A safety shot is defined as a legal shot. Failure to meet these requirements is a foul.įor tactical reasons, a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and also discontinue his turn at the table by declaring "safety" in advance. NOTE: It is permissible for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a rail before contacting the object ball however, after contact with the object ball, an object ball must be pocketed, or the cue ball or any numbered ball must contact a rail. On all shots (except on the break and when the table is open), the shooter must hit one of his group of balls first and pocket a numbered ball, or cause the cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a rail. The choice of group is determined only when a player legally pockets a called object ball after the break shot. The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are pocketed from only one or both groups. NOTE: The table is always open immediately after the break shot. On an open table, all illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed. The shooter loses his turn the incoming player is awarded cue ball in hand any balls pocketed remain pocketed and the incoming player addresses the balls with the table still open. The 8-ball can be used in the middle of a combination, but if it is the first ball contacted, it is a foul and no stripe or solid may be scored in favour of the shooter. When the table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a stripe or vice-versa. The table is "open" when the choice of groups (stripes or solids) has not yet been determined. If the breaker scratches while pocketing the 8-ball on the break, the incoming player has the option of a re-rack or having the 8-ball spotted and begin shooting with ball in hand behind the head string. If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, breaker may re-rack or have the 8-ball spotted and continue shooting. If a player jumps an object ball off the table on the break shot, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option of accepting the table in position and shooting, or taking cue ball in hand behind the head string and shooting. OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE ON THE BREAK NOTE: Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string and may not shoot an object ball that is behind the head string, unless he first shoots the cue ball past the head string and causes the cue ball to come back behind the head string and hit the object ball.Ĩ. If a player scratches on a legal break shot (cue ball is pocketed):Ī) All balls pocketed remain pocketed (exception, the 8-ball: see rule 9). If s/he fails to make a legal break, the other player has three choices: To execute a legal break, the breaker (with the cue ball behind the head string) must either pocket a ball, or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. During competition, players will alternate breaking on each subsequent game. Winner of the coin toss has the option to break. The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-ball in the center of the triangle, the first ball of the rack on the foot spot, a stripe ball in one corner of the rack and a solid ball in the other corner.įlip a coin (NOT OVER THE TABLE). The opening break is not a "called shot." Any player performing a break shot in 8-Ball may continue to shoot so long as any object ball is legally pocketed on the break. Any balls pocketed on a foul remain pocketed, regardless of whether they belong to the shooter or the opponent. When calling the shot, it is never necessary to indicate details such as the number of cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc. Bank shots and combination shots are not considered obvious, and care should be taken in calling both the object ball and the intended pocket. It is the opponent's right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot. In Call Shot, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. The player pocketing either group first and then legally pocketing the 8-ball wins the game. One player must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 through 7 (solid colors), while the other player has 9 through 15 (stripes). These rules are adapted from the Billiard Congress of America for Dooly's 8-Ball Fun League and tournaments.Įight-Ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and 15 object balls, numbered 1 through 15.