BCA break rules?...actually couple of questions?

Question

My opponent miscues breaking the rack... how many balls have to touch the rail to be a legal break?....if not enough did hit the rail and not a legal break...can I option to take the break with ball in hand from where they ended up?(my plan from here is to 3 foul him) or do I have to rack over and break behind the head string??

Answer 1

Here's the rule straight from the BCA website.

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5.4    LEGAL BREAK SHOT

The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except:

1.  The breaker must strike the1-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail.

2.  If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a foul, and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.

3.  If on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is not re-spotted (exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is re-spotted).

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According to this, you get ball in hand anywhere on the table.  It doesn't say anything about a rerack.  Depending on just how much the rack was broken up, you could either play a very tight defensive game and try to 3-foul your opponent as you've mentioned.  Or, you could even try to blast open the balls again and get lucky.  M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

P.S. Hey Lea, I knew what you meant.  I think we both assumed that he was referring to 9-ball because of the 3-foul statement.  I gave you a thumbs up.  Don't be in a bad mood.  Smile for me.

Answer 2

Nine ball? your shot ball in hand anywhere on table no 3 foul

no rerack

Answer 3

You didn't specify which game you are playing. If 9-ball, then the other answers suffice - 4 numbered balls to a rail or pocket a ball after the one-ball is contacted first. If not, then the incoming player has ball in hand anywhere and your opponent is on their first foul.

The rules are different in 8-ball after the failure to drive 4 numbered balls or pocket a ball. The incoming player can take the table as it stands or taking a rebreak by either the incoming player or the original breaker (incoming player's decision) - there is no ball in hand after the break in 8-ball.

The rules are different, yet similar, for 14.1 continuous (straight).

Answer 4

Hmm...I imagine you've already looked on the website, as I just did, and found pretty much nothing except the number of balls that have to touch a rail (4, but does that include the cue ball?).  The only thing I know about it is what happens in APA, which is the person breaking gets three tries before the break gets turned over to the other player.  APA wouldn't let you play safe off an illegal break (of course, there's no 3-foul in APA), but there are some glaring differences between APA and BCA rules.  For example, no push-out in APA, and balls off the table get spotted, not pocketed, and it's not a foul.  My total guess would be that the break gets turned over to you with no option to play his break out.

Whoops, just looked again a little more carefully, and it does say that the break gets turned over to you and doesn't mention anything about playing it out...Sorry, guess you'll just have to break and run :)

All right, so I'm blind, tired, and distracted...I have abolutely no idea where I saw what I thought I saw...Straight Shooter's right, of course, but if you ever need to know about the eight-ball break, here's the answer, also straight from the BCA website:

4.5  LEGAL BREAK SHOT

(Defined) To execute a legal break, the breaker (with the cue ball behind the head string) must either (1) pocket a ball, or (2) drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. When the breaker fails to make a legal break, it is a foul, and the incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) having the balls re-racked and having the option of shooting the opening break or allowing the offending player to re-break.

p.s. Was the thumbs-down really necessary?  Seems kind of redundant with the correct answer being so obviously correct.  I personally give thumbs-down to answers that are mean or offensive, not just wrong, unless perhaps there's no place to verify the correct answer.  I might add that I think busting up the balls is a retarded move unless you know you're going to be left in good shape.  Luck is for losers.

p.p.s. I'm in a bad mood now, and still tired.

p.p.p.s. Back atcha with the thumbs up Straight Shooter.  I'm in a much better mood now.  Sorry about my ranting :)