
If any numbered ball leaves the table or comes to rest on top of a rail.If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table.NOTE: the cue ball is touched by the cue tip and does not meet the legal break requirement, it is considered an “illegal break.”

If the breaker fails to make the legal break requirement, the balls will be re-racked and the opponent shall have the option of breaking or requesting the offending player to break again. No ball is called, and the cue ball is not required to hit any particular object ball first. When there is no official available, each breaking player shall be responsible for providing themselves a legal and solid rack.įor the break shot to be legal, the breaker (with the base of the cue ball placed anywhere behind the head string) must either pocket a number ball or drive at least four (4) number balls to one or more rails. Player must re-rack if this occurs (see 9.5, Ball Tapping). Touching or positioning of balls after the rack has been removed is never permitted (exception magic rack). In these cases, players are permitted to rack within a dime’s radius of the direct foot spot to achieve a solid rack. NOTE: Tables may have flaws that do not allow for acceptable racks directly upon the foot spot. Within the rack, the 8-ball is centered while the two corners are occupied by the two opposite groups (one solid ball and one striped ball). The balls are racked randomly with the base of the rack is parallel to the short end of the pool table and is positioned so the ball in the tip of the rack is located on the center of the foot spot. Winner of lag is the player whose ball is closer to head of the rail. In the event that two players with equal Speeds play, a “Lag for Break” shall determine who breaks first with an alternating break format taking place thereafter. The player with the lowest Speed (Rating) shall break first with an alternating break format taking place thereafter.

The player who pockets their entire group and then legally pockets the 8-ball wins the game. Balls 1–7 are solid colors and commonly referred to as “low balls”, and balls 9–15 are striped and commonly referred to as “high balls.” One player must pocket balls of solid colors, while the other player must pocket the striped balls. The object of 8-ball is to win by legally pocketing the 8-ball.Ĩ-Ball is played with a cue ball and fifteen object balls, numbered 1 through 15.
