We really need to sort out the snookers rule. I would love it we could add the missing link :

*Be able to put people back after missing the object ball*

*Take away the ability to screw and centre ball striking when on the cushion*

I think these issues are really important and is the only thing from making this the best a snooker game can be.

Re point 1 - not sure how this could be implemented.. how you the rule be automated... I doubt it can and then if you expect the player to be honest..... well, forget it, the rule will be abused.

Re point 2 - agree, would be nice, that as you move your cue around whilst on the cushion, a shaded part goes over the white, so you clearly can see what you can/cannot hit.

However.... but.... there always is.... none of this will ever be done, as no further development is happening on the site... unless Nick changes career to something which gives him the time

First point
Foul and miss rule can not be implemented without a referee as it has to be deemed if it was a good enough attempt. So basically it's not really viable.

Second point
If you're on a cushion you can always be cuing down the cushion and able to hit the bottom of the ball no problem. Plus it is possible to get screw on the while by raising the butt of the cue. Yes, granted the game assumes you are cueing it perfectly every time but nonetheless it can be done.

Correction - If the cue ball is tight to the cushion, you can not hit the bottom of the ball...

You can if you raise the butt of the cue, you'll just be striking a different face. Limiting where you can hit the ball relative to cushions doesn't make any sense unless you can change the face of the white that you are hitting.

First you have to fix the god damn side

Edited at 14:36 Wed 07/05/14 (BST)

Couldn't agree more about the side... The only shot you notice it on is thin cuts on the blue and shots along the cushion.

But i can tell you now, i have played pool and snooker for 16 years and i know for a fact that if the cue ball is touching the cushion you can't hit the bottom of the ball. Im not saying you can't apply screw, just that it is 100% impossible to hit the bottom of the cue ball.

I play snooker 4 or 5 times a week, and im with James, if the white is on the cushion, digging down by raising the cue you cannot get any screw what so ever, all it does is stun the white, in pool it may work.

But not many players in snooker would raise the butt of the cue on the cushion anyway.

Jack stop taking those Magic Mushrooms

Agreed, you can't hit the bottom of the face of the white available to you if you cue parallel to the cushion. But as you said, it is possible to get screw (by raising the butt). At least at the moment that shot isn't taken away from you.


I don't agree there, you definitely can get screw off a cushion. The physical action is the same regardless of the size of the white compared to the size of the object ball, it's just the level of reaction that changes. Sure, it's harder to play the shot on a snooker table but it is possible...

9 times out of 10 when you try and generate screw especially if tight against the rail you tend to end up with the cue ball with unwanted/unintentional swerve... I have played snooker for around 14 years and I haven't had much success with that type of shot.

as for it being implemented on this game, ridiculous, how would you impose and enforce the rule relating to that type of play?

Yes it is a very difficult shot but unwanted/unintentional side would be a cue action/striking issue. At the moment the game assumes every shot is struck perfectly so that isn't an issue.

Talking about that, you also have the issue where you can hit the extremities of the cueball which you can not do in practice. But it is hard to set a limit because it relies on the skill of the player.

What rule is that?

mainly the foul and miss rule,
and for example, if you foul and the cue ball ends up wedged between the rail and another ball, you cant hit the cue ball anywhere without causing another foul

If there's one thing i can't handle is having to take a shot with the cue ball tight on the cushion, especially if the pot is arrow straight, it gives me a complex lol

i prefer the free ball rule after a foul. i know people will say you cant hit it on both sides then it is a free ball however it is if you cannot hit it full ball so maybe one day it would be possible?

also playing with side on here does not affect the shot with potting (only does after hitting object ball) but i believe it does in real life when aiming for a pocket.

think thats right

Correct mate, if you play a lot of side on the cue ball on a long shot, it will change the angle of the shot, but on here it will carry on until you have connected with the object ball, then the side will react.

For me the free ball issue isn't whether you could hit it, that's not hard to work out. It's more the rule that you have to nominate (which isn't in place and takes valuable time) and then you can't snooker behind the nominated ball. I can't see how you could program it to work that out but you can't leave it out otherwise people will nominate and play tap snookers which defeats the purpose.

The question I have is, how would you implement the selection of spin if you are tight to the cushion?

Yes I know you could darken a section of the white to stop me selecting it. But... how do you know where I am aiming if my mouse is over on the right hand side of the screen trying to select what sort of spin I want?

That's the issue. The darkened bit would have to move as you moved the mouse.

you would have to change the whole shot taking process. Line up your shot then lock that position and then click your spin choice and then apply power. A reverse of the current shot process