Can You Change Your Nominated Ball?

[acesinc]

Once you pot a red and nominate a color (i.e - green) can you then stand up, change color (i.e - nominate yellow) and then play the yellow ball?

This happened earlier in a friendly. No balls were obscured and it was a matter of changing which angle to take in order to get round the table. Some were saying foul, some were saying you're allowed to change nomination before you take the shot.

There is a point that I may add to this conversation. Of course, all of the information you have received thus far is exactly correct as the TSF crowd is very knowledgeable on these matters. I would add though that I believe the reason that some in your group believed it foul to change nomination is because there are a few decision points that a player must make that cannot be retracted once a decision is made. So it is understandable that some people would lump this nomination into that same category. It really is quite easy and logical to differentiate however.

For instance, there is the matter of concession. If a player decides to concede a frame, that is it, frame is over, there is no going back. The player absolutely cannot change his mind and retract the concession. If a Player A fouls, then Player B decides to let Player A play again, the decision stands no matter what. If Player B spots a plant he didn't see earlier or whatever, he cannot retract his decision in order to play the shot himself.

On the other hand, as we have said, if a colour is nominated but not yet struck, the striker can flip-flop as much as he wants before finally settling on which colour is the actual ball on. In such a case, he should just be very clear about his final nomination before striking. Same thing in the case of a free ball. The player can change his mind about which free ball to play as much as he would like. He may even call a free ball, then change his mind and go back to striking the natural ball on and not play a free ball at all. (Do take note however that if a free ball had been nominated, then the player decides to play the natural ball on instead, then this intention MUST be made clear to the Referee/opponent as it is a foul to nominate a free ball, but then strike the natural ball first.) Another example would be Foul and a Miss where a colour had been nominated and the balls are reset. The player is allowed to change his decision as to which colour he will play at for the next attempt.

You may see a pattern in these examples. Basically, if a player makes a decision that has a direct effect on his opponent (concession, play again), then the decision is final, it cannot be changed after thinking it over some more. But if the decision is strictly for the striker himself...how he will approach his next shot, which colour he will play at, any point which has no direct effect on the opponent...then the striker can change his mind as much as he likes. He should be very clear as to his FINAL decision to avoid a foul call due to confusion as to that decision.

[Catch 22]

Wonderful sportmanship. Compare this to last year in the World Straight Pool tournament, the player accidentally nominated the 2 ball, but was clearly shooting at the 10 ball. The opponent called foul despite the fact that the 2 ball couldn't be struck unless they played off a cushion or two. The opponent then threw a temper tantrum when the call didn't go his way.

I love snooker.

Remember that well .....but there is far more to that story . Said player who made the foul had already made the same foul once or twice previously in the match . Also he would leave the room and sit in a seperate area while his opponent was at the table (which was supposed to be against the rules ) . So I think his opponent decided to call him on his foul as a bit of revenge tbh .

[Csmith]

Wonderful sportmanship. Compare this to last year in the World Straight Pool tournament, the player accidentally nominated the 2 ball, but was clearly shooting at the 10 ball. The opponent called foul despite the fact that the 2 ball couldn't be struck unless they played off a cushion or two. The opponent then threw a temper tantrum when the call didn't go his way.

I love snooker.

[DeanH]

This was Anthony McGill vs. Yan Bingtao. Very fine sportsmanship by McGill.

spoke "Pink" but obvious at Blue; this was discussed extensively at the time on another thread.
Even McGill temporarily came back onto TSF (he was a member but stopped logging in) as he thought someone had called him a cheat (not from what I recall) but I think all said superb sportsmanship by McGill

[JimMalone]

Just to add a different slant on this, I remember seeing a YouTube video where a Chinese lad had said black to the ref( can't remember the exact colours) but obviously lined up for a long blue and potted it, the ref called foul, I think it was John Higgins who refused it and said to the ref, the Chinese lads English wasn't that good and it was obvious what he was going for. It's interesting to see that a verbal nomination out weighs a pointing your cue and obvious shot nomination.

This was Anthony McGill vs. Yan Bingtao. Very fine sportsmanship by McGill.

[itsnoteasy]

Just to add a different slant on this, I remember seeing a YouTube video where a Chinese lad had said black to the ref( can't remember the exact colours) but obviously lined up for a long blue and potted it, the ref called foul, I think it was John Higgins who refused it and said to the ref, the Chinese lads English wasn't that good and it was obvious what he was going for. It's interesting to see that a verbal nomination out weighs a pointing your cue and obvious shot nomination.

[JonathanWilson]

Thank you for the replies, especially to Dean for the much-appreciated in-depth one. I tried to frame the question in such a way to avoid biases — and it was I who changed nomination, only for my opponent to declare that I'm not allowed, even though I hadn't got in position to take the shot yet.

Many thanks.

[Londonlad147]

I agree with Dean, a nomination can be changed right up until you strike the ball, and yes, if you've verbally declared whiuch ball you're on (of you own volition or because the referee asked you to) the you should indeed verbally declare anyt change of ball.

[DeanH]

Once you pot a red and nominate a color (i.e - green) can you then stand up, change color (i.e - nominate yellow) and then play the yellow ball?

This happened earlier in a friendly. No balls were obscured and it was a matter of changing which angle to take in order to get round the table. Some were saying foul, some were saying you're allowed to change nomination before you take the shot.

as stated above, you can change your nomination at any time, as many times, before you take the shot
Regardless of any "obscure" or not.
Remember a nomination can be spoken or indicated physically with finger or cue, or purely the alignment of the cue, as long as it is clear to the referee (or other players if no referee) which ball is being nominated. I would say that if you have spoken a nomination I would voice the change - just to be sure.

[JimMalone]

Once you pot a red and nominate a color (i.e - green) can you then stand up, change color (i.e - nominate yellow) and then play the yellow ball?

This happened earlier in a friendly. No balls were obscured and it was a matter of changing which angle to take in order to get round the table. Some were saying foul, some were saying you're allowed to change nomination before you take the shot.

Yes, you can change your nominated color.

[JonathanWilson]

Once you pot a red and nominate a color (i.e - green) can you then stand up, change color (i.e - nominate yellow) and then play the yellow ball?

This happened earlier in a friendly. No balls were obscured and it was a matter of changing which angle to take in order to get round the table. Some were saying foul, some were saying you're allowed to change nomination before you take the shot.