Ask The Referee

All Questions submitted will be answered by Eirian Williams, Paul Collier or a senior member of The Wiltshire Referees Association.  To ask as question simply sign up for a account or log-in and navigate to the Ask the Ref page from within the members area.

Previously answered questions

Q. If I'm snookered on all reds and its a touching ball on the black I miss the reds what is the points foul 7 or 4.

A. Providing that you play away from the black then the foul is 4 (or the value of any other colour you hit first).

Q. If you are on red and your snookered behind a colour and it is touching is it the same rules as ordinary snookers?

A. You must play away from the colour without disturbing it, otherwise the situation is the same as any other snooker.

Q. Potted a red left cue ball touching pink , do I have to play pink or can I play at another colour.

A. The choice is yours. If you nominate pink you must play away as in a normal touching ball situation. If you nominate another colour you must also play away from the pink and hit the nominated ball first. Be sure to nominate in this situation so that the referee or your opponent knows which ball is on.

Q. If I brake of and miss the reds and land back in the D. would I give a free ball away, because the pack hasnt been broken and he cant see both sides of a red.

A. No, A snooker is when you are prevented from hitting both sides of a ball on by a ball not on. You cannot be snookered on a red by another red. If you could hit both sides of any red if all the other reds were not there (for instance the red on the edge of the triangle) then you are not snookered and it is not a free ball.

Q. If I am needing snookers to win, and my opponent snookers me, how many times can he make me retake the shot, given that I already need snookers myself?

A. Contrary to popular belief, there is no rule that prevents a miss being called if a player is snookered regardless of the score. The miss is at the discretion of the referee. However the normal interpretation is that a miss will not be called if either player requires snookers before or after the shot.

Q. When in snooker is the only time the red is worth eight points.

A. If a frame is conceded or awarded by the referee and aggregate points are involved then the opponent receives the value of the balls left on the table and reds count as eight points.

Q. I was playing a frame, we were on the last pink and black and I gave my opponent a free ball. He said 'black' and potted the pink with it. I said it was a foul, but he said he was allowed to do it. Who is right?

A. He is right. When a free ball is nominated you must hit the nominated ball first (or simultaneous with the ball on) but either the nominated ball or the ball on can be potted legally. If both balls are potted only the ball on is scored unless it is a red when each ball potted is scored.

A question about equipment: What is the origin of the term "half-butt"? Is it correctly used to refer to the rest, the corresponding cue or the combination? What is a "butt" (referred to in rule 1-4 Ancilliary")? Surely it is not twice as long as a half-butt!!!! The rule referred to also requires all devices to be of an approved design. Does this outlaw improvised set ups such as using a book or other object to support the handle of a rest? How about the use of standard equipment but in an unconventional way, eg using one rest to support the handle of another?

A. Two long cues are traditionally supplied on a snooker table, these are the long butt (about 9ft or 275cm) and the half-butt (7.5 - 8ft or 225-240cm). The corresponding rests are the long butt rest and the half-butt rest. At Jesters we use the correct terms of 'fishing tackle' and 'long stuff' . One theory as to the origin goes back to ancient billiards. The cue was originally called a butt, what is now called the butt end was originally used to strike the ball, the flattenned part was slid along the table. The use of the pointed or tail end originated in France, queue is french for tail hence cue. Butt was eventually dropped as the name for a cue but survives as long butt and half(long) butt. The purpose of only allowing approved equipment is to prevent the introduction of devices that would give unfair advantage such as aiming aids. I am not sure why you would want to use a book to support a rest but technically it would not be approved and the use of another rest would be. In practice if it were a really difficult cueing position and the player could not play the shot without unapproved equipment the referee would use his discretion.

Q. Q. When is the only time you can call a miss?

A. A miss must be called if there is a clear path in a straight line from the cue-ball to any part of the object ball (in other words if you can hit it directly) unless either player needs a snooker before or after the foul. All other misses are at the referees discretion where the referee considers that a player has not made a good enough attempt to hit a ball on.

Q. If I pot a red and I nominate the black only to miss it completely therefore I give seven points away.The white landed in the pack and I'm told to play again...What must I go for ?Do I go for the black,adifferent colour or a red?

A. You must go for a red. When asked to play again after a foul from the position left a player is starting a new turn. The ball on is a red, or if no reds are left then the lowest colour.

Q. what is snooker pokets dimentions and curve?

A. We have contacted World Snooker about this question and their response was that they could not give this informatin out due to the templates used to create the pockets are copyrighted, I would suggest finding a match tabl;e and do a little measuring yourself, sorry we could not be of more use in this matter.

Q. can you chage your mind after nominating a colour when you potted a red

A. You don't always have to nominate a colour after potting a red, it does depend ont he situation but yes you can change your mind.

Q. what happens after a retake if lot's of the other balls have been moved off of their original positions?

A. The referee will move the balls back to their previous positions, but to help him do this he can and will ask the players for their oppinion to where they should be placed adn in extrems circomstances the referee can even ask a the audiance, play is only continued when both of the players are satisfied with the ball positions.

Q. If I go for a red and miss, and the white hits a yellow then hits a pink do the foul score four or six

A. The foul points you give away is only 4 in this situation.

Q. How far away from the pink should the reds be when setting a snooker table

A. This one has been answered by Derek Collins, and his answer was "The pink must be places as close to the top red as possible without touching"

Q. What happens when a colour ball cant go onto its own spot?

A. It goes on the highest spot available.

Q. How long can someone spend on a shot before you can make them take it?

A. There is no time limit on a shot, (Just watch Peter Ebdon) But he referee can warn the player for slow play

Q. If a genuine attempt is made to get out of a snooker but it comes just short or passes within millimetres of the intended ball, is this classed as a hit?

A. If you are shoprt of the object ball it is definatley a miss. The referee's discretion will come into play if you pass the ball.

Q. I am snookered behind a colour and attempt a shot for a red. I attempt to hit a red but miss, but do not hit any other ball either. How many times can I be made to play this shot again from behind the colour? If I take my shot for a red and miss but leave a good clear shot on a red for my opponent, are they allowed to make me retake yet again or do they have to carry on from where the white now sits?

A. This depends on if you ar eplaying the miss rule, if yes then as many times as your opponent wants to.

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