too close to call

[blackeee]

I was playing some cheap games with a friend the other day and scratched. A question came up about whether a ball was over the line or not. My opponent thought it was. We called in another player to call it and he said it looked dead on the line to him. It looked dead on the line to me. What do you do in that situation? We finally flipped a coin for it and I won. Think I lost the game anyway though.

[gulfportdoc]

If you're playing "base of the ball" rather than "face of the ball", if a ball rests dead on the head string, then it is considered to be in play. The "Kitchen" consists of the area behind the head string, but not the head string itself.

At least that is the rule in the BCA's "General Rules of Pocket Billiards". I couldn't find reference to it in the WPA rules.

I notice that they play "face of the ball" at the DCC. I assume they do that to avoid arguments.

Doc

[Cal]

That's why I like whole ball stops all arguments

[androd]

It's just as hard to determine the edge of the ball as it is the middle.
Rod.;)

[gulfportdoc]

That's why I like whole ball stops all arguments
True, Cal. On the other hand, "base of the ball" allows more balls to shoot at...;)

Doc

[blackeee]

True, Cal. On the other hand, "base of the ball" allows more balls to shoot at...;)

Doc

We were playing base of the ball. So in other words if it's dead on the line it's deemed out? After all the 1-pocket I've played, that's the first time I've ever seen that happen.

[Fatboy]

I had that situation come up for the first time in a very long time, I was playing Sylver about a month ago and it was my $ ball, it was on the 50 yard line with base of the ball. We were playing super cheap/social so it was no big deal. We looked and looked and it maybe the ball was 1% behind the line(I have a line drawn on my table), Sylver was a gentalman and said shoot it, I didnt like the fact it looked like 1% or less was in the kitchen, So I opted not to, I cant remember who won. We were having fun talking etc while we played-no body cared about the bet.


If it would have been for $500 or $1000/game there could be a problem between any 2 players because it the $$$ ball and real close to call-too close to call . We decided that the whole not base of the ball is the best way to play after that. We talked about for a while afterwards thinking how that could lead to troubles in a real $$ game. Especially when its the incomming players $$$ ball with no blockers, I win the argument I win the game. Now had it been a fairly even rack with the balls spread evenly and score even then the rack could be re-played as a solution. But the real solution is the whole ball is best, but that too could get real hard to judge-whats the solution???

[gulfportdoc]

We were playing base of the ball. So in other words if it's dead on the line it's deemed out?
That's correct, Blackeee. The head string line is not considered in the Kitchen.

As for Fatboy's question, I don't know how, in an extremely close position, one could judge geometrically whether the base of the ball is exactly on the line, or a millimeter or two one way or the other. Except to say that if a call is 50-50, it should go in favor of the shooter.

Playing "face of the ball", I suppose one could use a piece of cardboard or something to prop up on the line to see if the ball touches.

What upsets me most is when the opponent allows that the ball is playable; I set up for the shot, and MISS it!:mad:

Doc

[hemicudas]

That's correct, Blackeee. The head string line is not considered in the Kitchen.

As for Fatboy's question, I don't know how, in an extremely close position, one could judge geometrically whether the base of the ball is exactly on the line, or a millimeter or two one way or the other. Except to say that if a call is 50-50, it should go in favor of the shooter.

Playing "face of the ball", I suppose one could use a piece of cardboard or something to prop up on the line to see if the ball touches.

What upsets me most is when the opponent allows that the ball is playable; I set up for the shot, and MISS it!:mad:

Doc

You are exactly right, Doc. It is the same as baseball, in that, the FOUL pole is actually in FAIR ground. If a home run hits the foul pole it is just that, a home run.

[androd]

We were playing base of the ball. So in other words if it's dead on the line it's deemed out? After all the 1-pocket I've played, that's the first time I've ever seen that happen.

I've not know either pal, when it's on the line we've always flipped a coin.

Rod.

[blackeee]

That's correct, Blackeee. The head string line is not considered in the Kitchen.

As for Fatboy's question, I don't know how, in an extremely close position, one could judge geometrically whether the base of the ball is exactly on the line, or a millimeter or two one way or the other. Except to say that if a call is 50-50, it should go in favor of the shooter.

Playing "face of the ball", I suppose one could use a piece of cardboard or something to prop up on the line to see if the ball touches.

What upsets me most is when the opponent allows that the ball is playable; I set up for the shot, and MISS it!:mad:

Doc

Yeah, I've done that too.