OBJECT OF THE GAME

The pool game named “nine-Ball” is played with a cue ball and nine object balls numbered one through nine. On each shot, the first ball the cue ball makes contact with must be the lowest numbered ball on the table, but the balls do not have to be pocketed in order. If a pool player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he or she remains at the table for an additional shot, and remains shooting until missing a shot, committing a foul, or wining the game by pocketing the nine ball. After a player misses a shot, the incoming player is required to shoot from the location left by the preceding player. After any foul the incoming player can begin with the cue ball anywhere on the table. The pool players in nine ball payers are not required to call their shots. The game is over when one of the players has won the necessary number of games.

RACKING THE BALLS

The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the one ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot. The nine ball is located in the center of the diamond, and the other balls are in random order. The balls are always racked as tightly as possible. The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the head string of the pool table.

ORDER OF THE BREAK

The winner of the lag has the choice to break. In nine ball the winner of each game breaks in the following game, unless otherwise specified by the tournament director. The following are general options that may be selected by tournament officials in advance:

Players Rotate Breaks

Loser Breaks

The player who is trailing in the game count breaks the following game.

LEGAL BREAK SHOT

The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots excluding: The pool player who is breaking must strike the one ball first and either pocket a ball or force at least four numbered balls to hit the rail. If the cue ball is hit off the table or pocketed, or the requirements of the opening break are not met, it is considered a foul, and the incoming pool player has cue ball in hand wherever he or she chooses on the table. During the break if an object ball jumps off the table, it is considered a foul and the incoming pool player gets to place the cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is not re-spotted unless it was the nine ball and in that case it will be placed back on the table.

Diamond Shaped Rack

The one ball is required to be on the foot spot The nine ball is required to be placed in the center of the rack.

CONTINUING PLAY

After a legal break, the shooter has the option to play a “push out.” If the person who breaks pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he or she continues to shoot until they miss a shot, foul, or win the game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player starts to shoot until missing, committing a foul, or winning the game. The game is over when the nine ball is pocketed on a legal shot, or the game is forfeited.

PUSH OUT

The person shooting immediately after a legal break may play a push out in an effort to relocate the cue ball into a improved position. On a push out, the cue ball is not obligated to contact any object ball or any rail, but the rest of the foul rules still are relevant. The player must declare the intention of playing a push out before the shot is taken, or the shot is considered to be a regular shot. Any ball which is pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed excluding the nine ball. Subsequently after a legal push out, the next player is allowed to shoot from that position or to pass the shot back to the player who pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul as long as no rules are violated. An illegal push out shall be penalized according to the kind of foul committed. When a player scratches on the break, the next player is not able to play a push out.

FOULS

When a foul is committed, the player must surrender their turn at the table and none of the balls pocketed on the foul shot are re-spotted. Unless it is the nine ball, it is re-spotted. The incoming player is awarded ball in hand.

BAD HIT

A bad hit is when an object ball contacted by the cue ball and it is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is a foul.

NO RAIL

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

IN HAND

The pool player may place the cue ball wherever they choose on the table when the ball is considered in hand. You are not allowed to place the cue in direct contact with an object ball. The player can continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until shooting.

OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE

It is considered to be a foul if any ball is driven off the table. The ball that is jumped off the table is not re-spotted. Only if the nine ball is hit off the table it will be re-spotted.

JUMP AND MASSÉ SHOT FOUL

If a nine ball game is not refereed, it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an effort to curve, jump or massé the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball, the impeding ball moves.

THREE CONSECUTIVE FOULS

If a player fouls three successive times on three consecutive shots without making an superseding legal shot, the game is lost. The three fouls have to take place in one game. The caution must be specified between the second and third fouls. A player’s inning starts when it is officially permitted to take a shot and ends at the end of a shot on which he or she fouls, misses or wins, or when he or she fouls between shots.

END OF GAME

A nine ball game begins as soon as the cue ball crosses over the head string during the opening break. The one ball is required to be legally contacted on the break shot. The game ends when a legal shot pockets the nine ball, or when a player forfeits the game as the consequence of a foul.