Jump Shot

[Bigmeek]

If you plan to smash open the pack and the white jumps up in the air and lands on the top of the pack, say first hitting the middle ball in the pack, is it a foul?
Pretty certain that if the white jumps and first hits one of the reds on the outside of the pack then this is OK.

[Terry Davidson]

Not a foul as long as the first contact was fair. I've seen Ronnie pot a black and purposely jump the cueball into the middle of the pack, which is a good way to spread them, especially on a slow table. (At least I think he intended to do it that way)

Terry

[gazza147]

As Terry said its not a Foul as long as you Hit the Ball your Playing first without Jumping as alot of people get this Wrong seen Referees get this wrong in Snooker Tournys.

[Souwester]

It is not as simple as just hitting the first ball before jumping though... it depends on where the cue ball lands. If the cue ball strikes the nearside of the object ball, then jumps and lands on the far side of that ball then it is a foul.

This is the definition in the rules:

20. Jump Shot
A jump shot is made when the cue-ball passes over any part of an object ball, whether touching it in the process or not, except:
(a) when the cue-ball first strikes one object ball and then jumps over another ball;
(b) when the cue-ball jumps and strikes an object ball, but does not land on the far side of that ball;
(c) when, after striking an object ball lawfully, the cue-ball jumps over that ball after hitting a cushion or another ball.

[Bigmeek]

Apologies guys. I didn't explain myself very well. There isn't really an "object ball" involved in this shot. The shot is just to hit the pack direct. Standard safety leaving the cue ball in baulk. Because of a mis-cue the cue ball jumps and lands on top of the reds!!
I talked with a ref today and he says its a foul. The "object ball" is in fact the ball in the pack which is closest to the cue ball (one of the outside reds in the pack) and as the cue ball has passed over this ball and hit a red in the middle of the pack then its a foul. Seems right to me.

[The Statman]

Yes, a foul.

If the cue-ball jumps over ANY ball before then hitting ANOTHER ball, then it is a jump shot for jumping over the first ball.

From the sound of what you are saying, the first ball struck is one that would be impossible to hit on the level of the table. So by definition, you must have jumped another ball.

[LittleMissAlexa]

Yes, a foul.

If the cue-ball jumps over ANY ball before then hitting ANOTHER ball, then it is a jump shot for jumping over the first ball.

From the sound of what you are saying, the first ball struck is one that would be impossible to hit on the level of the table. So by definition, you must have jumped another ball.

Ironically its one of few times in snooker when a skillful shot is outlawed the jump isnt the easiest shot to play

[The Statman]

Ironically its one of few times in snooker when a skillful shot is outlawed the jump isnt the easiest shot to play

Oh I don't know - several types of plant and in-off are very skilful, but an in-off is always a foul and so is a plant if the ball that goes in is the wrong colour.

[LittleMissAlexa]

Oh I don't know - several types of plant and in-off are very skilful, but an in-off is always a foul and so is a plant if the ball that goes in is the wrong colour.

those are normally flukes and the plant argument is slightly different as its not the shot that is illegal its the ball pocketed that is illegal

[The Statman]

those are normally flukes and the plant argument is slightly different as its not the shot that is illegal its the ball pocketed that is illegal

They are only flukes because they are outlawed. If they were legal, people would play for them, as they do quite proficiently in billiards!

[Souwester]

One question that's always bugged me: why are in-offs always so much easier when playing snooker than playing billiards?

[bally969]

If the cue ball is touching a red, and you play away from that red, but jump the cue ball over another red,THIS IS A JUMP SHOT.

[HemiRR]

....... Standard safety leaving the cue ball in baulk. Because of a mis-cue the cue ball jumps and lands on top of the reds!!
I talked with a ref today and he says its a foul. The "object ball" is in fact the ball in the pack which is closest to the cue ball (one of the outside reds in the pack) and as the cue ball has passed over this ball and hit a red in the middle of the pack then its a foul. Seems right to me.

So as I understand The Statman's reply, regardless of the reason for the jump ie accidental miscue that causes the cue ball to fly over or land on and fall on the far side of an 'on ball' it is a 'jump shot' and therefore a foul. Is that right?

[Souwester]

So as I understand The Statman's reply, regardless of the reason for the jump ie accidental miscue that causes the cue ball to fly over or land on and fall on the far side of an 'on ball' it is a 'jump shot' and therefore a foul. Is that right?

Yes!
........

[The Statman]

So as I understand The Statman's reply, regardless of the reason for the jump ie accidental miscue that causes the cue ball to fly over or land on and fall on the far side of an 'on ball' it is a 'jump shot' and therefore a foul. Is that right?

If you think about it, almost all fouls are accidental. In-offs certainly are, pocketing the wrong ball, touching a ball with the sleeve, etc. No reason that a jump shot made by accident should be treated any differently from an intentional one.