A game situation I'd never seen before.

[Bishop]

I was playing 9-ball yesterday and my father in-law hung the 3 ball deep in the corner pocket, but it didn't fall. It was a real tight shot for me so I was going to try to sneak the cue ball around an objectball with a bit masse and take the cusion first to try to gain shape on the 4. Well I missed the 3 completely so it was ball in hand back to my father in-law. He sets the cue ball down and before he gets a chance to shot the 3 ball just fell into the pocket. I guess it was hanging on by a thread.

So is the 3 spotted or does it stay down and we move onto the 4 or is it my shot on the 4 since it fell right after my shot even though I missed it. I left the 3 down and gave him ball in hand on the 4 just to avoid conflict since non of us knew what to do.

[A-Train]

Originally Posted by Bishop

I was playing 9-ball yesterday and my father in-law hung the 3 ball deep in the corner pocket, but it didn't fall. It was a real tight shot for me so I was going to try to sneak the cue ball around an objectball with a bit masse and take the cusion first to try to gain shape on the 4. Well I missed the 3 completely so it was ball in hand back to my father in-law. He sets the cue ball down and before he gets a chance to shot the 3 ball just fell into the pocket. I guess it was hanging on by a thread.

So is the 3 spotted or does it stay down and we move onto the 4 or is it my shot on the 4 since it fell right after my shot even though I missed it. I left the 3 down and gave him ball in hand on the 4 just to avoid conflict since non of us knew what to do.

My opinion is that the 3 stays down and your father-in-law is to take ball in hand as usual. Had you not fouled, he wouldn't be taking ball in hand, he'd play it where it lied.

[djkx1]

I'm 98.3% sure I have read or heard that the 5 second rule applies. If it falls before 5 seconds it counts for the shooter. If it falls after 5 seconds it is re-spotted where it was and the shot goes to the incoming player. It seems to me I heard this recently on a TV match with Danny DiLiberto mentioning this rule.

In your example it should have been spotted and he would have had BIH.

[Bishop]

It would still count even though I didn't make contact with it but actually shot at it?

[djkx1]

Originally Posted by Bishop

It would still count even though I didn't make contact with it but actually shot at it?

I forgot about that part. LOL
I dont know That is a dilema
I'll do some research and get back to you, if I remember

After some research here is my answer. Missing the ball is a foul either way. So he would have BIH. The ball dropped after 5 seconds of being motionless so it would come up. Below is a snip from the BCA rules.

3.31 BALLS MOVING SPONTANEOUSLY
If a ball shifts, settles, turns or otherwise moves “by itself,” the ball shall remain in the position it assumed and play continues. A hanging ball that falls into a pocket “by itself” after being motionless for 5 seconds or longer shall be replaced as closely as possible to its position prior to falling, and play shall continue. If an object ball drops into a pocket “by itself” as a player shoots at it, so that the cue ball passes over the spot the ball had been on, unable to hit it, the cue ball and object ball are to be replaced to their positions prior to the stroke, and the player may shoot again. Any other object balls disturbed on the stroke are also to be replaced to their original positions before the shooter replays.

[Bishop]

I guess that covers it. I'm willing to bet I never see something like that happen again in my lifetime.