J.R.
Verified Member
After reading the various responses by the forum members, I am still in limbo in regards to a definitive ruling regarding a particular "safety" on a called "frozen ball" by OnePocket.org and their "Official One Pocket" rules. I have again posted my question directly below in bold print and the rules that apply per OnePocket.org and the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) . I have not included any "frozen ball" applicable rules by the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) because they are not recognized by OnePocket.org as being a reference for any rule contradictions.
This is a rules clarification question and has to do with a called "frozen ball." Can a called "frozen ball" be struck by the cue ball, come ever so slightly off the rail and then return to the same rail, be called a legal safety, without the cue ball or any other ball making contact to a rail? The reason the object ball would return to the rail could be based on a gulley in the cloth or a tilt in the table, or voodoo and a chant, but whatever the reason may be for it (object ball called frozen) to return to the same rail, is it a legal safety?
Per OnePocket.org, the "Official One Pocket" Rules state, "Unless clearly contradicted below, general pocket billiards rules of play and etiquette apply to One Pocket and complete General Rules are available from the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA)." There are two rules that reference safety play and frozen balls. Both rules do not address my clarification question regarding the object ball returning to the same rail for a legal safety. Consequently, I deferred to the General Rules of the WPA.
Official OnePocket.org rule #4. Safety Play: There is no option to ‘call a safety’ in One Pocket; if a player legally scores a ball into their own pocket they must shoot again, unless the game is over. Players may play safe to the same rail as many times as they wish, as long as either the cue ball or at least one object ball is driven to a cushion after the cue ball contacts an object ball. Standard ‘frozen ball’ rules apply to safety play.
Official OnePocket.org rule #8. Frozen balls: For a foul to result from failure to legally strike a rail after contacting a frozen ball, the ball in question must be inspected and designated as frozen prior to a player’s shot, otherwise the ball is not considered frozen. If the cue ball becomes wedged between an object ball and the cushion and frozen to both, then legal shot requirements must be met by pocketing the frozen ball, or by contacting either another ball or another cushion enroute to a legal shot. Failure to do so is a foul.
World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) rule #8.4 Driven to a Rail: A ball is said to be driven to a rail if it is not touching that rail and then touches that rail. A ball touching a rail at the start of a shot (said to be "Frozen" to the rail) is not considered driven to that rail unless it leaves the rail and returns. A ball that is pocketed or driven off the table is also considered to have been driven to a rail. A ball is assumed not to be frozen to any rail unless it is declared frozen by the referee, the shooter, or the opponent.
This particular "safety" and called "frozen ball" situation came up during a one pocket tournament and a more recent gambling session. The House (Red Shoes Billiards) ruled that the safety was legal although the "frozen ball" never went to another rail but returned to the same rail it had been frozen to.
I would propose that an addendum be added to the Official One Pocket rules to clarify the movement of a frozen object ball which after being struck by the cue ball comes off the rail and then returns to the same rail.
This is a rules clarification question and has to do with a called "frozen ball." Can a called "frozen ball" be struck by the cue ball, come ever so slightly off the rail and then return to the same rail, be called a legal safety, without the cue ball or any other ball making contact to a rail? The reason the object ball would return to the rail could be based on a gulley in the cloth or a tilt in the table, or voodoo and a chant, but whatever the reason may be for it (object ball called frozen) to return to the same rail, is it a legal safety?
Per OnePocket.org, the "Official One Pocket" Rules state, "Unless clearly contradicted below, general pocket billiards rules of play and etiquette apply to One Pocket and complete General Rules are available from the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA)." There are two rules that reference safety play and frozen balls. Both rules do not address my clarification question regarding the object ball returning to the same rail for a legal safety. Consequently, I deferred to the General Rules of the WPA.
Official OnePocket.org rule #4. Safety Play: There is no option to ‘call a safety’ in One Pocket; if a player legally scores a ball into their own pocket they must shoot again, unless the game is over. Players may play safe to the same rail as many times as they wish, as long as either the cue ball or at least one object ball is driven to a cushion after the cue ball contacts an object ball. Standard ‘frozen ball’ rules apply to safety play.
Official OnePocket.org rule #8. Frozen balls: For a foul to result from failure to legally strike a rail after contacting a frozen ball, the ball in question must be inspected and designated as frozen prior to a player’s shot, otherwise the ball is not considered frozen. If the cue ball becomes wedged between an object ball and the cushion and frozen to both, then legal shot requirements must be met by pocketing the frozen ball, or by contacting either another ball or another cushion enroute to a legal shot. Failure to do so is a foul.
World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) rule #8.4 Driven to a Rail: A ball is said to be driven to a rail if it is not touching that rail and then touches that rail. A ball touching a rail at the start of a shot (said to be "Frozen" to the rail) is not considered driven to that rail unless it leaves the rail and returns. A ball that is pocketed or driven off the table is also considered to have been driven to a rail. A ball is assumed not to be frozen to any rail unless it is declared frozen by the referee, the shooter, or the opponent.
This particular "safety" and called "frozen ball" situation came up during a one pocket tournament and a more recent gambling session. The House (Red Shoes Billiards) ruled that the safety was legal although the "frozen ball" never went to another rail but returned to the same rail it had been frozen to.
I would propose that an addendum be added to the Official One Pocket rules to clarify the movement of a frozen object ball which after being struck by the cue ball comes off the rail and then returns to the same rail.