In pool what does 'ball in hand' mean?

Question

what does it mean and what do u do

Answer 1

And there you have it

Answer 2

You can put the ball wherever you want on the table for your next shot.

Answer 3

well...from the way i always played it ball in hand means that the other person scratched so you can place the ball anywhere on the table to make the next shot...it's a good thing!!!

Answer 4

Almost every time the term 'ball in hand' is used, it refers to ball in hand anywhere on the table.  If not, it's usually specified 'behind the head string' ('in the kitchen', 'behind the line'), as in the shot after a scratch on the break in 8-ball.

From the BCA website:

4.6 SCRATCH ON A LEGAL BREAK

If a player scratches on a legal break shot, (1) all balls pocketed remain pocketed (exception, the 8-ball: see rule 4.8), (2) it is a foul, (3) the table is open. Please Note: The incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string and may not shoot an object ball that is behind the head string, unless he first shoots the cue ball past the head string and causes the cue ball to come back behind the head string and hit the object ball.

Straight pointed out it's ball in hand anywhere on the table in 8-ball except when the table is open.  It's different In APA league play: the only ball in hand behind the head string is the shot directly after a scratch on the break.

Answer 5

in 9 ball,  ball in hand after foul or scratch, place ball anywhere you want on table.

in 8 ball, ball in hand after foul or scratch, place ball anywhere behind the line where you put cue ball to break

Answer 6

Almost everyone is correct on this one.  However, I need to point out that world-standardized rules have ball in hand anywhere on the table for 8-ball as well as 9-ball (when the table is no longer open).  The behind the kitchen thing is just what a lot of people do on bar tables and is most likely a carry-over from straight pool.  M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 7

In pool it means that you get to put the ball anywhere that you want on the table and start your run from there........the other means that the only "running" that you are doing is by yourself and you need someone!!!