Current and past 9-ball official rules?

[Pubo]

Hello all, I'm interested in the history of 9 ball rules, but I don't know where I can find official documents. I know WPA has official rules, the older one effective 2016 and the new one effective 2025. But I'm not able to find any other official documents for the time before 2016. Does anyone know if there's an archive or have access to past offcial 9 ball rules?

I'm mainly interested in learning how the 9-ball break rules evolved over time. Thanks in advance.

 

[gregcantrall]

I located my Billiard Congress of America rule book dated 1980.

That's all for 9 ball. Plenty more games with specific rules . General Rules and for tournament play takes 10 more pages.

 

[ctyhntr]

Pre-Texas Express 9-Ball, co-exist (are we playing 9-ball or TE. Texas Express becomes defacto 9-ball rules.

 

[straightline]

The only rules I remember are where and 4 balls to the rail. The prescribed rack pattern was bogus as I recall. Dead outs.

 

[cjr3559]

I located my Billiard Congress of America rule book dated 1980.

Finally a copy of the official ‘Shoot Out’ rules.

My Rotation game thanks you.

 

[Twocylndr]

I located my Billiard Congress of America rule book dated 1980.
View attachment 855825View attachment 855826

I have rule book around the same time,~1980.
Seems like the 2 ball was to be at the opposite end of the rack from the 1 ball.
Loser breaks.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Finally a copy of the official ‘Shoot Out’ ...

They may be in some sense "official", but I never saw anyone play that way. Like three fouls for loss of rack.

 

[gregcantrall]

Like three fouls for loss of rack.

That triggers a favorite memory and of course story. Actually my purchase of the rule book was a key player.
I had purchased the book as I was brand new to tournaments and wanted to know the rules. The Red Roof on South Tacoma Way had a weekly $5 eight ball tournament. The director announced BCA rules. It was my first entry and I was playing The local shark that went by Rhinestone Ray. He had run to the 8 and missed, from the break. I had a couple of trouble balls and the 8 was perilously near a corner. I opted for a weak safety that left a makable kick. He scoffed and picked up whitey and handed it to me with a snide comment.
My original intention with the safety was to open up a trouble ball. His response prompted a change of plan. My second safety moved a ball to a position for a third safety if he did it again. He did it again with a double dose of sneer.
I immediately called for the director to confirm B C A rules. RIGHT? Including 3 consecutive fouls is loss of game. RIGHT? So after yes I locked up whitey in a fashion that require a 3 cushion escape.
Ray was hyper aggressive and wanted a hundred dollar bet that he would hit it this time. I declined as it was a simple 3 railer to hit it. Which he did and whitey went in off.
My first tournament win. The celebration eclipsed the first place money. Killians' Red was never touched again.

 

[Pubo]

I located my Billiard Congress of America rule book dated 1980.
View attachment 855825View attachment 855826
View attachment 855827
View attachment 855828
That's all for 9 ball. Plenty more games with specific rules . General Rules and for tournament play takes 10 more pages.

Thank you! This is really awesome. It's interesting that the rule says, "other balls may be placed entirely at random", as if pattern racking is allowed. Or I guess it was.

 

[gregcantrall]

Thank you! This is really awesome. It's interesting that the rule says, "other balls may be placed entirely at random", as if pattern racking is allowed. Or I guess it was.

Those that had a pattern rack kept it on the down low.
Ring games that paid on the 5 and 9 had a specific place for the 5. In the Northwest it was behind the 1 ball. Players that came from the other side of the states often wanted it at the very bottom.
The bottom ball covers the most ground on the break. There is a break that has the ball behind the one Banking cross side. It also moves the 9 towards the corner pocket as well.
Cory Duel studied the break and came up with a soft break that caused the number of balls required to hit a rail raised to 4. He possibly had a pattern for the racked balls as well. He is pretty crafty.

 

[Pubo]

Those that had a pattern rack kept it on the down low.
Ring games that paid on the 5 and 9 had a specific place for the 5. In the Northwest it was behind the 1 ball. Players that came from the other side of the states often wanted it at the very bottom.
The bottom ball covers the most ground on the break. There is a break that has the ball behind the one Banking cross side. It also moves the 9 towards the corner pocket as well.
Cory Duel studied the break and came up with a soft break that caused the number of balls required to hit a rail raised to 4. He possibly had a pattern for the racked balls as well. He is pretty crafty.

Yeah, Corey is really good at soft breaks. I'm watching a lot of his 2016, 2017 bar table matches. When the racking paper is used, you are guaranteed the wing ball on the same side as you, so the "4 balls must contact cushions" rule doesn't seem to be helpful anyway.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Ring games that paid on the 5 and 9 had a specific place for the 5. In the Northwest it was behind the 1 ball.

We played $1 on the 5 and 7 $2 on the 9.
5 and 7 behind the 9 in the rack.

 

[garczar]

I miss 2-shot rollout 9b. WAAAAAAY better than this TE shit. TE is ok for tournament play but rollout was how the game was designed to be played. More fun/better game.