Proposed Rule Changes
Since its inception it has been apparent that the so called ‘short’ format of the game (matches consisting of ‘up’ games) encourages a proliferation of negative play, resulting in many matches lasting longer than a long format final.
As a result, World Billiards is going to be trialling some rule changes at certain non-ranking events, starting with the flyer competition this Friday night prior to the English Open at Cambridge Snooker Centre.
The rules being trialled will be as follows:
Double Baulk
One of the main culprits for negative play is the double baulk, and it is hoped that by removing this from the ‘up’ format of the game altogether will result in shorter matches and a more attractive game to watch, play, officiate and schedule.
From a number of options to achieve this we have identified the following as the least radical and potentially most effective solution:
Section 3, Rule 6 ‘Playing From In-Hand’
After (b) add:
If the striker comes to the table with their cue ball in hand as a result of the non-striker’s last turn, the striker can play directly on to a ball or balls in baulk for that shot only. At all other times the following will apply; (usual rules).
What this means in practice is that if your opponent pockets your cue ball (or forces it off of the table), when you come to the table for your turn you have the option of playing in to baulk from hand; effectively an open table.
This won’t actually prevent any shot that can be played now from being played after the rule change, but it will remove the majority of incentives to pocket the opponent’s cue ball and play a negative shot afterwards.
The Miss
With the change of the double baulk rule (above) the ‘miss’ would become largely redundant except when you double baulk yourself. In this instance it is a bad shot and could be equated to snookering yourself in snooker. In both instances the player should have to hit a ball or be penalised accordingly rather than play a miss to a side cushion. Therefore we are proposing that all misses become fouls and the usual penalties applied.
Section 2, Rule 16 ‘Miss’
Section 3, Rule 16 ‘Action after a Miss’
Remove completely; all misses are fouls.
Touching Ball
We are proposing to revamp the touching ball rule to bring it in line with snooker, and in doing so remove the re-spot situation altogether.
Following a touching ball the referee will still declare ‘touching ball’, but the balls will remain in position. The striker can then choose to play away from the touching ball and will be deemed to have played a legal shot (as in snooker) even if not contacting the other ball. The striker can also choose to play a scoring shot, but cannot do so directly from the ball touching (as in snooker). Therefore to make a scoring shot it would have to be done indirectly, either from the non-touching ball or from a cushion. Playing directly at the non-touching ball would not constitute a cannon, neither would playing directly in to a pocket constitute an in off. In fact the latter would actually be a foul to prevent a player doing exactly that to remove their ball from play if there wasn’t an obvious scoring shot available.
The wording for this rule would therefore look something like this:
Section 3, Rule 13 ‘Touching Ball’
Please be aware that these rules are still very much a work in progress, and running some test tournaments are a way of tightening up the rules and wording prior to any serious implementation, and will hopefully also flag up any anomalies.
Since its inception it has been apparent that the so called ‘short’ format of the game (matches consisting of ‘up’ games) encourages a proliferation of negative play, resulting in many matches lasting longer than a long format final.
As a result, World Billiards is going to be trialling some rule changes at certain non-ranking events, starting with the flyer competition this Friday night prior to the English Open at Cambridge Snooker Centre.
The rules being trialled will be as follows:
Double Baulk
One of the main culprits for negative play is the double baulk, and it is hoped that by removing this from the ‘up’ format of the game altogether will result in shorter matches and a more attractive game to watch, play, officiate and schedule.
From a number of options to achieve this we have identified the following as the least radical and potentially most effective solution:
Section 3, Rule 6 ‘Playing From In-Hand’
After (b) add:
If the striker comes to the table with their cue ball in hand as a result of the non-striker’s last turn, the striker can play directly on to a ball or balls in baulk for that shot only. At all other times the following will apply; (usual rules).
What this means in practice is that if your opponent pockets your cue ball (or forces it off of the table), when you come to the table for your turn you have the option of playing in to baulk from hand; effectively an open table.
This won’t actually prevent any shot that can be played now from being played after the rule change, but it will remove the majority of incentives to pocket the opponent’s cue ball and play a negative shot afterwards.
The Miss
With the change of the double baulk rule (above) the ‘miss’ would become largely redundant except when you double baulk yourself. In this instance it is a bad shot and could be equated to snookering yourself in snooker. In both instances the player should have to hit a ball or be penalised accordingly rather than play a miss to a side cushion. Therefore we are proposing that all misses become fouls and the usual penalties applied.
Section 2, Rule 16 ‘Miss’
Section 3, Rule 16 ‘Action after a Miss’
Remove completely; all misses are fouls.
Touching Ball
We are proposing to revamp the touching ball rule to bring it in line with snooker, and in doing so remove the re-spot situation altogether.
Following a touching ball the referee will still declare ‘touching ball’, but the balls will remain in position. The striker can then choose to play away from the touching ball and will be deemed to have played a legal shot (as in snooker) even if not contacting the other ball. The striker can also choose to play a scoring shot, but cannot do so directly from the ball touching (as in snooker). Therefore to make a scoring shot it would have to be done indirectly, either from the non-touching ball or from a cushion. Playing directly at the non-touching ball would not constitute a cannon, neither would playing directly in to a pocket constitute an in off. In fact the latter would actually be a foul to prevent a player doing exactly that to remove their ball from play if there wasn’t an obvious scoring shot available.
The wording for this rule would therefore look something like this:
Section 3, Rule 13 ‘Touching Ball’
- If at the completion of a stroke the striker’s cue-ball is touching a ball or balls, the referee shall state ‘touching ball’ and indicate which ball or balls the striker’s cue-ball is touching.
- When a touching ball has been called, and following the agreement of both players, the striker must play the cue-ball away from that ball without moving it or it is a push stroke.
- Providing the striker does not cause any touching object ball to move (unless done indirectly), there shall be no penalty providing:
- the striker’s ball does not enter a pocket before contacting the non-touching ball (if there is one), or the touching ball(s) indirectly from a cushion.
- If the referee is satisfied that any movement of a touching ball at the moment of striking was not caused by the striker, he will not call a foul.
- If a stationary object ball, not touching the cue-ball when examined by the referee, is later seen to be in contact with the cue-ball before a stroke has been made, the balls shall be repositioned by the referee to his satisfaction. This also applies to a touching ball which later, when examined by the referee is not touching; the balls shall be repositioned by the referee to his satisfaction.
- The striker is entitled to be told upon request whether any balls are touching.
- To score from a touching ball situation the striker must do so from the non-touching ball (if there is one) or indirectly from a cushion on to the touching ball(s).
Please be aware that these rules are still very much a work in progress, and running some test tournaments are a way of tightening up the rules and wording prior to any serious implementation, and will hopefully also flag up any anomalies.