General Pool Rules 3.11 - 3.20
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Pocketed Balls
Position of Balls
Foot on Floor
Shooting with Balls in Motion
Completion of Stroke
Head String Defined
General Rule, All Fouls
Legal Shot
Cue Ball Scratch
3.11 POCKETED BALLS
A ball is considered pocketed if as a result of an otherwise legal shot, it drops off the bed of the table into the pocket and remains there. (A ball that drops out of a ball return system onto the floor is not to be construed as a ball that has not remained pocketed.) A ball that rebounds from a pocket back onto the table bed is not a pocketed ball.
3.12 POSITION OF BALLS
The position of a ball is judged by where its base (or center) rests.
3.13 FOOT ON FLOOR
Player must have at least one foot in contact with the floor at the moment the cue tip contacts the cue ball, or the shot is a foul. Foot attire must be normal in regard to size, shape and manner in which it is worn.
3.14 SHOOTING WITH BALLS IN MOTION
It is a foul if a player shoots while the cue ball or any object ball is in motion (a spinning ball is in motion).
3.15 COMPLETION OF STROKE
A stroke is not complete (and therefore is not counted) until all balls on the table have become motionless after the stroke (a spinning ball is in motion).
3.16 HEAD STRING DEFINED
The area behind the head string does not include the head string. Thus, an object ball that is dead center on the head string is playable when specific game rules require that a player must shoot at a ball past the head string. Likewise, the cue ball when being put in play behind the head string (cue ball in hand behind the head string), may not be placed directly on the head string; it must be behind it.
3.17 GENERAL RULE, ALL FOULS
Though the penalties for fouls differ from game to game, the following apply to all fouls:
(a) Player's inning ends;
(b) If on a stroke, the stroke is invalid and any pocketed balls are not counted to the shooter's credit, and;
(c) Any ball(s) is re-spotted only if the rules of the specific game require it.
3.18 FAILURE TO CONTACT OBJECT BALL
It is a foul if on a stroke the cue ball fails to make contact with any legal object ball first. Playing away from a touching ball does not constitute having hit that ball.
3.19 LEGAL SHOT
Unless otherwise stated in a specific game rule, a player must cause the cue ball to contact a legal object ball and then:
(a) Pocket a numbered ball, or;
(b) Cause the cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a cushion or any part of the rail. Failure to meet these requirements is a foul.
3.20 CUE BALL SCRATCH
It is a foul (scratch) if on a stroke, the cue ball is pocketed. If the cue ball touches an object ball that was already pocketed (for example, in a pocket full of object balls), the shot is a foul.
Continue Reading on BCA General Rules:
BCA General Rules 3.01 - 3.10
BCA General Rules 3.21 - 3.30
BCA General Rules 3.31 - 3.40
BCA General Rules 3.41 - 3.43
