I've always thought that there would be no reason to pocket one of your own balls when playing a safe. Why wouldn't you just duck it up. I found a reason, however I don't know if it is allowed.
I break, make a ball and have choice. There are clusters and I determine that I'm not going to be able to run out. Looking at the situation on the table, I do know which set of balls I want. (let's say for this example I'd like to have the striped balls) I need to make a striped ball to make the strips my set. But I really don't want to shoot again afterwards because I see a real good safe to play while making this stripped ball.
Here is the question. Can I play a stripped ball and call safe at the same time when the table is still open and retain the strips as my set?
Below are some rules of 8 ball that seem to apply taken from Planet Pool web site. Nick, I'll be curious to see your response.
Rule #1 below is the rule paragraph that makes me think it might be a legal play. It says "If the shooter pockets balls from both categories in a single legal shot, it remains open until either player pockets a ball or balls from only one category in a single legal shot." This is saying to me that if I call a stripped ball and make it but accidentally bump a solid in on the same shot, the table is still open and I continue to shoot. It also says that the set is determined when you make a legal shot and pocket only a ball or balls of one category. A safe is a legal shot, so in the above situation if I pocket only the stripped ball while calling safe, then I have the strips and it is my opponents turn to shoot.
The other question that this has brought to my attention is this paragraphs insinuation that when the table is open, you don't need to call anything. Or is it just saying that if you accidentally make one of the other set while calling and making your shot, the table is still open?
Rules:
1. The table is always “open” after a legal break, regardless of whether the breaker has pocketed balls from either or both categories on the break shot. The table remains “open” until either player pockets a ball from either category (not both) on a legal shot. If the shooter pockets balls from both categories in a single legal shot, it remains open until either player pockets a ball or balls from only one category in a single legal shot. When the table is open, it is legal to make contact with a solid first to make a stripe or vice-versa. However, when the table is still open and the 8-ball is the first ball contacted, it is a foul and the table remains open for the incoming player. Any balls pocketed remain pocketed.
2. A player may choose to call a safety and legally pocket one of his/her category of balls and thus discontinue their turn at the table. It is the player’s responsibility to ensure that his/her opponent acknowledges the fact that they have called a safety shot. If not, the opponent may make the shooter play again.
3. The shooter must call a ball and a pocket, except if it is an obvious shot. Bank shots, caroms and combination shots are not considered obvious shots. The opponent has the right to ask the shooter which ball and pocket he/she is playing if they are unsure. When calling the shot, it is not necessary to indicate details such as whether the object ball will kiss off another ball before it enters the pocket, or the number of rails in a bank shot, etc. The 8-ball must be clearly called, whether it is an obvious shot or not. The shooter does not have to call anything on the opening break. If a ball is legally pocketed on the break, the breaker may continue to shoot. It is not a foul to pocket balls that were not called, but the player loses his/her turn at the table if the called ball does not enter the intended pocket—even if other balls from the shooter’s category are pocketed during the shot. Any balls pocketed during a shot remain pocketed, whether they were called or not.
4. For games of call-shot a player may shoot any ball he chooses, but before he shoots, must designate the called ball and called pocket. He need not indicate any detail such as kisses, caroms, combinations, or cushions (all of which are legal). “Any additionally pocketed ball(s) on a legal stroke is counted in the shooter’s favor.”
I break, make a ball and have choice. There are clusters and I determine that I'm not going to be able to run out. Looking at the situation on the table, I do know which set of balls I want. (let's say for this example I'd like to have the striped balls) I need to make a striped ball to make the strips my set. But I really don't want to shoot again afterwards because I see a real good safe to play while making this stripped ball.
Here is the question. Can I play a stripped ball and call safe at the same time when the table is still open and retain the strips as my set?
Below are some rules of 8 ball that seem to apply taken from Planet Pool web site. Nick, I'll be curious to see your response.
Rule #1 below is the rule paragraph that makes me think it might be a legal play. It says "If the shooter pockets balls from both categories in a single legal shot, it remains open until either player pockets a ball or balls from only one category in a single legal shot." This is saying to me that if I call a stripped ball and make it but accidentally bump a solid in on the same shot, the table is still open and I continue to shoot. It also says that the set is determined when you make a legal shot and pocket only a ball or balls of one category. A safe is a legal shot, so in the above situation if I pocket only the stripped ball while calling safe, then I have the strips and it is my opponents turn to shoot.
The other question that this has brought to my attention is this paragraphs insinuation that when the table is open, you don't need to call anything. Or is it just saying that if you accidentally make one of the other set while calling and making your shot, the table is still open?
Rules:
1. The table is always “open” after a legal break, regardless of whether the breaker has pocketed balls from either or both categories on the break shot. The table remains “open” until either player pockets a ball from either category (not both) on a legal shot. If the shooter pockets balls from both categories in a single legal shot, it remains open until either player pockets a ball or balls from only one category in a single legal shot. When the table is open, it is legal to make contact with a solid first to make a stripe or vice-versa. However, when the table is still open and the 8-ball is the first ball contacted, it is a foul and the table remains open for the incoming player. Any balls pocketed remain pocketed.
2. A player may choose to call a safety and legally pocket one of his/her category of balls and thus discontinue their turn at the table. It is the player’s responsibility to ensure that his/her opponent acknowledges the fact that they have called a safety shot. If not, the opponent may make the shooter play again.
3. The shooter must call a ball and a pocket, except if it is an obvious shot. Bank shots, caroms and combination shots are not considered obvious shots. The opponent has the right to ask the shooter which ball and pocket he/she is playing if they are unsure. When calling the shot, it is not necessary to indicate details such as whether the object ball will kiss off another ball before it enters the pocket, or the number of rails in a bank shot, etc. The 8-ball must be clearly called, whether it is an obvious shot or not. The shooter does not have to call anything on the opening break. If a ball is legally pocketed on the break, the breaker may continue to shoot. It is not a foul to pocket balls that were not called, but the player loses his/her turn at the table if the called ball does not enter the intended pocket—even if other balls from the shooter’s category are pocketed during the shot. Any balls pocketed during a shot remain pocketed, whether they were called or not.
4. For games of call-shot a player may shoot any ball he chooses, but before he shoots, must designate the called ball and called pocket. He need not indicate any detail such as kisses, caroms, combinations, or cushions (all of which are legal). “Any additionally pocketed ball(s) on a legal stroke is counted in the shooter’s favor.”
now I know better. According to BCA rules...