The meaning of Call Shot

[Vinnie]

For some reason, most people in my area (central Washington) seem to think that "Call Shot" means that the player must call a ball, pocket, AND everything in between such as caroms, banks, etc. When I explain the rule book to them they say "Oh, you mean Call Pocket." I'm wondering if "Call Pocket" is a term used just in my area, or are there other areas using that term?


Vinnie
-------------
Stroke.

 

[ScottW]

Call Shot is basically what you said - calling caroms, kisses, everything. Very bar-rules-y.

Call Pocket is just "Three ball in that side pocket" - no matter how it gets there. You can pocket that ball clean, off another ball, and it doesn't matter.

 

[rackmsuckr]

This was my response to Heath's poll. I do see now that he included call shot in the title, but the poll was different.

I voted for call ball and pocket, because slop is totally out, and I am glad you did not offer call shot, (which I take to mean calling a slight wobble would mean having to call multiple rails, or calling a ball off another ball if it is sitting near the hole), which is too nitty.

Pockets are meant to be cheated and position of whitey is oftentimes more important than calling whether it is going in off a ball or not. With the ball sitting there, you know you have a big pocket, and you concentrate on your shape. I hate having to make sure I don't touch the other ball with my object ball going in...then you lose focus on your shape.

Many beginners will say, well that is real pool, calling every exact maneuver, and I say, hogwash. We have one tournament director up here that adheres to those rules and they are just goofy!

My choice is just straight call pocket, no matter how it gets there.

 

[rackem]

Call Shot is basically what you said - calling caroms, kisses, everything. Very bar-rules-y.

Call Pocket is just "Three ball in that side pocket" - no matter how it gets there. You can pocket that ball clean, off another ball, and it doesn't matter.

What about a soft rail rub in call shot by the object ball before it drops in? Now what about by cue ball rub off the rail before it hits the object ball?

 

[Andrew Manning]

It's used by the unenlightened everywhere. There's no difference between "call shot" and "call pocket" by official rules.

-Andrew

 

[steev]

What about a soft rail rub in call shot by the object ball before it drops in? Now what about by cue ball rub off the rail before it hits the object ball?

1. OB hits rail within 1 diamond of pocket == good (around here...at least back when i used to play call shot).

2. CB "rail-first" must always be called here.

-s

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

It's used by the unenlightened everywhere. There's no difference between "call shot" and "call pocket" by official rules.

-Andrew

Yeah, I do not recognize that bs with calling banks, caroms, kisses, etc. If I say 14-ball in the corner and it goes in the corner, I'm shooting again! I'd sooner enlighten my opponent than concede my turn.

 

[steev]

Yeah, I do not recognize that bs with calling banks, caroms, kisses, etc. If I say 14-ball in the corner and it goes in the corner, I'm shooting again! I'd sooner enlighten my opponent than concede my turn.

even if it's the only way to get them to gamble?

-s

 

[Merlinium]

I was on holiday in Florida in january and it was the first time I had to play true call shot pool, any kisses, caroms and most difficult of all whether the object ball was going to hit a cushion prior to pocketing (I say that as one of the shots I played was an full table length bank, thankfully I called it straight in and got it, that's a 1 in 20 shot).

 

[ScottW]

What about a soft rail rub in call shot by the object ball before it drops in? Now what about by cue ball rub off the rail before it hits the object ball?

Different people in different bars have different interpretations of the call-shot rule. It varies here and there. There's just no tellin'.

The only consistent thing about bar call-shot rules is that serious players are all like "WTF?" when they encounter such beasties.

 

[Big Perm]

Similar to a post above:

Call Pocket: As long as ball called goes in pocket called, it can bank, touch other balls, and whatever it wants....ie, slop is allowed....

Call Shot: Kisses, caroms, and banks are all called. Now, if you rub a rail on a long shot or hit the edge of the pocket, it's implied as cheating the pocket and counts.....uncalled karoms, kisses, or banks are all considered slop and not allowed...

That's how I was taught....

 

[Bob Jewett]

... the player must call a ball, pocket, AND everything in between such as caroms, banks, etc. ....

If they actually play this way, it's better to go elsewhere to play. Usually the "call everything" crowd can't play very well and will just drag your game down with their nitty little moves. They don't understand the game.

As for what the various styles are called, different people use different terms in different ways. I suppose "call everything" and "call pocket" are unambiguous. If you are playing with a particular rule set, accept and use its terms.

As for eight ball, the difference between call pocket and slop is not really significant, in my view. Some people get really torqued when their opponent slops in a ball. The truth probably is that they get just as many good rolls as anyone else, but they ascribe the apparent rolls to their superior skill.

I think the reds and yellows sets for eight ball (like English 8-ball, and the Casino set that was used in the 1980s and may still be available) are really better for the game. They also make call-pocket impossible or at least very difficult. (These sets have 7 solid yellow balls, 7 solid red balls and the eight ball (or a black ball).)

 

[rackem]

It's used by the unenlightened everywhere. There's no difference between "call shot" and "call pocket" by official rules.

-Andrew

Official rules are call pocket.... They are not call shot. Those are different.

 

[Maniac]

Yeah, I do not recognize that bs with calling banks, caroms, kisses, etc. If I say 14-ball in the corner and it goes in the corner, I'm shooting again! I'd sooner enlighten my opponent than concede my turn.

My feelings exactly!!! If you're gonna hafta start calling every little detail the cue ball and object balls are gonna do on EVERY shot, then the game is gonna start to resemble the old Pepsi commercials that featured Michael Jordan and Larry Bird playing H-O-R-S-E. You know: "Off the scoreboard, off the building, off the moon, nothing but net!" (something like that). It's gonna take a long time to play a game of straight pool if this how it's gonna be done. Kinda ridiculous ain't it?

The way Jude explains it above is the only way it is SUPPOSED to be. Any deviation from this is b.s. IMO also.

Maniac

 

[Andrew Manning]

Official rules are call pocket.... They are not call shot. Those are different.

Official rules define "call shot" the way you're defining "call pocket". What you call "call shot" doesn't exist in official rules.

-Andrew

 

[acedotcom]

For some reason, most people in my area (central Washington) seem to think that "Call Shot" means that the player must call a ball, pocket, AND everything in between such as caroms, banks, etc. When I explain the rule book to them they say "Oh, you mean Call Pocket." I'm wondering if "Call Pocket" is a term used just in my area, or are there other areas using that term?


Vinnie
-------------
Stroke.

No, Call Shot and Call Pocket are distinctions commonly made down here, too. Call shot is the way 8-ball is played in 9 out of 10 bars. Poolrooms and the rare bar play call your pocket.

 

[BillyKoda]

I run a weekly tournament with the so-called goofy rules of call shot and it has been very successful over at least 8 years. The rules were in place long before I became the director of the tournament and I have no inclination to change them. Everyone knows the rules going into the tourney and they are all fine with them. We have squabbles every once in a while but all tournaments experience them.

The main reason I like the call everything rule is it makes better players out of everyone, even the beginners get a grasp on the game quicker when they are forced to know how to make shots using everything in front of them.

Pool should be a game of skill, not who can hit the ball hardest and hope for a couple of lucky bounces to make it in a called pocket. Might as well be playing pinball.

Just my 2 cents.

BK

 

[TheBook]

Different people in different bars have different interpretations of the call-shot rule. It varies here and there. There's just no tellin'.

The only consistent thing about bar call-shot rules is that serious players are all like "WTF?" when they encounter such beasties.

The other constistent thing is when the serious player is winning the rules start to change.

I was playing called pocket. I caromed off the 8 to move it and made the ball. The other player said it was illegal to use the 8 ball and it was now his turn.

 

[Steve - Detroit]

Pool should be a game of skill, not who can hit the ball hardest and hope for a couple of lucky bounces to make it in a called pocket. Might as well be playing pinball.

Just my 2 cents.

BK

Is that the way you view the great straight pool players from the past, like Mosconi or Mizerak or Crane? Nothing more than pinball wizards?

 

[RiverCity]

If they actually play this way, it's better to go elsewhere to play. Usually the "call everything" crowd can't play very well and will just drag your game down with their nitty little moves. They don't understand the game.

TAP TAP TAP
As someone who has played in alot of bars with lots of different rule variations..... I feel Bob sums it up very well. These are nit rules usually played by people who cant hit the end rail, but like to THINK they are really playing some big time pool.
There is a once a year tournament in February about 20 miles from where I live that is played like this.... its a 1 game "match", double elimination. I like it 'cause its the only decent money near me all year. $250 first place purse, equals out to $50 a game for 5 straight wins to finish the bracket, not too bad. But I was more than a little surprised when I found out what "rules" they were playing by. I go in and keep my mouth shut, take their money and go home. These guys think they are big time pool sharks, I would rate their best players in the D level, but they play "real pool" with "real rules" and "real money" hey wait a minute.... that sounds familiar.............
Chuck