Free Ball Query

[sixofclubs]

This is the situation: Only the pink and black remain. I attempt to pot the pink but go in off. My opponent points out that wherever he places the white in the D he can not see both sides of the pink and requests a free ball, to which I agree.

He nominates black as the free ball, attempts to pot it, misses, but in the process pots the pink.

Does this stand?

I know that when nominating a free ball for a red you can use the nominated ball to pot a red and that this fine, but is this the same situation?

The fact that it is a fluke shouldn't really come into it - he was hoping to pot the pink which I unfairly snookered him on and he was entitled to a free ball, so surely his pink should stand?

This was how we proceeded anyway because it seemed logical, but were we correct?

Thanks

[jrc750]

As long as the cue ball hit the black 1st, then it is ok to pot the pink yes

[Souwester]

If you have a free ball and elect to play another ball other than the ball on (eg black instead of pink in your case) then the ball on doesn't cease to be a ball on, and can, therefore, be legally potted, PROVIDED that the nominated ball (black in your case) is the first ball struck by the cue ball.