How to play nine-ball pool rules

What is a nine-ball?

Whether it’s a pocket on a break shot or an accidental pocket in the middle of the game, it’s the one who pockets the ninth ball that wins. The game is characterized by its simplicity and the element of luck, but it also requires skill. It is said that, In fact, the “break run out” (malware) follows the restriction of hitting and pocketing the target ball in order, starting from the lowest number and continuing to drop without making a mistake until the final 9th ​​ball, which is a very high-level technique and a big highlight. That’s why 9-ball has continued to be played in tournaments around the world for many years.

Basic rules of nine-ball

■Ball used

Nine target balls from balls 1 to 9 and a cue ball.

■How to assemble a rack

Place the No. 1 ball at the top of the rack, as seen from the side that will make the break shot, and the No. 9 ball in the center of the third row behind it. Other balls can be placed in any position (Figure 1)

■Game purpose

Pocket the ball before your opponent.

■Basic rule points

A player who has the right to play must first hit the lowest-numbered target ball remaining on the table when making a shot.

Nine-ball flow and wins and losses

Step 1: Decide on the match format

The player who pockets the No. 9 ball earns 1 point, and one rack (1 game) ends, so when playing against each other, players must first win five racks (games) or seven racks (this is called “Gosaki”). Decide on the format of the match. After that, use banking (Figure 2) to decide who goes first and who goes second, and the game starts.

If there is a difference in ability between you and your opponent, you can handicap them by the number of racks they have won, such as “the opponent is 4-2”, or “if your opponent throws a number 9 ball, and you throw a ball number 7 or higher, you get 1 point.” There is also a way to play with a handicap.

Step 2: From break shot to end of rack

The game begins with the first player making a break shot (Figures 3 and 4).

At this time, if any of the nine target balls are pocketed without committing a foul, play continues (if the 9th ball is pocketed, one point is earned at that point). If the target ball is not pocketed, the turn will be changed.

After that, in either case, the player making the shot continues playing according to the basic rules, and the player who ultimately pockets the No. 9 ball without fouling wins one point. The player who repeats this rack and reaches the predetermined number of racks first becomes the winner of the match.

Points of rules to have fun playing

Foul 1: Type of foul

In addition to the common fouls in pocket billiards (*), in nine-ball, if the shot cue ball does not hit the lowest-numbered target ball first (no-hit), the shot cue ball hits the lowest-numbered target ball. If neither the cue ball nor the target ball reaches the cushion (no cushion), it is a foul (Figure 5).

Furthermore, in nine-ball, if the same player commits three consecutive fouls on his turn, he will be penalized by losing one rack (three fouls).

Foul 2: Foul on break shot

If the target ball does not pocket in a 9-ball break shot if four or more target balls (including the cue ball) do not hit the cushion after the cue ball hits the first ball, it will be a breaking foul, and the opposing player must: You will be given three options.

1. The rack is reassembled, and the player with the choice takes another break shot.
2. Reassemble the rack again and force the player who committed the foul to break the shot again.

Foul 3: If you foul

If a foul is committed on the nine-ball, the opposing player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table and resume play from there. In Japan, this is called “free ball” or “free cue ball” (Figure 6).

Foul 4: Handling the ball after a foul

A target ball that is pocketed as a result of a foul shot or a target ball that goes out of bounds will not be returned to the table, and play will resume as if it had been pocketed. However, only the 9th ball should be returned to the foot spot (Figure 6).

Original Rule 1: Regulations regarding the 9th ball

In a 9-ball, if it is a safe shot within the basic rules, even if you drop the 9th ball on a break shot (break ace), the 9th ball happens to be pocketed when there are still other target balls on the table. The player who made the shot wins the rack.

Original Rule 2: Push out

For example, immediately after a break shot, if the position is not considered to be very advantageous for the player who has the right to take the shot, you can choose to “push out” only once in the 9-ball. This is a rule that allows players to hit the cue ball in any position without being charged a no-cushion or no-hit foul (Figure 7).

The player who was pushed out has the option to either shoot the ball in the same cue ball position and resume play or pass and let his opponent shoot.

Common fouls in pocket billiards

1. A foul where the cue ball from a scratch
2. The Shot falls into the pocket, either directly or after hitting some target ball. The subsequent processing will vary depending on the type of game.
3. Touching the Ball
4. The only thing you can touch the cue ball with when shooting is the leather tap attached to the cue tip. Touching any other part will result in a foul. It is also a foul if you touch the target ball.
5. Outside the Ballpark
6. If the cue ball is shot and goes off the table, it is a foul if the target ball goes off the table as a result of the shot.
7. Double Hit
8. The tap may only touch the cue ball once during a single shot. If you hit the cue ball more than once after it has been shot, it will be a foul.
9. Both Feet Leave the Floor
10. At the moment of the shot, one foot must be touching the ground, even just the toes. For example, if you sit on a table and shoot with your feet in the air, it will be a foul.
11. Adding a landmark
12. When taking a shot, it is a foul if you place any kind of landmark to help you identify where you want to aim.