Silly pool rule?

Question

Had some Canadian buddies over today and we were playing pool,. My buddy said that if you leave yourself in a position where you can't pot the black and you miss that black thats a scratch. Why can't pool rules be the same everywhere?

Answer 1

People seem to like the act that there are house rules. Still, there are standard rules to every game. You just may not have encountered those rules. Ultimately, it is best to talk about the rules with your opponent before you start playing. Then, there should be fewer problems.

For instance, one rule is that you must hit a legal ball with the cue first and a ball must hit a rail (either an object ball or cue ball) afterwards. Many people have never heard of this rule despite the fact it is a common and standard rule.

Answer 2

It is a foul and you get a ball in hand.  Sounds like he is playing either by his own rules or some bar rule not league rules.

Answer 3

Like the others said, if he ment he would get ball in hand then he was correct.  That is the same if you don't get a good hit on your suit on any shot.  You always must hit your suit first then drive a ball to a rail or pocket a ball (other than the cue ball being pocketed).

Answer 4

From what I get is... you hooked yourself on the '8' ball, and had to kick at it and missed hitting it. If that's what happened then all you did was allow your opponent ball-in-hand. It is never loss of game, only a foul.

Now, if you shot at the '8' and the cue ball went into a pocket, yes... that is a stratch and loss of game.

Those are the rules of '8' ball. I have never heard of losing the game just because you missed hitting the ball.

Your Canadian friends might be playing a different version of '8' ball.

Answer 5

FIRST:  Is your question about pool or snooker?  

If it is the game of 8 ball pool your question refers to,  there are so many local variations that it will be difficult to give a definitive answer.

BEST BET: Go to Billiard Congress of America (BCA) and  you will have access to the official rules of many games including 8 Ball..

Answer 6

It is and tell me about Standard rules I have wondered about that for over 50 years

Actually that shot would be a ball in hand foul not a loss if thats what he said