Chinese eight-ball billiards, as a widely popular billiards sport, attracts numerous enthusiasts with its unique charm. In the game, it is crucial to understand and abide by the rules, and the determination of fouls is an important part of the rules. Having a clear understanding of various foul situations can not only ensure the fairness and justice of the game but also enable players to give full play to their strength. There are many foul situations in terms of the hitting action. Firstly, both feet cannot leave the ground simultaneously when hitting the ball. This is to ensure that the player has stable support during the hitting process and avoid affecting the standardization of the hitting action due to physical imbalance. If a player’s both feet leave the ground at the moment of hitting the ball, he will be penalized for a foul. Secondly, the cue stick cannot touch the cue ball twice in a row when hitting the ball. During a normal shot, there should be only one effective contact between the cue stick and the cue ball. If a double hit occurs, whether it is intentional or unintentional, it violates the rules. For example, after the cue stick hits the cue ball, it accidentally touches the cue ball again due to rebound, and this situation is considered a foul. The state of the ball is also a key factor in determining fouls. When the cue ball fails to hit the target ball, it is undoubtedly a foul. In Chinese eight-ball billiards, it is clearly required that the cue ball must first hit the legal target ball; otherwise, the shot is invalid and a foul is committed. In addition, pocketing the cue ball is also a foul. Once the cue ball falls into the pocket, it not only changes the situation of the game but also violates the game rules. For example, when a player hits the ball with great force and fails to control it properly, resulting in the cue ball directly falling into the pocket, he will be penalized for a foul at this time. The fouls related to the billiard table area should not be ignored either. When breaking the balls, if the cue ball is not hit to the opposite side of the table, that is, it does not meet the requirement of crossing half of the table, it will be penalized for a foul. This rule aims to ensure that the break has a certain force and effect, enabling the game to start smoothly. During the hitting process, if the ball jumps off the table, except as allowed by specific jump shot rules, it is also considered a foul. For example, if a player hits the ball with too much force or at an improper angle, causing the ball to jump off the table directly, this will give the opponent an unfair advantage, so it is determined as a foul. There are also some special situations that will be recognized as fouls. When hitting the ball, touching the balls on the table with the body, clothes, or other items is a foul. Because billiards games require players to hit the balls legally only through the cue stick, any other way of interfering with the state of the balls undermines the fairness of the game. Moreover, intentional fouls are also serious violations of the rules. Some players may deliberately make obvious foul moves in order to change an unfavorable situation. This kind of behavior not only violates the sportsmanship but also will be severely punished. Usually, the opponent will be given a free ball opportunity, and additional penalties may even be imposed according to the severity of the circumstances. The foul rules in Chinese eight-ball billiards games cover multiple aspects such as the hitting action, the state of the ball, the billiard table area, and special situations. Only when players deeply understand and strictly abide by these rules can they maintain a good competitive state in the game, ensure the fairness and excitement of the game, and truly enjoy the fun brought by Chinese eight-ball billiards. Are you clear about all the foul situations listed in this article? Have you encountered any special foul disputes in actual games? You are welcome to share.
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