Just a question

[bluenose1940]

Just watching the final and Ronnie played safe and the cue ball ended up in the jaws of the yellow pocket. What would be the outcome if, whilst Selby was walking around the table to decide what shot to play, the white dropped into the pocket?

I have often thought about this and so decided I ought to find out.

[Nifty50]

Ref would replace ball to where it was before dropping.

[DeanH]

yep as Nifty says, the referee would replace the cue ball to where it was before it dropped after it had been stationery for a while.
This is covered in the rules:

Sec 3.9. Ball on Edge of Pocket
When a ball falls into a pocket without being hit by another ball, and:
(a) being no part of any stroke in progress, it shall be replaced and any points scored shall count.
(b) If it would have been hit by any ball involved in a stroke:
(i) with no infringement of these Rules (including cases where an infringement would have occurred but for the ball falling into a pocket), all balls will be replaced and the same stroke played again, or a different stroke may be played by the same striker at their discretion;
(ii) if a foul is committed, the striker incurs the penalty prescribed in Section 3 Rule 11, all balls will be replaced and the next player has the usual options after a foul.
(c) If a ball balances momentarily on the edge of a pocket and then falls in, it shall be considered potted or pocketed and shall not be replaced.

[bluenose1940]

Thank you.

[fkhan]

yep as Nifty says, the referee would replace the cue ball to where it was before it dropped after it had been stationery for a while.
This is covered in the rules:

Sec 3.9. Ball on Edge of Pocket
When a ball falls into a pocket without being hit by another ball, and:
(a) being no part of any stroke in progress, it shall be replaced and any points scored shall count.
(b) If it would have been hit by any ball involved in a stroke:
(i) with no infringement of these Rules (including cases where an infringement would have occurred but for the ball falling into a pocket), all balls will be replaced and the same stroke played again, or a different stroke may be played by the same striker at their discretion;
(ii) if a foul is committed, the striker incurs the penalty prescribed in Section 3 Rule 11, all balls will be replaced and the next player has the usual options after a foul.
(c) If a ball balances momentarily on the edge of a pocket and then falls in, it shall be considered potted or pocketed and shall not be replaced.

Is there any time limit Dean? Here I hear people call out a foul if the ball falls in the pocket within 3 seconds of coming to a stand still position. If it falls down after that, the ball is just replaced with no foul. These are just club rules we follow. Not official rules.

[Nifty50]

Is there any time limit Dean? Here I hear people call out a foul if the ball falls in the pocket within 3 seconds. If it falls down after that, the ball is just replaced with no foul. These are just club rules we follow. Not official rules.

As Dean has posted the rules use the word “momentarily” without quantifying this in terms of seconds. The ref will decide if the ball has dropped as part of the players shot or not. Clearly if the ball drops after the player has left the table and the new player is approaching the table the ball will be replaced. I haven’t really seen any instances where it’s debatable.

[DeanH]

I did add an addition to my post but I lost it before it saved

No specific time is described in the WPBSA rule; the only rules I have come across that actual mentions a time if UK Black Ball Pool where they say 5 seconds.

Without a specific time mentioned I say to myself "momentarily", and clearly annunciating the syll-a-bles

[fkhan]

Thanks guys.

[Nifty50]

Thanks guys.

Did you see the incident last night in the Robbo/Milkins match? Milkins rolled a red down the cushion. It stopped on the edge of the pocket. Stayed there for a couple of seconds then dropped. Milkins was still at the table so all ok.

[fkhan]

Did you see the incident last night in the Robbo/Milkins match? Milkins rolled a red down the cushion. It stopped on the edge of the pocket. Stayed there for a couple of seconds then dropped. Milkins was still at the table so all ok.

Wow. I missed it though. So, no foul was called, interesting. Do you know which frame it was?

[Nifty50]

Wow. I missed it though. So, no foul was called, interesting. Do you know which frame it was?

Frame 6 towards the end. Think it was 3rd last red.

[DeanH]

if you mean this one, the red barely stops moving and I would say a legit pot
drops on first syllable - "mo"
tried to get video to start at the moment in question but it does not seem to work
1:27:53

[fkhan]

Thanks Dean and Nifty.