Earthquake pool rule

Just rewatched my favorite movie "Earthquake" from 1974.

There is a scene where two pool players erupt into a fistfight because the first player was all cued up (queued up?) When a tremor hits forcing himself forward and knocking the ball (clearly unintentionally)

First player says shot didnt count

Second player says it did.

Curious what the forums consensus is?

Doesn't count.

From the Wolrd-Pool Billiards Association:

1.9 Outside Interference

When outside interference occurs during a shot that has an effect on the outcome of that shot,
the referee will restore the balls to the positions they had before the shot, and the shot will be
replayed. If the interference had no effect on the shot, the referee will restore the disturbed
balls and play will continue. If the balls cannot be restored to their original positions, the
situation is handled like a stalemate.

I don't remember that scene, and have to watch again to give a better answer.

I also never experienced an earthquake, but it's usually depicted in other movies as beginning with a minor vibration that gets more and more intense. I.E. There should be enough warning that having the quake cause you to hit the ball while lining up a shot would be unlikely.

Therefore, if he's ignoring the vibration to the point that he's still lining up the shot when he loses balance, then it's his fault and the accidental hit should count as a shot.


By the way, a pool stick is called a Cue, therefore I believe it would be "cued up".

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I don't remember that scene, and have to watch again to give a better answer.

I also never experienced an earthquake, but it's usually depicted in other movies as beginning with a minor vibration that gets more and more intense. I.E. There should be enough warning that having the quake cause you to hit the ball while lining up a shot would be unlikely.

Therefore, if he's ignoring the vibration to the point that he's still lining up the shot when he loses balance, then it's his fault and the accidental hit should count as a shot.


By the way, a pool stick is called a Cue, therefore I believe it would be "cued up".

It was an early tremor that suddenly strikes inside the bar. George Kennedy has just been suspended as a cop and is going to get a drink.

The fight erupts and Kennedy ends the fight by grabbing the first player (the one whose shot didnt count but is clearly a bigger fighter and brawler) and throws him into the cue rack.

Kennedys line ends the scene ("that shot counted")