14.1 Continuous Pool

Overview

14.1 Continuous Pool, also known as straight pool, is played with 15 numbered balls and the cue ball. Each ball pocketed on a legal called shot is one point and the first player to reach the required score wins the match. 14.1 is continuous in that after fourteen balls are pocketed, they are re-racked and the shooter continues.

Lagging to Determine First Break

The lag is the first shot of the Match and determines order of play. The player who wins the lag chooses who will shoot first.

The referee will place a ball on each side of the table above the Head String and near the Head String. The players will shoot at about the same time to make each ball contact the foot cushion with the goal of returning the ball closer to the head cushion than the opponent.

A lag shot is bad and cannot win if the shooter’s ball:

• crosses the Long String
• contacts the foot cushion other than once
• is pocketed or driven off the table
• touches the side cushion
• the ball rests within the corner pocket and past the nose of the head cushion

In addition, a lag will be bad if any non-object-ball foul occurs other than the Balls Still Moving foul.

The players will lag again if:

• a player’s ball is struck after the other ball has touched the foot cushion
• the referee cannot determine which ball has stopped closer to the head cushion
• both lags are bad

The Rack

For an opening break shot, the fifteen balls are racked in a triangle with the apex ball on the Foot Spot. When the balls are re-racked, the apex ball is omitted if only fourteen balls are being racked. The marked outline of the triangle will be used to determine whether an intended break ball is in the rack area. If the balls are racked without a triangle, the outline of the triangle will still be drawn for the purpose of deciding whether a ball is in the rack area. A Ball Rack Template will not be used.

Opening Break Shot

The following rules apply to the opening break shot:

• The cue-ball begins in hand above the Head String.
• If no called ball is pocketed, the cue-ball and two object-balls must each be driven to a rail after the cue-ball contacts the rack or the shot is a breaking foul.

A breaking foul is penalized by subtracting two points from the breaker’s score. The non-breaking player may accept the balls in position or may require the breaker to play another opening break shot, until he satisfies the requirements for an opening break or the non-shooting player accepts the table in position.

Continuing Play and Winning the Match

The shooter remains at the table as long as he continues to legally pocket called balls or wins the Match by scoring the required number of points. When fourteen balls from a rack have been legally pocketed, play is suspended until the balls are re-racked.

Shots Required to be Called

14.1 Continuous Pool is a Standard Call Shot discipline. The intended ball and pocket must be indicated for each shot if they are not obvious. Details of the shot, such as cushions struck or other balls contacted or pocketed are irrelevant. Only one ball may be called on each shot.The shooter may call "safety" in which case play passes to the opponent at the end of the shot and any object-ball pocketed on the safety is spotted.

Spotting Balls

All balls pocketed on fouls, or on safeties, or without a called ball having been pocketed, and all balls driven off the table are spotted. If the fifteenth ball of a rack needs to be spotted and the fourteen balls have not been touched, the fifteenth ball will spot on the apex spot and the referee may use the triangle to assure a tight rack.

Balls are spotted (returned to play on the table) by placing them on the Long String (long axis of the table) as close as possible to the Foot Spot and between the Foot Spot and the Foot Rail, without moving any interfering ball. If the spotted ball cannot be placed on the Foot Spot, it should be placed in contact (if possible) with the corresponding interfering ball. However, when the cue-ball is next to the spotted ball, the spotted ball should not be placed in contact with the cue-ball; a small separation must be maintained. If all of the Long String below the Foot Spot is blocked by other balls, the ball is spotted above the Foot Spot, and as close as possible to the Foot Spot.

Scoring

The shooter scores one point for legally pocketing a called shot. Each additional ball pocketed on such a shot also counts one point. Fouls are penalized by subtracting points from the offending player’s score. Scores may be negative due to penalties from fouls.

Special Racking Situations

When the cue-ball or fifteenth object-ball interferes with racking fourteen balls for a new rack, the following special rules apply. A ball is considered to interfere with the rack if it is within or overlaps the outline of the rack. The referee will state when asked whether a ball interferes with the rack:

• If the fifteenth ball was pocketed on the shot that scored the fourteenth ball, all fifteen balls are re-racked.
• If both balls interfere, all fifteen balls are re-racked, and the cue-ball is in hand above the Head String.
• If only the object-ball interferes, it is placed on the Head Spot or the Center Spot if the cue-ball blocks the Head Spot.
• If only the cue-ball interferes, then it is placed as follows: if the object-ball is in front of or on the Head String, the cue-ball is in hand above the Head String; if the object-ball is above the Head String, the cue-ball is spotted on the Head Spot, or on the Center Spot if the Head Spot is blocked.

In any case, there is no restriction on which object-ball the shooter may play as the first shot of the new Rack.

If the cue-ball or object-ball is barely outside the marked rack area and it is time to rack, the referee should mark the position of the ball to allow it to be accurately replaced if it is accidently moved by the referee when racking.

Standard Fouls

If the shooter commits a standard foul, a point is subtracted from his score, balls are spotted as necessary and play passes to his opponent. The cue-ball remains in position except as noted below. The following are standard fouls at 14.1:

• Bad Cue-ball Placement
• Bad Play from Above the Head String
  • The cue-ball is in hand above the Head String for the incoming player.
• Ball Driven off the Table
  • All object-balls driven off the table are spotted.
• Ball Rack Template Foul
• Balls Still Moving
• Cue-ball Scratch or off the Table
  • The cue-ball is in hand above the Head String for the incoming player.
• Double Hit / Frozen Balls
• No Foot on Floor
• No Rail after Contact
• Playing out of Turn
• Push Shot
• Slow Play
• Touched Ball

Cue-Ball in Hand

When the cue-ball is in hand, the shooter may place the cue-ball in the area above the Head String. Bad Cue-ball Placement and Bad Play from Above the Head String fouls apply.

When the shooter has the cue-ball in hand above the Head String and all the legal object- balls are above the Head String, he may request the legal object-ball nearest the Head String to be spotted. If two or more balls are equal distance from the Head String, the shooter may designate which of the equidistant balls is to be spotted. An object-ball that rests on the Head String is playable.

Serious Fouls

14.1 Continuous Pool uses the Three Consecutive Fouls rule. Only standard fouls are counted, breaking fouls do not count as one of the three fouls. A point is subtracted for the third foul as usual, and then the additional fifteen-point penalty is subtracted, and the offending player’s consecutive foul count is reset to zero. All fifteen balls are re-racked, and the offending player is required to shoot under the requirements of the opening break.

Stalemate

If a stalemate occurs, the players will lag again to determine who will shoot an opening break. The current point score is carried over

Balls Settling

A ball may settle slightly after it appears to have stopped, possibly due to slight imperfections in the ball or the table. Unless this causes a ball to fall into a pocket, it is considered a normal hazard of play, and the ball will not be moved back. If a ball falls into a pocket as the result of such settling, it is restored as closely as possible to its original position. If a settling ball falls into a pocket during or just prior to a shot, and this has an effect on the shot, the referee will restore the position, and the shot will be replayed. The shooter is not penalized for shooting while a ball is settling.

Outside Interference

When outside interference occurs during a shot that has an effect on the outcome of that shot, the referee will restore the balls to the positions they had before the shot, and the shot will be replayed. If the interference had no effect on the shot, the referee will restore the disturbed balls and play will continue. If the balls cannot be restored to their original positions, the situation is handled like a stalemate.