9 Ball Pool

Nine-ball is the form of billiards most often seen on television. That's because 9 ball is the prevalent pool game played by touring professionals on both the men's and women's professional billiards tours. The American sports network, ESPN, televises nine-ball tournaments exclusively.

9 ball got its start in the Prohibition-era United States, being invented in the pool halls of the twenties. It early on had a reputation as a "money game". Because nine-ball games are finished quicker than 8-ball games, many gamblers prefer the game. ESPN prefers nine-ball tournaments for the same reason, because Nineball engages the audience's attention and easier fits into the constraints of commercial broadcasts.

9 Ball Similarities with 8 Ball

Nine-ball is played on a regulation pocket billiards table, just like eight-ball. Nine-ball uses a white cue ball and pool cues as equipment. The object of nine-ball is to knock balls into the pockets uses the cue ball.

The difference between the two games begins in how many balls are used. To begin a game of eight-ball, there are 16 balls on the table. In a game of nine-ball, there are ten balls on the table: the cue ball and the nine balls to be pocketed.

These nine balls used are those marked 1 through 9. The 10 through 14 balls are taken off the table.

The Object of Nine-Ball

The object of a game of nine-ball is to pocket the balls in sequential order. Therefore, the shooter tries to pocket the one ball, then proceeds to the two-ball and so on. The nine-ball is the winning ball, like an eight-ball is in a game of eight-ball. Therefore, the name of each game is derived from the ultimate shot in each game.

The Nine-Ball Rack

When racking the balls in nine-ball, a player pushes the balls towards the apex of the triangle-shaped wooden ball rack. By doing so, the nine balls will form a diamond-shaped form. Typically, the one ball is placed at the apex of the diamond, facing the shooter. The nine ball is placed in the center of the diamond.

In certain cases, the other balls are placed back-to-front in sequential order, though usually it does not matter in what order the other balls are placed. The racked balls must be pushed tight against the frame of the ball rack, so they touch one another.

The Nine-Ball Break

The break is performed by one of the two opponents, usually chosen fairly and sometimes randomly. This might be done with a coin toss, though in tournament settings, it is more likely this will be determined by the lag.

Lagging

Two opponents each will choose a ball and hit it from the "kitchen" to the opposite end rail. These balls must hit the opposite rail and return to the kitchen. The one whose ball gets nearest the kitchen's end rail without hitting that rail is allowed to break the rack. This process is called the lag or lagging.

Breaking the Rack

The shooter knocks the cue ball from the kitchen at the rack, hoping to break up the balls and perhaps even knock one into a pocket. If a ball goes into a pocket, it remains the shooter's turn. If not, it is the opponent's turn.

A shooter might foul on a break. If one of the balls is not pocketed, then four balls must hit the side rail cushions. If neither of these occurs, then the opponent can call for a re-rack. In this case, that player is allowed to break the rack.

If you pocket the nine ball on the break, it is an instant victory for the shooter. If any other ball is pocketed on the break, the shooter continues his or her turn.

Fouls in 9 Ball

Fouls in nine-ball result in the loss of the shooter's turn, as well as a "ball in hand" scenario for the opponent. A ball-in-hand means the player gets to place the cue ball anywhere on the table and shoot from there. This typically means an easy next shot for the shooter, as well as setting up the potential for other easy shots.

If a player is not able to hit the next ball in the sequence of balls with the cue ball, this is a foul. This is the most common foul in nine-ball.

The Push-Out

In most games of nine-ball, there are push-out rules. A player can call for a push-out. This allows the shooter to shoot the cue ball anywhere on the table without it being considered a foul.

Originally, push-outs were allowed multiple times during a nine-ball game. Beginning around 1990, the push-out rules became much more restricted. This was meant to make nine-ball play faster, often for the sake of entertaining television games. These new rules were called Texas Express rules.

Texas Express 9 Ball Rules

In Texas Express Nine-Ball, players are only allowed one push-out per game. This push-out can only occur in the turn or "inning" directly after the break, when the balls are likely to remain somewhat bunched on one end of the table. After this push-out, no other such relief is given to a shooter.

Winning at Nine-Ball

Winning a game of nine-ball requires the shooter to pocket the nine ball with the cue ball without committing any fouls. The other numbered balls should be off the table at this point in the game.

A player can hit a combination shot, knocking in a proceeding ball and the nine-ball on the same shot. If this is done without fouling, the game is also won by the shooter.

If a shooter commits a foul while knocking in the nine-ball, the shooter loses. Fouls include pocketing the cue ball.

If a player commits fouls on three successive turns, that player can lose the game. Generally, the player must be informed that he or she is on two fouls, if this rule is to be enforced.

Nine-Ball Organizations and Tournaments

The United States Professional Pool Players Association, usually known as the UPA, is the largest sanctioning body in professional billiards these days. Though World Pool-Billiard Association is another major organization, and many players use the WPA rules. The WPA Nine-Ball Championship is a major event for both men and women.

The U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship is possibly the most prestigious nineball tournament in the world.

The Women's Professional Billiard Association, or WPBA, is the largest women's sanctioning body. It offers a more organized professional tour than anything the men enjoy. Along with heavy coverage by ESPN, women nine-ball players have become well-known competitors.