Pool (8-ball) Rules - Free to use

A friend asked me for a little help putting together a simple and reduced set of rules for the new pool table (see pink custom pool table). These rules are based around the popular 8-ball game, the USA style with slightly larger pockets and balls is the most common around Southeast Asia and Thailand. Things can get a little competitive around a pool table, so it's important to come up with a clear set of house guidelines to keep the game fun and disputes down. Without further ado, these are what I came up with, and then reduced as much as possible so it's just a couple of minutes read. All is my own work, apart from the humorous image of an artwork (link included).

The design follows the name and theme of the restaurant, 'Cowboy'.

I found a humorous image to underlay the rules and make something entertaining and fun for the bar/restaurant environment.

Cowboy pooling is a painting by Sabina Bonifazi

Perhaps others out there might need a set of rules for their own table, so I decided to publish them here, free to use.

COWBOY POOL RULES

1 RACK THE BALLS

• Place the yellow 1 ball at the top of the triangle. Alternate the rest at random, 8-ball goes on the center spot.

2 PERSON TO BREAK:

• Previous winner, or if no previous, coin toss.

3 BREAK SHOT:

• A legal Break is played from behind the top line of the table. At least 2 balls must hit rails, (any balls), OR black or cue ball is potted, it is a foul break, and a re-rack is permissible.
• Regardless which balls are potted on a break, table is still open.

4 PLAY TO POCKET YOUR OWN BALLS

• First player to purposely pocket a ball, sticks with that set; spots (1-7) or stripes (9-15). Player can aim at either set when table remains open.

5 FOULS

• ONE SHOT play anywhere on the table in any direction.
• It is a foul to hit an opponent’s ball before your own.

6 NO SKILL SHOTS

• Potting opponents’ ball is a foul.
• Not hitting at least one rail with any ball (cue ball included) on any shot.

7 BALL ON FLOOR

• Foul and ball is spotted to center foot spot or just below.

8 ONE FOOT ON THE FLOOR

• Player must shoot with at least one foot contacting the floor at all times, as long as there is a bridge available.

9 WINNER

• First to legally pot all their own object balls then the black 8-ball.
• When on the 8-ball only, player must nominate a pocket.
• Pocketing the 8-ball on non-nominated pocket is a loss.
• If the cue ball is also potted (scratched) when the 8-ball is potted, it is a loss.
• 8-ball must be a separate shot, potting your last object ball and the 8-ball in one shot is a loss.
• Any Other foul on the 8-ball (i.e., missed contact, cue-ball leaves table) is ball in hand to the other player.

End of rules - Hope you found them enlightening, perhaps inspirational to get out and play some of this excellent game!

Screenshot of the illustrator file with the work in progress.