Rules of Nine Ball
Paul Newman and Tom Cruise made Nine Ball one of the most popular Billiard Games in the movies "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money". Most everyone who watched these movies got Nine Ball fever. It became one of the most played Cue Sport in Pool Halls across America.
The game of Nine Ball is played with one Cue Ball and nine numbered object balls. The balls are the same ones used in Eight Ball, except you only use the one through nine.
The numbered object balls are racked in a diamond shape instead of a triangle like in Eight Ball. The one ball is positioned at the top of the diamond and placed on the foot spot of the pool table. The other numbered balls are placed in random order except for the Nine Ball, which is placed in the center of the diamond.
When racking the balls it is important to rack them as tight as possible. This helps them scatter better on the break.
The game of Nine Ball begins with the break. One of the players has ball in hand behind the head string and hits the Cue Ball with the tip of the Cue Stick into the racked balls.
During the break, the Cue Ball must hit the one ball first and either pocket one of the numbered object balls or send at least four of them to the rail of the pool table.
If the Cue Ball goes off the table or is put into a pocket, it is considered a foul and the other player gets to put the Cue Ball anywhere on the table to make their shot. This is called "ball in hand".
If one of the numbered object balls goes off of the table during the break it is also considered a foul giving the other player ball in hand. The ball that left the table gets pocketed unless it was the Nine Ball, which gets placed on the foot spot.
The shot that follows a legal break can be a "push out". Either player who gets to shoot immediately after a legal break can play a push out. This must be announced before taking the shot or it does not count as a push out.
A push out is where a player hits the Cue Ball with the Cue Stick for the purpose of moving the Cue Ball to a better location for the next shot. The Cue Ball does not have to make contact with any of the numbered balls nor does it have to touch the rail of the pool table. However, all other fouls do apply to the shot. If the Nine Ball is pocketed during a push out, it gets placed on the foot spot. If the Cue Ball is pocketed on the break, the other player cannot play a push out.
Game play of Nine Ball consists of using the Cue Ball to make contact with the lowest numbered object ball that is on the table. Any ball can be pocketed as long as contact is made first with the lowest numbered ball.
If the player successfully makes contact with the lowest numbered ball and gets one of the numbered balls into a pocket, then he gets to take another shot.
The players turn ends when a ball does not get pocketed, a foul is committed or wins the game by putting the Nine Ball into a pocket. The other player will hit the Cue Ball where it lies unless a foul was committed. A foul of any kind gives the other player ball in hand.
The game of Nine Ball is won by putting the Nine Ball into a pocket. This can be done by getting all the other numbered balls into a pocket and then pocketing the Nine Ball. Or, at anytime during the game, if the Cue Ball makes contact with the lowest numbered ball on the table first, the lowest numbered ball then hits the Nine Ball and knocks it into a pocket, this is also considered a win as long as no fouls were committed.
The Fouls of Nine Ball:
- A Bad Hit, which is when the Cue Ball makes contact with a numbered object ball that is not the lowest numbered ball on the table.
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No Rail, which is when a numbered object ball does not go into a pocket and neither the Cue Ball nor the numbered ball it hit does not go to the rail of the pool table.
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An Object Ball Goes Off The Table, which is when you knock a ball off of the table.
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Jump Shot Foul is when a numbered object ball that you are trying to jump over or curve around using masse is moved by hand, the Cue Stick or the Bridge.
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When a player commits three fouls in a row on three consecutive shots and does not make a legal shot during this time, then the player loses the game. These fouls must occur in one game and a warning must be given between each of the second and third foul.
Nine Ball is a fast-paced, fun game to play. The more you practice, the better you will play. The most beneficial shot to practice is the combination shot. If you can hit the lowest numbered ball first and use it to put the Nine Ball in the pocket, you will be winning games in record time and before no time you will be playing like the pros.
