6.1 Cue Ball Scratch or off the Table
If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, the shot is a
foul. See 8.3 Ball Pocketed and
8.5 Driven off the Table.
top
6.2 Wrong Ball First
In those games which require the first object ball struck to be a
particular ball or one of a group of balls, it is a foul for the cue
ball to first contact any other ball.
top
6.3 No Rail after Contact
If no ball is pocketed on a shot, the cue ball must contact an
object ball, and after that contact at least one ball (cue ball or
any object ball) must be driven to a rail, or the shot is a foul.
(See 8.4 Driven to a Rail.)
top
6.4 No Foot on Floor
If the shooter does not have at least one foot touching the floor at
the instant the tip contacts the cue ball, the shot is a foul.
top
6.5 Ball Driven off the Table
It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. Whether that
ball is spotted depends on the rules of the game. (See
8.5 Driven
off the Table.)
top
6.6 Touched Ball
It is a foul to touch, move or change the path of any object ball
except by the normal ball-to-ball contacts during shots. It is a
foul to touch, move or change the path of the cue ball except when
it is in hand or by the normal tip-to-ball forward stroke contact of
a shot. The shooter is responsible for the equipment he controls at
the table, such as chalk, bridges, clothing, his hair, parts of his
body, and the cue ball when it is in hand, that may be involved in
such fouls. If such a foul is accidental, it is a standard foul, but
if it is intentional, it is
6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
top
6.7 Double Hit / Frozen Balls
If the cue stick contacts the cue ball more than once on a shot, the
shot is a foul. If the cue ball is close to but not touching an
object ball and the cue tip is still on the cue ball when the cue
ball contacts that object ball, the shot is a foul. If the cue ball
is very close to an object ball, and the shooter barely grazes that
object ball on the shot, the shot is assumed not to violate the
first paragraph of this rule, even though the tip is arguably still
on the cue ball when ball-ball contact is made.
However, if the cue ball is touching an object ball at the start of
the shot, it is legal to shoot towards or partly into that ball
(provided it is a legal target within the rules of the game) and if
the object ball is moved by such a shot, it is considered to have
been contacted by the cue ball. (Even though it may be legal to
shoot towards such a touching or “frozen” ball, care must be taken
not to violate the rules in the first paragraph if there are
additional balls close by.)
The cue ball is assumed not to be touching any ball unless it is
declared touching by the referee or opponent. It is the shooter’s
responsibility to get the declaration before the shot. Playing away
from a frozen ball does not constitute having hit that ball unless
specified in the rules of the game.
top
6.8 Push Shot
It is a foul to prolong tip-to-cue-ball contact beyond that seen in
normal shots.
top
6.9 Balls Still Moving
It is a foul to begin a shot while any ball in play is moving or
spinning.
top
6.10 Bad Cue Ball Placement
When the cue ball is in hand and restricted to the area behind the
head string, it is a foul to play the cue ball from on or below the
head string. If the shooter is uncertain whether the cue ball has
been placed behind the head string, he may ask the referee for a
determination.
top
6.11 Bad Play from Behind the Head String
When the cue ball is in hand behind the head string, and the first
ball the cue ball contacts is also behind the head string, the shot
is a foul unless the cue ball crosses the head string before that
contact. If such a shot is intentional, it is unsportsmanlike
conduct.
The cue ball must either cross the head string or contact a ball in
front of or on the head string or the shot is a foul, and the cue
ball is in hand for the following player according to the rules of
the specific game.
top
6.12 Cue Stick on the Table
If the shooter uses his cue stick in order to align a shot by
placing it on the table without having a hand on the stick, it is a
foul.
top
6.13 Playing out of Turn
It is a standard foul to unintentionally play out of turn. Normally,
the balls will be played from the position left by the mistaken
play. If a player intentionally plays out of turn, it should be
treated like 6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
top
6.14 Three Consecutive Fouls
If a player fouls three times without making an intervening legal
shot, it is a serious foul. In games scored by the rack, such as
nine ball, the fouls must be in a single rack. Some games such as
eight ball do not include this rule.
The referee must warn a shooter who is on two fouls when he comes to
the table that he is on two fouls. Otherwise a possible third foul
will be considered to be only the second.
top
6.15 Slow Play
If the referee feels that a player is playing too slowly, he may
advise that player to speed up his play. If the player does not
speed up, the referee may impose a shot clock on that match that
applies to both players. If the shooter exceeds the time limit
specified for the tournament, a standard foul will be called and the
incoming player is rewarded according to the rules applicable to the
game being played. (Rule
6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct
may also
apply.)
top
6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct
The normal penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct is the same as for a
serious foul, but the referee may impose a penalty depending on his
judgment of the conduct. Among other penalties possible are a
warning; a standard-foul penalty, which will count as part of a
three-foul sequence if applicable; a serious-foul penalty; loss of a
rack, set or match; ejection from the competition possibly with
forfeiture of all prizes, trophies and standings points.
Unsportsmanlike conduct is any intentional behavior that brings
disrepute to the sport or which disrupts or changes the game to the
extent that it cannot be played fairly. It includes
(a) distracting the opponent;
(b) changing the position of the balls in play other than by a shot;
(c) playing a shot by intentionally miscuing;
(d) continuing to play after a foul has been called or play has been
suspended;
(e) practicing during a match;
(f) marking the table;
(g) delay of the game; and
(h) using equipment
inappropriately.
