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9-BALL
[Effective July 1, 2000]
Except
when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General
Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.
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1.
OBJECT OF THE GAME
Nine-Ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through
nine and a cue ball. On each shot, the first ball the cue
ball contacts must be the lowest numbered ball on the table,
but the balls need not be pocketed in order. If a player pockets
any ball on a legal shot, he remains at the table for another
shot, and continues until missing, committing a foul, or wining
the game by pocketing the 9-ball. After a miss, the incoming
player must shoot from the position left by the previous player,
but after any foul the incoming player may start with the
cue ball anywhere on the table. Players are not required to
call any shot. A match ends when one of the players has won
the required number of games.
2.
RACKING THE BALLS
The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the 1-ball
at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot, the 9-ball
in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in random
order, racked as tightly as possible. The game begins with
cue ball in hand behind the head string.
3.
ORDER OF BREAK
Winner of the lag has the option to break. In 9-Ball, the
winner of each game breaks in the next, unless otherwise specified
by the tournament organizer. The following are common options
that may be designated by tournament officials in advance:
(a)
Players alternate break.
(b)
Loser breaks.
(c)
Player trailing in game count breaks the next game.
4.
LEGAL BREAK SHOT
The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other
shots except:
1.
The breaker must strike the1-ball first and either pocket
a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail.
2.
If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the
requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a foul,
and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the
table.
3.
If on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to
jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming player has
cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is
not re-spotted (exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball,
it is re-spotted).
5.
CONTINUING PLAY
On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter
may play a "push out." (See Rule 5.6). If the breaker
pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he continues to
shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the player
misses or fouls, the other player begins an inning and shoots
until missing, committing a foul, or winning. The game ends
when the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal shot, or the game is
forfeited for a serious infraction of the rules.
6.
PUSH OUT
The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break
may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball into
a better position for the option that follows. On a push out,
the cue ball is not required to con-tact any object ball nor
any rail, but all other foul rules still apply. The player
must announce the intention of playing a push out before the
shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Any ball
pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed
except the 9-ball. Following a legal push out, the incoming
player is permitted 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 rule (except rules
5.8 and 5.9) is violated. An illegal push out is penalized
according to the type of foul committed. After a player scratches
on the break shot, the incoming player cannot play a push
out.
7.
FOULS
When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run at
the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are re-spotted
(exception: if a pocketed ball is the 9-ball, it is re-spotted).
The incoming player is awarded ball in hand; prior to his
first shot he may place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
If a player commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted
as only one foul.
8.
BAD HIT
If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not
the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is foul.
9.
NO RAIL
If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball
or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts
the object ball on is a foul.
10.
IN HAND
When the cue ball is in hand, the player may place the cue
ball anywhere on the bed of the table, except in contact with
an object ball. The player may continue to adjust the position
of the cue ball until shooting.
11.
OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE
An un-pocketed ball is considered to be driven off the table
if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the table. It
is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. The jumped
object ball(s) is not re-spotted (exception: if the object
ball is the 9-ball, it is re-spotted) and play continues.
12.
JUMP AND MASSE SHOT FOUL
If a match is not refereed, it will be considered a cue ball
foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or mass? the cue
ball over or around an impeding numbered ball, the impeding
ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved by a hand,
cue stick follow-through or bridge).
13.
THREE CONSECUTIVE FOULS
If a player fouls three consecutive times on three successive
shots without making an intervening legal shot, the game is
lost. The three fouls must occur in one game. The warning
must be given between the second and third fouls. A player’s
inning begins when it is legal to take a shot and ends at
the end of a shot on which he misses, fouls or wins, or when
he fouls between shots.
14.
END OF GAME
A game starts as soon as the cue ball crosses over the head
string on the opening break. The 1-ball must be legally contacted
on the break shot. The game ends at the end of a legal shot
which pockets the 9-ball, or when a player forfeits the game
as the result of a foul.
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