The miss rule is applied in snooker when a player commits a foul and the referee judges that a reasonable attempt was not made to hit the ball on. When a miss is called, the opponent may be given additional options that can significantly affect the frame.
The miss rule exists to prevent deliberate fouling and to ensure players make genuine attempts to escape snookers or play difficult shots.
How the miss rule works
A miss can only be called after a foul has occurred. It is not a separate offence, but a judgement applied to certain fouls.
When the referee calls a miss:
- Penalty points are awarded as normal for the foul
- The balls may be replaced to their previous positions
- The non-offending player may require the shot to be replayed
The referee must assess whether a reasonable attempt was made, taking into account the difficulty of the shot.
When a miss can be called
A miss is most commonly called when a player:
- Fails to hit the ball on
- Plays an escape from a snooker that is deemed insufficient
- Appears to deliberately avoid hitting the correct ball
The referee considers whether a competent professional player would be expected to make contact from the position.
Situations where a miss is not called
A miss will not be called in every foul situation.
Common examples include:
- When the referee believes a genuine best effort was made
- When the player is snookered behind multiple balls and no full-ball contact is realistically possible
- When the score situation means the frame has reached the snookers required stage, and replacing the balls would offer no practical advantage. In such cases, a miss cannot be called because the penalty points already place the striker beyond the opponent’s remaining available points.
The decision is always at the referee’s discretion.
Repeated misses
Repeated misses can only carry additional consequences when the striker can see the ball on.
If a player is able to make full-ball contact with the ball on and still fails to hit it:
- The referee will issue a warning after two misses
- A further failure to hit the ball on from the same position results in the forfeiture of the frame
This rule applies only when a reasonable, unobstructed hit is possible. It does not apply when the striker remains fully snookered.
Common misunderstandings
A miss is the same as a foul
A miss is a ruling that can be applied to certain fouls, not a separate offence.
A miss is always called after a foul
Not all fouls result in a miss. The referee must judge the attempt to be unreasonable.
Players can always choose to replay the shot
Only the non-offending player may request the balls to be replaced.