APA Nine Ball Rules

Nine-ball pool is played on a standard pool table, which is a rectangle with six pockets. The object of the game is to pocket the nine ball. Unlike eight-ball pool, both players are shooting at the same balls. The American Poolplayers Association (APA) publishes the rules for both eight-ball and nine-ball pool in the United States.

  1. Setup and Start

    • Nine-ball pool is played using the balls numbered one through nine and the cue ball. The break is determined by a lag, where each player hits a ball the length of the table and the player whose ball returns and stops closest to the rail wins. To start the game, the balls are arranged in the rack in the shape of a diamond, with the one ball on the foot spot, the nine ball in the center and the other balls in any order. The ball must be shot from behind the headstring (at the other end of the table) and at least four balls must hit a rail or be sunk on the break. If the break is illegal, the balls are reracked and the same player tries again. If he fails, the balls are reracked and the other player breaks.

    Gameplay

    • When a player shoots the cue ball, she must contact the lowest numbered ball on the table first but can sink any other ball. For example, if the lowest numbered ball is the three ball, a player could hit the three ball into the five ball to sink the five ball and have a legal shot. If the player fails to sink a ball, her turn ends and the other player shoots. If the player fails to hit the lowest numbered ball first or sinks the cue ball in a pocket, the other player gets to place the ball anywhere on the table to start his turn.

    Winning the Game

    • A player wins a game of nine-ball pool by legally sinking the nine ball. The nine ball can be contacted directly if all the other numbered balls have been pocketed. The nine ball can also be legally pocked in a combination. A combination occurs when the lowest numbered ball is hit first and then hits the nine ball into a pocket. If the nine ball is pocketed illegally, it is taken out of the pocket and spotted on at the foot spot. Any other illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed.