Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Setting up the game
• Part 2 of 3: Starting the game
• Part 3 of 3: Playing the game
• Tips

8-ball is played with 1 white cue ball and 15 colored numbered balls; including one black "8-ball". One player tries to score the full colored balls ("full", numbered 1 to 7) while the other player has the striped balls ("half", numbered 9 to 15). A player must not score the "8-ball" until he or she has pocketed all the correct balls (half or full). The first player to score the "8-ball" wins the game.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Setting up the game

1. Understand the basic rules of the game. 8-ball is a game played with one cue ball and 15 'goal balls', numbered 1 to 15. One player must score the balls with numbers 1 to 7 (full colors), while the other must score the balls with numbers 9 up to 15 (half or striped balls). To win, you must first score the balls from 1 of these 2 groups and then rightfully pocket the 8 ball.
2. Find the starting place. Look for a small dot or triangle in the center of the width of the table, and about a quarter of the length of the table. This is where you will place the cue ball at the start of the game. The line that passes through this point is called the "main line."
3. Get the other balls ready. Find the triangular shape and place the numbered balls in it. Place the triangle on the other side of the table opposite the starting place, with one corner of the triangle pointing towards the white cue ball. Make sure the triangle is in the center of the table, with the bottom line of the triangle parallel to the table. Then, when you are ready to play, remove the triangle so that there are only balls left on the table.
   • Place the point of the triangle at ¾ of the length of the table, on the "foot point": the point on the tablecloth that is directly opposite the starting point. If the "main line" represents ¼ of the length of the table, then we find the imaginary "footline" three-quarters of the length of the table. The "foot point" is then the exact center of the "foot line".
   • Place the 8 ball in the center of the triangle. We place the ball with number 1 in front, so the closest to the white cue ball. In the other corners we place one full and one half ball.
4. Learn the lingo. Pool is a sport with a rich terminology that can sometimes be a little difficult for new players to understand. Refer to the terms as you play. When in doubt about the meaning of something, ask a more experienced player.
   • Goal Balls: The striped and full balls numbered 1 through 15. Any ball on the table except the white cue ball. The "goal balls" are the balls you try to score in the "pockets" or holes of the table.
   • Pocket: The holes on the edge of the table. There are six holes: one in each corner of the table, and one in the center of each long side. "Pots" is the scoring of one or more "goal balls" in a hole of the table.
   • Band: The band that surrounds the table and prevents the balls from falling off the table.
   • Miss: When a player accidentally puts the white cue ball in one of the holes. When this happens, take one of your already scored balls and return it to the center of the table. Your opponent now gets the chance to shoot from a chosen place on the head of the table.
   • Open table: The table is "open" when the group choice (full or half) has not yet been determined. When the table is open, it is allowed to hit a striped ball first and then score a full or striped ball.
   • Penalty Foul: The opponent receives the white cue ball. This means that the player may place the cue ball anywhere on the table before taking his or her next shot.

Part 2 of 3: Starting the game

1. Open the game. A player places the cue ball behind the "main line" and aim for the remaining balls. Hit the ball with power and precision against the balls in the triangle formation. To perform a correct opening shot, either a ball must be scored or at least 4 numbered balls must have touched the tire. If the starting player fails to do this, it is considered a fault.
2. Know what to do in case of an error or a miss. When the starting player, also called "breaker", scores the white cue ball, the game is only partially started. In the event of a penalty foul, the incoming player has 2 options: accept the table as it is and take the next shot, or rearrange the base lineup and play it open again. The incoming player can choose whether he / she can open himself or his or her opponent again.
   • If a player scores the cue ball on the opening shot:
     • All scored balls are monitored.
     • The punch is a foul, so the other player takes the turn.
     • The table is open, whereby the first player to score a numbered ball without scoring the cue ball chooses this ball type (full or half) as his or her goal for this game.
   • If a player throws a numbered ball out of the table on the opening shot, it is considered a penalty foul. The incoming player has 2 options:
     • Accept the table as it is. Take the next punch and continue the game.
     • Take the cue ball in your hand behind the "main line". Reopen the next punch or punch as necessary.
   • When the 8-ball is scored on the opening shot, the breaker may ask for the balls to be set up again to start over, or for the 8-ball to be placed in the center of the table to continue play. When the breaker scores the cue ball in addition to the 8-ball, the opponent comes into play and has the choice to start over or to continue playing with the ball in hand behind the 'main line' and the 8-ball in the middle of the table.
3. Choose groups. Before the groups have been chosen, the table is open. The first player to score a numbered ball chooses to score this type for the remainder of the game. For example, if you are the breaker and you score the striped ball with number 13, you are the "striped balls". Shop around for other striped balls that are easy to pocket. Your goal is to score all the striped balls first, then the 8-ball, before your opponent scores all of his "full" balls and then the 8-ball.
   • Make it clear who is playing with which balls. If you score a half, shout, "I've got half!" If you score a full, shout, "I've got the full!"
   • If you are the first player to score a numbered ball, but you have scored both a full and a half ball, you have a choice between both groups. Choose the group that looks the easiest at first sight.

Part 3 of 3: Playing the game

1. Keep playing until you fail to score a ball. If you play with the striped balls, and you score the striped ball with No. 12, your turn remains. Try to pocket another striped ball. If you score another striped ball on your next turn, you may play again. From the moment you make a mistake or miss a ball, it is your opponent's turn.
   • There are no rules about combination shots, where you score 2 balls of your kind. Only the 8-ball may not be used as the first ball in the combination, unless the 8-ball is the only ball the player has yet to score. Otherwise it is a mistake.
2. Pocket all the balls in your group. If you are playing with the full balls, try to score all balls with numbers 1 to 7 so that you can pocket the 8 ball. When you play with the striped balls, you score balls 9 to 15 first. If you score your opponent's ball, your turn ends in a miss.
3. Name your punches. In many official games, the players have to name each punch they make in advance in order for it to be a valid punch. This means that you have to say which ball you will score where before you play. For example, you can say "ball 4 in the top corner", and point with your cue to make it clear which angle you mean. If you are just playing a game among friends, there is no need to name each punch in advance.
4. Pocket the 8 ball. You may only shoot the 8-ball if you have first scored all numbered balls in your group (full or half). Be sure to state where you will score! Look at the table and choose which hole is the easiest to score the 8-ball. Then say where you will score before taking your punch. If you are the first to validly score the 8 ball, you win the game!
   • for example, say "8-ball, bottom left", and clearly indicate which hole you mean.
   • If you've named your shot and you don't score the 8-ball, it's now up to your opponent to play. You have neither won nor lost unless you score the 8 ball in the wrong hole or miss while trying to score the 8 ball.
5. End the game. A game of 8-ball pool ends when a player correctly pockets the 8-ball, after having first scored all numbered balls in his or her group. However, a player can also lose the game by committing certain infractions.
   • A player loses when he or she: scores the 8 ball at any time after the opening shot; the 8 ball scores on the same turn as he or she scores the last ball in his group; the 8-ball from the table plays at any time after the opening shot; scores the 8 ball in a different hole than the hole designated by the player; whether the 8 ball scores when it was not yet the player's only ball remaining.

Tips

• Hitting the cue ball: Place the tip of your cue about 10 cm in front of the ball. Then position your cue on your support hand. When you shoot, you are only supposed to move your arm. Keep the rest of your body still.
• 8-ball pool is played with one white "cue ball" and 15 numbered balls - including a black "8-ball". One player tries to score the full colored balls ("full", numbered 1 through 7) while another player tries to score the striped balls.
• Holding the cue: Use one hand (the supporting hand) to aim and stabilize the cue before your shot. Use the other hand to swing the cue and provide the power with each punch.
• Body position: Keep your body stable and comfortable while aiming with the cue ball, swing your cue and hit the cue ball.Learn to play correctly.
  • Your feet and shoulders should be the same width.
  • Put one foot in front of the other as "support foot".
  • If you are right-handed, put your left foot in front and vice versa.
  • Put your chest in a parallel direction with the ground.
  • Put your cue on your "support hand".
  • Look straight over the cue.
• Swinging the cue:
  • Put the cue on your fulcrum.
  • The end of the cue should be about 6 inches from your hand.
  • Keep the cue level with your waist.
• Meet the specifications of the cue. All choices must meet the following requirements:
  • Not shorter than 1.34 meters and not longer than 1.6 meters.
  • Not less than 425 grams and not heavier than 708 grams.
  • The balance point must be at least 83 cm from the tip of the cue.
  • A leather tip on the cue.