What is a miss in English billiards?
A · Advanced · Playing the game · 1 of 5When both object balls are in baulk and the next player is in-hand, that player cannot hit either ball directly. One answer is a miss: playing up the table without hitting anything. A miss gives the opponent two points but is not a foul. Sending the cue-ball straight into a pocket instead is running a coup, which is a foul.
How it works
- Both balls in baulk: a recognised tactic. The in-hand player can only reach them off a cushion.
- A miss: from in-hand, with no object ball out of baulk, the cue-ball fails to touch an object ball without any other infringement.
- The cost: 2 points to the opponent.
- Not a foul: the next player plays from where the balls have come to rest.
- Running a coup: while in-hand with no balls out of baulk, playing the cue-ball straight into a pocket, or off a pocket's curved face into it.
- A coup is a foul: with the usual penalty and options for the opponent.
- Not a coup: going into a pocket after first hitting a flat cushion face, or off the curved face of a different pocket.
- A miss anywhere else: failing to hit an object ball in other circumstances is a foul.
The glossary has the both balls in baulk, the miss, the running a coup, the direct and indirect stroke, the penalty points and the foul.
Tricky cases
A player in-hand rolls the cue-ball into the top pocket on purpose. Is that a miss?
No. Playing directly into a pocket from in-hand when no balls are out of baulk is running a coup, a foul.
A player not in-hand fails to hit any ball. Is that a miss?
No. The miss applies only when playing from in-hand with no object balls out of baulk. Failing to hit an object ball otherwise is a foul.
After a miss, does the opponent get to play from the D?
No. After a miss, the next player plays from where the balls have come to rest.
Are a miss and a foul worth the same?
Both give the opponent 2 points. After a foul the opponent may also choose to have the balls spotted and play from in-hand.
Why the rule exists
The miss lets a player in a hard position give away two points to leave the balls safe, and so keeps the defensive game alive. The coup is banned because it would be an easy way to give the turn away while also leaving the balls where they are.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Miss from in-hand, both balls in baulk | 2 points; not a foul | WPBSA Billiards 2.16; 3.17 |
| Running a coup | Foul | WPBSA Billiards 2.17; 3.15(g) |
| Failing to hit any ball otherwise | Foul | WPBSA Billiards 3.15(o) |
| Snooker | A foul and a miss is called by the referee and can mean a replay | WPBSA Snooker 3.14 |
From the rule book
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, Official Rules of the Games of Snooker and English Billiards (May 2022 update), English Billiards part, English Billiards Section 2 Rules 16 and 17 and Section 3 Rules 1(e), 15 and 17. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the association's rule book, which covers snooker and English billiards together.