9-Ball Rules Explained
The 9-ball rules fit in two sentences: on every shot the cue ball must hit the lowest-numbered ball on the table first, and whoever legally pockets the 9 wins the rack. You don't have to sink the balls in order, you don't call shots, and any ball that drops on a legal hit keeps you at the table. Everything else in the rule book (the break, the push out, ball in hand, the three-foul rule) is detail around those two ideas.
This guide uses the WPA world standardized rules, effective September 15, 2025, as the authority, and flags where APA leagues, CSI (BCAPL) leagues and bar tables do things differently. One change trips up a lot of players: the WPA now racks the 9 on the foot spot. APA and CSI still put the 1 there.
9-ball rules at a glance
If you only read one part, read this. It's the WPA version, which is what pro events and most tournaments use.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Balls | Object balls 1 through 9 plus the cue ball |
| Rack | Diamond, 1 at the front point, 9 in the center and on the foot spot, the rest random |
| Who breaks | The lag winner picks who breaks first; after that the break alternates |
| Legal break | Cue ball from behind the head string; pocket a ball or drive at least four balls to a rail |
| After the break | The next shooter may play one push out |
| Legal shot | Hit the lowest-numbered ball first, then pocket a ball or send any ball to a rail |
| Calling shots | Not required |
| Foul penalty | Opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on the table |
| 9 pocketed on a foul | Spotted on the foot spot; no win |
| Three fouls in a row | Loss of the rack (you must be warned after the second) |
| How you win | Legally pocket the 9 on any shot except a push out |
How to play 9-ball, start to finish
- Lag for the break. Each player shoots a ball to the foot cushion and back, and the one closer to the head cushion chooses who breaks.
- Rack the nine balls in a diamond (details in the next section).
- Break from behind the head string. If a ball drops and there's no foul, the breaker keeps shooting.
- The player who shoots next may call a push out, a one-time chance to move the cue ball to a better spot.
- From then on, every shot must hit the lowest ball on the table first. Pocket anything on a legal hit and you stay at the table. Miss and your opponent plays the cue ball from where it stopped.
- Foul and your opponent picks up the cue ball and places it anywhere.
- The player who legally pockets the 9 wins the rack. Matches are usually a race to a set number of racks, with the break alternating each rack under WPA rules.
That's the whole game. The rest of this page covers the parts people argue about.
Nine-ball rack rules
The balls are racked as tightly as possible in a diamond of rows one, two, three, two and one. The 1 sits at the front point, facing the breaker, and the 9 goes in the center. The other seven go in at random.
| Rule set | Ball on the foot spot | Who racks |
|---|---|---|
| WPA (2025) | The 9 (the 1 sits one ball in front of the spot) | Players agree, or each racks for the other; a referee's rack can't be inspected by the breaker |
| APA | The 1 | The non-breaking player; the breaker may ask for a re-rack |
| CSI (BCAPL) | The 1 | You rack your own; your opponent may inspect and ask for one re-rack |
Putting the 9 on the spot moves the whole rack two rows closer to the breaker, which changes how the wing balls react on the break. The WPA also says the 2 through 8 must be placed randomly. Deliberately arranging them gets a warning, then an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (Regulation 15). WPA rules allow a thin template rack in 9-ball, and its ranking events require either a template or tapped (trained) balls on the cloth.
Diagrams for every game and the technique for freezing the balls are in our guide on how to rack pool balls.
9-ball break rules
The breaker starts with the cue ball in hand behind the head string (the kitchen, the quarter of the table nearest the head rail). The cue ball must contact the 1 first, because the lowest-ball-first rule applies on the break too. Then one of two things must happen: a ball goes in, or at least four object balls hit a rail. If neither happens, it's a foul and the opponent gets ball in hand.
The WPA adds a second test, the three-ball break rule (Regulation 16), which is required at WPA ranking events and used by many tournaments. At least three object balls have to be pocketed or cross the head string, in any mix. A break that misses this test but is otherwise legal isn't a foul. The incoming player either takes the table as it lies (and loses the right to push out) or hands it back to the breaker, who may then push out. If the 9 went in on that kind of break, it's spotted.
Here's what happens after different breaks under each rule book:
| On the break | WPA | APA | CSI (BCAPL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 pocketed, no foul | Win (spotted instead if the three-ball rule is in use and the break fails it) | Win | Win |
| 9 pocketed with a scratch or other foul | 9 spotted, opponent has ball in hand | 9 spotted, opponent has ball in hand | 9 spotted, opponent has ball in hand |
| Scratch on the break | Ball in hand anywhere | Ball in hand anywhere (after a legal break) | Ball in hand anywhere |
| 1 not hit first | Foul | Not a foul | Foul |
| No ball made, fewer than four to a rail | Foul, ball in hand | Illegal break: re-rack, same player breaks again | Foul, ball in hand |
| Object ball off the table | Foul; stays off unless it's the 9 | See APA's balls-on-the-floor rule | Stays off unless it's the 9 |
APA also bans soft breaks outright and lets league management penalize them. If you want to break better, our 9-ball break guide covers the box, the wing ball and cue ball control.
The push out rule
A push out is a free repositioning shot, allowed once per rack, only on the shot right after a legal break with no foul. Either the breaker (if a ball went in) or the incoming player can use it. You have to announce it first. On a push out the cue ball doesn't need to hit the lowest ball, or any ball, and nothing has to reach a rail. Every other foul still counts, so a scratch on a push out is ball in hand for your opponent.
After a legal push out, your opponent chooses: shoot from the new position, or make you shoot again from it. That choice is the whole point. You push to a spot that looks awkward for both players, and the other player has to guess which side of it they'd rather be on.
Balls pocketed on a push out don't count as a made ball. They stay down, except the 9, which is spotted. The push out is where league rules differ the most: APA handicapped play doesn't allow it at all (APA Masters does, with any balls made on it spotted), while WPA and CSI rules both include it. For when to push and where, see our 9-ball strategy guide.
Legal shots and the rotation rule
After the break, a legal shot needs two things. First, the cue ball must hit the lowest-numbered ball on the table before any other ball. Second, after that contact, a ball must be pocketed, or the cue ball or any object ball must touch a rail. If the cue ball hits the lowest ball and a higher ball at the same moment and the referee can't tell which came first, the WPA gives the benefit to the shooter.
Once the first contact is legal, anything goes. Combinations, caroms, banks and kicks all count, and any ball that drops keeps your turn. That's why the 9 can fall early: hit the 3 into the 9, and if the 3 was the lowest ball on the table, you win. You don't call the ball or the pocket under WPA, APA or CSI rules, so a lucky roll counts the same as a planned one. Some bars do make you call the 9, so ask before you play for anything.
Only the 9 is ever brought back. If any other ball is pocketed on a foul or jumps off the table, it stays out.
Fouls and ball in hand
Every standard foul in 9-ball gets the same penalty: your opponent takes ball in hand and can place the cue ball anywhere on the table, using a hand or the cue (not a forward stroke). In a game where the shooter only needs a clean look at one ball, that's often a rack-winning gift. These are the WPA standard fouls:
- Scratching, or sending the cue ball off the table.
- Hitting a ball other than the lowest-numbered ball first.
- No ball pocketed and no ball touching a rail after the cue ball hits the object ball.
- Shooting without at least one foot on the floor.
- Driving an object ball off the table.
- Touching or moving a ball with your hand, cue, clothing or chalk.
- Double hits, or pushing the cue ball with a prolonged stroke.
- Shooting while any ball is still moving or spinning.
- Placing the cue ball in the wrong area when ball in hand is restricted.
- Playing out of turn, and slow play once a shot clock is in force.
- Letting a ball hit a template rack left lying on the rail.
Two procedural points matter in league play. If several fouls happen on one shot, only one is penalized. And a foul has to be called before the next shot starts; once play moves on, it's treated as if it never happened. APA goes further and says only the player or team captain may call it.
Scratch rules in 9-ball
A scratch is a standard foul, nothing more. Your opponent gets ball in hand anywhere, any balls you pocketed on the shot stay down (except the 9), and play goes on. Unlike 8-ball, there's no scratch that loses the game outright.
- Scratch on the break: foul, ball in hand anywhere. If the 9 went in, it's spotted. Some bars give ball in hand only behind the head string after a break scratch, which is a house rule, not a WPA, APA or CSI one.
- Scratch while making the 9: no win. The 9 is spotted on the foot spot and your opponent has ball in hand.
- Scratch on a push out: foul, ball in hand for your opponent, and they don't get the shoot-or-pass choice.
- Third scratch in a row: counts toward the three-foul rule below.
For scratch rules across all games, see what a scratch is in pool.
The three-foul rule
Commit three fouls in a row without a legal shot in between and you lose the rack. Under WPA rules the three must all come in the same rack, and the referee (or your opponent, in CSI play) has to warn you when you come to the table on two fouls. Without that warning, a third foul counts only as a second. One legal shot resets the count to zero.
This rule is why safety play in 9-ball gets so tense. If you can hide the lowest ball well enough that your opponent can't hit it, two fouls in a row puts them one more mistake from losing. APA's published 9-ball rule pages don't include a three-foul rule.
Winning the rack, and stalemates
You win by legally pocketing the 9, on the break or any shot after it except a push out. It can be the last ball in a run from the 1, a combination off the 3, or a carom off the 5. All count the same.
Every so often neither player can make progress, usually in a safety battle. Under WPA rules the referee announces it, each player gets three more turns, and if nothing changes the rack is a stalemate and the original breaker breaks again. CSI uses a similar test (three innings each with no real change). In a bar, both players can simply agree to re-rack.
WPA vs APA vs CSI vs bar rules
Most arguments over 9-ball come from players using different rule books. Check this before a match matters.
| Rule | WPA | APA | CSI (BCAPL) | Typical bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball on the foot spot | 9 | 1 | 1 | Usually 1 |
| Who racks | Agree, or rack for opponent | Non-breaker | Breaker | Usually the loser |
| 1 hit first on the break | Required (foul) | Required, but not a foul | Required (foul) | Ask |
| Three-ball break rule | At ranking events | No | No | No |
| Push out | Yes | No (Masters only) | Yes | Often no |
| Ball in hand after a foul | Anywhere | Anywhere | Anywhere | Sometimes behind the head string |
| Three fouls in a row | Loss of rack | Not in the rules | Loss of game | Ask |
| Calling the 9 | No | No | No | Sometimes |
| Scoring | Racks won | Points per ball, by skill level | Racks won | Racks won |
The bar column is a list of things to ask about, not a rule. House rules vary by table, so settle them before the first break. If you're picking a league, our APA vs BCA comparison lays out the formats.
APA 9-ball rules and scoring
APA 9-ball plays by the rules above with three big differences: no push out in handicapped play, the 1 on the foot spot, and scoring by points instead of racks. Balls 1 through 8 are worth one point each and the 9 is worth two, so every rack is worth 10 points. Balls made on a foul or left on the table when the 9 drops are dead balls that nobody gets.
Each player needs a set number of points to win the match, based on their skill level:
| Skill level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points needed | 14 | 19 | 25 | 31 | 38 | 46 | 55 | 65 | 75 |
A skill level 3 playing a skill level 7 needs 25 points to the 7's 55, which is how a newer player can beat a strong one. The 9 on the break wins the rack in APA unless the breaker scratches. How levels are set is covered in APA skill levels explained.
Our APA race calculator shows the points both players need for any matchup.
Official 9-ball rules PDF
The full WPA rule book is a free PDF (linked in the sources below). Section 5 is 9-ball, Section 3 lists the fouls, and the separate Rule Regulations PDF holds the three-ball break rule and the template rules. APA publishes its rules online at rules.poolplayers.com, and CSI's full rule book (which covers BCAPL play) is also a free PDF. If you play in a league, print your own league's version; the WPA rules don't override it.
If 9-ball is new to you, it helps to know 8-ball rules first, and 10-ball rules are the call-shot version of the same idea.
Sources
- WPA Rules of Play, effective September 15, 2025 (Section 5, 9-ball; Section 3, fouls)
- WPA Rule Regulations, effective September 15, 2025 (Regulation 15, 9-ball rack; Regulation 16, three-ball break rule; Regulation 4, templates)
- APA rules: breaking, after the break, fouls and racking
- APA: how to score 9-ball and points-needed charts
- CSI (BCAPL) Official Rules, August 2025 (Section 3, 9-ball)
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Check price on AmazonFrequently asked questions
What are the basic 9-ball rules?
Hit the lowest-numbered ball first on every shot, then pocket a ball or send any ball to a rail. Any ball that goes in on a legal shot keeps your turn. Legally pocketing the 9 wins. A foul gives your opponent ball in hand anywhere.
Do you have to pocket the balls in order in 9-ball?
No. You have to hit the lowest ball first, but any ball that drops on a legal hit counts, so you can skip numbers or make the 9 early on a combination.
Do you have to call your shots in 9-ball?
Not under WPA, APA or CSI rules. Some bars require you to call the 9, so ask first. Ten-ball is the rotation game where every shot is called.
What happens if you make the 9 on the break?
You win, as long as you don't foul. If you scratch or foul, the 9 is spotted and your opponent gets ball in hand. Under the WPA three-ball break rule, a 9 made on a break that fails the three-ball test is also spotted.
What happens if you scratch in 9-ball?
Your opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on the table. If the 9 went in on the same shot, it's spotted and doesn't count. A scratch never loses the game by itself, but it counts toward the three-foul rule.
What is a push out in 9-ball?
A one-time shot right after a legal break where you can send the cue ball anywhere without hitting the lowest ball or a rail. You must announce it. Your opponent then chooses whether to shoot from the new position or make you shoot again. APA handicapped play doesn't allow push outs.
Does the 9 ball go on the foot spot?
Under the WPA world rules effective September 2025, yes: the 9 goes on the foot spot with the 1 in front of it. APA and CSI leagues still put the 1 on the foot spot.
Can you win 9-ball on a combination?
Yes. If the cue ball hits the lowest ball first and that ball knocks the 9 in, it's a legal win at any point in the rack.
Is there a three-foul rule in 9-ball?
Under WPA and CSI rules, yes: three fouls in a row in the same rack loses it, and you must be warned after the second. APA's published 9-ball rules don't include one.
How is APA 9-ball scored?
Balls 1 through 8 are worth one point each and the 9 is worth two, for 10 points a rack. Each player needs a target set by skill level, from 14 points at skill level 1 to 75 at skill level 9.
What's the difference between snooker and 9-ball?
Nine-ball uses ten 2-1/4 inch balls on a 7 to 9 foot pool table and you win by pocketing the 9. Snooker uses 22 smaller balls (52.5 mm) on a larger table, alternates reds and colors, and is won on points. Our pool vs billiards vs snooker guide goes through the rest.
Where can I get the official 9-ball rules as a PDF?
The WPA publishes its Rules of Play as a free PDF on wpapool.com; 9-ball is Section 5. CSI's rule book for BCAPL leagues is also a free PDF, and APA's rules are online at rules.poolplayers.com. All three are linked in our sources section.
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