9-BALL
World Standardized Rules
"Effective July 1, 2000"
Except when clearly contradicted by these
additional rules,
the General Rules of Pocket
Billiards apply.
5.1 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.
5.2 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.
5.3 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.
5.4 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).
5.5 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.
5.6 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.
5.7 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.
5.8 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.
5.9 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.
5.10 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.
5.11 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.
5.12 JUMP AND
MASSÉ SHOT FOUL
If a match is not refereed, it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an attempt to
jump, curve or massé 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).
5.13 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 players 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.
5.14
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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