1. The Object
of the Game
14.1 is a nomination game. The player must nominate a ball and a
pocket. The player is awarded one point for every correctly nominated
and pocketed ball on a legal stroke, and is allowed to continue his turn
until he either fails to pocket a nominated ball or commits a foul. The
player can pocket the first 14 balls, but before he can continue his turn
by shooting at the 15th (and last remaining) ball on the table, the 14
pocketed balls are racked as before, except with the apex space vacant.
The player then attempts to pocket the 15th ball in a manner so that the
racked balls are disturbed and he can continue his run.
The player who scores the pre-determined point total for a game (usually
150 in major tournament play or any agreed upon total in casual play)
prior to his opponent, wins the game.
2. Players.
2 players, or 2 teams.
3. Balls Used.
Standard set of object balls numbered 1-15, plus cue ball.
4. The Rack.
Standard triangle rack with the apex ball on the foot spot, 1-ball
on the racker's right corner, 5-ball on left corner. Other balls are
placed at random and must touch their neighbors.
5. Scoring.
Any ball legally pocketed counts one point for the shooter.
6. Opening Break.
Starting player must either (1) designate a ball and a pocket into which
that ball will be pocketed and accomplish the shot, or (2) cause the
cue ball to contact a ball and then a cushion, plus cause two object
balls to contact a cushion. Failure to meet at least one of the above
requirements is a breaking violation. Offender's score is assessed a
two point penalty for each breaking violation. In addition, the opponent
has the choice of (1) accepting the table in position, or (2) having
the balls reracked and requiring the offending player to repeat the
opening break. That choice continues until the opening break is not
a breaking violation, or until the opponent accepts the table in position.
The three successive fouls rule does not apply to breaking violations.
If the starting player scratches on a legal opening break, he is charged
with a foul and assessed a one point penalty, which applies toward the
"Successive Fouls Penalties." The incoming player is awarded
cue ball in hand behind the head string, with object balls in position.
7. Rules of Play.
1. A legally pocketed ball entitles a shooter to continue at
the table until he fails to legally pocket a called ball on a shot.
A player may shoot any ball he chooses, but before he shoots, must designate
the called ball and called pocket. He need not indicate any detail such
as kisses, caroms, combinations, or cushions (all of which are legal).
any additionally pocketed ball(s) on a legal stroke is scored as one
point for the shooter.
2. On all shots, a player must cause the cue ball to contact
an object ball and then (1) pocket a numbered ball, or (2) cause the
cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a cushion. Failure to meet
these requirements is a foul.
When an object ball is not frozen to a cushion, but is within a ball's
width of a cushion (referee to determine by measurement if necessary),
a player is permitted only two consecutive legal safeties on that ball
using only the near rail. If such safety play is employed, that object
ball is then considered frozen to the rail on the player's next inning.
The General Rules of Pocket Billiards "Frozen Balls" requirements
apply if the player chooses to make his first cue ball contact with
that object ball on his third shot.
(Note: If a player has committed a foul on the shot immediately before
or the shot immediately after playing this ball, then he must immediately
meet the requirements of the "Frozen Ball" rule when playing
this object ball. Also, if he has committed two consecutive fouls, he
must immediately meet the requirements of the "Frozen Ball"
rule when playing this object ball. If such player fails to meet the
requirements of the "Frozen Ball" rule, he is considered to
have committed a third successive foul and the appropriate point penalty
is assessed as well as one point for each of the previous fouls. All
fifteen balls are then reracked and the player committing the infraction
is required to break as at the beginning of the game.)
3. When the fourteenth ball of a rack is pocketed, play stops
momentarily with the fifteenth ball remaining in position on the table;
the fourteen pocketed balls are then racked (with the space at the foot
spot vacant in the triangle). Player then continues, normally pocketing
the fifteenth (or "break" ball) in such manner as to have
the cue ball carom into the rack and spread the balls to facilitate
the continuance of his run. However, player is not compelled to shoot
the fifteenth ball; he may shoot any ball he desires.
4. A player may call a safety rather than an object ball (for
defensive purposes). Safety play is legal, but must comply with all
applicable rules. Player's inning ends when a safety is played, and
pocketed balls are not scored. Any object ball pocketed on a called
safety is spotted.
5. A player may not catch, touch, or in any way interfere with
a ball as it travels toward a pocket or the rack area on a shot (to
include catching a ball as it enters a pocket by having a hand in the
pocket). If he does, he is charged with a special "deliberate foul"
and is penalized one point for the foul and an additional fifteen point
penalty, for a total of sixteen points. The incoming player then has
choice of (1) accepting the table in position with the cue ball in hand
behind the head string, or (2) having all fifteen balls reracked and
requiring the offending player to shoot under the requirements of the
opening break.
6. If the fifteenth (unpocketed) ball of a rack and/or the cue
ball interferes with the triangle being lowered straight down into position
for racking, refer to the diagram , which indicates the proper manner
of relocating balls. (The lined out boxes are those situations in which
there is no interference, both balls remain in position.)
7. When a player has the cue ball in hand behind the head string
(as after a scratch) and all object balls are behind the head string,
the object ball nearest the head string may be spotted at his request.
If two or more balls are an equal distance from the head string, the
player may designate which of the equidistant balls he desires to have
spotted.
14.1 Continuous Ball Pool - What to do if:
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In the Rack
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Not in the Rack and
not on Head Spot*
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On Head Spot*
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In the Rack
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15th Ball: foot spot
Cue Ball: in kitchen
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15th Ball: Head Spot
Cue Ball: in position
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15th Ball: Centre Spot
Cue Ball: in position
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Pocketed
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15th Ball: foot apot
Cue Ball: Head Spot
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15th Ball: Foot Spot
Cue Ball: in position
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15th Ball: Foot Spot
Cue Ball: in position
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Behind head string
but not on head spot
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15th Ball: in position
Cue Ball: Head Spot
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Not behind head string
and not in the rack
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15th Ball: in position
Cue Ball: in kitchen
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On Head Spot
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15th Ball: in position
Cue Ball:Centre spot
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* On spot means to interfere
with spotting a ball on the head spot.
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8. Illegally Pocketed Balls.
All spotted. No penalty.
9. Object Balls jumped off the Table.
The stroke is a foul. Any jumped ball(s) is spotted after the balls
come to rest.
10. Cue Ball after jumping off the Table or Scratch
Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string, unless
the provision of Rule of Play 7.2., 7.5. or 12." (below) apply
to the offender's foul and dictate alternate choices or procedures.
11. Penalties for Fouls.
One point deducted for each foul; NOTE: more severe penalties for deliberate
fouls (Rule of Play 7.5.) and third "Successive Fouls" (12.
below). Incoming player accepts cue ball in position unless foul was
a jumped cue ball, pocket scratch, deliberate foul (Rule of Play 7.5.)
or third successive foul.
12. Successive Foul Penalties.
When a player commits a foul, he is penalized one point (or more as
appropriate) and a notation is made and posted by the scorer that he
is "on a foul." The player remains "on a foul" until
his next shot attempt, at which time he may remove the foul by successfully
pocketing a called ball, or completing a legal safety. If he fails to
meet these requirements on his next turn at the table, he is penalized
one point. The notation is changed to "on two fouls." If he
fails to meet the requirements of successfully pocketing a called ball
or completing a legal safety on his third consecutive turn at the table,
a penalty of fifteen points is assessed.
The commission of a third successive foul automatically clears the
offender's record of fouls.
All balls are then reracked and the player committing the infraction
is required to break as at the beginning of the game. Rules for the
opening break apply.
It should be emphasized that successive fouls must be committed in
successive turns (or playing attempts), not merely in successive innings.
For example, if a player ends inning 6 with a foul, steps to the table
for inning 7 and fouls (he is "on two fouls"), and then starts
inning 8 with a legally pocketed ball before scratching on his second
shot attempt of the inning, he has not committed three successive fouls,
even though there were fouls in three successive innings. As soon as
he legally pocketed the ball to start inning 8, he cleared the two fouls.
he is, of course, "on one foul" when he plays the first stroke
attempt of inning 9.
13. Scoring
If a player fouls on a shot that has not pocketed a ball, the point
penalty is deducted from his score at the end of the previous inning.
If a player fouls and pockets a ball on the same shot, that ball is
spotted (not scored) and the point penalty is deducted from his score
at the end of the previous inning.
NOTE. The deduction of penalty points can result in negative scores.
A running score can read "minus one," "minus two,"
"minus fifteen," etc. (a player can win a game with a score
of 150 while his opponent has scored but two fouls. The final score
would read 150 to -2.)
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