Free ball

[Q1st]

After a foul and freeball called by ref. the stricker pots the black without having verbally nominated the black.
Is this a foul?

[Q1st]

By aiming at and potting the black could it not be argued that the stricker was obviously going for the black and by his action this is as good as a verbal nomination.
And if the ref. did not ask for confirmation then surely it would not be a foul.
Or maybe not??

[Q1st]

Awaiting responces.

[DeanH]

Sec 2.13 Free Ball
A free ball is a ball, other than the ball on, which the striker nominates as the ball on when snookered after a foul (see Section 3 Rule 12).


Sec2.12 Nominated Ball
(a) A nominated ball is the object ball which the striker indicates to the satisfaction of the referee, or declares (states verbally), they undertake to hit with the first impact of the cue ball.
(b) If requested by the referee, the striker must declare which ball they are on.


12(a) is the important bit here, is the nomination clear to the referee (opponent/non-striker if no referee). This indication can be verbal, pointing with finger/hand/cue AND it can be the obvious way the striker is about the play; i.e. the alignment of their cue.
[Just like when you are playing a colour ball on; you don't tend to declare every time do you, only when there could be confusion (balls close together); but to me in a Free Ball scenario I declare very time, (see below )]

So a verbal declaration is not necessary every time; in your scenario as long as the referee is satisfied of the indication of nomination, no Foul.

If the referee requests a Declaration (i.e. verbal) and none is given then it will be a Foul, as the sticker MUST do so.
When I coach others I say just declare verbally every time; then there is no confusion; even if it is blatantly obvious; because you just know that that one time you don't because your ball on is hanging over a pocket, the opponent will shout Foul!!!
If in doubt, shout

[DeanH]

Awaiting responces.

See response above.

[Q1st]

Thank you very much DeanH.
very helpful as always.
Any other arguments I wonder?

[DeanH]

Thank you very much DeanH.
very helpful as always.
Any other arguments I wonder?

No worries.

It is amazing what some people will argue about and call foul over.

I once potted a Pink, legally, and the Cue Ball bounced off a cushion and hit another colour, just hit not pocketed; and the opponent called foul and claimed 6 points!!!
The laughter, around the snooker room when the other players from the other two tables were asked, was brilliant.

[Q1st]

Played a friendly match last friday where I potted black as free ball as described without having verbally confirmed my intention.
My opponent called a foul which I disagreed with because my intensions were obvious. And was called a little cheat because I refused to accept that a foul was commited.
Conclusion: always verbally nominate the free ball to avoid conflicts.

[DeanH]

Played a friendly match last friday where I potted black as free ball as described without having verbally confirmed my intention.
My opponent called a foul which I disagreed with because my intensions were obvious. And was called a little cheat because I refused to accept that a foul was commited.
Conclusion: always verbally nominate the free ball to avoid conflicts.

yep, we have all been there.
Hope you won the night anyway - the best revenge