For an OB a ball's width from the rail.
Stun shot - no spin when making contact with object ball - hit low on cue ball at slow speed and almost center ball for harder shots.
| Abbr | Definition |
|---|---|
| BHE | back-hand english |
| CB | cue ball |
| CIT | cut-induced throw |
| FHE | front-hand english |
| OE | gearing OE: the amount of outside english that results in no throw |
| IE | inside english |
| OB | object ball |
| OE | outside english |
| SIT | spin-induced throw |
| Squerve | squerve: combination of squirt and swerve |
With the edge of the cue ball inline with the centre of the object ball, and the object ball between the baulk line and the top cushion, potting the object ball in the corner pocket results in the cue ball rolling towards the middle diamond on the same long rail it was hit from.
When the object ball is on the second diamond from the top or bottom cushions and is potted into a corner pocket, the cue ball will travel through the opposite second diamond line where the cue crosses that line.
This reference line often comes up a ball or so short in practice with a rolling ball, to compensate, add a half tip of outside spin to keep the system in line.
A ball going into the end rail at 45 degrees will come out and go through the exact center of the table. Any object ball on the triangular line (with stun) will lead the cue ball through the center of the table.
Below you can see the natural angle of the cue ball would go into the 5-ball. Playing with backspin (draw) would lead the cue ball into the path of the 4 and 6-balls, but playing the ball with some top spin you can avoid the cannon on the 5-ball.
When a ball is off the line you can generally use a couple of rules to adjust yourself back through the center. If the object ball is within the "triangle" you'll want some draw to play end rail-side rail through the center. Conversely, when the object ball is outside the "triangle" add some follow to adjust the line back through the center.
When potting the object ball at an angle of 45 degrees, the cue ball will deviate from the tangent by one dot per half length of the table.
Due to the object ball biting into the cushion when the cue ball is hit hard, the angle of entry onto the cushion needs to be adjusted accordingly.
For a quarter table bank shot the object ball should hit the cushion approximately one quarter diamond further up the table. For a half table shot, half a diamond and for a full table bank shot, a full diamond.
The ratio of about 6:1 is a useful rule of thumb when playing soft position.
Suppose the object ball is six diamonds from a pocket, and you want the cue ball to follow straightforward not more than about one diamond after the collision. If you just get the object ball to the pocket — six diamonds of travel — the (rolling) cue ball will roll forward about one diamond. Another way to state this is that on a full, soft follow shot, the cue ball will go forward one ball for each diamond the object ball travels.
*With each consecutive pot of the first ball, attempt to move the cue ball in such a was as to hit each of the non-object balls.*
*Cheating the pocket and using inside spin to narrow the angle.*
*Rail first along the natural angle.*
*Using more speed to shift the natural angle down along the tangent line.*
*Using less than full topspin to lessen the natural angle and send the cue ball between the tangent and natural angle directions.*
*Stun shot will almost hit the ball, so cheating the pocket will change the tangent line direction enough to hit the ball.*
*Another option is to play the ball into the center of the pocket with a touch of topspin.*
*Ball is around 40% between the tangent line and a good action draw shot, so adjust the tip contact point down 40% from the stun shot position to the good action draw position.*
*Good action draw with good speed to shift the angle down the tangent line.*
*Cheating the pocket and good action draw.*
*Cheating the pocket as well as using better than good action draw.*
Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.
1. OBJECT OF THE GAME. Eight Ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and fifteen 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 thru 15 stripes. THE PLAYER POCKETING HIS GROUP FIRST AND THEN LEGALLY POCKETING THE 8 BALL WINS THE GAME.
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 his next shot so long as he has legally pocketed any object ball on the break.
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. ALTERNATING BREAK. Winner of the lag has the option to break. During individual competition, players will alternate breaking on each subsequent game.
5. JUMP AND MASSE 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 masse 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.
6. 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. If he 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 reracked and having the option of shooting the opening break himself or allowing the offending player to rebreak.
7. 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 9, 2, it is a foul, 3 the table is open. PLEASE NOTE, 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.
8. OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE ON THE BREAK. If a player jumps an object ball off the table on the break shot, it is a foul 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.
9. 8 BALL POCKETED ON THE BREAK. If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, the breaker may ask for a rerack or have the 8-ball spotted and continue shooting. If the breaker scratches while pocketing the 8 ball on the break, the incoming player has the option of a rerack or having the 8 ball spotted and begin shooting with ball in hand behind the head string.
10. 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 or the 8-ball 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, no stripe or solid may be scored in favor of the shooter. The shooter loses his turn and 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.
11. 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. 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.
12. 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 his object ball. However, after contact with his 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.
13. SAFETY SHOT. For tactical reasons a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and also discontinue his 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, he must declare a safety to his opponent. 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.
14. SCORING. A player is entitled to continue shooting until he fails 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.
15. FOUL PENALTY. Opposing player gets cue ball in hand. This means that the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table, and does not have to be behind the head string except on opening break. This rule prevents a player from making intentional fouls which would put his opponent at a disadvantage. With cue ball in hand, the player may use his hand or any part of his 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 39 in the General Rules of Pocket Billiards.
16. COMBINATION SHOTS. Combination shots are allowed. However, the 8 ball cannot be used as a first ball in the combination except when the table is open.
17. 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.
18. 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 spotted in numerical order according to General Rules for spotting balls.
19. PLAYING THE 8 BALL. When shooting at the 8 ball, a scratch or foul is not loss of game if the 8 ball is not pocketed or 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.
20. LOSS OF GAME. A player loses the game if he commits any of the following infractions:
a. Fouls when pocketing the 8 ball. Exception. See 8-Ball Pocketed On the Break.
b. Pockets the 8 ball on the same stroke as the last of his group of balls.
c. Jumps the 8 ball off the table at any time.
d. Pockets the 8 ball in a pocket other than the one designated.
e. Pockets the 8 ball when it is not the legal object ball.
Note: All infractions must be called before another shot is taken, or else it will be deemed that no infraction occurred.
21. STALEMATED GAME. If, after 3 consecutive turns at the table by each player, 6 turns total, the referee judges or if no referee, both players agree, that attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in loss of game, the balls will be reracked with the original breaker of the stalemated game breaking again. The stalemate rule may only be used when there are only two object balls and the 8 ball remaining on the table. PLEASE NOTE, Three consecutive fouls by one player is not a loss of game.