As Keith said he has played in both ways, so whether you heard of it or not means nothing. Means nothing? not sure what you mean here.
Your question means nothing to me at this point because I play the game has started when the cue ball hits the balls. Your question about shooting over again is moot because it is in the middle of a game, of course that is a foul.Fair enough, I understand we all have 'rights' to our differences. I am just trying to get opinions from the posters in this forum.
It is differerent cause I play the game has not started and.
If a tournament director plays it is a a foul I will abide by it but in any tournaments I run it would not be regardless of the wording in somebody's rule book. I have to be able to answer questions from the players in a tournament. Like I stated in the original post, this was the first time I had ever seen this situation. It was also the 1st time either player had seen this situation. In fact, all the players that I have discussed this had never seen this situation. That's why I posted this question. But as I said in my life I have not seen a miscue in a one pocket break in gambling or a tournament so it has never come up.
What would you call if I was breaking and for the hell of it I hit the cue ball two rails just to test the speed, would you call a foul? How are you going to prove my intention? Am I suppose to declare a practice stroke. After all I am hitting the cue ball and sending it over the head string. What if I stroke the ball, miscue but retrieve the ball before going over the head string? Can you absolutely say it was in play(going over the head string). I doubt it. It does not matter if the cue ball goes over the head string. If you are attempting to break the balls and you take your stance and are stroking to break, and you hit the cue ball, it is a foul. If you think otherwise, please share. In the "Spirit" of the game, are you suppose to let your opponent have 'Do Overs"?
So why not forget the letter of the rule and play by the spirit and if someone miscues breaking and hits nothing in one pocket or nine ball let them retry.Knowing the Rules and understanding them, and being able to explain them to players is part of the job of a tournament director. But, in the 'Spirit' of the Game, what the two players decide is always going to over rule what I am asked to decide.
Did you read what I said earlier, in good concience I could not call a foul.
I would not call it playing my Mom or Dad nor would I call it on you. In 'Good Concience' I have to be fair to the tournament players and show NO bias. I am responsible for the 'fairness' of the situation. I can't always go by 'good concience', I have to follow the rules and be fair to everyone.
When in doubt check with the House Rules. Always a safe way to go
But like Keith said, the game don't start til the balls are hit.Keith also said he played both ways.