I know it's been discussed several times before about implementing free ball functionality, and I seem to recall that the general response is that it's too difficult a thing to cater for in a java game like this.

Yesterday, like a traitor, I went in search of other online snooker games (I'm sorry ), and found one at w w w pub snooker dot com , and whilst it is vastly inferior to funky snooker (I mean VASTLY inferior), they have managed to implement the free ball rule in to what essentially looks like a similar java based game.

I completely understand the arguments of people not wanting this game to be too realistic, but I believe a free ball option would be a good way of cutting down on some of the very lame attempts by people to get out of snookers, where they don't even try and instead just play a foul shot that doesn't leave much on (usually involving what would be a free ball under normal circumstances), and from what I've seen yesterday on that other site, it's entirely possible to implement.

Out of interest, does it include the rule about not snookering behind the nominated ball?

i like the sound of the free ball rule on here as someone tried cheating against me earlier so im in for the free ball rule

If I recall correctly, it wasn't so much the technical aspect of doing it, but more how the decision was made as to whether a shot was a foul or a miss, and the need to nominate the color to be used.

People will always moan about any change, but I think a good compromise which would keep things moving would be to call all misses fouls (as they are now) and waive the nomination in favour of a "free ball" button similar to push out in 9ball pool.

That just leaves a straight line calculation to decide if a player is snookered.

I didnt think it had to be a foul and a miss for the free ball as you can still get a free ball in the snookers required stage? Regardless of that, four things to consider:

1. My post above. Can the game tell if you have snookered your opponent behind the free ball? Without nominating, this is surely impossible and will just lead to players getting a free ball and playing tap snookers.

2. When doing a straight line calculation for a snooker on a red, any reds between the cue ball and that red have to be ignored, can the game recognise the difference between a pink (say) between the cue ball and the red and another red between them?

3. If the object ball is on the cushion, you clearly cant hit both sides of it, so this would have to be taken into consideration too. Plus, does anyone know if snookering your opponent using the jaw of a pocket can result in a free ball?

4. As over 12 points can be gained from one snooker with the free ball rule in, the tournament ruling on when a win is awarded would have to change I think.