Professional vs. "house" rules?

Question

Why do you suppose there is such a huge discrepancy between world-standardized (WPA, BCA, ACS, etc.) rules and the many variations of what I would call "house" rules? Some of the major differences are huge. I understand the whole "8-ball on the break" thing due to coin-op tables, so that's not my concern. What about giving up ball in hand anywhere on the table? This is alien to so many people. If they even let you take ball in hand after they foul, they'll almost certainly expect you to put it behind the head string. Double-hit fouls and no cushion contacted fouls I see all the time as well. Johnny makes a good point with his baseball analogy. There's uniformity at all levels in baseball, from little league to the majors (with a few exceptions). What gets me is that the rules are right there for anyone to read and they're not difficult to understand. Show me the official text from the world "bar rules" headquarters and I'll give it a read. M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 1

In many cases pro rules may apply, but the agreement by two players to change some of them, due to control of the game on a lower forum, due to lack of officials or referees, and to make the game easier for both, and avoid arguments, and fights.

many players not knowing or not wanting to play with governing body rules, change the rules to what they, or everyone refers to as house rules rather than no rules at all.

To equalize for  a lower Quality game, or opponents.

Even though it is done, I am not saying that I agree with it.

Answer 2

I think the reason most BCA rules are eschewed in favor of bar rules is that casual players simply aren't capable of making the decisions that come up when playing BCA rules. First of all, the no-rail rule (yes, I still say rail...sorry) is there to make safeties tougher (i.e. you have to be a better player to play a legal safety than to play one in which you just roll the cue ball somewhere, not that most of them can shoot a safety that way, either)...which brings me to another often ignored rule: contacting your own ball first.  I glanced over at a couple of men playing 8-ball on Friday night (the best time of the week to get the greatest variety of rules :) ), and the guy shooting the eight was hooked and he kicked at it, completely missed it, and the other guy shot his shot where it was left. I thought to myself, "What's the point of kicking if nothing happens if you don't hit it?" Now, for ball in hand anywhere on the table...Two reasons why I think they prefer ball in hand behind the headstring...first, the casual player is going to be overwhelmed by having to choose which ball to shoot, and second, he thinks that if his opponent has ball in hand anywhere on the table, it makes it too easy for him. Yes, illogical, but I really believe that's how they think.

And yes, the rules are there for everyone to read, but first you have to want to read them. Why would they if it's going to make it harder on them? Eventually, of course, playing by the rules would improve their games, but it'd be tough for them to play like that for a little while, and these people aren't looking for a challenge. Agree?

--Lea

p.s. Your Best Friend was saying on a shot after the break, when the first ball is legally pocketed (a stripe, e.g.), one could, because of the ambiguity of the rule, choose solids instead...However, it doesn't say that you're allowed to just declare that you want to be solids instead...

Answer 3

The game on a world stage has evolved with the current "professional rules"....I have not had the problem that everyone keeps mentioning unless I am in a "bar" playing in a "bar league".....want to "PO" some one in a bar league....just tap the cue ball or just push it somewhere without hitting anything and let your opponent shoot from there...playing in a tournament once with  such rules and almost got runned out of "Dodge"...he'll probably do the same until someone gets frustrated and just "wacks" their shot.....the official rule book is in that cue that he is "gripping" tighter and tighter as you keep "tapping" the cue ball......or lets say he is shooting the 8 next and it is dead in the pocket and you hit it to tie it up with your balls or just leave him a hard shot.....pretty soon he is going to show you the rule book...the heavy end of the cue stick!!.......just stay out of non "BCA" ruled tournaments!!!

Answer 4

Well said Straight I will see if that guy has a copy of his notebook paper

Really not much to add -except a star-

                     Later Johnny

Answer 5

The rules are not uniformly the same from little league through major league. We had a run spread run in little league, and that rule doesn't exist in the major leagues. There will be variations because for one the BCA or other rules are not uniformly clear. For instance, the table is open after the break in 8-ball, you can hit which ever ball you want first until a ball is potted. Once a ball is potted, you choose your group. Some people interpret this that you take the group that you potted, but it is possible, based on the vague rules, that you could choose the opposing group rather than the group of the ball made.

BCA 8-ball rules: "The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are made from only one or both groups, because the table is always open immediately after the break shot. The choice of group is determined only when a player legally pockets a called object ball after the break shot."

So, until BCA or whatever group comes up with well defined and specific rules for their games, it is kinda pointless to rail about house rules.

Answer 6

Most people do not know correct rules for the simple fact that they never played competitively. Most people learned from their friends or parents (if they have a table at their house), who learned from their friends of relatives, who learned from their friends or relatives, etc, etc. And just like the old telephone game, once the rules pass through so many people without a single one knowing how to play, they get changed and construed until they are so ridiculous the game is almost unplayable. When you see bar tournaments with house rules, it's usually because the bar owner who's not really a player started the tournament rather than a league or tournament player who knows what to do.

Most people who have played any type of competition embrace correct rules, but until you put someone in a position where there's money on the table and bar rules bite them in the a**, the rules their daddy taught them are always going to be right.

** to Your Best Friend: Most BCA rules are pretty clear. The rule you posted is as straightforward as it gets: You cannot decide groups on the break. Period. Any other interpretation of that is a lack of english skills, not a vaguely written rule. You might have to read through them a couple times to soak it all in, but there isn't much in question. The only rule I consider incomplete is double hit fouls (they do not make it clear whether or not you are allowed to shoot straight into the CB if it's frozen to another ball) but that's not something you have to often discuss with bar players.