whats with a free ball???

[bongo]

It isn't absolutely necessary to 'nominate' when playing your free ball. You need to nominate to the referee's satisfaction. 'Nominate' can mean playing in the direction of the ball and it's obvious you are not going for any other ball. But, as always, if it isn't clear which ball you are going for (you may be playing into the direction of more than one ball) then you should verbally declare or just point at it clearly (if you can't speak for example). People think you must nominate on a free ball but you don't, if it is really obvious then there is no need to take things to the extreme. In the Free Ball rule (or 'Snookered After a Foul' as the rules calls it) it talks about 'Nominated Ball' and 'striker nominates', but here is the actual definition of 'Nominated Ball' from the rules:

12. Nominated Ball
(a) A nominated ball is the object ball which the striker declares, or indicates to the satisfaction of the referee, he undertakes to hit with the first impact of the cue-ball.
(b) If requested by the referee, the striker must declare which ball he is on.

Having said that, it is always best to say which ball you are going for on a free ball to be on the safe side just in case your opponent or referee thinks you MUST nominate.

[epons300]

also im led to believe if it is not obvious wat ball your playing and a foul has to be called the foul wud be worth 7 pts as no one can stipulate wat your actions wer?

[bongo]

also im led to believe if it is not obvious wat ball your playing and a foul has to be called the foul wud be worth 7 pts as no one can stipulate wat your actions wer?

That's right, here is the relevant rule:

12. Penalties
(d) A penalty of seven points is incurred if the striker
(v) fails to declare which ball he is on when requested to do so by the referee,

[denden]

right so a free ball has been called and no reds left on the table...... object ball is yellow but can not be hit on either edge........
i nominate pink ball........... play the pink safe to bulk....... the cue ball runs up and sits on the green. and the yellow can not be struck......

is this alright?????

just a yes or no will do chaps, cheers

[Krypton]

yes, that's fine.

It is legal and a good move to use a free ball to lay a snooker. if you want (let's say the pink was on its spot), you can just play a soft stroke and leave the cueball behind the blue (on its spot), without this being a foul.

[denden]

yes, that's fine.

It is legal and a good move to use a free ball to lay a snooker. if you want (let's say the pink was on its spot), you can just play a soft stroke and leave the cueball behind the blue (on its spot), without this being a foul.

cheers krypt me ole mate and fountain of knowledge!!

[Krypton]

hey, you played a good shot, so appreciate

[The Statman]

My two articles herre may help you:

Free Ball – how to judge if you have one

Free Ball – what you can (and can't) do with it