All About POOL

OVERVIEW

Pool is a game which in principle is similar to Snooker. It is usually played between two players, or two teams of no more than two players each. In this case, each team member would make alternate visits to the table, although for some games, there can be more players.

There are different variations of pool games.
The most common are explained below.
Straight Pool
UK 8 Ball
US 8 Ball
8/15 Ball
9 Ball

Variations
Best Shot
Diamond nine
Golf
On the Green
Rotation
Speed Pool
Survivor / Killer

General rules

The cue ball (white ball) is struck with a cue, a long wooden stick-like rod with a soft end. Chalk is occasionally rubbed on the tip of the cue to provide better action when striking the cue ball. The idea is to knock coloured balls into the pockets with the cue ball.

The baize used for pool tables is usually blue or green, although it is not uncommon to see red, grey, brown, or other colours of baize on pool tables.

A break is made to start the game. This means that the white ball is placed on the line and struck forward to hit the triangle of balls at the opposite end of the table.

If the player pots a ball from the break, then it counts as a valid ball. Players remain at the table until they fail to pot a ball or the game is won. If they fail to pot a ball, then the other player has a turn.

Different rules apply for Survivor (also called Killer). See below for details.

DETAILED RULES

Straight Pool

The object of this game is to attain a predetermined score. This can be anything from 15 upwards.

A legally potted ball counts as 1 point. If more than one ball is potted from the same shot, each legally potted ball counts as 1 point. The lowest numbered ball does not have be struck first.

From the break, the cue ball and at least two other balls must hit the rail (side cushion). A foul from the break takes 2 points off the score. Any other foul counts as 1 point off the score. If a player commits three fouls in a row, 15 points are taken off their score.

A score can go below zero, in this case it would be marked as 0, -1, -2, -3, and so on. This player would have a correspondingly longer way to go to reach the target score. If the cue ball is potted, it is replaced behind the line, where play starts from.

UK 8 Ball

This game is usually played on green baize with the red and yellow ballset. The object of the game is to pot all of your own ball group first, followed by the black 8 ball.

The way each players ball group is decided is by the first ball a player pots.
For example, if player one pots a yellow ball first, then they will try to pot all the yellow balls.

If a player pots two balls at once before the ball sets have been decided, the player may choose which colour to go for.

A turn consists of the player trying to knock one of their own balls into a pocket with the cue ball. The turn continues until the player fails to pot a ball, or commits a foul.

Fouls

The following count as fouls in UK 8 Ball. Any of these will end your turn.

- Potting the white ball - at anytime, even from the break or after potting one of your own

- Missing your own ballset

- Hitting one or more of your opponents balls before your own. If you only hit the opponents balls and none of your own, it is still a foul

- Potting one or more of your opponents balls before your own. If you only pot the opponents balls and none of your own, it is still a foul. If your own balls are potted by an opponent, you get a free shot, and any of your balls potted by the opponent remain off the table

- Hitting the 8 ball before hitting your own

On the break, at least two balls (red, yellow, or black) must hit the sides of the table. If this does not happen, the break is retaken by the other player.

After a foul, the other player will play the white ball from wherever it is on the table. If the white ball was potted, it starts from the line again.

Free shots

A foul accords the other player a free shot. The shot is taken, and regardless of what happens, that player then has a normal turn.

A player may pot balls from a free shot. A player can hit any ball from a free shot, and pot any ball. If an opponents ball or the white ball is potted, the free shot ends.

If the 8 ball is potted on a free shot without that players' balls being cleared, it is replaced and the free shot ends. A coloured ball, regardless of whose it is, stays off the table. A game can be won with a free shot.

Other fouls

There are also two other fouls.

On the break, at least two balls (red, yellow, or black) must hit the sides of the table. If this does not happen, the break is retaken by the other player.

If a player pots the 8 ball without potting all their own coloured balls first, they lose the game automatically. Even if they have potted all but one, and the other player has potted nothing.

Put simply, the aim of the game is to pot all balls of your own colour, then the 8 ball.

US 8 Ball

This game is usually played on blue baize with the spots and striped ballset. The object of the game is to pot all of your own ball group first, followed by the black 8 ball.

A turn consists of the player trying to knock one of their own balls into a pocket with the cue ball. The turn continues until the player fails to pot a ball, or commits a foul.

Fouls

- Potting the white ball - at anytime, even from the break or after potting one of your own

- Missing your own ballset

- Hitting one or more of your opponents balls before your own. If you only hit the opponents balls and none of your own, it is still a foul

- Hitting the 8 ball before hitting your own

- On the break, at least two balls (spots or stripes) must hit the sides of the table. If this does not happen, the break is retaken by the other player.

- If a player pots the 8 ball without potting all their own coloured balls first, they lose the game automatically. Even if they have potted all but one, and the other player has potted nothing.

Put simply, the aim of the game is to pot all balls of your own colour, then the 8 ball.

Differences between UK and US pool

The US style of playing pool does not contain a free shot after a foul.

Instead, the non-fouling player may place the cue ball anywhere they wish on the table. This also applies after the cue ball has been potted.

There is also a rule known as the open-table rule. What this means is that in the instance of a player potting a spotted and a striped ball together, they do not choose a set.

Instead the table remains open - sets are not decided until a ball from one set has been potted. This would then decide the balls that each player would shoot for.

8/15 Ball

This game is usually played with the spotted and striped ballset. The object of the game is to pot all of your own ball group first, followed by the 1 ball.

The ball groups are 2-8 and 9-15. When one or more balls from one of these groups is potted by a player, that player will then continue with that group. If two balls of opposite sets are potted, the player may choose which set to go for.

The balls 8 and 15 must be potted in the side pockets - the two pockets not on the corners.

When a player has potted all of their own ball group, they must nominate a pocket to try and get the 1 ball in. Potting the ball in a non-nominated pocket constitutes a foul, although different pockets can be nominated every turn.

A turn consists of the player trying to knock one of their own balls into a pocket with the cue ball. The turn continues until the player fails to pot a ball, or commits a foul.

Fouls

- Potting the white ball - at anytime, even from the break or after potting one of your own

- Missing your own ballset

- Hitting one or more of your opponents balls before your own. If you only hit the opponents balls and none of your own, it is still a foul

- Hitting the 1 ball before hitting your own

- On the break, at least three balls (spots or stripes) must hit the sides of the table. If this does not happen, the break is retaken by the other player.

After a foul, the non-fouling player may place the cue ball anywhere they wish, in the small rectangle at the side of the table - the rectangle containing the D.

Balls which have been potted during a foul are placed back on the table, in the positions they were in before they were potted. This also applies after the cue ball has been potted.

9 Ball

Ball group for 9-ball pool

Ball group for 9-ball pool (yellow at the front)

This game is usually played on blue baize with the spotted and striped ballset. The arrangement of the balls on the table is shown in the diagram above.

The object of the game is to pot the 9 ball legally.

The players must always hit, but not necessarily pot, the lowest numbered ball first. Failure to do so is a foul.

Any ball can be potted (except the white) as long as the lowest numbered ball is hit first. Theoretically, it is possible to hit the 1 ball and pot the 9 ball in one go, from the break, thus winning the game instantly, before the opponent has even had a shot.

If you have potted the lowest numbered ball correctly, you stay at the table for another go, until you either win, foul, or fail to pot a ball.

After a foul, the non-fouling player may place the cue ball anywhere they wish on the table. This also applies after the cue ball has been potted.

The game is won by potting the 9 ball, either when it is the last ball left, or after hitting (not necessarily potting) the lowest numbered ball on the table.

Best shot

The object is to pot all the balls using the least number of shots. The standard racking with all 16 balls is used. This is often played over three frames with a best-of-three result, or as the lowest score from all of the frames is used. The balls can be potted in any order, but they must be that players designated ball type.

Diamond nine

The object is to pot the balls in numerical order. The balls are racked as for 9 ball. The lowest numbered ball must be hit first. If pocketed, that player scores 1 point. Each ball is worth 1 point. The same player continues until they do not pocket a ball or commit a foul. If a player pockets or hits the wrong ball, or fails to hit a ball, or pots the white, the other player can place the white ball anywhere on the table. The player who pots the number 9 ball (if it has not been potted with another ball earlier) gets an additional 5 points. The winner is the player who has the most points after all coloured balls have been potted.

Golf

The object is to pot a ball in each pocket within the allotted number of shots (par). The balls are racked in a diamond as for 9 ball but in any order of positioning. Each pocket (hole) has a number of shots allowed (par). Balls can be potted in any order, but a pocket must be nominated before the shot is taken, and the ball must go in that pocket.

Two pockets will be par 1, two will be par 2, and the middle two will be par 3. When six balls have been potted, the last three must be potted, each in a different par pocket. If the white is potted, a stroke is added to that players score. If a ball is 'putted' into the wrong hole, the par for that hole is added to the score.

If, due to fouls, there are not enough balls left on the table to make the six balls, the hole par value becomes the score, with an additional three points per ball.

After the first player (golfer) has potted nine balls, the next player starts their nine balls. The total strokes begins from the break until the last ball is potted. If a player does not pot a ball with a par score, the additional strokes taken are added to their total score.

On the Green

The object of this game is to pot a ball in each pocket with the fewest number of strokes. The cue ball is placed inside the 'D', and one other ball (any coloured ball) is placed in the centre spot (the tee).

on the green
The first ball is placed on the 'tee' and potted (putted) into the pocket (hole) 1. Then the next ball is potted in the same way into hole number 2, and so on. They are potted in the order shown on the diagram, with the number being the hole number, not the ball number.

If the white ball is potted, a stroke is added to the score. If a ball is 'putted' into the wrong hole, three strokes are added. If a player runs out of balls for the remaining holes (due to fouls), five strokes are added for each hole where a ball cannot be putted.

When all nine balls are off the table, the next player starts. If the scores are level, players will play for hole 3, with one ball per player. The lowest score wins.

Rotation

Played with the full ball set, the object is to build a score by potting balls of increasing value. The ball values correspond to the numbers on the balls. The usual score to play to is 61 - the first player to reach 61 wins.

The lowest numbered ball on the table must always be hit first, although it does not matter which order the balls are potted in. If a ball is potted out of turn the ball in question is replaced on the table. If the cue ball is potted, it is replaced, and the non-offending player may place it on the table anywhere they wish.

Speed Pool

The object here is to pot all the balls in the fastest time. The balls are racked as for standard pool (16 balls). This will often be played over three heats, with each players fastest time being recorded. The clock starts when the timekeeper (or alternative arrangement) states, and finishes when the last coloured ball is potted.

The balls can be potted in any order. If the cue ball is potted or goes off the table, it is re-spotted in the 'D'. If any other ball goes off the table it is respotted on the head spot (the dot where the head of the racked balls go at the start of a game) or as near to it as possible in a line from the head spot to the 'D'.

Only the player at the table my pick up and replace balls (when they have left the table) and the time taken to do this is the penalty. If there is a tie, the tied players play again to decide a winner.

Survivor / Killer

This game is usually played with either the red and yellow or the spotted and striped ballset. The object of the game is to be the last player remaining at the table.

Survivor is often played by groups of players of eight or more. Whether there are two players or several more, each player has one shot per turn, whether they pot a ball or not.

The players usually start the game with three lives. Each players takes a turn alternately, attempting to pot balls. If a player pots a ball, the next player has a turn.

If the player does not pot a ball, or pots the cue ball, they lose a life. If a players loses all three lives, they are out of the game.

If the cue ball is potted, it may be placed anywhere by the next player.

If all of the balls are potted, and there are still players in the game, the balls are replaced on the table, and the game continues.

Equipment

The table
Pool tables vary in exact size and usually have external measurements of 1.8 metres by 1.06 metres (6 feet by 3 feet 6 inches) or 2.1 metres by 1.2 metres (7 feet by 4 feet), or 2.4 metres by 1.4 metres (8 feet by 4 feet 6 inches).

The actual playing area of the table is usually about 30 centimetres (1 foot) less than the external measurements in both length and width. The height of a pool table is 79 to 86 centimetres (31 to 34 inches).

The playing surface of the table, known as the 'bed' is normally made of slate and is usually covered by a wool, nylon, or a wool/nylon mix cloth. The 'nap' of the cloth runs from the 'D' end of the table (top) to the bottom cushion. A 'gaberdine' or napless nylon cloth is used occasionally to provide a hard wearing cloth, which creates a faster game, albeit with less control of the cue ball.

The table has six pockets, one in each corner, and two on opposite sides of the mid-section. The pockets are made from a wooden frame which is attached to the side cushions, which are flat faced so that the balls bounce of them consistently (the cue ball is smaller than the object balls). The pockets should be 1.6 times larger than an object ball at the point where the ball drops off the table.

There is a string line, which runs across the top of the table, one fifth from the top cushion, and four fifths from the bottom cushion. On this line, the D is placed, at a point in the centre third of the table width.

Cues
Pool cues are made from various woods such as redwoods, maple, willow, sandalwood, and ash. They are normally 1.22 metres (48 inches) long for a 1.8 metre (6 foot) table, and 1.37 to 1.45 metres (54 to 57 inches) long for longer tables. The circumference at the handle end is approximately 9 to 10 centimetres (3.5 to 4 inches).

Cues are normally weighted with a metal weight at the thick end of the cue and the tip is mounted in a metal or plastic ferrule. Cue tips are usually 1.1 to 1.2 centimetres (0.43 to 0.47) inches in diameter. A more advanced cue may have a tip of only 0.8 to 1 centimetre (0.31 to 0.39 inches) in diameter.

Balls
There are 16 pool balls in total. They are usually made of phenolic resin, and all but the cue ball are usually 5 centimetres (2 inches) in diameter. The cue ball is usually 4.8 centimetres (1.9 inches) in diameter.

The cue ball is plain white. The object balls are numbered 1 to 15. Number 8, called the '8-ball' is plain black. The object balls are divided into two groups, 1 to 7 are plain (spots or solids) and 9 to 15 are striped (stripes). The game can also be played with coloured balls which are not numbered, they are just plain red and yellow, although the 8 ball is still plain black and the cue ball is plain white.

1 Yellow
2 Blue
3 Red
4 Purple
5 Orange
6 Green
7 Dark red

9 Yellow stripe
10 Blue stripe
11 Red stripe
12 Purple stripe
13 Orange stripe
14 Green stripe
15 Dark red stripe

The rack
The rack is made of plastic or wood and is in the shape of a triangle. It is used at the start of a game to put the balls in the correct positions. A smaller diamond shape rack is also available for 9 ball games.

GLOSSARY

Baize - the material used on the table

Cue - the wooden rod used to strike the cue ball

Cue ball - the white ball used to knock coloured balls into the pockets

Object ball - the ball to be hit (the ball being aimed for, the target ball)

Pockets - the holes at the sides and corners of the table that the balls are knocked into

Potting - knocking balls into the pockets with the cue ball

Scratch - when the cue ball is potted, it is a scratch.

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