Regulations
General regulations and official rules of the disciplines played in our tournaments
8 Ball is the most widely played discipline in our tournaments. Each player must pocket all their balls (solids 1–7 or stripes 9–15) before pocketing the black 8-ball.
Official Ultimate Pool Group Rules ↗Rack
The 15 balls are racked in a triangle. The 8-ball is placed in the center. One solid and one stripe must occupy the two bottom corners.
Break
The cue ball must be struck from the breaking zone. At least 4 balls must contact a cushion, or a ball must be pocketed. Otherwise the break is a foul and the incoming player may re-rack or play from position.
Group selection
Groups (solids or stripes) are not assigned until a ball is legally pocketed after the break. Until then, the table is "open."
Legal shot
The player must always contact a ball from their group first. If no ball is legally pocketed, the turn passes to the opponent.
Fouls
- Cue ball contacts opponent's ball first
- No cushion contact after hitting the target ball
- Cue ball pocketed
- Ball jumps off the table
- On a foul, the incoming player has ball-in-hand (free placement of the cue ball).
8-ball — winning
The player who has pocketed all their balls wins by pocketing the 8-ball in the called pocket. Pocketing the 8 on a foul, or in the wrong pocket, is an immediate loss.
