Game Rules:
General Description
PAGE 43-44
It is impossible to cover every situation with rules. Common sense must prevail. Play within the Spirit of the Rules, as well as the written rule. Teams that try to gain an advantage by creating their own interpretation of rules are subject to sportsmanship violations. Win at the table and not from the chair.
8-Ball is played with a cue ball and a rack of 15 object balls. The primary purpose of this game is for one player to pocket the solid balls numbered from 1 to 7 or the striped balls numbered from 9 to 15, and then pocket the 8-ball before their opponent. Each player’s category of balls is determined when the first player legally pockets a ball. For example, if the first ball pocketed in the game is the 3-ball, then that player must pocket the rest of the balls numbered 1 to 7 while the opposing player attempts to pocket all the balls numbered 9 to 15. The turn passes from one player to the next whenever the shooter fails to pocket a ball of their category or fouls. A player legally pocketing a ball of their category must continue to shoot.
The player who pockets their entire category of balls first, and then legally pockets the 8-ball, is the winner of the game. In League play, the 8-ball must be pocketed in a marked pocket.
NOTE: In Masters Divisions, players have the option of calling, rather than marking, the 8-ball pocket.
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.
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.