What is an illegal break in pool?

If the breaker does not pocket a ball and fails to drive at least 4 balls to one or more rails, it is an illegal break. In the case of an illegal break, the opponent can either accept the table as is and play from there; choose to re-rack and break; or re-rack and have the breaker go again.

What makes a pool break illegal?

For a break to be legal, at least four balls must be driven to the rails or a ball must be pocketed. Otherwise, the balls are re-racked and re-broken by the same player. A game not legally broken but resulting in a scratch or foul will be re-racked and broken by the opposite player.

What is illegal breaking?

An illegal break is when you strike but fail to hit the 1 ball, shoot away from the break line, or strike the cue out of the table. The rules are to pocket at least one ball or ensure that four or more balls hit the cushions.

What constitutes an illegal break in 9-ball?

3.3 9-Ball Break Requirements

You begin the break with ball in hand behind the head string. The cue ball must contact the 1-ball before any other ball or cushion or it is a foul. You must either pocket a ball or cause at least four object balls to contact the cushions, or it is an illegal break.

What is a valid break in pool?

To make a legal break, the player must hit the balls and ensure that four balls hit cushions and that the cue ball doesn't go down a pocket. If the 8-ball is potted on the break, the player is entitled to ask for a re-rack.

Types of Illegal Break Shots in 9 Ball Pool

What is the 3 point break rule?

The 3-point break rule is in effect. For a break to be legal a player must drive 3 object balls past the head string, or a combination of 3 pocketed balls and balls above the head string. Failure to execute a legal break is not a foul.

Does the break matter in pool?

The break determines the layout of the table after the break, the position of the cue ball, and who gets control of the table directly after the break. It's a huge advantage because whoever is at the table gets to make the decisions at the table.

Is a push shot legal in pool?

It is a foul if the cue ball is pushed by the cue tip, with contact being maintained for more than the momentary time commensurate with a stroked shot. (Such shots are usually referred to as push shots.)

What is the 3 foul rule in pool?

Three-foul rule

After three consecutive fouls, the game is considered lost. However, as in rotational games, a player must be advised by the referee or opponent that he already has two fouls before taking the next shot and committing a third foul.

Is it still open if you make a ball on the break?

8. The table is considered open after the break, even if balls are pocketed on the break. In other words, solids or stripes are not yet chosen or designated. A group (solids or stripes) is assigned to a player only when he or she legally pockets a called ball in the group without a scratch or foul.

Can you hit any ball on 2 shots in pool?

No such thing as 2 shots.

This rule is new to 8-ball and has been borrowed from 9-ball. Combination shots are legal – taken from Blackball rules, a player can legally pot any opponent's ball on the basis that they strike a ball of their own first and also pot any of their own balls on the same shot.

Does the 8-ball have to go in clean?

PLAYING THE 8-BALL.

An interesting variation that comes more often than one would be imagine is that the last object ball prior to the 8- ball must go in clean, so the player cannot play a carom for their last object ball. There are some areas that do not require that the 8-ball go clean.

Is scooping illegal in pool?

Scoop shots are illegal (in all Billiard leagues) because they may bounce off the ferrule, not the tip. A double hit may also occur as the cue hits the ball, the felt, then the ball again (or at the same time). Scooping is also damaging to the felt.

Can you bank a break in pool?

On the break shot, at least four balls must hit the rails else it is an illegal break. Any balls pocketed during the break do not count toward the score and will be spotted after the player's inning ends. Pocketing a ball on the break results in the player continuing to shoot.

What is the 2 hit rule in pool?

"A double hit is an illegal shot involving the tip of the cue stick coming into contact with the cue ball twice during the execution of a single shot. This foul may occur through double clutching the cue ball, or in situations where the cue ball is nearly frozen to the object ball or rail.

What is the rule of killer pool?

Killer or killers is a multi-player folk variant of straight pool in which each player is assigned a set number of "lives" and takes one shot per inning to attempt to pocket ( pot ) a ball, or else lose a life. Usually if the player scratches then an additional life is lost.

Can you get 2 shots from the break?

If a player fouls on the break, for example, pots the white, then they lose the right to nominate. This advantage passes to their opponent who receives two shots and a free table. With the first shot, they can play whichever ball they wish, and can then nominate a preferred set of balls on their second visit.

Is a double tap legal in pool?

6.7 Double Hit / Frozen Balls

If the cue stick contacts the cue ball more than once on a shot, the shot is a foul. If the cue ball is close to but not touching an object ball and the cue tip is still on the cue ball when the cue ball contacts that object ball, the shot is a foul.

What is a kiss shot in pool?

A kiss shot is a type of billiards shot in which the shooting player strikes the cue ball with the intent of hitting an object ball so that it will ricochet off a rail or another ball (this contact is the “kiss”) before going into the pocket.

What happens if you sink 2 balls on break?

If any balls are sunk on the break, the breaking player continues to shoot. The table remains open after the break regardless of what is sunk on the break. Sinking the cue ball on break is a scratch and passes the turn to the opponent, giving them ball in hand.

Why are there 10 minute breaks in pool?

Safety breaks allow time (10 minutes at the end of each hour) for children under the age of 16 to take a break from swimming. This helps prevent fatigue in young swimmers, provides a break for water and food and is a good reminder to use the restroom.

What is break the rule?

to break the rules: to refuse to follow instructions, to go against the rules or the law. idiom.