What is the action of potting the opponent's ball in billiards?

Question

What is the action of potting the opponent's ball in billiards?

Answer 1

Defence

Answer 2

Pocketing one of your opponent's balls can be a very effective defensive strategy.  Of course, if you contact one of your opponent's balls first, it is a foul and ball in hand is awarded to them.  Still, that's not always a terrible thing.  Even if they have ball in hand, perhaps you removed the only ball they had on the table that wasn't frozen or snookered.  Now the onus is on them to break up clusters.  Make them do the work.  Taking your opponent's balls off the table can greatly benefit you by getting obstacles out of your way for later in the game and by removing key balls that your opponent would use to run out the table.  M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.