Slop or not

[Guest]

In eight ball the rule states, that he need not indicate any detail such as kisses, caroms, combinations, or cushions (all of which are legal).

If the you call, "6 ball, corner pockect" can the cue and object ball touch other balls rails along the way. I hear this argument all the time in pool halls as slop.

Is this slop or not?

Does anyone pull balls to be respotted for scratches any more?

[Kokopuffs]

As long as the called ball goes into the called pocket, slop is okay. That game is called "call pocket".

Some people play "call shot" where the shot is explained in detail.

[BooBoo]

We used to play according to BCA rules and when you made a ball and scratched the pocketed ball came out plus a ball for the scratch. But that was 1978, things change. (this rule was for "home tables only".)

[Tanar]

In leagues we play the call pocket where you call the ball and the pocket. As long as the cue ball touches one of your balls(ie. stripes) before any other ball(ie. solids) and the object ball goes in the called pocket, it is a legal shot. The object ball can carom off of every other ball on the table and still go in the called pocket and the shot is still legal.

Now in bar rules, you have to call the ball, the pocket, and any banks or caroms that might take place before the object ball goes in the called pocket.

Usually before the game starts, it is agreed upon what set of rules are to be played.

Hope that's not too confusing.

[dags_lax]

The object ball is on the long rail two inches away from the rail. You call it down the rail in the corner. You make the ball but you hit the rail before pocketing the ball. Is this bank, or funnel shot at it is often called, a good shot? The same shot but this time the object barely ball kisses off another object ball that was next to pocket. The ball would have gone anyway with out the kiss. Is it a good shot? Or maybe it didn't kiss of the other ball at all but you opponent thinks it did and the argument is on. Are these shots slop any more so than the shot that rattles around the points of the pocket before dropping? You can not cover every rule each time you play a new opponent.

Outside of a few friendly racks with non pool playing friends in my basement I haven't played "call your shot" in a ages. In fact I bet it has been 30 years since I have played "call your shot" in a bar or pool hall. I have seen many arguments over just these kinds of situations described above. I would rather sit and watch than join in in this kind of game. To me it is just not worth the hassles.

[BooBoo]

Your right pool god, sometimes it's just not worth the hassle. We won't even talk about the guys or gals that only play "straight 8". No ball in hand and all you have to do is "try " to hit your ball. Then there is last pocket and another 100 variations depending on where you are in the country. If your gonna play, you should ask before the game, not when a problem comes up, then it's too late!