How to Play 9-Ball - The “Official Rules” of Pool

[dr_dave]

FYI, I just posted a new video that discusses and demonstrates the “official rules” of 9-ball pool, along with how to play the game well. Check it out:

Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:18 - Basic Rules
4:36 - The Break
7:37 - Push Out
9:17 - Strategy
11:40 - 3 Foul Rule
13:23 - Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

 

[Poolmanis]

I actually wanted many years make videos like this on pool games because there weren´t not good videos about game rules. I am just lazy.
Good thing is now you done it and better work that I could ever do! Very nice examples.
Perfect work!
Next 14.1?
You can consult Bob with spotting rules haha

 

[dr_dave]

I actually wanted many years make videos like this on pool games because there weren´t not good videos about game rules. I am just lazy.
Good thing is now you done it and better work that I could ever do! Very nice examples.
Perfect work!
Next 14.1?
You can consult Bob with spotting rules haha

I've thought about doing more (10-ball, one-pocket, 14.1), but they are a lot of work and I don't think they would get viewed much.

FYI, I have done a "straight pool basics" video in the past:

And VEOP covers all aspects of one pocket in great detail (including the rules and how to best take advantage of them).

I also cover all pool games fairly well already here:

pool game resource pages
​

Thanks again for your always-supportive posts!

 

[Poolmanis]

I've thought about doing more (10-ball, one-pocket, 14.1), but they are a lot of work and I don't think they would get viewed much.

I Agree.
8-Ball and 9-Ball were important videos i think. I always thought one can find 50 videos how to fix something from 93´ toyota but can´t find one good video about 8-ball rules. I get often calls where people ask rules. Now i can just share link to your video!

 

[TrxR]

I think 10 ball might be well watched. I would love to see one on one pocket and 14.1 . I would also watch a 10 ball one.

But the the 9 and 8 ball are definitely the more important ones.

Thanks for the videos.

 

[nwjohnny72]

Dr. Dave this video series is great. I've debated the silly rules of bar 8 ball before with people. You're a lot more eloquent than I am though.

 

[RT Ford]

FYI, I just posted a new video that discusses and demonstrates the “official rules” of 9-ball pool, along with how to play the game well. Check it out:

Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:18 - Basic Rules
4:36 - The Break
7:37 - Push Out
9:17 - Strategy
11:40 - 3 Foul Rule
13:23 - Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

The 'Forceful' break is nonsense and should never be used. I've watched top players (Strickland, Van Boening) on YouTube shatter the rack and lose their turn because of that ridiculous rule.

 

[dr_dave]

The 'Forceful' break is nonsense and should never be used. I've watched top players (Strickland, Van Boening) on YouTube shatter the rack and lose their turn because of that ridiculous rule.

I agree that the 3-point rule is “far from perfect.” I prefer the MatchRoom Sports approach of allowing the ref to judge the forceful break requirement (instead of using the 3-point rule). It is obvious if somebody is using a “soft break.” And it is also obvious if they are crushing it. You shouldn’t penalize a player with the 3-point rule if they are obviously crushing the break.

 

[bbb]

very nice review of the rules and strategy dave

 

[dr_dave]

very nice review of the rules and strategy dave

Thank you. I worked hard on this one.

 

[justnum]

Pool Instruction meets Pool Entertainment.

It needs more of you talking while moving your hands.

If a player did not know a double hit, you are effectively teaching someone how to cheat.

 

[Jedco]

I'd watch 10-ball, one-pocket, and 14.1 rules videos if you made them, but I'm your biggest fan, so that's probably not a good indication of how well they'd do. If you uploaded a video about folding laundry, I'd not only watch it, but I'd probably learn a thing or two.

 

[dr_dave]

If a player did not know a double hit, you are effectively teaching someone how to cheat.

The players who watch the video (and the videos available on the linked double-hit resource page) won’t be cheated because they will know better. I can’t help the players who don’t watch the videos.

 

[dr_dave]

I'd watch 10-ball, one-pocket, and 14.1 rules videos if you made them, but I'm your biggest fan, so that's probably not a good indication of how well they'd do. If you uploaded a video about folding laundry, I'd not only watch it, but I'd probably learn a thing or two.

I will think about it. Laundry folding might be a nice “break” from the rules series.

 

[benjaminwah]

Is there any game where safety down is a rule? Where you call safety and intentionally pocket a ball. We played that rule in a money league up here but I don't see it anywhere else.

 

[dr_dave]

Is there any game where safety down is a rule? Where you call safety and intentionally pocket a ball. We played that rule in a money league up here but I don't see it anywhere else.

That is a standard 8-ball rule. You just need to call “safety” before the shot.

 

[a1712]

That is a standard 8-ball rule. You just need to call “safety” before the shot.

I don't believe APA allows it. Brian.

 

[Jedco]

I don't believe APA allows it. Brian.

For better or worse, APA has many rules which are non-standard.

 

[dr_dave]

I don't believe APA allows it. Brian.

Yep. Slop counts in APA. There is no "safety" call. If you make one of your balls, you keep shooting. If you don't, your opponent shoots.

 

[dr_dave]

For better or worse, APA has many rules which are non-standard.

FYI, I have a summary of all league rule differences from "official rules" here:

differences among APA, BCAPL, and VNEA league rules​