8 Ball Rules?

YOLO

YOLO

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am looking for a common set of rules for 8 ball. I play mainly with my wife. I am always very forgiving as my level is far above hers and it's been so long since i've lost touch with with what's right and what's wrong ;)

She is getting to the point where she should be playing it straight and I would like to find the most widely accepted rules of the game. I often have people tell me I'm pretty good and they want a game or two. It would be good if I had a better handle it.
 
8-ball rules

YOLO said:
I am looking for a common set of rules for 8 ball. I play mainly with my wife. I am always very forgiving as my level is far above hers and it's been so long since i've lost touch with with what's right and what's wrong ;)

She is getting to the point where she should be playing it straight and I would like to find the most widely accepted rules of the game. I often have people tell me I'm pretty good and they want a game or two. It would be good if I had a better handle it.
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You can find the World Standardized Rules on the Internet.
 
Thanks for the replies. I am assuming that these are followed, generally, in rooms around the country?
 
There is SO much out there...

It's dependent on many factors. Answering under the assumption that you are talking about the U.S., then the points of your specific question - "most common" and "widely accepted" - mostly rule out World Standardized Rules (WSR).

In organized play in the U.S., the ACS is the only organization with any significant numbers using WSR, as far as I know. Around 22,000 according to their website.

Organizations and others not using WSR and a rough guesstimate of their numbers. Some numbers could be wrong - I rarely concern myself with such matters. Anyone out there please feel free to correct them.

  • APA - ~250,000. About as far from WSR as you can get.
  • BCAPL/USAPL - ~65,000. The closest to WSR, but with a few significant differences. As far as detail and clarity, by far the most comprehensive and understandable rule set.
  • TAP - ???... "...tens of thousands..." says their website. Many significant differneces from WSR.
  • NAPA - ~15,000? Many significant differences from WSR.
  • UPA - ???...Operating in 18 states per their web site. Many significant differences from WSR.
  • The "Any Room You Might Walk into in the Entire Country on Any Given Night" league. - Millions. At least as many different rule sets as there rooms, the HUGE majority of which are going to be playing with large differences from WSR, especially on Tuesday afternoons when it is raining.

The same goes for many professional events as well. A brief list of events that do not use WSR:


  • US Open 10-Ball, US Open 14.1, US Open One Pocket, USBTC - all use BCAPL rules.
  • Derby City - hell and gone from WSR.
  • WPBA - when it was significant, significant differences from WSR.

The whole point being, WSR may "S" elsewhere, but not in the U.S. I'm not making any editorial analyses or judgments. Just telling it like it is.

Do your research, make your decision, and the best of shooting and luck to you.:)

Buddy
 
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it has to be the number 1 annoyance in this beautiful game... sick and tired of arguments over the rules... hopefully when the North Koreans take over the world, they'll sort it out.

Bob
 
YOLO said:
I am assuming that these are followed, generally, in rooms around the country?
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Not in Australia - unfortunately - but as they say - dont go to a bar if u want a serious game of 8-ball.

BCA / World Standardised rules are the best to use IMO.

Other house rules / local rules are just plain silly in some instances.

Cheers.
 
tatcat2000 said:
It's dependent on many factors. Answering under the assumption that you are talking about the U.S., then the points of your specific question - "most common" and "widely accepted" - mostly rule out World Standardized Rules (WSR).

In organized play in the U.S., the ACS is the only organization with any significant numbers using WSR, as far as I know. Around 22,000 according to their website.

Organizations and others not using WSR and a rough guesstimate of their numbers. Some numbers could be wrong - I rarely concern myself with such matters. Anyone out there please feel free to correct them.

  • APA - ~250,000. About as far from WSR as you can get.
  • BCAPL/USAPL - ~65,000. The closest to WSR, but with a few significant differences. As far as detail and clarity, by far the most comprehensive and understandable rule set.
  • TAP - ???... "...tens of thousands..." says their website. Many significant differneces from WSR.
  • NAPA - ~15,000? Many significant differences from WSR.
  • UPA - ???...Operating in 18 states per their web site. Many significant differences from WSR.
  • The "Any Room You Might Walk into in the Entire Country on Any Given Night" league. - Millions. At least as many different rule sets as there rooms, the HUGE majority of which are going to be playing with large differences from WSR, especially on Tuesday afternoons when it is raining.

The same goes for many professional events as well. A brief list of events that do not use WSR:


  • US Open 10-Ball, US Open 14.1, US Open One Pocket, USBTC - all use BCAPL rules.
  • Derby City - hell and gone from WSR.
  • WPBA - when it was significant, significant differences from WSR.

The whole point being, WSR may "S" elsewhere, but not in the U.S. I'm not making any editorial analyses or judgments. Just telling it like it is.

Do your research, make your decision, and the best of shooting and luck to you.:)

Buddy
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Interesting stats, thanks!
 
i think ther are more different rules for 8 ball than any other game in pool.


find what you like and stick with it.:)
 
Another vote for World Standardized Rules.
I can't promise there won't be some small differences between these rules and what some local room promotes...
but the important stuff is all part of WSR.

If you could boil it down to a few key differences between 'real' 8 ball and local/bar rules:
Fouls are penalized with ball-in-hand anywhere on the table (not behind the line),
you must hit one of your balls first (or the 8 if your group's all sunk) or it's a foul...
and after contacting a ball, some ball (any ball) has to touch a rail.
Also, you must call the pocket the ball will go into (not how it gets there)
and if you make something in the wrong pocket, your turn is done.

Good to hear the wife is getting into it and improving!
 
Learn the WSR rules, but what is more important is for you to become a good player in general. Practice the shots, the tactics and the technique in general, and also observe other people play, especially the experienced ones. Soon you'll learn, if you already haven't, that the vast majority of players doesn't follow the WSR. Sometimes you'll need to accept many other rule variants and adapt to them if you want to win consistently. The other issue is that many bars have very bad tables and equipment, which requires a whole new level of adaptation. Don't worry though. Once you can shoot properly and make up good strategies according to your opponent, the rules and the equipment, you won't have to bother with discussing which ruleset you should use, but you'll be able to take the best out of any rules you play by ;)
 
Push&Pool said:
Once you can shoot properly and make up good strategies according to your opponent, the rules and the equipment, you won't have to bother with discussing which ruleset you should use, but you'll be able to take the best out of any rules you play by ;)
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This is true - but knowing all the rules before you start is hard when theres different hillbilly rules in every pub. Finding out about a rule as u play tends to put one at a disadvantage. (or tends to start fights ! :-D )

start of game - conversation - player 1 says "BCA rules mate ?" - player 2 says "yep ok"

game starts, both players knows all the rules and you haven't spent 15 minutes hashing thru rule scenarios. ;-P

Cheers.
 
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