It's negotiated... you can spot when the number on the table requires it or you can spot the first ball you make...... spotting it later means the ball stays out of play so it makes a spot a little stronger than tossing it up as soon as it goes down...... Tim is right tho at 9-7 you win 9-6 or lose 8-7 so there is no need to really discuss it... 9-8 do you both spot the first one??? All sorts of fun things to negotiate....