8BALL POOL RULES PLAYED IN SOUTH AFRICA BY S.A.POOL AND PEGASUS POOL
A) THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME:-
THE GAME IS KNOWN AS EIGHT BALL POOL. IT IS EXPECTED THAT PLAYERS WILL ALWAYS PLAY THE GAME IN THE TRUE SPIRIT AND IN A SPORTING MANNER. THE REFEREE WILL TAKE WHAT EVER ACTION IS NECCESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE SPIRIT AND THE RULES OF THE GAME ARE OBSERVED.
B) EQUIPMENT:-
THE GAME OF EIGHT BALL POOL IS PLAYED WITH:-
1) A "CUE BALL" BEING A WHITE BALL. 2) FIFTEEN OBJECT BALLS CONSISTING OF FOURTEEN COLOUR OBJECT BALLS ( 7 RED OR NUMBERED 1 TO 7 AND 7 YELLOW BALLS OR NUMBERED 9 TO 15) AND THE NUMBER 8 BALL WHICH IS BLACK IN COLOUR. 3) A SIX POCKET RECTANGULAR POOL TABLE 4) A POOL TABLE WHICH HAS SIX CUSHIONS.
C) DEFINITIONS:
1) SHOT:- A "SHOT" BEGINS WHEN ALL BALLS STOP MOVING FROM THE PREVIOUS SHOT. A PLAYER PLAYS A SHOT BY STRIKING THE CUE BALL WITH THE TIP OF THE CUE. A SHOT ENDS WHEN ALL BALLS STOP MOVING FROM THE CURRENT SHOT.
2) PLAY:- TO PLAY AN OBJECT BALL IS TO PLAY A SHOT THAT RESULTS IN THE CUE BALL'S FIRST CONTACT WITH ANOTHER BALL TO BE WITH THAT OBJECT BALL. TO "PLAY" THE CUE BALL IS TO STRIKE IT WITH THE TIP OF THE CUE.
3) BALL ON:- AT ANY TIME DURING A FRAME, A BALL "ON" IS ANY OBJECT BALL THAT THE PLAYER MAY PLAY WITHOUT INCURRING A PENALTY.
4) POT:- A BALL IS POTTED WHEN IT LEAVES THE BED OF THE TABLE, ENTERS A POCKET AND REMAINS IN THAT POCKET.
5) VISIT:- A "VISIT" COMPRISES ONE SHOT OR A SERIES OF SHOTS. EACH VISIT LASTS UNTIL THE PLAYER FAILS TO POT A BALL "ON". ( OR UNTIL A FOUL IS COMMITTED OR THE FRAME ENDS.)
6) TURN:- A PLAYER'S TURN AT THE TABLE COMPRISES ONE VISIT OR, AFTER MOST FOULS COMMITTED BY THE OPPONENT, TWO VISITS.
7) FRAME:- A FRAME IS ONE GAME OF EIGHT BALL POOL BETWEEN TWO PLAYERS OR TWO PAIRS OF PLAYERS. A FRAME IS PLAYED FROM THE OPENING BREAK AND USUALLY THROUGH UNTIL THE EIGHT BALL IS POTTED.
8) MATCH:- A MATCH IS A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF FRAMES OF EIGHT BALL POOL BETWEEN TWO PLAYERS, TWO PAIRS OF PLAYERS OR TWO TEAMS OF PLAYERS.
9) PLAYER:- A PLAYER ( AND THE PLAYER'S PARTNER IN DOUBLES) IS DEEMED TO BE IN CONTROL OF THE FRAME FROM THE TIME THAT THE BALLS STOP MOVING FROM THE FINAL SHOT OF AN OPPONENTS TURN UNTIL THE BALLS STOP MOVING FROM THE FINAL SHOT OF THE PLAYER'S TURN. THERE CAN BE NO INSTANCE, ONCE A FRAME HAS COMMENCED THAT SOMEONE IS NOT IN CONTROL.
D) OBJECT OF THE GAME:-
1) THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO WIN BY BEING THE FIRST PLAYER TO:
A) POT A GROUP OF COLOURS IN ANY ORDER AND IN ANY POCKETS, AND THEN
B) POT THE EIGHT BALL IN ANY POCKET.
2) WHEN "ON" A GROUP OF COLOURS, POTTING MORE THAN ONE BALL OF THAT COLOUR IN THE SAME SHOT IS ALLOWED. BUT A SEPERATE SHOT MUST BE PLAYED TO POT THE EIGHT BALL AND WIN THE GAME.
3) THE EIGHT BALL CANNOT BE USED AS A BALL "ON" TO POT ANY COLOUR OBJECT BALL, WHEN COLOURS HAVE NOT BEEN DECIDED.
E) PLAYING FROM THE BAULK:-
1) BAULK IS THE RECTANGULAR AREA OF THE TABLE THAT IS BORDERED BY THE BAULK LINE AND THE 3 CUSHIONS AT THAT END OF THE TABLE.
2) WHEN PLAYING FROM THE BAULK:-
A) THE CENTRE POINT OF THE CUE BALL MUST BE IN BAULK WHEN A SHOT IS PLAYED. (IF THE CENTRE POINT OF THE CUE BALL IS DIRECTLY ON THE BAULK LINE IT IS DEEMED TO BE IN BAULK). ANYWHERE BEHIND THE BAULK LINE IS ALSO "IN BAULK."
B) THE CUE BALL CAN BE MOVED INTO POSITION BY HAND OR WITH THE SHAFT OF THE CUE, BUT WHEN TOUCHED BY THE TIP OF THE CUE, A SHOT IS DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN PLAYED.
THE PLAYER MAY CONTINUE TO ADJUST THE POSITION OF THE CUE BALL UNTIL HE/SHE TAKES A SHOT.
C) THE CUE BALL MAY BE PLAYED IN ANY DIRECTION.
D) 1) AFTER AN "IN-OFF" THE REFEREE WILL RECOVER THE CUE BALL AND HAND IT TO THE INCOMING PLAYER.
2) IF A PLAYER WISHES TO PLAY FROM THE BAULK AFTER A FOUL SNOOKER, FOUL JAW SNOOKER OR TIME FOUL, THE PLAYER MUST VERBALLY ADVISE THE REFEREE OF THIS CHOICE AND THE REFEREE WILL THEN RECOVER THE CUE BALL AND HAND IT TO THE PLAYER. IF THE PLAYER TOUCHES OR RECOVERS THE CUE BALL IT IS A STANDARD FOUL
E) AFTER AN "IN-OFF", FOUL SNOOKER, FOUL JAW SNOOKER OR TIME FOUL, THE PLAYER MUST ENDEAVOUR TO POSITION THE CUE BALL IN THE BAULK AREA WITHOUT A TOUCHING BALL SITUATION WITH ANY INTERVENING BALL(S).
THE PLAYER MAY REPOSITION THE CUE BALL ANYWHERE IN THE BAULK AREA BUT NOT IN CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BALL. IF THE PLAYER PLACES THE CUE BALL AND THE CUE BALL, WHILE IN HAND, TOUCHES ANY INTERVENING OBJECT BALL, THE PLAYER WILL BE FOULED. IF THE PLAYER PLACES THE CUE BALL AND THE CUE BALL, WHILE NOT IN HAND, ROLLS OVER BECAUSE OF LOOSE CLOTH AND CAUSES A TOUCHING BALL SITUATION, THE PLAYER WILL NOT BE FOULED. IN THIS SITUATION, THE REFEREE MUST RECOVER THE CUE BALL AND HAND THE CUE BALL BACK TO THE PLAYER FOR PLACING.
F) THE BREAK:-
1) THE OBJECT BALLS ARE RACKED WITH THE 8 BALL ON THE SPOT. THE OBJECT BALLS ARE TO BE RACKED STRICKTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES. ( NO MIRROR IMAGE IS ALLOWED)
2) A COIN WILL BE TOSSED TO DETERMINE WHICH PLAYER WILL BREAK R
IF A SERIES OF FRAMES IS TO BE PLAYED ( A MATCH) THE BREAK OF EACH Y R
SUBSEQUENT FRAME WILL ALTERNATE. THE PLAYER WHO WINS THE TOSS R 8 Y
HAS A CHOICE OF WHO WILL BREAK, THE PLAYER WHO BREAKS, PAYS. Y R Y R
3) THE FIRST SHOT OF A FRAME IS CALLED THE BREAK. TO BREAK, THE R Y Y R Y
CUE BALL IS PLAYED AT THE TRIANGLE OF OBJECT BALLS FROM BAULK.
THE FRAME IS DEEMED TO HAVE COMMENCED THE INSTANT THE CUE BALL IS PLAYED.
4) A) THE BREAK WILL BE DEEMED A FAIR BREAK IF:- AT LEAST ONE COLOUR IS POTTED, AND/OR FOUR DIFFERENT OBJECT BALLS (AT LEAST) TOUCHES A CUSHION. B) IF THE BREAK IS NOT A FAIR BREAK IT IS A NON STANDARD FOUL, AND:- THE OPPONENT IS AWARDED 2 VISITS, THE BALLS ARE RE-RACKED, THE OPPONENT RE-STARTS THE GAME AND IS UNDER THE SAME OBLIGATION TO ACHIEVE A FAIR BREAK.
C) IF THE CUE BALL IS POTTED ON A FAIR BREAK IT IS A NON-STANDARD FOUL THAT IS PENALISED BY THE TURN PASSING TO THE OPPONENT. IF THE BREAK IS NOT A FAIR BREAK AND THE CUE BALL IS POTTED, THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO PERFORM A FAIR BREAK APPLIES.
5) IF THE EIGHT BALL IS POTTED ON ANY BREAK, THE BALLS ARE RE-RACKED AND THE SAME PLAYER WILL BREAK AGAIN. WHEN THE EIGHT BALL IS POTTED ON THE BREAK, ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SHOT ARE IGNORED. ( EXCEPT IF A SERIOUS FOUL OR BREECH OF THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME OCCURS.)
G) LEGAL SHOT:-
1) ON ALL SHOTS, THE PLAYER MUST:- CAUSE THE CUE BALL'S INITIAL CONTACT WITH A BALL TO BE A BALL "ON" AND THEN, POT A BALL "ON" OR, CAUSE THE CUE BALL OR ANY OBJECT BALL TO CONTACT A CUSHION.
2) FAILURE TO PLAY A LEGAL SHOT IS A STANDARD FOUL.
3) EXCEPTIONS:- A) ON THE BREAK, THE CONDITIONS OF A LEGAL SHOT DO NOT APPLY. B) WHEN PLAYING OUT OF A TOTAL SNOOKER, A PLAYER IS ONLY OBLIGED TO MEET THE CONDITIONS OF 1A ABOVE.
4) INTERPRETATIONS:- A) IF THE CUE BALL'S INITIAL CONTACT IS WITH AN OBJECT BALL THAT IS TOUCHING A CUSHION, SIMPLY FORCING THE OBJECT BALL INTO THE SAME CUSHION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A LEGAL SHOT...B) IF THE CUE BALL AND AN OBJECT BALL ARE TOUCHING THE SAME CUSHION, SIMPLY FORCING THE CUE BALL AND/OR THAT OBJECT BALL INTO THE SAME CUSHION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A LEGAL SHOT.
INTERPRETATIONS:- 1) LEGAL SHOT: ON ALL SHOTS PLAYED, THE CUE BALL MUST TOUCH THE PLAYERS OWN COLOUR OBJECT BALL. AFTER TOUCHING YOUR OWN COLOUR OBJECT BALL, YOU MUST EITHER POT THAT BALL OR CAUSE THE CUE BALL OR ANY OTHER BALL TO TOUCH A CUSHION.
H) DECIDING COLOURS:- 1) GENERAL:- A) WHEN COLOURS HAVE NOT BEEN DECIDED THE TABLE IS DEEMED TO BE "OPEN". WHEN THE TABLE IS OPEN A PLAYER MAY PLAY AT EITHER GROUP OF COLOURS.... B) COLOURS CAN NEVER BE DECIDED ON A FOUL SHOT... C) ONCE COLOURS ARE DECIDED, THE PLAYER REMAINS ON THAT COLOURED GROUP FOR THE DURATION PF THE FRAME. THE OPPONENT REMAINS ON THE OPPOSITE COLOURED GROUP....D) PLAYING A SHOT AFTER NEGLECTING TO NOMINATE A CHOICE OF COLOURS IS A STANDARD FOUL. ANY BALLS POTTED ON SUCH A SHOT ARE LEFT IN THE POCKET AND IGNORED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DECIDEING COLOURS.
2) ON THE BREAK:- A) IF NO COLOURS ARE POTTED ON THE BREAK THE TABLE IS OPEN...B) IF ONE OR MORE COLOURS ARE POTTED ON THE BREAK THE PLAYER MUST THEN VERBALLY ADVISE THE REFEREE OF A CHOICE OF COLOUR BEFORE PROCEEDING. FAILURE TO DO SO IS A STANDARD FOUL. IF A PLAYER IS FOULED UNDER THIS RULE, THE OPPONENT FACES AN OPEN TABLE...C) IF THE PLAYER NOMINATES A COLOUR THAT WAS POTTED ON THE BREAK, THE PLAYER IS ON THAT COLOUR NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS NEXT....IF A PLAYER NOMINATES A COLOUR THAT WAS NOT POTTED ON THE BREAK, TO BE ON THAT COLOUR, THE PLAYER MUST POT A BALL OF THAT COLOUR ON THE NEXT SHOT. FAILING TO POT THE NOMINATED COLOUR GIVES THE ONCOMING PLAYER AN OPEN TABLE.
3) AFTER THE BREAK:- A) A PLAYER POTS ONE OR MORE BALLS OF THE SAME COLOUR, THE PLAYER IS THEN ON THAT COLOUR.
B) IF A PLAYER POTS ONE OR MORE BALLS OF DIFFERENT COLOURS, THE PLAYER MUST THEN VERBALLY ADVISE THE REFEREE OF A CHOICE OF COLOUR BEFORE PROCEEDING. FAILURE TO DO SO IS A STANDARD FOUL. IF A PLAYER IS FOULED UNDER THIS RULE, THE PLAYER FACES AN OPEN TABLE.
INTERPRETATIONS:- IF A PLAYER BREAKS AND PERFORMS A NON-FAIR BREAK (NON STANDARD FOUL) THE BALLS ARE RE-RACKED AND THE OPPONENT HAS 2 VISITS.