Got a question about the rules of pool (8 ball)

[geno]

If while attempting to pocket the 8 ball for the win, do you lose the game if you miss the 8 ball completely and hit nothing?

I searched on the web and I get the same exact set of rules for every link...none of them help me either...

 

[notfred]

yes. That's a scratch. Scratch on the 8 ball and you lose.

 

[MrScott81]

YOU LOSE. good day sir!

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: notfred
yes. That's a scratch. Scratch on the 8 ball and you lose.

 

[mugs]

NO. Contrary to popular believe, you do not lose if you scratch while attempting to pocket the 8-ball, you only lose if you scratch AND pocket the 8-ball. Unless you find some way to pocket the 8-ball without the cue-ball touching any balls, you're fine.

If you don't believe me, you should at least believe the Billiard Congress of America:
Text
See rule 4.20

 

[geno]

Hmm, so which is it?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: mugs
NO. Contrary to popular believe, you do not lose if you scratch while attempting to pocket the 8-ball, you only lose if you scratch AND pocket the 8-ball. Unless you find some way to pocket the 8-ball without the cue-ball touching any balls, you're fine.

Nice to know there's one intelligent person here. Mugs is right, the others are wrong. Failing to touch the 8 ball is NOT loss of game, it's ball in hand to your opponent.


The rule

 

[virtuamike]

All depends on house rules. I'm with mugs on this one though, we usually play lose on scratch if cue ball and 8 get pocketed.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: geno
Hmm, so which is it?

depends on the rules you play by. Don't do it in a bar and start quoting the Billiard Congress of America!

 

[geno]

a. -- A player attempting to shoot the 8-ball but missing it has fouled, resulting in "ball in hand" for his opponent. This is NOT loss of game.

woot, I was right

 

[DrPizza]

IIRC, another rule from BCA is that striking the ball in such a manner as to intentionally cause the ball to leave the surface of the table is illegal... another ball in hand. (no jumping)

 

[isasir]

What's a masse' shot? Is that a fancy way of saying don't be fancy?

 

[EvilYoda]

isasir, a masse shot is a shot where you hike up on the ball and essentially try to drive enough english into the ball so that it "curves". Hard to explain, harder to control.

As for the rule on 8-ball, I think you finally found the right reason...but unless you're playing with another person that's into billiards/pool, don't start quoting rules, or they'll get confused and think you're tricking them.