9-Ball

Overview

9-Ball is played with a cue ball and nine object balls numbered 1 through 9. It is a rotation game, meaning the balls are shot in numerical order. The shooter must strike the cue ball into the lowest numbered ball on the table first. The game is over when the 9-ball is legally pocketed. A player retains their turn at the table as long as they strike the lowest numbered ball first, and legally pocket a ball. The shooter need not pocket the lowest numbered ball to continue shooting. For example, the shooter may strike the 1-ball into the 4-ball (a combination shot) thus pocketing the 4-ball and continue their turn at the table. On their next shot, the 1-ball must again be struck first. If the shooter shoots the lowest numbered ball into the 9-ball and pockets the 9-ball, the game is over. In League play, balls 1 through 8 are worth one point each when pocketed and the 9-ball is worth two points.

The number of points required to win a match is based on the player's skill level. For example, a skill level 3 player needs to score 25 points to win their game.

There are 20 points per match and are split between both players. The number of points won for the match is based on the loser's skill level and how many points they made. For example, if a skill level 4 player gets to 31 points and their skill level 5 opponent only has 24 points, the split will be 15-5, 15 for the winning player and 5 to the loser.

NOTE: In Masters Divisions, 9-Ball is not played by ball count/points. Each individual game is won when the shooter legally pockets the 9-ball.

1. Lagging

Players lag at approximately the same time to see who wins the first break. The ball that stops closest to the head rail wins. It is permissible to strike the head rail. If the lagged balls make contact with each other, both players fail to strike the foot rail during the lag, or a ball stops in the jaw of a pocket, re-lag. Failure to strike the foot rail, or striking a side rail, or any pocket, results in loss of lag. Players are discouraged from using the cue ball during the lag. Insisting upon lagging with the cue ball is considered a sportsmanship violation and should be reported to Local League Management. The winner of the lag breaks in the first game; from that point on, the winner of each rack breaks in the next game.

NOTE: In Masters Divisions, the winner of the lag will have choice of format or the break. Once the format has been chosen, the entire set of that format must be completed before moving to the other format.

NOTE: In Doubles Divisions, the lag does not count as part of the player rotation.

2. Racking

The balls numbered 1 through 9 are racked in a diamond shape. The 1-ball is placed at the front of the diamond, the 9-ball in the center. The remaining object balls can be placed in any order.

All balls should be frozen (touching) as tightly as possible. Balls are racked by the non-breaking player, with the head (front) ball on the foot spot. The breaking player may request and receive a rerack. The loser of the lag, and/or the loser of any subsequent game, racks for the opponent.

3. Breaking

The rack must be struck before a foul can occur. A player must break from behind the head string for the break to be considered legal; in addition, at least four object balls must be driven to the rails or an object ball must be pocketed. The cue ball may not be shot into a rail before hitting the rack.

The cue ball’s point of contact with the table is used to determine if it is behind the head string, also referred to as being in. To make this determination simply compare the head string, an imaginary line connecting the two diamonds that are second from the head rail, to the cue ball’s point of contact. A ball that is dead-center on the head string is considered out, or not behind the head string.

The 1-ball must be struck first. Failure to strike the 1-ball first does not result in a foul.

If the rack is struck, but the break does not qualify as legal, the balls are reracked by the non-breaking player and rebroken by the same breaking player.

If the rack is struck, but the break does not qualify as legal and results in a scratch, the balls are reracked and broken by the opposite player.

Breaking safe or soft is not allowed. Make a note on the scoresheet if you observe a player breaking safe or soft. Local League Management may issue penalties to teams and players who are not breaking hard. Breaking just hard enough to comply with this rule is not a guarantee against penalties. Break as hard as you can while maintaining control.

NOTE: A player who is physically unable to break due to a medical condition may pass the break to the opponent, but only with prior approval from Local League Management. Such occurrences should be marked as a Defensive Shot and an inning where appropriate. Players are not allowed to have a teammate break for them.

4. After The Break

No balls are pocketed; it is the opponent’s turn.

If one or more balls are pocketed on the break, it is still the breaker’s turn

A foul on a legal break will result in ball-in-hand for the opponent anywhere on the table. Pocketed balls, if any, stay down (are not spotted), except the 9-ball. Pocketed balls are marked as dead balls on the scoresheet.

If the 9-ball is pocketed on the break, this is a win unless the player scratches, in which case the 9-ball is spotted and the turn passes to the opponent. If the foot spot is occupied by another ball, the 9-ball is placed directly behind that ball and as close to the foot spot as possible.

NOTE: Push-outs are fairly standard in pro events and in the U.S. Amateur Championship; however, they are not allowed in APA handicapped competition. Masters Divisions are non-handicapped and follow U.S. Amateur Championship rules; therefore, the push-out is allowed, and any balls pocketed on a push-out will be spotted.

5. Shooting The Wrong Balls

Occasionally, a player will foul by mistakenly shooting the wrong category of balls. The shooter may avoid a foul by asking the opponent which category of balls they should be shooting. If asked, the opponent must answer honestly. If the shooter hits the wrong ball, a foul occurs as soon as the wrong ball is struck, regardless of whether the ball is pocketed or not.

If a foul is not called before the shooter takes a subsequent shot, and makes legal contact with the lowest numbered ball, it is too late to call the foul. Any balls pocketed prior to the foul being called will be marked as dead balls, except the9-ball, which will be spotted.

6. Combination Shots

The lowest numbered ball on the table must be struck first. A player is credited with all balls they legally pocket after striking the lowest numbered ball on the table.

7. Pocketed Balls

Balls must remain in a pocket to be legal. If any ball, including the cue ball, goes in a pocket, but bounces back onto the playing surface, it is not considered pocketed and must be played from where it lies. The shooter does not need to designate their intended ball or pocket during the shot.

NOTE: Once a ball has stopped all motion, it cannot move again without outside forces affecting it. Therefore, if a ball which has been hanging in a pocket for more than a few seconds suddenly drops, it is to be placed back on the table where it was originally sitting.

NOTE: If two balls become jammed in a pocket and are leaning off the edge of the slate to some degree, they are deemed pocketed. Drop them in the pocket and resume playing unless doing so ends the game.

8. Balls On The Floor

Object balls that get knocked off the playing surface will be spotted on the foot spot. If the foot spot is taken, the ball will be placed directly behind the foot spot, as close to the foot spot as possible. If two or more balls are knocked on the floor, they are placed in numerical order with the lowest numbered ball closest to the foot spot. Spotted balls are placed frozen to one another.

Balls that get knocked off the playing surface will be immediately spotted on the foot spot. The 9-ball is spotted:

• Anytime it is knocked off the table other than when it is pocketed.
• Anytime it is pocketed and the shooter scratches or otherwise fouls.

9. Accidentally Moved Balls

Accidentally moved balls must be replaced, unless any of the accidentally moved balls make contact with the cue ball. If accidentally moved balls make contact with the cue ball, it is a ball-in-hand foul, and no balls get replaced.

• If the accidental movement occurs between shots,the ball must be replaced by the opponent before the shot is taken.
• If the accidental movement occurs during a shot, all balls accidentally moved must be replaced by the opponent after the shot is over and all balls have stopped rolling.

NOTE: An object ball that is in motion and makes accidental contact with a bridge, cue stick, pocket marker, etc. is not replaced.

If, during the course of the shot, another ball stops in the position previously occupied by the accidentally moved ball, the opponent must place the accidentally moved ball, in a fair manner, as close as possible to its original position.

10. Close Hits

Potential bad hit situations are usually fairly obvious. Disputes over these situations can almost always be avoided by having a third party, agreed upon by both shooters, watch the shot. The sitting team should protect itself by stopping the game prior to the shot. The shooter is required to stop if their opponent wants the shot watched. Once an agreed upon third party is asked to watch the shot, the third party’s call will stand and cannot be disputed.

In general, the shooter has the advantage in close hit situations. If the outside party cannot determine which ball was struck first, such as a simultaneous hit, the call goes to the shooter. Teams involved in repeatedly calling bad hits without third party verification may be subject to a sportsmanship violation and may have points deducted at the discretion of Local League Management.

NOTE: If a third party is not asked to watch the hit, and the hit is disputed, the call will tend to favor the shooter

11. One Foot On The Floor

When a bridge is available, at least one foot must be on the floor while shooting. Failure to keep at least one foot on the floor is not a foul, but may result in a sportsmanship violation. Local League Management cannot guarantee the presence of a bridge, and some Host Locations do not have them. A team that carries their own bridge may only use it if they are willing to share it with the opposing team since refusing to do so would provide an unfair advantage. If a bridge is not available, House Rules prevail.

NOTE: Players shooting from a wheelchair must remain seated in their wheelchair while shooting. If a player decides to exit the wheelchair to perform a shot, they must fully exit the chair. Players may not execute shots while “half-in, half-out” of a wheelchair.

NOTE: Players who have a legitimate need to use a stool, due to their height, are allowed to use one, provided they are able to move the stool by themselves and keep both feet on the stool. Additionally, when racking they may stand on a stool or have a teammate assist them.

12. Marking The Table

No one is allowed to mark the cloth in any way, including, but not limited to, using chalk to draw a line or wetting a finger to dampen the cloth. Teams may be subject to sportsmanship violations for marking the cloth. It is permissible to set a piece of chalk on the hard surface of the rail.

13. Stalemates

In the unlikely event that a game should become stalemated, meaning that neither player can, or wants to, make use of ball-in-hand, the balls are reracked and the player that had the break at the start of the stalemated game breaks again. A game shall be considered a stalemate when both players or teams agree. There is no minimum number of turns that must occur before a game is stalemated. The game ends but the points earned stand. The innings and Defensive Shots remain and all balls left on the table are marked as dead balls.

14. Frozen Balls

A frozen ball is a ball that is touching either another ball or a rail. In order for the frozen ball rule to be in effect, the ball must be declared “frozen” and verified as such by the shooter and their opponent. If the players in the match cannot agree, an agreed upon third party may be asked to determine if a ball is frozen.

Object ball frozen to a rail

To make a legal shot, after contacting a ball that is frozen to a rail, the shooter must either:

• Drive the cue ball to any rail after the cue ball touches the frozen ball.
• Drive the frozen ball to another rail or into a pocket.
• Drive the frozen ball away from the rail and into another ball which, in turn, causes the frozen ball to hit any rail or go into a pocket, or causes the other ball to hit any rail or go into a pocket.

To make a legal shot, after simultaneous contact between a frozen ball and the rail it is frozen to, the shooter must either:

• Drive the cue ball to another rail.
• Drive the frozen ball to another rail or into a pocket.
• Drive the cue ball off the rail and into another ball which, in turn, causes the cue ball to hit any rail, or causes the other ball to hit any rail or go into a pocket.
• Drive the frozen ball off the rail and into another ball which, in turn, causes the frozen ball to hit any rail, or causes the other ball to hit any rail or go into a pocket.

Cue ball frozen to the lowest ball in the rotation

Shooting the cue ball towards, or partly into the frozen ball, thereby making the ball move by such a shot, constitutes legal contact. Shooting the cue ball away from the frozen ball does not constitute legal contact. To make legal contact, after shooting away from the frozen ball, the cue ball must come back and contact the previously frozen ball first.

NOTE: If the cue ball is shot away from the frozen lowest ball in the rotation, and the frozen ball moves slightly due to breaking contact with the cue ball, it does not constitute legal contact.

Cue ball frozen to the non-lowest ball in the rotation

You must shoot away from the frozen non-lowest ball in rotation. If the shooter shoots towards, or partly into the frozen ball, thereby making the frozen ball move by such a shot, it constitutes illegal contact and it is a foul.

NOTE: If the cue ball is shot away from the non-lowest frozen ball in the rotation, and the frozen ball moves slightly due to breaking contact with the cue ball, it does not constitute illegal contact, and is not a foul.

15. Fouls

If any of the following fouls are committed, the penalty is ball-in-hand for the opposing player. Make certain you have ball-in-hand before you touch the cue ball by confirming it with your opponent. Ball-in-hand is the advantage given to a player when their opponent scratches or otherwise fouls, whereupon the player may place the cue ball anywhere on the playing surface.

Even after having addressed the cue ball a player may, if not satisfied with the placement, make further adjustments with their hand, cue stick or any other reasonable piece of equipment.

Only the player or the Team Captain may officially call a foul, although anyone may suggest to the player or the Team Captain that a foul should be called.

NOTE: A foul that is not called when it occurs cannot be called once the next shot has been taken.

These are the only fouls resulting in ball-in-hand. All other violations are sportsmanship violations. The ball- in-hand fouls are:

• If the cue ball goes in a pocket, on the floor, or otherwise ends up off the playing surface.
• Failure to hit the correct ball first.
• Failure to hit a rail or pocket a ball after contact. A rail must be struck by either the cue ball or any other ball after the cue ball contacts the object ball. If the ball bounces back onto the playing surface, it is considered to have struck a rail.
• If, after contacting a ball that is frozen to a rail, the shooter fails to:
  • Drive the cue ball to any rail after the cue ball touches the frozen ball.
  • Drive the frozen ball to another rail or into a pocket.
  • Drive the frozen ball away from the rail and into another ball which, in turn, causes the frozen ball to hit any rail or go into a pocket, or causes the other ball to hit any rail or go into a pocket.
• If, after making simultaneous contact between a frozen ball and the rail it is frozen to, the shooter fails to:
  • Drive the cue ball to another rail.
  • Drive the frozen ball to another rail or into a pocket.
  • Drive the cue ball off the rail and into another ball which, in turn, causes the cue ball to hit any rail, or causes the other ball to hit any rail or go into a pocket.
  • Drive the frozen ball off the rail and into another ball which, in turn, causes the frozen ball to hit any rail, or causes the other ball to hit any rail or go into a pocket.
• Intentionally scooping the cue ball over another ball.
• Receiving advice regarding game strategy from a fellow player, other than your designated coach, during a time-out.
• Touching or causing the cue ball to move, outside of a ball-in-hand situation.
• Altering the course of a moving cue ball, including a double-hit.
• Anytime the cue ball makes contact with an accidentally moved ball.
• The cue ball does not touch any object ball during the course of a shot.
• Touching another ball on the table, while placing or adjusting the position of the cue ball, during a ball-in-hand.

DOUBLES ONLY: Shooting Out Of Rotation. Once a team has shot out of rotation, the foul has occurred. If the sitting team does not call the foul before the next shot is taken, they do not receive ball-in-hand and the team that shot out of rotation will assume the new rotation for the remainder of the match. If the 9-ball is pocketed during the shot, the 9-ball is spotted and the opponents receive ball-in-hand.

16. How To Win A Game

• You legally pocket the 9-ball.