What is the most common foul that you see committed and ignored regularly?

Question

For me, it's a toss-up between the double-hit foul and the no rails contacted foul. I almost never see anyone call themselves on these fouls and if you tell them, they look at you like you're making it up. Furthermore, almost nobody recognizes ball in hand anywhere on the table. A good percentage of my losses when playing in public are often due to an opponent who keeps shooting or won't give ball in hand when they've committed a foul. Any similar experiences? M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 1

I guess this would be the same fouls for me.....but do not see it that often.....the hardest one is when the object ball is close to another ball....the shooter hits shoots it quickly or hard and if not ready it is hard to tell if they hit the object ball first....happened to me Saturday and I would swear that he hit it wrong...he ended up knocking the 9 ball in.....ended up losing a hill game and it would have made a difference...not much trouble where I play....really a great bunch of guys....but of course the money is only a $10 entry fee....now if it was $100 or so....I sure more argument would come up......GO YANKEES! STINKIN RED SOX!!

Answer 2

The double-hit is a problem for me when playing low-ranked players in league.  They physically cannot make the shot legally, and don't understand it anyway, and I feel bad about saying anything about it (my husband thinks I'm crazy:) )... I mostly just have time to play in league now, and everybody in league knows the no-rail foul, so that's not a problem.  I would hate playing people who didn't know.

Answer 3

I once reffed in a Canadian snooker tounament which included the likes of Cliff Thorburn(former world champ), Kirk Stevens(former world rank #4), Bob Chaperon(British masters champion), and Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White(former world champ).

I had to call illegal ball touch a few times and got some pretty stern looks. In the final, I had to call Cliff when his vest opened and touched a red on the rail. He argued that it didn't move the ball, but a rule at that level is a rule.

Anyway, the foul I just described and double hits are the infractions I've seen most.

Answer 4

I would concur that those are the two most common ignored fouls.  The problem with the double-hit is most players (especially recreational) don't realize that they've done it.  Even professionally though, it can be difficult for a referee to see it even when they're supposed to be looking for it.  I remember seeing a youtube video where it wasn't called in a pro match, even though it was pretty blatant.

Most everything else is just a matter of not being educated on the BCA or WPA rules.  People just pass down bar rules or house rules and that's what they play by.  I played a guy once in 8 ball who got bad shape on one shot and didn't make any contact on his next shot.  I went to pick up the cue ball and he started going ballistic.  Then I've also seen players who believe that if they hit three rails with the cue ball, the shot is not a foul, even if they don't make contact with anything else.

Some players are open to learning the official rules.  Other times though, you just suck it up and take it as a chance to practice your kicks.  But if you play for money, always clear up the rules beforehand.  Sometimes, it pays to have a copy of the rules handy in your case.  Otherwise, hope the room that you're at has them posted on a wall somewhere.

Answer 5

I agree with all the answers above. In addition to the ones mentioned, I guess the scoop jump shot is one that a lot of bangers do. Trying to explain to them why it is illegal usually draws blank stares. Showing them how to legally jump a ball also tends to come across as "showing off" to many of them. I usually just let it go, or explain it and hope they observe the rules next time.

Answer 6

Just about every day ,most casual players never heard of either one because they play very loose house rules in most bars. Just about every tourn there is someone that doesnt understand the rules  and as you pointed out they think your makeing them up,

I always ask and of course they fully understand untill they mess up then they never heard of itBut i agree those are the most common that and walking away from the table and not calling time out

In public lay the rules down first at least you know what to expect before you shoot a safety because most outside BCA never heard of it