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Free Ball - Billiard Term Definition

Welcome to the billiard, pool, and snooker glossary of terms. This is the definition of Free Ball as it relates to cue sports. You can also view the entire billiard dictionary

Definition of Free Ball

Free Ball is a billiards term that is a part of Snooker Terminology.

Free ball refers to a situation where a player commits a foul of some sort, and leaves their opponent snookered in the process. In this situation, the opponent normally must choose one of two outcomes. He or she may take ball in hand with two shots, or he or she is allowed to contact or pot a ball other than one from his or her suit from the snookered position with the loss on the first stroke, hence, the term free ball. This rule is specific to UK Blackball. Snooker, however, refers to free ball in a slightly different manner. Free ball allows the player to call any object ball as the ball that he or she would preferred to have played, and to pot that ball for the same number of points. Alternatively, the opponent can be placed back in without the same privilege, being required to play the ball that he or she is snookered on. In addition, some variations of the game allow the the shooting player to pot a ball on the first visit only of the opposing team balls without the loss of a free shot.

See: free-ball for more on the meaning of "Free Ball".

Free Ball - Usage

Why don't you take free ball? Don't overlook it!

Billiards - Free Ball

  • Title: Free Ball
  • Author: (Billiards Forum)
  • Published: 1/10/2008 9:57:19 PM

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