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Except as specifically indicated in this section and as common sense would dictate, all of the information contained in the Team Manual also applies to the 9-ball league.
Many of the rules concerning 9-ball are similar to those used in 8-ball. When this is the case, it will be so indicated. The rest of the details concerning 9-ball follow.
Some of the specifics that should be mentioned concerning the 9-ball league are as follows:
- The overall team skill limit rule will be 23 and will read the same as in 8-ball. Skill levels 1, 8 and 9 will count as their numeric value.
- Only two senior skill level players may play in any given team match. Senior skill level players are players who have a skill level of 6, 7, 8 or 9.
- How byes are scored - Assuming no replacement team is found, 60 points will be awarded for all byes.
- The forfeit rule reads the same as in 8-ball, except a forfeited individual player match is worth 20 points.
- 9-ball participation does not qualify you for 8-ball championships.
1. General Description
9-ball is played with a cue ball and nine object balls numbered 1 through 9. 9-ball is a rotation game, meaning the balls are shot in numerical order. The shooter must
strike the lowest numbered ball on the table first. The game is over when the nine ball is pocketed. A player retains his turn at the table as long as he strikes the
lowest numbered ball first and pockets a ball. He need not pocket the lowest numbered ball to continue shooting. He may, for example, shoot the 1-ball into the 4-ball
thus pocketing the 4. He will continue shooting but must again strike the 1-ball first. If the player shoots the 1-ball into the 9-ball and the 9 is pocketed, the game
is over.
2. Lagging
The same as in 8-ball.
3. Racking
The same as in 8-ball, but only 9 balls are used and are racked in a diamond shape. The 1-ball is at the front of the rack and on the foot spot. The 9-ball is in the
center and the rest of the object balls can be placed in any numerical order.
Note 1: When using coin operated tables, save some money by using all the balls in the event of a short game. Example: If the 3 and 9 are made on the break, the balls
are reracked (because a 9 on the break is a winner) using the 10 and 11-balls. The sequence in the next game is 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11. The 11, in effect, is the
"9-ball" (last ball) in this game. Do not say the 10 replaces the 3; it is too confusing. Shoot the balls in numerical order.
Note 2: The breaker can demand that the lowest available nine balls be used each game.
4. Breaking
The same as in 8-ball except the head ball (1-ball) must be struck first.
5. After the break
Various circumstances can occur upon completion of the break. They are:
- A foul on the break will result in ball-in-hand anywhere on the table for the breaker's opponent. Pocketed balls, if any, stay down (are not spotted), except the
9-ball.
- No balls are pocketed and it is the other player's turn.
- The 9-ball is made. This is a winner unless the player scratches. In which case the 9-ball (any other high numbered ball is adequate) is spotted and the turn passes
to his opponent.
- One ball or a number of balls are made. It is still the breaker's turn and he shoots the lowest numbered ball on the table.
- Occasionally it occurs that the player mistakenly hits the wrong ball. Although it is sportsmanlike for the sitting player to remind the shooting player he is about to
foul by shooting the wrong ball, he is not required to do so. Once the player has hit the wrong ball, the foul has occurred whether the ball was pocketed or not. If the
ball is pocketed, it is permissible, though not recommended, that the sitting player allow the shooting player to continue shooting until he feels inclined to call the
foul. The shooting player can escape penalty by quietly realizing his error and returning to shoot the correct ball and striking it first on a shot prior to his opponent
calling the foul. In other words, the sitting player must call the foul before the shooter has shot the correct ball.
6. Combination Shots
Combination shots are legal and extremely common in 9-ball. Just make sure to hit the lowest numbered ball on the table first.
7. Balls on Floor
Knocking the cue ball off the playing surface is covered under fouls. Object balls that get knocked off the playing surface will be immediately spotted on the foot spot.
If the foot spot is taken, the ball will be placed on a line directly behind the foot spot as close to the foot spot as possible. If two balls are knocked on the floor,
they are placed in numerical order with the lowest numbered ball closest to the foot spot. Spotted balls will be frozen to one another. Knocking an object ball on the
floor is not a foul. It might occur that a player legally pockets a ball while simultaneously knocking some other ball(s) on the floor. In this situation, the ball(s) is
spotted and the player continues shooting until he misses.
8. Pocketed Balls
Balls must remain in a pocket to be legal. If a ball goes into a pocket but bounces back onto the playing surface, it is not considered pocketed.
9. Spotting Balls
Other than the circumstances described in Balls On Floor, the only ball that will ever be spotted will be the 9-ball when the shooter has pocketed the 9-ball and scratched
or otherwise fouled. If the shooter makes the 9-ball on the break and fouls or scratches, the 9-ball and only the 9-ball is spotted. The incoming player has ball-in-hand
and will be shooting at the lowest numbered ball on the table.
Note 1: If a ball which has been hanging in a pocket for more than a few seconds suddenly falls in, it is to be placed back on the table where it was originally.
Note 2: It occasionally happens on tables with small pockets that two balls become jammed in a pocket and are leaning over the edge of the slate to some degree. They are
off the playing surface and are pocketed. Throw them in and resume playing the game unless the pocketing ends the game.
10. Fouls
The same as 8-ball except as follows:
- The exception concerning fouling on the break does not apply to 9-ball. Fouling on the break is ball-in-hand anywhere just as other fouls.
- The foul concerning striking the correct ball first applies, but ignore the reference to strips or solids.
- The foul concerning illegal aid still applies, but ignore the reference to reminding players to mark the 8-ball. The 9-ball does not have to be called and, therefore,
the pocket the 9-ball is going to be pocketed in does not have to be marked.
11. Scoring
A player receives a point for every ball pocketed (except those pocketed when he scratches or otherwise fouls) and two points for pocketing the 9-ball |
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