Ten Ball Rules
“The game of
golf would lose a great deal if croquet mallets and
billiard cues were allowed on the putting green.” -Ernest Hemmingway, 1899-1961
TYPE OF GAME [ top ]
The players decide who plays first, the break shot player must alternate for
each frame. The balls are set and the cue ball is played from any point on or
behind the baulk line by the on-player The on-player scores points by potting
reds and colors alternately starting with a red ball. When a red ball is legally
potted the player may continue his play and attempt to pot any of the colors on
the table, every colored ball must be clearly nominated before striking the
cue-ball. The value of the first colored ball legally potted during each
individual break denotes the value of all of the colored balls throughout that
break. i.e.. if the first colored ball potted during the break is the blue ball,
all of the colored balls on the table for that break are worth 5 points. The
colored balls revert to their original value when the on-player fails to pot a
ball. When the final red ball is potted and the next colored ball played, the
colored balls are then potted in ascending order of their original set value,
starting with the Green Ball (3 points), finishing with the Ten Ball (10
points).
THE BREAK SHOT[ top ]
The frame starts with the first strike of the cue-ball. The cue-ball must hit
the APEX red ball of the diamond configuration, breaking open the balls, so that
at least four red balls hit the cushions or pockets of the table. If during this
break shot (or at any stage during the frame) more than one red is potted in a
single stroke, the player scores one point per potted red ball, continues his
play, and must attempt to pot the same amount of colors as potted reds, but only
in succession. If the cue-ball or a colored ball enters a pocket during the
break shot it is deemed to be a foul, all of the potted balls are respotted.
CONTINUATION OF PLAY[ top ]
The player about to play or in-play is the "on-player" and remains as such until
completion of the stroke or break. A ball must touch a cushion or be potted
for a stroke to be deemed legal. If a red ball is legally pocketed, it remains
out of play. If a colored ball is legally pocketed after sinking a red ball,
it is replaced on its original position before the next stroke is made. The
next player plays from where the cue-ball comes to rest. If the frame has not
reached a conclusion when the only remaining ball is the Ten Ball, the first
score or foul ends the frame. A red ball potted during an illegal stroke or off
the table is repositioned on the center spot. If a foul stroke has been played,
then all of the pocketed balls are respotted. If, while re-spotting any ball,
the deemed spot is occupied, the ball is placed on the highest available spot.
If no spots are available, then the ball is placed at the nearest point to it's
designated spot, in direct line with the top cushion. If the cue ball has been
pocketed, or is off the table, it must be replaced on the Brown ball spot, or
if that spot is occupied, on either the Green ball spot or the Blue ball spot.
If all three spots are occupied, the cue-ball must be placed on the baulk line
between the Blue ball spot and the Green Ball spot. If at the end of the frame
the scores are equal, a shoot out decides the winner of the game. The first
pocketing of a ball after an even amount of turns, or a foul, ends the frame.
This style of shoot out may also be used to decide the breaking player. A ball
cannot be removed from the table and cleaned unless there is a foreign object
on it. In 10 Ball, chalk dust is not deemed to be a foreign object.
PENALTIES [ top ]
If a foul is committed all balls shall remain where positioned, except if
potted, or off the table, whereby they shall be correctly spotted. A jump shot
is not deemed to be a foul stroke. All points scored before the foul stroke are
allowed. When a foul shot has been played, the NEXT player has the option of
taking the cue-ball in-hand OR adding 10 points to their score, either playing
the cue-ball from its resting position or requesting the previous player to play
again from the resting position. The resting position is also the respotted
position - if the cue ball has been potted or is off the table. If the on-player
decides to play in-hand, the cue-ball may be positioned anywhere on the table
and played in any direction. ALL fouls incur this choice of penalty apart from
one: On the break shot, if four balls do not touch a cushion or the cue-ball
does not strike the Apex red ball first, the next player has the option of
either playing in-hand or requesting the previous player to break again.
The following are deemed to be fouls:
- -When playing at a red ball, the cue-ball
strikes any ball on the first strike other than a red ball (Apex red on break
shot).
- When playing at a colored ball, the cue-ball strikes any ball on the
first strike other than the nominated colored ball.
- When playing at a red
ball, the on-player pots any ball other than a red ball.
- When playing at a
colored ball, the on-player pots any ball other than the nominated colored ball.
- When playing at a colored ball, the on-player does not nominate a colored
ball before striking the cue-ball
- The cue-ball does not strike a ball
during a stroke
- Striking when the balls are not at rest
- Striking the
cue-ball more than once
- Playing a stroke with both feet off the floor
- Playing out of turn
- Pushing the cue ball or playing a push stroke (if
however, the cue-ball and an on-ball are almost touching, it shall be deemed a
fair stroke if the cue-ball clips the finest possible edge of the on-ball)
- Forcing a ball off the table If during a stroke, no balls touch a cushion
or are potted (a ball at rest on a cushion is not deemed to have hit the cushion
during the stroke)
- If the on-player strikes any ball other than the cue
ball, or touches the cue-ball with anything other than the tip of the cue
- Playing at red balls in successive strokes
- Uses a ball, other than the
nominated cue-ball, as the cue-ball
- If players are deemed to be taking an
abnormal amount of time over strokes.
- If players conduct themselves in a
manner which is unsportsmanlike
- A player will lose the frame if they commit
three successive fouls. Players will be warned by the referee that they are
liable to be disqualified if they persist in any of the above fouls. If a player
refuses to continue a frame or they conduct themselves in a manner which, in the
opinion of the referee is willfully or persistently unfair, they shall lose the
game. A foul is any act which contravenes these rules.
GENERAL GAME RULES[ top ]
-
The next player plays from where the cue-ball comes to rest. If the cue-ball is
deemed to be touching another ball the on-player must play away from this ball.
This is not a foul stroke.
-
All balls being respotted shall be spotted on their
original spot. If the deemed spot is occupied, the ball is placed on the highest
available spot, if no spot is available the ball is spotted on the nearest point
to it's designated spot, in direct line with the top cushion.
-
If when playing a stroke it is discovered that a ball is not correctly spotted, if on the table it
will be considered to be correctly spotted, if not on the table it will be
spotted before the next stroke. It is up to the striker to ensure that all balls
are correctly spotted before striking. If a ball is moved other than by the
striker it shall be repositioned an agreed position by the players.
-
The off-player shall at all times try to avoid moving whilst in the on-player’s
sight line, especially when the opponent is about to strike.
-
In games with more than two players each side shall open the frames in turn. If playing in
teams, at the beginning of each frame the order of play is decided and must
remain the same throughout the frame. The players with in a team however may
change the order of play at the commencement of each frame. Players on the same
side may confer during a game but not whilst one of the players is playing at
the table or after the first stroke of their break.
-
Wheelchair players must
remain seated with their feet on footplates or blocks which must be clear of the
ground. Officials and other players are allowed to assist wheelchair players who
are having difficulty placing and removing ancillary equipment from the table
during play.
The referee shall be the sole judge of play and whether it is
deemed to be fair or unfair. The referee shall intervene if there is any
contravention of the rules, if a player is color blind to call the color of the
balls on request or clean any ball if necessary or requested. The referee shall
not answer any question not authorized in the rules, indicate to a player that
they are about to play a foul stroke or give any advice or opinion which may
affect the game. If a referee has not been appointed, decisions must be made by
the players in a fair and rational manner.
Let's help to achieve
BCA's goal to make billiard as everyone's game!
Goodluck =)
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