Rules

8-Ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and 15 object balls, numbered 1 through 15. One player must pocket balls 1 through 7 (solids or spots) while the other player has 9 through 15 (stripes). The player who pockets all the balls of his group first and then legally pockets the 8-Ball wins the game.

Strictly speaking, a player should nominate a ball and pocket for every shot. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, where a shot is blatantly obvious, there is no need to nominate. Where not clearly obvious, a player should always nominate. Similarly, if a player intends to pot a ball but give the opposing player the next turn, they should call a “safety, no pocket” or nominate an alternative pocket.

The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot string of the table with the 8-Ball in the center, any ball on the foot spot, and a solid and striped ball at the back corners.

The winner of the coin toss will have the option to break or pass on it to his opponent. From then on the match will be alternating break.

The player must shoot the cue ball from behind the head string and either pocket a numbered ball or drive at least 4 numbered balls to a rail. Failure to do so is a foul. The incoming player will then have the option of either accepting the table as it is and begin shooting or have the balls re-racked and then break the rack himself, or ask his opponent to re-break. It is not necessary to hit the front ball on the break, and the break is not a call shot. If a ball is pocketed on the break, the breaker continues shooting, if not his opponent continues.

The table is considered open after a break, regardless of what balls were pocketed. The first legally pocketed ball after the break determines a players group. While the table is open, it is legal to hit any ball other than the 8-ball in order to pocket a nominated ball.

If a player scratches (cue ball is pocketed or a ball is forced off the table) on a legal break shot it is a foul. The opponent will have ball in hand from behind the head string. He may shoot at any ball that is not behind the head string, and the table is still open. All pocketed balls remain pocketed.

If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, the breaker will have the option of spotting the 8-Ball or asking for a re-rack. If he scratches while doing so, the same option will go to his opponent.

On all shots, a shooter must hit one of his balls first. Failure to do so is a foul. After contact with any of his balls, a ball must either go in a pocket or a ball (any ball on the table) MUST be driven to a rail. Failure to do so is a foul.

All fouls will result in 1 shot, ball-in-hand, from anywhere on the table for the opponent, except for the break shot.

The following infractions are considered fouls: A. Failure to execute a legal shot as defined in the rules. B. Pocketing the cue ball or driving any ball off the table. C. Failure to make first contact with any of your designated balls. D. Shooting without at least 1 foot touching the floor. E. Failure to either pocket a ball or drive a ball to a rail. F. Moving or touching any ball by any means other than by legal play (this includes all body parts, articles of clothing, bridges and equipment). G. Shooting while any ball is still in motion.

If an object ball is frozen (touching) a rail, a shooter must either send it to another rail or make sure that the cue ball or any other ball reaches a rail. Failure to do so is a foul

Illegally pocketed balls are not re-spotted, except the 8-Ball on a break

If the cue ball is directly touching one of your group of balls, contact must still be made. You do not have the option of playing away. It is necessary to make contact with that or another ball, and a ball must make contact with a rail. If the cue ball is touching one of your opponent’s balls, you must play away from that ball, make contact with one of your own balls, and make sure a ball is driven to the rail.

Jump shots are allowed in 8 ball. If both captains agree to disallow jump shots before a given match has started, then they will not be allowed during that match. The bar owner or management have the rights to disallow jump shots regardless of what captains want

Combination shots using your opponent’s balls or the 8 ball are allowed, providing one of your group of balls is the first to be hit.

If you drive an object ball off the table, it is a foul and the ball is not re-spotted.

A ball hanging precariously at the edge of a pocket falls in after being motionless for 5 seconds will be re-spotted as closely as possible to its position prior to falling.

As this is a call shot game, a shot on the 8-Ball need not be nominated if it is an obvious shot. A scratch or a foul on the shot is not loss of game unless the 8 Ball is pocketed or jumps off the table.

A player loses the game if he fouls while pocketing the 8-ball, jumps it off the table at any time, puts it in a pocket other than the one nominated, pockets it with any of his group of balls left on the table, or scratches while pocketing it.

As long as your ball is the first ball hit, pocketing your opponent’s ball is not considered a foul, it is loss of turn only unless you pocket one of the balls in your group as well. The order is not relevant. You cannot nominate your opponent’s ball as a shot

Any player is eligible to play as long as they have not played for another 8-Ball team during the season.

When playing under ball-in-hand rules, intentional fouls are not only allowed, but often important strategy. Only under the 2-shot rule, which we do not use, are they considered either poor sportsmanship or loss of game.

The league wants to avoid enforcing time limits on players, but ask that everyone make an effort to shoot within a reasonable length of time. Mobile phone calls during play should consist of little more than “I am busy. I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”

We must remind everyone that we are a recreational bar league, not a professional one. The matches are expected to be somewhat competitive, but the priority is for it to be an enjoyable experience.

Captains have a great deal of leeway within the league. If both team captains agree beforehand to any variation of the rules, it is allowed. It is the responsibility of the team Captains to know and understand the rules, deal with any problems or disputes that may arise, and intervene fairly in any matters that require mediation. A Captain should always keep in mind that he is an ambassador for his team.

The league has been known to allow transfers of a player to a different team.

It must be noted that transfers require both captains approval (the captain of the team trasnferring away and the captain of the team transferring to) as well as the league committee (at the least).

The transfer may or may not require the agreement of other teams as well.

Nine Ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and a cue ball. On each shot the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest-numbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed in order. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains at the table for another shot and continues until he misses, fouls, or wins the game by pocketing the 9-ball. After a miss, the incoming player must shoot from the position left by the previous player, but after any foul the incoming player may start with the cue ball anywhere on the table. Players are not required to call any shot. A match ends when one of the players has won the required number of games.

The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the number one ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot, the 9-Ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in random order, racked as tightly as possible. The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the head string.

The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except: a. The breaker must strike the 1 ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least 4 numbered balls to the rail. If any ball is pocketed, he continues shooting. If the 9 ball is pocketed and the cue ball is not pocketed or not driven off the table, then it is considered a win for the breaker. b. If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a foul and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. c. If, on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming player has cue ball in hand from anywhere on the table. The object ball is not re-spotted. d. If the object ball driven off the table is the 9-ball, then it is respotted. e. A coin toss will determine who has the option to break in the first leg of the match. Players will then alternate the break. The away team will make the call.

On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play a “push shot.” (See Rule 5.). If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he continues to shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player begins his inning and shoots until he misses, fouls, or wins. the game ends when the nine ball is pocketed on a legal shot, or the game is forfeited for a serious infraction of the rules.

The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break may opt to take a push shot. If the breaker has potted one or more balls on a legal break, it will be his option. If no balls were pocketed, the incoming player will have the option. The push shot is a tactical shot that is generally used when the shooter has a high risk of fouling while attempting to hit the lowest numbered ball on the table after a break. On a push shot, the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball nor any rail, nor must the lowest ball be hit. Any ball, or balls, can be either hit or pocketed. If the 9-ball is pocketed, it will be re-spotted. All other balls will remain pocketed. All other foul rules still apply, including pocketing the cue ball. The player must openly declare that he is playing a push shot before he plays, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Once a push shot is taken, the incoming player then has the option of either shooting on, or passing the shot back to the player who pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed. After a player scratches on the break shot, the incoming player cannot play a push out.

When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are respotted (exception: if a pocketed ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted). The incoming player is awarded ball in hand; prior to his first shot he may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. If a player commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul. Touching any ball with any part of the body, rest, cue, bridge, or clothing is a foul.

If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest- numbered ball on the table, the shot is foul.

If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball on is a foul.

When the cue ball is in hand, the player may place the cue ball anywhere on the bed of the table, except in contact with an object ball. He may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until he takes a shot.

An unpocketed ball is considered to be driven off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the table. It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. The jumped object ball(s) is not respotted (exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted) and play continues.

The venue has the right to ban jump shots. Jump shots are allowed by default in 9-ball, unless BOTH captains agree NOT to allow them.

Coaching is NOT permitted during play. A player who wishes may ask any question concerning the rules before making a shot, but may not ask for advice on strategy. It is the player’s responsibility to know the sequence of balls to be hit. If any of his teammates see him/her lining up for a shot on a ball out of sequence, it will be a foul if they notify him.

The game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the 9-ball. A game can not end on a foul. If there is a foul while pocketing the 9-ball, it is re-spotted. The opponent will then have ball in hand.