In pool, if the cue ball hits three walls but no balls, is it still a table scratch?

Question

In pool, if the cue ball hits three walls but no balls, is it still a table scratch?

Answer 1

Unless you hit your object ball first it is a foul no matter how many cushions you hit. A push out shot can only be done on the first shot after the break in 9 ball.

Answer 2

There is an optional rule that allows the player to perform what is called a push-out. Here's what Wiki has to say about it:

"The push-out

For much of its history nine-ball rules allowed participants to "push out" multiple times during a game, meaning any player could call a "push-out", and then hit the cue ball to any area on the table without being penalized by normal foul rules. This manner of playing nine-ball is considered "two-foul." However, once a push-out was called and executed, the incoming player had the right to shoot or give the inning back to the opponent. If the player shooting the resulting shot fouled, the other player would have ball-in-hand. Hence the name, "two-foul." "One-foul" became popular in the 1970s as play turned more aggressive for the early televised matches. This version of nine-ball awarded ball-in-hand on any cue ball foul. A rule variant, which started to sweep the sport of nine-ball in the mid-1980s, restricted the push-out option to once per game and only to the inning immediately following the break. This change profoundly affected the way the game was played. By about 1990 this new push-out rule had become ubiquitous and it and any additional rules appended to it were collectively referred to as "Texas Express" rules, so called because of the supposed state of origin and the speeding up of the game. Today, Texas Express push-out rules dominate the way nine-ball is played and is the variant incorporated into the official rules maintained by the BCA."

Answer 3

The cueball must hit your object ball and then the object ball must be pocketed. If the object ball is not pocketed then either that ball or the cueball must hit at least one rail after contact. Anything else is a foul giving your opponent ball in hand.

Answer 4

It doesnt matter how many cushions you hit, if your cue ball doesnt make contact with your object ball it is a foul. After contacting your object ball, a ball must be pocketed, or a ball must contact a cushion for the shot to be legal.

Answer 5

Previous answer is correct.....you have to hit the object ball first and then some ball.....any ball has to touch or hit a rail otherwise it is a foul!

Answer 6

I don't know about three walls but I personally saw the cue ball jump off the table and hit two Walls. Twin brothers John and Jimmy Wall were standing too close to the table when their teammate went to break open the rack. The cue stick lifted the cue ball over the rack and first hit John on the left arm which in turn caromed into Jimmy's right arm. Since the rules of '8' ball state that the game doesn't begin until the balls are broken, in this case it was "no table scratch" and their teammate was allowed to break again. This time the Wall's were 60-feet away from the table. Smart move! Because the second attempt by the guy breaking hit a guy sitting at the bar. Hope I answered your question to satisfaction. Only two Walls was the best I could come up with.