Free ball or not?.

[Bigmeek]

This is NOT a free ball, after a foul, because both extreme edges of the red can be hit with the cue ball, playing in direction A or B.

Your "fault", no offense intended, is: the 'extreme edges' VARY depending on the cue ball distance, but they are NEVER on the 'opposite' side of the object ball (they're NOT on the same geometrical diameter). In fact, they are closer to the side the cue ball is lying.

This helps?

Krypton That's a great diagram. Very similar to the situation I had the other night! So if the cue ball was 2 feet further back then it would be a free ball? Really difficult to get my head round this one.

[The Statman]

Krypton That's a great diagram. Very similar to the situation I had the other night! So if the cue ball was 2 feet further back then it would be a free ball? Really difficult to get my head round this one.

Yes, absolutely.

If you just think that you're trying to hit the red at the two thinnest extremes that would be possible from that position - then ask yourself if there's a colour preventing you from doing that.