8-Ball Specific Rules

Rules for shooting the 8 ball, ball-in-hand, losses of game, and blocked hanging 8-ball situations.

Shooting The 8 Ball

Once a player pockets all balls from their group, they may play the 8 ball to win the game.

The 8 ball must be called and must be pocketed in the called pocket.

Placements And Ball In Hand

A player cannot use a handicap placement when shooting the 8 ball, even if they still have placements remaining in that game.

A player can use ball in hand to shoot the 8 ball when the opponent commits a foul. This is not a handicap placement.

A player can also use ball in hand to shoot the 8 ball if the opponent does not make a legal safety. This is not a handicap placement.

Missing The 8 Ball

When shooting at the 8 ball to win, failing to hit the 8 ball is a foul. The incoming player receives ball in hand anywhere on the table. This is not a loss of game.

Loss Of Game

The following are automatic losses:

The 8 ball is called in one pocket but goes into another pocket.
The 8 ball is pocketed and the cue ball goes off the table.
The 8 ball is pocketed in the called pocket and the cue ball also goes into a pocket.
The 8 ball is pocketed while the shooter still has one or more of their group balls on the table.

Hanging 8-Ball Rule

If the 8 ball is hanging deep in a pocket and a player intentionally places one of their own balls in front of it to block the pocket, creating a position where neither ball can be made, then the player shooting the 8 ball automatically wins the game if the game later comes down to the 8 ball.

If the balls unintentionally end up with the 8 ball hanging deep in a pocket and another ball blocking it, and there is no legal way to hit or pocket the 8 ball, the game is restarted with no penalty to either player or team.

Unused Placements

Unused handicap placements do not carry from one game to another. Each game starts with the player’s current handicap placement count.

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