General rules

1. GENERAL RULES

The following General Rules apply to all games governed by these rules, except where the rules of a particular game conflict with them. In addition, there are certain aspects of the game that do not directly relate to the game rules, such as equipment specifications and the organization of competitions, and these are covered by the Pool Billiards Guidelines.

The individual pool games are played on a flat table covered with canvas and bordered by rubber borders. The player uses a cue to hit the playing ball (white), which in turn hits the balls in play. The aim of the game is to get the balls into the six pockets located in the edge of the border. The games vary according to which balls are the legal game balls and the requirements of what must be accomplished to be credited with winning the game.

(Editorial note: For the version published in American English, the masculine gender is used to simplify descriptions and does not indicate the gender of players or officials. The word "game" is used to refer to individual disciplines, such as the Nine, rather than to describe a single game or match. Editorial note: For the version published in English: the word "game" is used both for individual disciplines, such as the Nines, and for individual games or matches.)

 

1.1 Player Responsibility

It is the player's responsibility to know all rules, guidelines and schedules that pertain to the competition. While tournament officials will try to have the necessary information on hand and available to players, the ultimate responsibility lies with the player.

 

1.2 Playing for Game Order (Tempo)

The toss for the order of play (tempo) is the first shot of the match and determines the order of play. The player who wins the tempo decides who plays first.

The referee places the ball on each side of the table behind the shootout line near the shootout line. Players will play their shots at approximately the same time so that both balls reach the lower boundary and try to return the balls closer to the boundary in the shooting area than the opponent.

The push for pace is bad and can't be winning when the player's ball:

A) Crosses the centre line
B) Hit the bottom boards more than once
C) It falls into the pocket or flies off the table
D) He touches the sideline
(E) Will eventually stop inside the corner pocket and behind the mouth of the halfway line. Furthermore, a push for pace will be bad if any foul occurs on a non-played ball outside the case 6.9 Ball still in motion

Players repeat the tempo when:

a) The player plays up to pace only after the opponent's ball has hit the bottom board
(b) The referee is unable to determine which ball stopped closer to the line of scrimmage; or
c) Both tempos are wrong.

 

1.3 Player's use of equipment

The equipment shall conform to existing specifications for WPA equipment. In general, players may not introduce new equipment into the game. The following uses are considered normal, among others. If a player is unsure about the use of a particular piece of equipment, he should contact tournament management prior to the start of play. Equipment must be used only for the purpose for which it was made or in the manner for which it was made (See 6.15 Unsportsmanlike Conduct 6.17 Unsportsmanlike Conduct.)

a) Cue - A player may alternate cues during a match, e.g., shootout, jump, and normal cue. He can use either the built-in extension or the deployable extension to extend the length of the cue.

b) Chalk - A player may use chalk on the skin of the cue to prevent scribbles, and may use his own chalk provided the colour matches the colour of the canvas.

c) Mechanical supports (rakes) - A player may use up to two mechanical supports (rakes) to support the cue during the shot. It is up to the player how he sets them up. He can also use his own rakes as long as they are similar to the standard rakes.

d) Gloves - A player may use gloves to improve cue grip and/or forehand function.

e) Powder - A player may use powder in reasonable amounts as determined by the referee.

 

1.4 Adjusting the balls

The balls are set (returned to play on the table) by placing them on the centre line (the long axis of the table) as close as possible to the bottom point and between the bottom point and the bottom board without moving the obstructing ball. If the ball to be set cannot be placed on the bottom point, it should be placed so that it touches (as far as possible) the relevant obstructing ball. However, when the white ball is standing next to the re-set ball, the re-set ball should not touch the white ball after setting; a small gap must be left. If the entire centre line below the bottom point is occupied by other balls, the ball is set above the bottom point, as close as possible to that point.

 

1.5 Game ball (white) in hand

When the Game Ball (white) is in hand, the player may place the white ball anywhere on the board (see 8.1 Table Parts) and may continue to move it until he or she has played a Shove (see Section 8.2 Shove). Players may use any part of the cue to move the cue ball, including the skin, but may not use a forward motion as in a push. In some games, and for most shootouts, the placement of white may be limited to the area behind the shootout line according to the rules of that game, and then rules 6.10 Misplacement of white and 6.11 Misplay from behind the shootout line may apply.

When White is held behind the line of scrimmage and all legal balls are behind the line of scrimmage, the player may request that the legal ball closest to the line of scrimmage be re-set. If two or more balls lie equidistant from the line of scrimmage, the player may specify which of these equidistant balls should be reset. A ball that is directly on the shootout line is playable.

 

1.6 Standard reported strk

In games in which a player must report shoves, the intended ball and pocket must be reported on every shove unless it is obvious. Details of the shove, such as boundaries hit or other balls hit or sunk, are not relevant. Only one ball may be reported for each individual push.

In order for a reported shove to count, the referee must be satisfied that the intended shove has been made, so if there is any confusion, e.g. shoves against the rim, combinations and similar shoves, the player at the table should mark the ball and pocket. If the referee or the opponent is unsure of the shove to be played, he may ask for an announcement.

In reported games, the player at the table may choose to announce a "sure thing" instead of a ball and pocket, and therefore the game passes to the opponent after the shove is completed. Whether the balls are set back on the table after the surety depends on the rules of that particular game.

 

1.7 Ball seating

The ball may settle a little after it has seemed to have stopped, probably due to some minor imperfection on the ball or table. If this does not cause the ball to fall into the pocket, it is considered a normal risk of the game, and the ball will not be returned.

If the ball falls into the pocket as a result of such a landing, it will return as close as possible to its original position. If the landing ball falls into the pocket during or just before the push, and this affects the push, the referee will reverse the entire position and the push will be repeated. A player at the table is not penalized for playing a push if the ball lands during the push. See also 8.3 Sunk Ball.

 

1.8 Returning to original position

When the balls need to be returned to their original position or cleaned, the referee moves the balls to their original positions as best he can. Players must accept the referee's judgment as to the placement of the balls.

 

1.9 External intervention

If there is external interference during a push that affects the outcome of that push, the referee will return the balls to their original positions before the push, and the push will be repeated. If this intervention has no effect on the push, the referee will return the balls that have moved and play will continue. If the balls cannot be set back to their original positions, the situation is resolved as a stalemate.

 

1.10 Objections and protests

If a player feels that the referee has made an error in judgement, he may ask the referee to reconsider his report or non-report, but the referee's decision on judgement-based reports is final. However, if a player feels that the referee is not applying the rules correctly, he may request a ruling from the designated appeals body. The referee will stop play while this complaint is resolved. (See also section (d) in 6.17 Unsportsmanlike Conduct.) Fouls must be reported immediately. (See 6. Fouls)

 

1.11 Surrender

If a player gives up, he loses the match. For example, if a player unscrews his screw cue while his opponent is at the table and during his opponent's decisive play of the match, this will be considered a surrender of the match.

1.12 Pat

If the referee notices that no progress is being made towards the end, he will announce his decision and each player will have three more stays at the table. Then, if the referee judges that there is still no progress, he will call a stalemate. If both players agree, they may accept the stalemate without three additional attempts. The procedure in a stalemate situation is described in the rules of each game.