World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 08. Definitions Used in the Rules

WPA Rule 8. Definitions Used in the Rules
The Rules of Play From World Pool-Billiard Association (Effective 1/1/08)

The following definitions apply throughout these rules.

8.1 Parts of the Table

The following definitions of parts of the table refer to the accompanying diagram. Some
details of exact size and placement are in the WPA Equipment Specifications. See the WPA
website at www.wpa-pool.com for current information.



The table is comprised of rails, cushions, a playing surface and pockets. The foot end of the
table is where the object balls usually begin, while the head end is where the cue ball usually
begins.

Behind the head string is the area between the head rail and the head string, not including the
head string.

The cushions, tops of the rails, pockets and pocket liners are parts of the rails.

There are four “strings” on the playing surface as shown in the diagram:

• the long string down the center of the table;
• the head string bounding the quarter of the table closest to the head rail;
• the foot string bounding the quarter of the table closest to the foot rail; and
• the center string between the two side pockets.

These lines are only marked as mentioned below.
The rails may have inlays referred to as diamonds or sights which mark 1/4th of the width and
1/8th of the length of the table measured from nose to nose on the cushions.
On the playing surface, which is the flat, cloth-covered part of the table, the following will be
marked if they are used in the game being played:

• the foot spot, where the foot string and the long string meet;
• the head spot, where the head string and the long string meet;
• the center spot, where the center string and the long string meet;
• the head string;
• the long string between the foot spot and the foot rail; and
• the triangle, either in outline or by alignment marks depending on the game.

8.2 Shot
A shot begins when the tip contacts the cue ball due to a forward stroke motion of the cue
stick. A shot ends when all balls in play have stopped moving and spinning. A shot is said to
be legal if the shooter did not foul during the shot.

8.3 Ball Pocketed
A ball is pocketed if it comes to rest in a pocket below the playing surface or enters the ball
return system. A ball near the brink of a pocket partly supported by another ball is considered
pocketed if removal of the supporting ball would cause the ball to fall into the pocket.

If a ball stops near the edge of a pocket, and remains apparently motionless for five seconds, it
is not considered pocketed if it later falls into the pocket by itself. See 1.7 Balls Settling for
other details. During that five second period, the referee should ensure that no other shot is
taken. An object ball that rebounds from a pocket back onto the playing surface is not a
pocketed ball. If the cue ball contacts an already pocketed ball, the cue ball will be
considered pocketed whether it rebounds from the pocket or not. The referee will remove
pocketed object balls from full or nearly full pockets, but it is the shooter’s responsibility to
see that this duty is performed.

8.4 Driven to a Rail
A ball is said to be driven to a rail if it is not touching that rail and then touches that rail. A
ball touching a rail at the start of a shot (said to be “frozen” to the rail) is not considered
driven to that rail unless it leaves the rail and returns. A ball that is pocketed or driven off the
table is also considered to have been driven to a rail. A ball is assumed not to be frozen to
any rail unless it is declared frozen by the referee, the shooter, or the opponent. See also
Regulation 26, Calling Frozen Balls.

8.5 Driven off the Table
A ball is considered driven off the table if it comes to rest other than on the playing surface
but is not pocketed. A ball is also considered driven off the table if it would have been driven
off the table except for striking an object such as a light fixture, piece of chalk or a player
which causes it to return to the table.

A ball that contacts the top of the rail is not considered to have been driven off the table if it
returns to the playing surface or enters a pocket.

8.6 Scratch
A shot on which the cue ball is pocketed is called a scratch.

8.7 Cue Ball
The cue ball is the ball that is struck by the shooter at the beginning of a shot. It is
traditionally white, but may be marked by a logo or spots. In pocket billiard games, a single
cue ball is used by both players.

8.8 Object Balls
The object balls are struck by the cue ball with the usual intent of driving them into pockets.
They are typically numbered from one to the number of balls used in the game. Colors and
markings of the object balls are covered under the WPA Equipment Specifications.

8.9 Set
In some matches, the match is divided into parts called sets, with a certain number of sets won
required to win the match. In turn, a certain number of points or racks won is required to win
each set.

8.10 Rack
The rack is the framing device, typically triangular, used to arrange the object balls for the
break shot at the start of the game. It also refers to the group of balls so arranged. To rack the
object balls is to group them with the rack. A rack is also a portion of a match played with a
single rack of object balls. Some games, such as nine ball, are scored at one point per rack.

8.11 Break
A break shot is the opening shot of a match or rack, depending on the game. It happens when
the object balls have been racked and the cue ball is played from behind the head string
usually with the intent of breaking the rack apart.

8.12 Inning
An inning is a player’s turn at the table. It begins when it is legal for him to take a shot, and
ends at the end of a shot when it is no longer legal for him to take a shot. In some games a
player may choose not to come to the table in certain situations when play would normally
pass to him, and then the player remaining at the table continues the inning (e.g. a push-out at
nine ball). The player whose turn it is to play is called the “shooter.”

8.13 Position of Balls
The position of a ball is determined by the projection of its center vertically downward onto
the playing surface. A ball is said to be placed on a line or spot when its center is placed
directly over that line or spot.

8.14 Re-spotting Balls
In some games, object balls are required to be placed on the playing surface other than when
forming a new rack. They are said to be re-spotted when they are so placed. See 1.4 Spotting
Balls.

8.15 Restoring a Position
If the balls are disturbed, the rules of the game may require them to be replaced where they
were. The referee will replace the balls to their original position as accurately as possible.

8.16 Jump Shot
A jump shot is one in which the cue ball is made to go over an intervening obstacle such as an
object ball or part of the cushion. Whether such a shot is legal depends on how it is
accomplished and the intention of the shooter. Usually a legal jump shot is played by
elevating the cue stick and driving the cue ball down into the playing surface from which it
rebounds.

8.17 Safety Shot
A shot is said to be a safety shot if the game in play is a call shot game and the shooter
declared the shot to the referee or his opponent to be a “safety” before the shot. Play passes to
the other player at the end of a safety shot.

8.18 Miscue
A miscue occurs when the cue tip slides off the cue ball possibly due to a contact that is too
eccentric or to insufficient chalk on the tip. It is usually accompanied by a sharp sound and
evidenced by a discoloration of the tip. Although some miscues involve contact of the side of
the cue stick with the cue ball, unless such contact is clearly visible, it is assumed not to have
occurred. A scoop shot, in which the cue tip contacts the playing surface and the cue ball at
the same time and this causes the cue ball to rise off the cloth, is treated like a miscue. Note
that intentional miscues are covered by 6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct (c).



Index: World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play
World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 01. General Rules
World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 02. Nine Ball
World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 03. Eight Ball
World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 04. 14.1 Continuous Pool
World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 05. Black Ball
World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 06. Fouls
World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 07. Rules for Wheelchair Competition
World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 08. Definitions Used in the Rules
World Pool & Billiard Rules of Play: 09. Ten Ball
World Pool & Billiard Tournament Regulations
World Pool & Billiard Tournament Table & Equipment Specifications