I play ok one handed.

Around here almost every banger plays last pocket 8 ball, with some using opposite to last pocket instead. I once played in a place where, if you made both stripes and solids on the break you lost your turn!

I've made at least a dozen threads related to bar room last pocket, how come you never mentioned it was a common game in your area? Where do you live? Here 99.99% of all pool games are last pocket with bar rules. The other 0.01% would be official tournaments I guess, and even the guys who compete in those tournaments often switch to last pocket 8-ball once they're done with official matches.

I think I've encountered the other rule a couple of times, the one about losing your turn if you pocket both stripes and solids on the break, and I'm glad it's not very common.

This whole thread boggles my mind. It's like a guilty pleasure. I read and I laugh and I shake my head. I feel like I'm in another world but yet I've somehow been there before.

There's a local bar that opens the bar boxes up on Sunday and Monday for free play. I used to go all the time and knew that I was gonna come up against the rules atleast a few times per night so I would just play along.

Bar pool is always an adventure in human studies lol

I could take the same ppl that most of us are talking about with their "rules" and change my attitude or demeanor and they will have no complaints. Ex. After every shot walk up to them and say something funny or take a dead bank over an obvious cut bc both lend position but they don't know the difference so they are dazzled by the shot that whatever you do now is ok.

but back to the OP question.

FATBOY had a post about when he went gambling in a foreign country and they had some gaftty type tables with really strange but deadly equalizing rules. Here's the original post.


the game was on a 8' coin op table, big CB, there was 3 14 balls LOL and 2 9 balls, there was the correct number of stripes and solids just the numbers were messed up, and tehy werre from different sets, so they weighed different so the big CB would just roll thru some some balls and not teh others, there was no way to know where the CB was going.

it wasnt pool, it was their game, when you scratched the CB goes on the spot, if you make a solid and strip you lose the inning, so cant open break, the correct break was to glance off the head ball and scratch. another fantastic rule was when you scratched the CB was spotted and you couldnt hit any ball that was below the center of the table, so you had to kick at everything. and If you hook a guy were he cant see the edge of the ball its push out-so no hooks. no rail aint a foul, keep all that straight and play on a table that rolls off every direction possible and see how ya do? there are more rules, i just cant recall them now,



Me and another guy played it, I played better than the guy who won, the guy with me plays a hair below Mad Max i'd guess, he couldnt win that game last night. he robbs me period on regular equipment-i got ZERO chance ever in life to play his speed( we played 5 hours tonight). he couldnt out run that game-it as their game period, SVB might not win, no knock its that brutal. I think maybe Bobby Cotton, Matlock and Danny Medina(RIP) could win cause they could play big ball CB. Cotton plays good 1P and runs the balls good, he of everyone i know in pool would have the best chance in that game, forget JA, Hatch, SVB, those skills aint required to fade that action. no knock but only the old big ball guys have a chance and still mite not get there.


then we find out the whole story today, about who we played. Wow, lets say i got nothing to say right now. it could have been worse if we won.


never again will i play last pocket 8 ball, not a single rack ever.

I remember that thread. It happened in Serbia if I remember correctly. Their rules have a lot of similarities to ours here in Croatia, but the description of that particular night was fascinating. I mean, I've played with bad equipment for years and seen all sorts of wonders, but very little could surpass the amount of horror Fatboy was facing. It's quite common CB is heavier than the other balls due to the ball return system. Bigger? I'm not so sure. Balls from different sets which vary in weight and size? That's just epic on a whole new level. Dirty tables, unpredictable rail deflections, table surface which causes spontaneous rolls in certain areas, not enough space around the table - these are, on the other hand, a common sight in most bars I know.

Now to the rules. CB going to the spot after scratch and you're not allowed to shoot anything on that half of the table directly is what most of us here use. There are some variations on the theme, but I don't wanna go into details. Also, "no requirement to hit the rail" is what everybody plays here. The rest of the rules Fatboy mentioned are surprisingly different. First, we don't have such a thing as a push-out in any situation. Intentionally scratching on break would just be stupid. And like I said before, losing your inning by pocketing a solid and a stripe on the break is very rare.

So, you may call rules like those deadly, but I call them fun. It's interesting to see how people from different parts of the world have totally different perceptions of pool. I really like where this thread is going

 

[nineballsafety8]

I wouldn't say this one is all that "strange", but it is certainly the one that got me most fired up.

It was early on in my pool playing career, I would say about a year and a half in or so. I was at the STATE 8 ball championships... I had already been put out of the big tournament, and was playing in a mini-tourney... which was "hosted" by a local shortstop player (kinda off the books... pretty much a way to play for money without any on lookers raising an eyebrow)... but anyway, it was 8 ball race to 5 on a bar box... and it was hill-hill... I broke and ran to the 8, and got PERFECT on the 8... I mean the 8 is 4" from the pocket and the cueball is maybe 10" from the 8... so I, make eye contact with my oponent, call my pocket, and drill it home... we walks up, shakes my hand and says
"see the pocket marker... it's there for a reason, you lose"

The mini-tourney host agreed, as there was no ref for the match, a win can only be declared when a pocket marker is used...
I WAS PISSED

 

[gdc25]

I was visiting my family this past weekend when my brother mentioned that one of his buddies was putting on a small tournament in a local establishment, so I ventured over and inquired as to the rules. Everything was as expected with the exception of their "25 cent foul pot."

Every time a player gives up ball in hand, he or she has to add a quarter to the foul pot, whatever is in the pot goes to the 3rd place finisher.

Note: table time was free.

 

[Atlatlien]

Maybe that rule is weird to you, but it's quite common where I live. I didn't know Canadian rules have similarities with Central European. Oh well... Anyway, I personally dislike that rule, I play by the version where you can drop as many of the opponent's balls as you want as long as you pocket at least one yours. In a couple of places the house rules are "pocket an opponent's ball and you lose your turn", in other bars it's "keep shooting", something like 50:50.



OK, I'm not surprised you find that one strange, but again, in my region literally everyone racks that way, even the tournament players when they're playing for fun. For us here there's no alternative to this rule.



I never heard of any rule about how far the CB has to travel, but I've seen quite a few low-level players putting the cue butt between the CB and the rail. My friends and I played that way as well in the beginning, later decided it was stupid and unnecessary.

Man, you need to move LOL. You must live in La-La-Land if that's the way people play, even "tournament players".

 

[hang-the-9]

I was visiting my family this past weekend when my brother mentioned that one of his buddies was putting on a small tournament in a local establishment, so I ventured over and inquired as to the rules. Everything was as expected with the exception of their "25 cent foul pot."

Every time a player gives up ball in hand, he or she has to add a quarter to the foul pot, whatever is in the pot goes to the 3rd place finisher.

Note: table time was free.

A small 3 table club I recently started going to for league has the same thing if you knock a ball off a table. It's actually not so much a strange rule, but a fun one. Strange would be if you had to put the quarter in your buttcheeks and shoot it in to the cup that way.

 

[Rackemep]

A small 3 table club I recently started going to for league has the same thing if you knock a ball off a table. It's actually not so much a strange rule, but a fun one. Strange would be if you had to put the quarter in your buttcheeks and shoot it in to the cup that way.

we have a charity league here that has the rule if you scratch or knock a ball off the table you have to put a quarter in the jar...it adds up pretty good by the end of the season...

 

[Ken_4fun]

I was visiting my family this past weekend when my brother mentioned that one of his buddies was putting on a small tournament in a local establishment, so I ventured over and inquired as to the rules. Everything was as expected with the exception of their "25 cent foul pot."

Every time a player gives up ball in hand, he or she has to add a quarter to the foul pot, whatever is in the pot goes to the 3rd place finisher.

Note: table time was free.

I like this rule! Seems like the only one I have read so far.

Reminds me of the "Dollar in the jukebox anytime ball leaves the table" rule.

Ken

 

[Donny Lutz]

"Gyp"

There are actually quite a few players that don't use the best words for things. I hear "Don't Jew me" or similar things quite a bit.

I wonder if women get offended when guys tell each other "don't be such a girl" when people complain about things LOL.

You might ask that question of a woman. The term certainly isn't meant as a compliment. Similar to "nigger pool", "pussy", "kike", "spick", "slant", "gook", "jungle bunny", "raghead"...shall I go on? Many also reject "Jew" as you describe it's use, but have no clue that "Gyp" has the identical connotation.

 

[nginear]

Was playing an older guy one day. Made the 15 in the corner and he said it was his shot. When I asked why, it was because I didn't make it in the left side pocket. I said "what the hell. You never said anything about that when we started." His reply........"That's how we play around here."

 

[Underclocked]

9 ball... slop counts except for when you are shooting the nine ball, then it must be called. You can shoot the 4 ball and fluke in the nine... that counts and wins unless you scratch - in which case you lose.

 

[West Point 1987]

Supposedly this is an actual VNEA rule that I've never known and I've been playing for over 20 years! This just happened to me about a month ago and never before this. I even told the guy I didn't believe him and called a ref. The ref agreed with him and I told the ref I didn't believe him either that I wanted to see it in writing! He said that he would show me later. He never did and I still disagree with the rule until I am proven wrong!

8-ball
Your opponent breaks and makes a ball(stripe or solid doesn't matter). They then call a safe and shoot in a ball(stripe/solid doesn't matter). They have now claimed that suit that they pocketed but have relinquished their turn.

To me, that just makes no sense!!!

Maybe someone can post the rule and prove me wrong.......:shrug:

They play that rule in Cyprus...drove me nuts the first time I saw it.

 

[West Point 1987]

Man, you need to move LOL. You must live in La-La-Land if that's the way people play, even "tournament players".

A weekly tournament I used to play in years ago in Georgia charged a dollar for every foul...some weeks third place paid more than first! (the pot was blind, so you couldn't dump to get third unless you felt lucky)

 

[flash5153]

Supposedly this is an actual VNEA rule that I've never known and I've been playing for over 20 years! This just happened to me about a month ago and never before this. I even told the guy I didn't believe him and called a ref. The ref agreed with him and I told the ref I didn't believe him either that I wanted to see it in writing! He said that he would show me later. He never did and I still disagree with the rule until I am proven wrong!

8-ball
Your opponent breaks and makes a ball(stripe or solid doesn't matter). They then call a safe and shoot in a ball(stripe/solid doesn't matter). They have now claimed that suit that they pocketed but have relinquished their turn.

To me, that just makes no sense!!!

Maybe someone can post the rule and prove me wrong.......:shrug:

I with you on this. I can't believe it. I have played the VNEA state tourny for over 10 years,,,,never seen this happen or heard of such a thing. I wouldn't be all that surprised if it were true though. Who knows??? I thought I knew it all!!!

 

[Push&Pool]

Man, you need to move LOL. You must live in La-La-Land if that's the way people play, even "tournament players".

Nah, I like it this way :smile: And tournament players do know how to play actual 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball by WPA rules, they just rarely do it when they're not practicing or competing.

we have a charity league here that has the rule if you scratch or knock a ball off the table you have to put a quarter in the jar...it adds up pretty good by the end of the season...

If we had this rule here, I'd be broke long ago

 

[AlexandruM]

The bar rules for the 8-Ball are strange, one of them is if you want to shoot your ball, but instead of that touch a ball from opponent's group, that ball goes in pocket.

In one local tournament with that strange rules, I start explain the WPA 8-Ball rules to a local player, he listen to me and after that said: That's what you're talking about is snooker.

 

[Double-Dave]

I play in a very popular 8-ball league in my area (probably 1500 or so players alltogether) so not some strange single bar rules.

They have some real gems.

First off, you can hit your oponents ball or the black ball as long as you play rail first. This is a pretty common black-ball rule.
But if that object ball you are playing is touching a rail then you have to hit another rail if it is your oponents ball,
if you are hitting one of your own balls rail first (and the ball is touching the rail) then you do not need
to hit another rail

Also, if you make a legal hit but then scratch it is ball in hand in the kitchen (a little strange but not that far out I guess) BUT, you
may not place the cue ball against the rail, it has to be visibly off the rail before you may shoot,
if not it is a foul giving your oponent ball in hand (when shooting ball in hand the same rule applies, the cue ball
can not be placed against a rail).

There are a few more strange ones but those two really stand out.

gr. Dave

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

One bar that I used to play at a lot has a last Sunday of every month Scotch tourney.
8 ball last pocket which is fine because that is what the retired day time boys like to play.

No intentional hooking which is also ok. If you opponent is on the 8 and you accidentally hook him, he has to see at least 50% of the 8 or he doesn't have to hit it. Fine as well.

I was playing a guy one match, he had a difficult shot and he told me that he has to be able to see at least 50% of his ball or he doesn't have to hit it.

I said,"what difference does it make, we're not playing fouls so even if you hit mine, thats ok, at least try". Besides, the 50% rule is for the 8 ball. So he pushes the cue ball into a
position that I have about zero chance of making a shot.

I asked him how is that fair. He said thats the rules. Not a biggy in the long run, after all, all you are doing is playing in a banger tourney anyway.

Just funny how they try and make a couple of rules for a tourney and someone, as par usual in a bar will expound on any given rule if it is in their favor at any given moment.

I haven't played in that tourney in close to a year. It just ends up being frustrating and a lesson in futility most times anyway.

Like most here, I have run across just about any dumb A bar rule that could possibly be made up.

The one that gets me the most is having to call your cue ball off a rail before it pockets a ball. You always get the, "Did you call that"?

Double kisses are obviously not allowed either.

There are a few pretty decent players that do show up for these tourneys. They strut around like little Roosters, all pleased as punch when theyre making balls. I just laugh because most of these little bantams would have about zero chance of winning if they were actually playing properly.

Quite some characters. Mr. Hustler that walks in with a BackGammon size attache case which houses his 5 piece adjustable ring weighted cue.
He lays the case on the table, flips the lid and makes a production out of screwing his 5 piece together.

Funny tho, he actually plays quite well with it.

 

[Push&Pool]

The bar rules for the 8-Ball are strange, one of them is if you want to shoot your ball, but instead of that touch a ball from opponent's group, that ball goes in pocket.

In one local tournament with that strange rules, I start explain the WPA 8-Ball rules to a local player, he listen to me and after that said: That's what you're talking about is snooker.

Interesting. Where I play, if you touch your opponent's ball directly (before hitting a rail or one of your balls) you lose your turn and the opponent gets to choose whether he wants to pocket that ball or not. It gets even better if you hit the 8 directly. Unless you pocketed your entire group of balls first, you lose!

I play in a very popular 8-ball league in my area (probably 1500 or so players alltogether) so not some strange single bar rules.

They have some real gems.

First off, you can hit your oponents ball or the black ball as long as you play rail first. This is a pretty common black-ball rule.
But if that object ball you are playing is touching a rail then you have to hit another rail if it is your oponents ball,
if you are hitting one of your own balls rail first (and the ball is touching the rail) then you do not need
to hit another rail

Also, if you make a legal hit but then scratch it is ball in hand in the kitchen (a little strange but not that far out I guess) BUT, you
may not place the cue ball against the rail, it has to be visibly off the rail before you may shoot,
if not it is a foul giving your oponent ball in hand (when shooting ball in hand the same rule applies, the cue ball
can not be placed against a rail).

There are a few more strange ones but those two really stand out.

gr. Dave

Damn, I though we were complicated I also play the rule where you can hit any ball as long as you hit a rail or one of your balls first. However, we rarely do it intentionally, especially not if it's the 8, cause we consider it cheap. If it happens by accident there's no punishment.

 

[cue4me]

Several years back I played in a local 9-ball league with numerous divisions and about 60 to 70 total teams. The rule was that if you used the cue ball to shoot in the 9-ball out of turn you lost the game. After it was explained to the league operator that this was just taking a deliberate foul and should just result in ball-in-hand for the opponent. He then re-wrote the rule to read that any ball could be used to sink the 9-ball and this would result in ball-in-hand for the opponent.
In a subsequent tournament one of my team mates was hidden behind the 2-ball with the 9 hanging in the corner pocket. He got up and just used his cue to shoot the 5-ball into the 9-ball. Of course the other team objected and called it a deliberate foul. When asked, the league operator agreed that this was indeed a legal shot, the 9-ball would spot and the opponent would receive ball-in-hand.

 

[rexus31]

Here's two rules from a local bar 8B tourney which caused me to never play in said tourney again:

I won the previous week and was forced to start on the One Loss Side.

I was playing a match when the "Tournament Director" came over and informed my opponent they have (1) ball in hand opportunity per game to use whenever they wanted to because they were a weaker player than I.