House Rules

1. Treat all equipment with respect and care.
 *No sitting on tables, ever.
 *Do not mark the playing surface with chalk.
 *Keep chalk and talc away from table surface.
 *Handle the cue sticks with safety in mind.
2. No food or drink on, or near, tables.
3. No smoking products of any kind allowed in billiards area.
4. No swearing.
5. No cheating.  All players will play with the utmost integrity.
6. Two feet on the floor at all times.  Use the mechanical bridge when necessary.
7. Stand out of the way of shooters at all times.
8. If staying after class to play, you must check in at the desk.--menu--

Vocabulary List

Angle shot: a shot that requires the cue ball to move the object ball an an angle to fall into a pocket.

Apex of Triangle: the position of the front ball in the rack.

Bank shot: the object ball contacts a cushion before being pocketed.  It must be called in games that require shots to be called.

Bed: the flat playing area.

Break: the first shot of a game.

Bridge: the hand that holds and guides the cue stick during play.

Butt: the heavy end of a cue.

Call shot: the requirement that a player designate which object ball they intend to make into which pocket.

Carom: when the cue ball intentionally hits off an object ball and is deflected into the object ball intended to be pocketed.

Center spot: the exact center of the playing surface.

Chalk:  a dry, abrasive substance that is applied to the tip of the cue to aid contact on the cue ball.

Combination shot: a shot where the cue ball hits an object ball into another ball with the intent of pocketing the second object ball.

Contact point: the actual point of contact between the cue and the object ball.

Count, The.: the running score of any game that keeps count of balls pocketed.

Cue: the wooden device used to strike the cue ball during play.

Cue ball:  the solid white, unnumbered ball that must be contacted first by the cue.

Cue ball in hand: the cue ball may be put into play from anywhere on the table.

Cue ball in hand behind the head string: the cue ball is put into play anywhere behind the head string.

Cue tip: the leather or material on the end of the shaft of the cue.

Cushion: the cloth covered rubber which lines the inside of the rails on a billiard table.

Cut shot: a shot that sends an object ball at an angle to a pocket

Diamonds: markings on the table rails that can be used as reference points.

Draw shot: the cue ball is hit below center, causing back spin so that the cue ball comes back toward the player after contacting the object ball.

Drop pockets: pockets where balls are retrieved by hand, not by automatic return.
 
Double hit: a shot in which the cue ball is contacted twice by the cue.

English: side spin applied to the cue ball by hitting to the left or right of center.

Feather shot:  a shot where the cue ball barely touches, or glances off, the object ball; and extremely thin cut.

Follow shot: a shot where the cue ball is struck above center causing the cue ball to roll forward after contact with the object ball.

Follow-through: the movement of the cue after contact with the cue ball.

Foot of table: the end of the table where the balls are racked.

Foot spot: the center point of the foot string, where the apex of the rack is set.

Foot string:  An imaginary line that travels between the side rails through the foot spot.

Foul: an infraction of the rules, such as a scratch, usually resulting in a penalty.

Frozen: a ball touching another ball or cushion.

Grip: the way a player holds the butt of the cue.

Gully table: a table with a return system that delivers the balls from the pockets to a collection bin at the foot of the table.

Head of the table: the end from which the break is initiated.

Head spot: the center point of the head string.

Head string:  An imaginary line that travels between the side rails through the head spot.
 
Inning: the turn of a player.

Jaw: slanted part of the cushion that is cut at an angle to form the pocket opening.

Joint: the part of a two piece cue that hold the pieces together.

Jump shot: a shot in which a ball is caused to rise up off the table.

Kick shot: when the cue ball hits a cushion before contacting any object ball.

Kill shot: a dead shot, a cue ball that stops immediately after contacting the object ball.

Kiss: contact between balls.

Kiss shot: shots in which object balls carom off one or more other object balls to be pocketed.

Kitchen: slang for the area between the head string and head rail.

Lag for break: a shot to determine shooting order.  Each player shoots a ball from behind the head string to the foot cushion trying to return the ball as close to the head cushion as possible without touching it.

Leave: the position of the balls after a player¼s shot.

Long string: an imaginary line that travels from the head cushion to the foot cushion through the head and foot spots.  Balls are spotted on the long string starting on the foot spot and heading to the foot cushion.

Masse shot: a curve shot caused by excessive spin, or English, on the cue ball to cause it to go around an object ball.

Mechanical bridge:  a piece of equipment similar to a cue with a metal device that aids the player in difficult to reach shots.  Also called a crutch or a rake.

Miscue: bad contact between the cue tip and cue ball.  You will hear a sharp sound.

Miss: failure to make an intended shot.

Natural roll: movement of the cue ball with no English applied.

Object balls: the balls other than the cue ball.

Position: the placement of the cue ball in relation to the next shot.

Push shot: the cue tip has prolonged (illegal) contact with the cue ball; a foul.

Rack: the triangular equipment used for positioning the object balls to start a game.

Rails: the upper and outer surface of the table, not covered by cloth.

Run: the number of consecutive points scored by a player in a single inning.

Safety: when a player has no good shot to attempt, s/he strategically decides to leave the opponent with no good shot as well.  A player¼s inning usually ends with a safety.

Scratch: the cue ball drops into a pocket on a shot.

Shaft: the thin part of a cue that extends from the joint to the cue tip.

Shot: the action that begins with contacting the cue ball with the cue tip and ends when all balls have stopped.

Short rack: games that are played with less than 15 object balls.

Split hit: a shot where it cannot be determined which object ball was contacted first, due to the close proximity of the balls.

Spot: the round cloth glued to the playing surface, usually at the foot spot; also, the action of placing an object ball on the foot spot or long string after a scratch.

Stance: the position of the body while preparing to shoot.

Stop shot: a dead ball, a kill, to stop the cue ball immediately upon contact with an object ball.

Stroke: the movement of the cue on a shot.

Triangle: the device used to position the object balls before the start of play; also called the rack.--menu--

Rules for Straight Pool  (Continuous) - (adjusted for play in class)

1. All 15 balls are racked in any formation.
2. Decide what number of balls must be pocketed to win the game (in competition games are  usually played to 150). In class, start with 20 or 25.
3. The first break is decided by a ålag¼.  The break alternates players from then on.
4. The break is made ball in hand behind the head string.
5. Balls may be played in any order, each pocketed ball counts one point.  The game score is kept  on the foot end of the table.
6. The shooter must call the ball and the pocket. If they don¼t, it is a foul and any made ball is  spotted on the foot spot.  If the call ball legally falls, any other balls that are pocketed  also count and points are awarded in the shooter¼s score.
7. If a shooter pockets a ball and scratches (cue ball also falls in), the object ball is spotted and  the opponent gets ball in hand.  No point is awarded.
8. A player must call a safety if that is the intended play.  Pocketed balls are spotted and the  player¼s inning is over.
9. It is a foul, no points are awarded, and the opponent gets ball in hand, if:
 a. a shooter does not call the ball and pocket.
 b. the shooter scratches.
 c. a ball jumps off the table. Spot the ball on the foot spot.
10. The game ends when a player legally pockets the designated number of balls.--menu--

Rules for 8-Ball

1. 8-ball is a åcalled ball¼ game. Players must call the ball and pocket unless the shot is  obvious.  If the shot is not obvious, the player must call the shot aloud.
2. All 15 balls are racked with the 1-ball on the foot spot, the 8-ball in the middle, a solid  colored ball in one corner and a striped ball in the other.
3. One player will pocket balls 1-7 (solids) and the other player will pocket balls 9-15  (stripes).  The player pocketing their group first and then legally pocketing the 8 ball  wins.
4. The first break is decided by a ålag¼.  The break alternates players from then on.
5. The break is made ball in hand behind the head string.
6. If a ball is pocketed on the break, the shooter can choose which group of balls to play, i.e., the  table is „open¾.  They do not have to choose the group the pocketed ball belongs to.
7. The table is open when the choice of stripes or solid has not been made.   The table is always  open following a break.  On an open table it is legal to hit a solid ball to pocket a stripe  and visa versa.
8. If a ball does not fall during the break, at least four object balls must hit the rails or a foul  had been committed.
9. The choice of group is determined only when a player legally pockets a ball after a break.
10. On all shots after the break, a player must contact one of his or her group balls first and  pocket a ball or cause the cue ball or another object ball to hit a rail or it is a foul.  Kick  shots are legal.
11. A player continues to shoot as long as s/he pockets balls from the correct group.
12. It is a foul, and the opponent gets cue ball in hand, if:
 a. the shooter contacts an opponent¼s object ball or the 8-ball first.
 b. the shooter scratches.
 c. a ball jumps off the table. Spot the ball on the foot spot.
13. Illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed.
14. Combination shots are legal if you contact one of your group to pocket another of your group.
  You cannot use the 8-ball as a first contact unless the table is open.
15. When shooting the 8-ball, a scratch or a foul is not a loss of game unless the 8-ball is  pocketed or jumped from the table.  A combination shot can never be used to pocket the  8-ball.
16. A player loses the game if s/he commits any of the following infractions:
 a. a foul when pocketing the 8-ball
 b. pockets the 8-ball on the same stroke as the last of his/her group of balls
 c. jumps the 8-ball off the table at any time
 d. drops the 8-ball in a pocket other than the pocket called
 e. pockets the 8-ball before finishing their group--menu--

Rules for Cut Throat or Elimination - for 3 or 5 players

1. The balls are racked with the 1-ball on the foot spot and the 6 and 11 balls in each corner,  all other balls are randomly placed.
2. In a three player game, the starting player has the group of balls 1-5, the second player has  6-10, and the third player has 11-15.  With 5 players, the balls are divided 1-3, 4- 6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15.
3. The object of the game is to pocket all of your opponents balls before your balls are pocketed.
4. The player with a ball left on the table when the other 14 balls have been pocketed, wins.
5. Determine playing order with a ålag¼.
6. Determine with all players if you are playing „call shot¾ or not.
7. A legal shot requires that you hit an opponent¼s ball with the cue ball on first contact.  You  must either pocket a numbered ball or cause a numbered ball or the cue ball to hit a rail.   If not, it is a foul and the next player gets the cue ball in hand.
8. If an opponent¼s ball is illegally pocketed, it is spotted on the foot spot; if a player illegally  pockets one of their own balls, it stays in the pocket.
9. When all of a player¼s balls are pocketed, they are eliminated from the shooting rotation,  until a foul is committed by another player.  In the case of a foul, a ball from each of the  opponents is spotted and an eliminated player(s) can return to their spot in the rotation.
10. The order of shooting rotation for subsequent games is the order of elimination from the  previous game.  First player eliminated will break, winner will shoot last.
11. Any object ball that jumps off the table is spotted.  The next player gets the cue ball in  position.
12. The cue ball is placed on the head string if it jumps off the table or is scratched.
13. Penalty for fouls: shooter¼s inning ends and one ball from each opponent is spotted.  This  may reinstate a player(s).  If a player has no balls pocketed, they are not effected by the  foul.--menu--

Rules for 9-Ball

1. The balls are racked in a diamond shape with the 1 ball on the foot spot and the 9 ball in the  center of the diamond.  The other balls can be in any position in the rack.
2. The break is made from behind the head string and the 1 ball must be contacted first.  If a ball  is not pocketed on the break, at least four object balls must contact the cushions.  If this  does not happen the opponent gets cue ball in hand.
3. On each shot, the first object ball contacted must be the lowest numbered ball on the table,  but the balls need not be pocketed in order.
4. A player shoots until they miss, foul or win the game by legally pocketing the 9 ball.
5. If a player commits a foul, the opponent gets the cue ball in hand and may place it anywhere  on the table, not touching any ball or cushion.
6. Players do not have to call shots.  Anything that falls counts.
7.  It is a foul, and the opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on the table, if:
 a. the first ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered on the table.
 b. no ball is pocketed on the break and four balls do not hit the rails.
 c. no object ball is pocketed and no other ball, including the cue ball, hits a rail.
 d. the cue ball is pocketed (scratch).
 e. if any ball jumps off the table, including the cue ball.
 f. when attempting to jump another ball or shoot a masse around a ball, the    impeding ball is moved by hand, cue stick or bridge.
8. If a player fouls on three consecutive innings, s/he loses the game.
9. The game ends when the 9-ball is legally pocketed, or when a player forfeits the game as a  result of a foul.

Don¼t you love playing pool for credit?  Life is good.--menu--

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