Object Of The Game

Ten-ball (10-ball) is played with ten object balls numbered one through ten and the cue ball. The balls are played in ascending numerical order and the lowest numbered ball still on the table must be contacted by the cue ball in order to establish a legal hit. The first shooter to pocket the 10-ball on a legal shot (including the break) is considered the winner of the rack. Only one ball may be called on each shot, except on the break shot where no ball may be called.

Racking The Balls

The object balls (1-ball through 10-ball) are to be racked as tightly as possible in a triangular shape, with the 1-ball at the apex of the triangle and on the foot spot, the 10-ball in the middle of the triangle. All other balls should be placed in random order. The base of the rack should be parallel to the foot cushion.

10-Ball Rack Diagram

If, after the balls have been racked, all balls in the rack are not in contact with one another, also known as a "loose rack", the shooter who is to break may request a re-rack, at which time the opposing shooter is to re-rack the balls so that all balls in the rack are properly contacting one another, also known as a "tight rack"

Note:The condition of the felt often makes it impossible to perfectly satisfy the rules above. In this case, accept the best rack possible. The breaker’s opponent normally racks the balls, but the opponent may designate anyone they wish to rack as long as it is not themselves. IBA leagues are not “a rack your own” league. Players must rack for their opponents.

Legal Break

1. The breaker must break with the base of the cue ball behind the head string.
2. The breaker must strike the 1-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four (4) numbered balls to the cushion. If a shooter fails to meet one of these two requirements the balls are to be re-racked and the breaker gets to break again unless playing Masters, in which case it’s the incoming shooters break with cue ball in hand behind the head string.
3. If the breaking shooter miscues and the cue ball does not make contact with the racked balls or the breaking shooter interferes with the cue ball at any time before making contact with the racked balls, it is a foul. The incoming shooter takes over the break with cue ball in hand behind the head string.
4. If the cue ball is pocketed, driven off the table or interfered with, it is a foul. The incoming shooter has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.
5. If, on the break shot, the shooter causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming shooter has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is not re-spotted (exception: if the object ball is the 10-ball, it is to be placed on the spot).
6. Pocketing the 10-ball on the break is a win for the breaker assuming all requirements of a legal break shot are met during the shot.
7. The break must be a hard stroke. Intentional soft breaking is not allowed, even if four balls have contacted a rail. Intentional soft breaking is a violation of sportsmanship rules.

Note: In the event a shooter places the base of the cue ball over the head string the opposing shooter must call it before the break shot is made, not after. If the shooter performing the break shot, during their stroke, completely misses and makes no contact with the cue-ball (basically a "swing and a miss"), this is not considered a foul and the shooter may try the break shot again.

If the shooter performing the break shot, during their stroke, completely misses and makes no contact with the cue-ball (basically a "swing and a miss"), this is not considered a foul and the shooter may try the break shot again.

Countinuing Play & Push Out

If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, they continue to shoot in rotation until they miss, foul, or win the game. If the shooter misses or fouls, the other shooter begins their turn at the table and shoots in rotation until missing, committing a foul, or winning. The game ends when the 10-ball is pocketed on a legal shot, or the game is forfeited for an infraction of the rules.

PUSH OUT - The shooter, who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break, may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position for the option that follows. On a push out, the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball nor any cushion, however, all other foul rules still apply. The shooter must announce his intention of playing a push out before the shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed except for the 10-ball. Following a legal push out, the incoming shooter is permitted to shoot from that position or return the shot to the shooter that pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul as long as no other rule is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed. After a shooter scratches on the break shot, the incoming shooter cannot play a push out.

Note: Should the shooter who is playing the push out pocket the 10-ball, the 10-ball is to be spotted, the cue ball remains in the current position on the table, and the incoming shooter is permitted to shoot from that position or return the shot to the shooter that pushed out.

Calling Your Pocket

Shooters are required to call their intended ball and pocket when shooting on every shot with the exception of the break. Calling a pocket is done by either verbally announcing the designated pocket to the opponent or any shooter on the opposing team or by pointing at the pocket with your hand or pool cue. The shooter does not need to call number of cushions, banks, kisses, or caroms. If the shooter pockets the 10-ball in the designated pocket, the game is a win.

Illegally Pocketed Balls:

1. Pocketing a called ball in an unintended pocket (Refer to Pocket Patch - Section 1.6)
2. An unintended ball pocketed while not legally pocketing the called ball
3. If the 10-ball is illegally pocketed it is spotted. All other illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed

Play Option:

If you illegally pocket any ball, your opponent has the option to:

1. Accept the table as is
2. Require you to shoot again

Note: In the Leisure format, players have to agree to “call their pocket”. If players don’t agree to “call their pocket”, then they play “slop counts” for all balls other than the 10-ball. They must patch the pocket they intend to make the 10-ball in. (Refer to Pocket Patch - Section 1.6)

Scoring

Race To Points - Game winner receives 6 points for legally pocketing the 10-ball and 1 point for each ball they pocketed and the opposing player receives one point for every ball they pocketed.

Race To Games – Game winner receives 15 points for legally pocketing the 10-ball and the opposing player receives 0 points for the loss.

Round Robin - Game winner receives 6 points for legally pocketing the 10-ball and 1 point for each ball they pocketed and the opposing player receives 1 point for every ball they pocketed.

Note: Neither player has earned any points for a game until that game ends.

End of Game

The game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the 10-ball, or when a shooter forfeits the game as the result of a foul.