Minimum ball travel rule

[martik777]

Is there any rule against this or is it considered unprofessional conduct to continually tap the object ball, moving it only a fraction of a inch to play safe? For example, I have played opponents that will just tap the pack of reds, barely touching them or will continually tap a ball against the rail. I seem to remember that some reasonable attempt at a shot is required in pro tournaments.

[Terry Davidson]

tapping up to the object ball is considered a fair shot and not a foul, but sometimes in amateur frames it does get a little frustrating, especially if there is a decent safety shot on with no balls over the pocket somewhere.

Usually in pro frames this only occurs if the player cannot get to a safe area on the table or else there is no safe area available to him.

Terry

[damienlch]

I've met people who do that even when we're just playing for the lights... and yes, there are other decent safety shots available. Fair shot but it's not like we're playing for the world title or something... geez, some people need to lighten up...

[thelongbomber]

I've met people who do that even when we're just playing for the lights... and yes, there are other decent safety shots available. Fair shot but it's not like we're playing for the world title or something... geez, some people need to lighten up...

It happens. How we play snooker is how we play life and some people dont like taking any risks at all - even when there doesn't seem to be one from the sidelines. I'm a mostly offense guy so when I get into this kind of match with someone that loves to grind, I make an extra effort to open up more reds - even taking a wild low risk shot if I have to. Opponents don't like it and continue trying to grind it out, but it mostly works out in my favor in the end.

[damienlch]

It happens. How we play snooker is how we play life and some people dont like taking any risks at all - even when there doesn't seem to be one from the sidelines. I'm a mostly offense guy so when I get into this kind of match with someone that loves to grind, I make an extra effort to open up more reds - even taking a wild low risk shot if I have to. Opponents don't like it and continue trying to grind it out, but it mostly works out in my favor in the end.

Totally agree... How a person approaches the game does reveal his character... the shot selections, reaction under pressure, even the cue action itself always tells me something about a person's nature.

I used to get put off by grinders and become quite affected by what I see as negativity and a deliberate slowing down of the pace of the game... Played straight into the hands of my opponent. But I like to think that I've grown a bit wiser and more tactically savvy now... Still get affected, but I see my frustration coming and am better able to deal with it... I hope...