HOW TO PLAY 8 BALL … The “Official Rules” of Pool

Dr. Dave discusses and demonstrates the “official rules” of 8-ball pool. It is a much better choice than common “bar rules.”

Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:15 - Official Rules of Pool
1:00 - 8-Ball Rules
4:50 - Double Hit Fouls
8:33 - Other Common Fouls
9:59 - Wrap Up

CORRECTION:
1:07 - I said "1 on the spot" (because the 1 was the top ball in that rack examples), but the top ball does not need to be the 1. Any stripe or solid is allowed; although, putting the 1 at the top is customary.

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Good Luck With Your Game!!!

[DrDaveBilliards]

*Contents:*
0:00 - Intro
0:15 - Official Rules of Pool
1:00 - 8-Ball Rules
4:50 - Double Hit Fouls
8:33 - Other Common Fouls
9:59 - Wrap Up

*CORRECTION:*
- at the 1m07s point, I said "1 on the spot" (because the 1 was the top ball in that rack examples), but the top ball does not need to be the 1. Any stripe or solid is allowed; although, putting the 1 at the top is customary.

*Supporting Resources:*

*Subscribe to Dr. Dave's YouTube Channel:*

*Show your Support* (click on the Donate button at the bottom of this page):

[thetowndrunk]

Dr. Dave, you’re leading a great cause for humanity, hopefully one day taking bar pool out of the Dark Ages, and into the Age of Enlightenment

[FrancisSims]

I read the rule book when I was a kid and was amazed to learn you got the ball in hand anywhere on the table after a foul. Everybody, even the adults, refused to believe that was the rule and still insisted on the cute ball needing to go in the kitchen after a scratch!

[keyboardkevin]

I kid you not, you literally provide the best pool videos. They are all so neat, clean, and scientific! No fancy animations, no overdrawn out information. Everything is to-the-point and just so information. Keep this up, please! You are so appreciated!

[deadbrother]

Thank you for setting everyone straight. I have debated rules so many times (both correct and incorrectly). But knowing the facts is priceless.

[reedr]

This taught me more about pool in five minutes than I’ve learned from any “bar rules/house rules“ players in my lifetime.

As someone who plays official rules with pretty much every activity I do, I am very appreciative of this.

Standardized rules make so much more sense to men than to have to remember multiple “house” rules, and/or argue over what rules apply.

Kudos to you 🙏

[dangoodwin]

Thank you, Dr. Dave.
Had a guy at a bar want to play "real" pool, but couldn't tell me which rules he wanted to play under.

[jeremiahshields]

You're appreciated. Can't tell you how many people I make put your channel in their subbed section on YouTube, I literally watch and make them look it up on the spot. At least 50 at this point. The amount of knowledge on this channel is purely unparalleled. Thank you so so much Dave.

[sterlingranne]

Best explanation I've seen on how to tell the cue has been Double Hit. I always knew what a Double Hit was, but as you said, it happens so quickly. Knowing what to look for in the cue's behavior was wonderful. Thank you.

[Maino_]

@8:20 "scratch behind the balls" I'm so childish 😅😂

[leecaldwell]

Thank you! You articulated my argument against bar rules in the first 45 seconds. I'm going to watch that next, but this is a must share.

[gendo]

at 9:25 is that safety shot a foul since not rail contact after hit?

[rstarr]

I literally learn something every time I watch one of your videos. You are a scholar and a gentleman, something this game could always benefit from.💯

[gnrlyj]

Instructions unclear now I have glass shards souvenir from a local pub

[JJ-ALT]

Finally! WPA Rules so that everyone understands! 🙂


By the way, I have 2 questions:

1. What happens when someone pockets their called ball (example solids) but a stripe went in as well? (this is after the break). 🤔

2. Does the 1-ball always go at the front when racking? Because I just put any ball as the head ball, the 8 in the middle and the two corner ball being opposite sets. 🤔

[robertobrenes]

Here in Costa Rica we play a variant of 8 ball where you have to pocket the 1 ball in a designated side pocket if you have solids, the opponent must pocket the 15 ball in the opposite side pocket
You must restore your opponent 1 or 15 ball position if you move it while playing and if you shoot the 1 or 15 you don't have to hit a rail since you may want to just leave it near it's pocket
It's a pretty challenging game since you not only have to pocket all of your balls to hit the 8, some play it with more restrictions like you can't carom or make a combination while pocketing the 1 and 15 and you can only touch the 8 ball when you play it, even if you pocket the 8 and then touch another ball you loose the game since you are using that ball to stop the cue ball
It's like you have to make the 8 ball as clean as possible
That rule often applies to the 1 and 15 ball
That makes the game more challenging and fun if you play with a good opponent
Also it means you get more than one shot at the table and that's nice

[ConnorEverything]

I keep finding myself getting into bar fights because when I win the table, I play how my dad taught me. This video just confirmed that I am absolutely correct about how to properly play pool

[professional.commentator]

Thank you so much for this video! I already knew most of these rules except a lot of the foul rules. Like this one at 6:46. Never knew that was a real rule in billiards.

[sweetfancymoses]

So the next video needs to be how to convince a bar full of drunk bikers to play real 8 ball rules instead of bar rules.

[joemeza]

Thank u for this. I live in a small town where we just started a weekly tournament and some players that know the rules have already claimed they are never coming back. I'm gonna show the person running the tournament this video. Thanks again...