Zim’s Rack
8-Ball League Rules
"Effective February 18, 2007"
Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General
Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.
4.1 OBJECT OF THE GAME
Eight-Ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and 15 object balls,
numbered 1 through 15. One player must pocket balls of the group numbered 1
through 7 (solid colors), while the other player has 9 through 15 (stripes).
The player pocketing either group first, and then legally pocketing the 8-ball
wins the game.
4.2 CALL SHOT
In Call Shot, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. It is the
opponent’s right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot. Bank shots and combination shots are
not considered obvious, and care should be taken in calling both the object
ball and the intended pocket. When calling the shot, it is never necessary to
indicate details such as the number of cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc.
Any balls pocketed on a foul remain pocketed, regardless of whether they belong
to the shooter or the opponent. 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.
4.3 RACKING
THE BALLS
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.
4.4 ORDER OF BREAK
Home team will break second and fourth rounds and Visiting team will break
first and third rounds.
4.5 LEGAL
BREAK SHOT
(Defined) To execute a legal break, the breaker (with the cue ball behind the
head string) must either (1) pocket a ball, or (2) drive at least four numbered
balls to the rail. When the breaker fails to make a legal break, it is a foul,
and the incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the table in position
and shooting, or (2) having the balls re-racked and having the option of
shooting the opening break or allowing the offending player to re-break.
4.6 SCRATCH
ON A LEGAL BREAK
If a player scratches on a legal break shot, (1) all balls pocketed remain
pocketed (exception, the 8-ball: see rule 4.8), (2) it is a foul, (3) the table
is open. Please Note: The 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.
4.7 OBJECT
BALLS JUMPED OFF TABLE ON THE BREAK
If a player jumps an object ball off the table on the break shot, it is a foul,
spot the ball(s) and the incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the
table in position and shooting, or (2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head
string and shooting.
4.8 8-BALL
POCKETED ON THE BREAK
If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, breaker wins the game and receives 10
points, while the opponent receives 0 points. If the breaker scratches while
pocketing the 8-ball on the break, it’s a loss of game. Breaker receives 0 points, while the
opponent receives 10 points.
4.9 OPEN
TABLE
(Defined) The table is "open" when the choice of groups (stripes or
solids) has not yet been determined.
When the table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a
stripe or vice-versa. Note: The table
is always open immediately after the break shot. When the table is open, it is legal to hit any solid or stripe
first in the process of pocketing the called stripe or solid. However, when the table is open and the
8-ball is the first ball contacted, it is a foul and no stripe or solid may be
scored in favor of the shooter. 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. On an open
table, all illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed.
4.10 CHOICE
OF GROUP
The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls
are made from only one or both groups, because the table is always open
immediately after the break shot. The choice of group is determined only when a
player legally pockets a called object ball after the break shot.
4.11 LEGAL
SHOT
(Defined) 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 (1) pocket a numbered
ball, or (2) cause the cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a rail. Please
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. Failure to meet these requirements is a foul.
4.12 “SAFETY”
SHOT
For tactical reasons, a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and
also discontinue a turn at the table by declaring “safety” in advance. A safety
shot is defined as a legal shot. If the shooting player intends to play safe by
pocketing an obvious object ball, then prior to the shot, the shooter must
declare a “safety” to the opponent. It is the shooter’s responsibility to make
the opponent aware of the intended safety shot. If this is not done, and one of
the shooter’s object balls is pocketed, the shooter will be required to shoot
again. Any ball pocketed on a safety shot remains pocketed.
4.13 SCORING
A player is entitled to continue shooting until failing to legally pocket a
ball of his group. After a player has legally pocketed all of his group of
balls, he shoots to pocket the 8-ball.
4.14 FOUL PENALTY
Opposing player gets cue ball in hand. This means that the player can place the
cue ball anywhere on the table (does not have to be behind the headstring
except on opening break). This rule prevents a player from making intentional
fouls, which would put an opponent at a disadvantage. With “cue ball in hand,”
the player may use a hand or any part of a cue (including the tip) to position
the cue ball. When placing the cue ball in position, any forward stroke motion
contacting the cue ball will be a foul, if not a legal shot. (Also see Rule
3.39.)
4.15 COMBINATION SHOTS
Combination shots are allowed; however, the 8-ball can’t be used as a first
ball in the combination unless it is the shooter’s only remaining legal object
ball on the table. Otherwise, should such contact occur on the 8-ball, it is a
foul.
4.16 ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS
An object ball is considered to be illegally pocketed when (1) that object ball
is pocketed on the same shot a foul is committed, or (2) the called ball did
not go in the designated pocket, or (3) a safety is called prior to the shot.
Illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed and are scored in favor of the shooter
controlling that specific group of balls, solids or stripes.
4.17 OBJECT
BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE
If any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a foul and loss of turn,
unless it is the 8-ball, which is a loss of game. Any jumped object balls are
re-spotted.
4.18 JUMP
AND MASSÉ SHOT FOUL
While “cue ball fouls only” is the rule of play when a match is not presided
over by a referee, a player should be aware that it will be considered a cue
ball foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or massé the cue ball over or
around an impeding numbered ball that is not a legal object ball, the impeding
ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved by a hand, cue stick
follow-through or bridge).
4.19 PLAYING
THE 8-BALL
When the 8-ball is the legal object ball, a scratch is a loss of game, but a
foul is not a loss of game if 1) 8-ball is not pocketed or 2) jumped from the
table. Incoming player has cue ball in hand. Note: A combination shot can never be used to legally pocket the
8-ball; however when the 8-ball is the first ball contacted in the shot
sequence it is allowed to carom off of another ball.
4.20
LOSS OF GAME
A player loses the game by committing any of the following infractions:
1. Fouls when pocketing the 8-ball (exception: see Playing the
8-Ball).
2. Pockets the 8-ball on the same stroke as the last of his group of
balls.
3. Jumps the 8-ball off the table at any time.
4. Pockets the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one designated.
5. Pockets the 8-ball when it is not the legal object ball.
4.21 MATCH PLAY
Only four (4) players play per match and no
substitutions may be made once first round has been completed.
4.22 FORFEITS
Any team that is removed from the league during
the season will NOT receive any payout at the end and will NOT receive any
refunds from money already paid to the league.
Points will be awarded to all teams that have/had a match against the
removed team.
1. If a player has to forfeit a game, his opponent will receive points
equal to his/her average and the forfeiting player receives 0 points.
2. If a team forfeits a match, points are rewarded the same as if one
player forfeits.
3. If a team is dropped from the league, an average of points already
earned by teams against the dropped team will be awarded to each team when it’s
their bye week and the teams that have already played. Your weekly fees are still due in order to
receive your points.
4.22 ADDING A NEW PLAYER
When team “A” has four players with
a handicap and team “B” has three players with a handicap and one new player
without a handicap. Team “A” does not calculate the highest handicap playing
that match and both teams will play with three handicaps and four players. Do not calculate the new players handicap
for this match. Handicaps will be in effect the following week for the new
player.
4.24 STALEMATED
GAME
If, after 3 consecutive turns at the table by each player (6 turns total), the
referee judges that attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in
loss of game, the balls will be re-racked with the original breaker of the
stalemated game breaking again. The stalemate rule may be applied regard-less
of the number of balls on the table. Please
Note: Three consecutive fouls by one player in 8-ball is not a loss of
game.
Note: All infractions must be called before
another shot is taken, or else it will be deemed that no infraction occurred.