Important Highlights

• We play “ball-in-hand” on a scratch or foul.
• You are only required to call the object ball and the intended pocket. It is never necessary to specify details such as kisses, caroms, or soft rails.
• After the cue ball hits the object ball, a ball must hit a rail or be pocketed to be a legal shot.
• A scratch or foul when shooting the 8-ball, without pocketing the 8-ball, is not a loss of the game. The opposing player will have ball-in-hand, and the game continues.
• Coaching your partner while he/she is shooting is not allowed. Once per game, the shooting player may call “Time Out” to discuss strategy with his/her partner.

1.0 Lag for Break

• A “Lag for Break” shall determine who breaks first with an alternating break format taking place thereafter. Winner of lag is the player whose ball is closer to head of the rail. The lag still counts if the ball hits the back rail.

2.0 Racking the Balls

• First ball at the foot spot, 8-ball centered, with stripe and solid balls at corners, achieving a tight rack. The breaking player may rack the balls with the approval of the non-breaking player.

3.0 Legal Break Shot

• For the break shot to be legal, the breaker (with the base of the cue ball placed anywhere behind the head string) must either pocket a numbered ball or drive at least four numbered balls to one or more rails.
• Failing to make a legal break is a foul. The non-breaking team has the option to have the balls on the table as positioned and proceed shooting, or to have them re-racked and have the option of breaking or allowing the original breaking player to re-break.
• If there is a foul on the break, the opposing player shall shoot behind the head string and not shoot any object ball behind the head string.
• Breaking fouls include cue ball pocketed or jumping off the table, or numbered balls jumping off the table.
• Legally pocketing the 8-ball on the break wins the game for the breaker. Pocketing the 8-ball on the break with a simultaneous foul results in a loss of game.
• Any numbered ball pocketed during the break shall remain in the pocket.
• After the break, the breaking player continues to shoot if any numbered ball is pocketed.

4.0 Open Table

• The table is always open immediately following the break shot.
• Shooting the 8-ball first to pocket an object ball is a foul and the incoming player has ball-in-hand.
• Pocketing an object ball and committing a foul during open table shall be ball-in-hand to the opposing team and the table is still open. Any balls pocketed, legally or illegally, will remain pocketed, regardless of the group (stripe or solid).
• Failing to make the called shot when a ball is pocketed is an open table for the opposing team.

5.0 Continuing Play – Call Pocket

• The player’s designated group (solids or stripes) will be determined when a player legally pockets a called object ball.
• Obvious shooting a ball to a pocket does not have to be called. It is the opposing team’s right to ask which ball and pocket you are calling, when unsure.
• Any bank shot, kick shot, or combinations must be called to their designated pocket, or they are considered a miss. When a player successfully pockets the designated object balls, they continue until either a miss, foul or win occurs.
• It is never necessary to specify details such as the number of banks, kisses, caroms, rails, etc.
• If after the cue ball strikes a legal ball and neither the cue ball nor any other ball hits a rail or is pocketed, it is a ball-in-hand foul.
• Any numbered balls pocketed, remain in the pocket, even if a foul was committed.

6.0 Legal Shot

• After the cue ball strikes a legal ball, a ball must hit a rail or be pocketed for the shot to be legal.
• A player may choose to pocket an object ball and discontinue their inning by declaring “safety” to the opponent prior to the shot.

7.0 Call Pocket

• Shooting a ball to an obvious pocket does not have to be called. However, it is the opponent’s right to ask which ball and pocket the shooter is attempting.
• Bank shots, kick shots and combination shots must be called.
• You are only required to call the object ball and the intended pocket. It is never necessary to specify details such as kisses, caroms, or soft rails.
• Any numbered balls pocketed, remains in the pocket, foul or non-foul, regardless of who is shooting.

8.0 Playing the 8-Ball

• Pocketing the 8-ball to the intended pocket shall be called.
• A scratch or foul when shooting the 8-ball, without pocketing the 8-ball, is not a loss of the game. The opposing player will have ball-in-hand, and the game continues.
• 8-ball jumping off the table at any time is a loss of game.
• The 8-ball pocketed in a pocket other than the called pocket is a loss of game.
• A player pocketing the 8-ball before pocketing all his/her numbered balls is a loss of the game.

9.0 Foul, Penalty, Ball-in-Hand

• The 8-ball cannot be used as the first ball to be hit in a combination shot. It’s a foul, resulting in a ball-in-hand for the opposing player.
• If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not a numbered ball from the shooter’s established group, it is a ball in hand foul.
• Causing any ball to come to rest off the playing surface is a foul and any such ball(s) are pocketed. 8-ball jumping off the table is a loss of game.
• After the cue ball strikes a legal ball, a ball must hit a rail or be pocketed for the shot to be legal. Failure to do so results in ball in hand to the opposing player.
• Touching or causing even the slightest movement of the cue ball (other than a normal shot), even accidentally, is a foul. A player may use the ferrule or shaft of the cue to position the cue ball when a “cue ball in hand” is in play. Using the tip is a foul, and ball in hand will be given to the other player.
• Failure to have at least one foot on the floor at the moment the cue tip strikes the cue ball is a ball in hand foul.
• Touching a moving object ball or allowing a moving ball to hit a foreign object is a ball in hand foul. If the accidental movement of a ball(s) results in the disturbed ball(s) being struck by any moving balls in play, it results in a ball in hand foul.
• Any still object ball moved can only be moved back to its original position with the permission of the opponent. The opponent may exercise the option of keeping disturbed ball(s) in new position if they so choose. Only after receiving consent from the opponent, the player who has committed the error may move the disturbed object ball(s) back to original position. If the player who has committed the infraction touches any of the disturbed balls without consent of opponent, it will result in a loss of turn with ball in hand to the opponent.