

Note that some regional or house rules call for instant win or loss by default if the 8-ball or cue ball are pocketed on the break. If just the cue ball is pocketed on the break, the opponent can choose to take the cue ball in hand behind the head string, or re-break the balls.įinally, if a ball is jumped off the table on the break, that ball stays out of play (unless it’s the 8-ball, which would be re-spotted) and the opponent then can either play it as is, or take ball in hand behind the head string. If the breaker pockets the 8-ball and scratches the cue ball, the opponent may either spot the 8-ball and take the cue ball in hand behind the head string for his next shot or re-rack and choose to break. If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, the breaker can either re-spot the 8-ball and continue play, or re-rack and break again.īuy Now on Amazon Affiliate link / commissions earned ( read disclosure) In the case of an illegal break, the opponent can either accept the table as is and play from there choose to re-rack and break or re-rack and have the breaker go again. If the breaker does not pocket a ball and fails to drive at least 4 balls to one or more rails, it is an illegal break. However, unless the breaker pockets a ball, at least four balls must hit cushions. The cue ball does not need to hit any particular object ball first. The breaker can position the ball anywhere behind the table’s head string. The break in 8-ball pool is determined by a coin toss or win or loss of the previous game. This variation isn’t in any regulation set of rules, however.

Some variations call for the 1-ball to be the apex ball at the front point of the triangle, with the rest of the balls alternating solid/stripe, solid/stripe so that a solid color ball is at each corner. Otherwise the rest of the balls can be placed at random. One ball from each group (solid and stripe) should be placed at the two lower corners of the triangle. The base of the rack should be parallel to the end rail of the table, with the apex ball of the rack centered on the table’s foot spot. They should be racked tightly so that the balls are all in contact with each other. When the balls are racked in a triangle shape, the order of the balls is to be random with the 8-ball dead-center in the triangle.
8 BALL RULES HOW TO
( Learn more about selecting the best billiard balls.) How to Rack in 8-Ball
8 BALL RULES PLUS
and Diameter 2.25″ (allowing for plus or minus. The standard specifications for billiard balls is: Weight 5.5 – 6 oz. Regulation pool balls are usually cast from plastic materials such as phenolic resin or polyester, with a uniform size and weight for the proper action, rolling resistance and overall play properties. There are seven solid-colored billiard balls numbered 1 through 7, with seven striped balls numbered 9 through 15, an 8-ball and a solid-white cue ball.
8 BALL RULES PROFESSIONAL
The standard size for professional eight-ball tournament play is 4 1/2 feet x 9 feet.Ī pool table should be at least 29.25 inches high, with a maximum height of 31 inches. Notice that the the tables are twice as long as they are wide. The standard size for recreational 8-ball pool are as follows: Of course, you don t really need to worry about whether your table complies with standard 8-ball rules. Nonetheless, this is a roundup of some of the most commonly accepted 8 ball rules: Eight Ball Pool Equipment Regulation Size Pool TableĮight ball can be played on pool tables of many different shapes and sizes. Non-profit bodies like the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and the Billiard Congress of America have standardized rules for the game.īut the rules from the American Pool Players Association, Valley National Eight-Ball Association and BCA Pool League deviate from the international rules.Īnd, of course, since 8-ball is played informally in bars, pool halls, rec rooms and basements, there’s an almost infinite number of “ house rules” that change from one venue to the next. Related: Your complete road map to learning how to play pool… Standardized Rules of Eight Ball PoolĪmerican-style 8-ball pool is played by professionals and amateurs round the world, yet there’s still a great deal of debate over specifics of the rules. This early game had simple rules, by comparison to today’s games, and was not even added to any official rule books until 1940.ĭue to its simplicity, 8-ball eventually became the most popular recreational version of pocket billiards. The original game was played with seven yellow balls, seven red balls, a black ball and the cue ball – it wasn’t until much later that numbered stripes and solids (with an 8 on the black ball) became the preferred system. It was introduced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, and for years was known as “B.B.C. It’s believed that the game of 8-ball originated around 1900, since the first records of it date back to 1908.
