NAPA 9-Ball Rules

Below is a summary of the official NAPA (North American Pool Shooters Association) rules for 9-ball pool. Always refer to the official rulebook for the most up-to-date details.

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Game Objective

Nine-ball (9-ball) is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and a cue ball. On each shot, the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest numbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed in order. If a shooter pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains at the table for another shot, and continues until missing, committing a foul, or winning the game by legally pocketing the 9-ball. After a shooter misses, the incoming shooter must shoot from the position on the table left by the previous shooter, but after any foul the incoming shooter may start with cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. A match ends when one of the shooters has won the required number of games.

The Lag, Racking, Order of Break

THE LAG

A lag must be performed in order to determine who breaks first in a match between two players. Winner of the lag must break. Coin flipping instead of lagging is not allowed at anytime.

To perform the lag, both shooters are to simultaneously shoot a ball from behind the head string to the foot cushion and back toward the head cushion. The shooter's ball that comes to rest closest to the head cushion is the winner of the lag. It does not matter if a shooter's ball touches a side rail or the head cushion; the ball closest to the head cushion wins the lag.

• If a shooter, during their lag, lags their ball into any pocket or off of the table it is a loss of the lag.
• If both shooters lag their balls into a pocket then both shooters are to re-lag.
• If, during the lag, both shooter's balls make contact with one another both shooters are to re-lag.
• If, during the lag, one of the shooter's balls travels passed the head cushion, and resides inside the jaws of one of the pockets closest to the head cushion without falling into the pocket, both shooters are to re-lag.
• If, during the lag, a shooter's ball makes contact with any foreign object such as a stick, human being, or rack it is a loss of the lag.
• Lagging simultaneously is required. If, during the lag, a shooter waits to perform the lag until after the other shooter's lagged ball reaches the far rail, it is a loss of the lag for the shooter who delayed their lag.

Who Racks the Balls?

In a NAPA standard racking league the loser of the lag always racks the balls. Loser of each game must also rack the balls. In a Rack Your Own league the winner of the lag and the winner of each game must rack their own balls.

ORDER OF THE BREAK

The winner of each game must break in the next game.

Racking the Balls

The object balls (1-ball through 9-ball) are to be racked as tightly as possible in a diamond shape, with the 1-ball at the apex of the diamond and on the foot spot, the 9-ball in the center of the diamond and the 2-ball at the rear point of the rack. All other balls must be placed in the diamond in random order without purposeful or intentional pattern. In a standard racking league if, after the balls have been racked, all balls in the rack are not in contact with one another, also known as a "loose rack", the shooter who is to break may request a re-rack. At which time the opposing shooter is to re-rack the balls so that all balls in the rack are properly contacting one another, also known as a "tight rack". In a Rack Your Own league if, after the balls have been racked, all balls in the rack are not in contact with one another, also known as a "loose rack", the opponent who is not on the break may request a re-rack. At which time the shooter is to re-rack the balls so that all balls in the rack are properly contacting one another, also known as a "tight rack".

NO MORE THAN THREE RE-RACKS

No more than three re-racks should be allowed. If after three re-racks the balls are still not in a tight rack, a referee, a NAPA official or NAPA league operator should be summoned to perform the re-rack as best as possible and that re-rack must be the final re-rack. The NAPA league operator may assign a 3rd party to perform the final re-rack if needed.

TIME ALLOTMENT

If a player takes longer than 90 seconds to rack the balls for their opponent (or themselves in a "rack your own league"), an initial warning must be issued. Any violation of the 90 second rule afterwards is a concession of game.

The Break Shot

• The breaker must break with the base of the cue ball behind the head string.
• The breaker must strike the 1-ball first and either pocket a ball or cause at least four (4) numbered balls to make contact with a rail. If a shooter fails to meet either of these two requirements the balls are to be re-racked and the incoming shooter takes over the break with cue ball in hand behind the head string.
  • EXCEPTION: If four (4) numbered balls do not make contact with a rail, and yet, the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, it is a foul. The incoming shooter has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table and takes their turn from where the balls lie after the foul.
• If the breaking shooter miscues and the cue ball does not make contact with the racked balls or the breaking shooter interferes with the cue ball at any time before making contact with the racked balls, it is a foul. The incoming shooter takes over the break with cue ball in hand behind the head string.
• If, on the break shot, the shooter causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming shooter has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is not re-spotted (exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is to be placed on the spot).
• If, on the break shot, the shooter causes the cue ball to pocket (aka scratch), it is a foul and the incoming shooter has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. Any object balls that pocket are not to be re-spotted (exception: if the 9-ball is pocketed, it is to be placed on the spot).
• Pocketing the 9-ball on the break is a win for the breaker assuming all requirements of a legal break shot are met during the shot.

If the shooter performing the break shot, during their stroke, completely misses and makes no contact with the cue-ball (basically a "swing and a miss"), this is not considered a foul and the shooter may try the break shot again.

NOTE: Any foul on the break disqualifies the breaker from getting the Rackless Match Bonus

Continuing Play & Push Out

If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he continues to shoot in rotation until he misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the shooter misses or fouls, the other shooter begins his turn at the table and shoots in rotation until missing, committing a foul, or winning. The game ends when the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal shot, or the game is forfeited for an infraction of the rules.

PUSH OUT

The shooter who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break, may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position for the option that follows. On a push out, the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball nor any cushion, however, all other foul rules still apply. The shooter must announce his intention of playing a push out before the shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed except for the 9-ball. Following a legal push out, the incoming shooter is permitted to shoot from that position or return the shot to the shooter that pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul as long as no other rule is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed. After a shooter scratches on the break shot, the incoming shooter cannot play a push out.

NOTE: If you play push out, and your opponent chooses to gives the shot back to you, and then you run out, you do NOT get a bonus for a break and out.

NOTE: Should the shooter who is playing the push out, pocket the 9-ball, the 9-ball is to be spotted, the cue ball remains in the current position on the table, and the incoming shooter is permitted to shoot from that position or return the shot to the shooter that pushed out.

THREE FOUL RULE

There is no three foul rule in NAPA 9-ball.

CUE BALL IN HAND

When the cue ball is in hand, the shooter may place the cue ball anywhere on the bed of the table, except in contact with another ball. When placing the cue ball in position, the shooter is allowed to adjust the placement of the cue ball with the cue stick. This rule also applies to break shots when the shooter has ball in hand behind the headstring.

• Allowing the cue ball, any part of the body, or any other object to come into contact with another ball on the bed of the table while the cue ball is in hand, is a foul. The incoming shooter has cue ball in hand.
• Touching the cue ball with the ferrule of the cue stick is NOT a foul.
• Touching the cue ball with the tip of the cue is considered a legal stroke.

CALLING YOUR POCKET

Shooters are not required to call their pocket when shooting with the exception of the 9-ball. Shooters must announce to their opponent or opposing team which pocket they plan to shoot the 9-ball into. Calling a pocket is done by either, verbally announcing the designated pocket to the opponent or any shooter on the opposing team, or by pointing at the pocket with your hand or pool cue. The shooter does not need to call number of cushions, banks, kisses, or caroms.

• If the shooter pockets the 9-ball in the designated pocket it is considered a win. This can be done in rotation, by combination or carom on a legal hit.
• If the shooter pockets the 9-ball in any pocket other than the designated pocket, the 9-ball is placed on the spot and the incoming shooter shoots from where the cue ball lies.
• If the 9-ball is the lowest number ball on the table and the shooter does not announce to the opponent or opposing team which pocket they plan to shoot the 9-ball into, then proceeds to pocket the 9-ball, the 9-ball is placed on the spot and the incoming shooter has cue ball where it lies.
• If the shooter pockets any other ball while attempting to pocket the 9-ball, the shooter continues their turn at the table as long as:
• A legal shot was made
• A ball other than the 9-ball was pocketed
• If the shooter, accidentally pockets the 9-ball, while shooting another ball on the table, and did not call the 9-ball, the 9-ball is to be placed on the foot spot from where the break took place, and the shooter is to continue shooting as long as a legal shot was made and a ball other than the 9-ball was pocketed.

END OF GAME

The game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the 9-ball, or when a shooter forfeits the game as the result of a foul.

More Information

For full official rules, visit the NAPA Rulebook.