8-ball is played with a cue ball and normal rack of fifteen (15) object balls. Balls are racked with the front ball on the foot spot and the 8-ball in the center. The purpose of the game is for one player to pocket the solid colored group of balls numbered 1 to 7 or the striped balls from 9-15. Choice of balls to be pocketed is made by the player pocketing the first ball of the game. A player wins by pocketing all their object balls followed by legally pocketing the 8-ball in a called pocket.
Method used to start a match. Players shoot a ball from behind the headstring, banking it off the foot rail and back to the head of the table. Striking the side rails or any pocket results in the loss of the lag. The closest ball to the head rail wins. It is permissible to strike the head rail. If the lagged balls make contact with each other, lag over.
"Breaking safe" or soft is not allowed. For a break to be legal, at least four balls must be driven to the rails or a ball must be pocketed. Otherwise, the balls are re-racked and re-broken by the same player. A game not legally broken but resulting in a scratch or foul will be re-racked and broken by the opposite player. The rack must be struck before a foul can occur. The head ball or the second ball must be struck on the break and the cue ball may not be shot into the rail before the rack. The League Operator may make judgments and issue penalties to teams and players who are not breaking hard. Breaking just hard enough to comply with this rule is not a guarantee against penalties. Break as hard as you can with control.
Various circumstances can occur upon completion of the break; they are:
Combination shots are legal, but striking the correct ball first is required except in an "open table" situation. The 8-ball is not neutral. A player is credited with all balls they legally pocket. When a player does not pocket one of their balls but pocket's an opponent's ball, they lose their turn. The opponent gets credit for the pocketed ball. No pocketed ball is ever spotted.
If the 8-ball is knocked on the floor, it is loss of game. Object balls knocked on the floor are spotted. If the spot is taken, the ball is placed on a line directly behind the spot as close as possible. Knocking a ball other than the cue ball on the floor is not a foul. It might occur that a player pockets their ball while simultaneously knocking another ball on the floor. In that situation, it is still their turn and the ball is not spotted until they miss. If the ball on the floor is one of the shooter's balls, it is spotted when the shooter had pocketed all their other balls or misses.
Balls must remain in a pocket to be legal. If a ball goes in a pocket, but bounces back onto the playing surface, it is not considered pocketed. If it is the 8-ball, it is not considered a win or loss. If it is the cue ball, it is not considered a scratch.
While shooting, at least one foot must be on the floor at all times if a bridge stick is available. League management cannot guarantee the presence of bridges and some host locations may not have them. There is no foul - simply stop the shooter and hand them the bridge.
There are various ways to lose. Beware!
If any of the following fouls are committed, the penalty is "ball in hand" for the incoming player. Make certain you have "ball in hand" before you touch the cue ball by confirming with your opponent. "Ball in hand" means you are allowed to place the cue ball anywhere on the table (with the exception of fouls on the break which result in "ball in hand" behind the head string) and shoot any of your balls (or the 8, if all your category of balls have been pocketed.) Even after placing the cue ball, a player may, if not satisfied with the placement, make further adjustments with the hand, cue stick or any other piece of equipment. A foul is called only if the player fouls while actually stroking the cue ball, meaning a double hit of the cue ball (sometimes called double clutching). Without this rule, a player could benefit by accidentally or purposely scratching or fouling.
A player has won the game when all the balls of their numerical group have been pocketed and they have legally pocketed the 8 in a properly called pocket without scratching. To properly call the pocket, a coaster or some other mutually agreed upon marker must be placed next to the pocket the 8-ball is intended to enter. Only one marker may be on the table. If the marker is already at the intended pocket from a previous attempt or game, it is not necessary for the shooter to touch it, pick it up or replace it.
