How to play 9 Ball (Billiards / Pool)

Learn the rules to the billiard game 9 Ball quickly and concisely - This video has no distractions, just the rules.

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Rules:
This game uses the general rules for pocket billiards except for these changes. Check out my video for any clarification. The object of 9 ball is to be the first player to legally pocket the 9 ball over several games in a match. Setup. Rack the balls 1 through 9 in a diamond shaped rack. Put the 1 ball on the foot spot and the 9 ball in the middle. The game begins with the cue ball in hand behind the head string.

On the break, the breaker must strike the 1-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a foul, and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. If on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the object ball is not respotted unless it is the 9-ball, then it is respotted. If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he continues to shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player begins an inning and shoots until missing, committing a foul, or winning.

On each shot, the first ball the cue ball must contact must be the lowest numbered ball on the table, but, the balls do not need to be pocketed in sequential order and players are not required to call any shot. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains at the table for another shot. After a miss, the incoming player must shoot from the position left by the previous player, but after any foul the incoming player may start with the cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. A game ends when a player pockets the 9 ball and a match ends when one of the players has won the required number of games.

If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is foul. If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball on is a foul.

When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are respotted; unless it is the 9-ball. The incoming player is awarded ball in hand anywhere on the table, except in contact with an object ball. If a player commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul. If a player fouls 3 consecutive times on three successive shots without making an intervening legal shot, the game is lost. The 3 fouls must occur in the same game and a warning must be given between the second and third fouls.

The game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the 9-ball, or when a player forfeits the game as the result of a foul. Rerack and play again until one player achieved the needed wins to win the match.

[PhilTravisano]

Awesome. The two rules I didn't know:
1. Other than the 9, you do not spot the other balls if they leave the table.
3. Three successive fouls equate to forfeiture of the game.

[LynnePedigoRidayReiter]

You must have the best diction of any pool instructor on You Tube--love that. And great teaching technique as well. Subscribing!

[nickpapageorgio]

Kind of dumb you can make balls 1-8 and miss 9 and your opponent can win with just one stroke all game

[Mediamatix]

So by these rules I can win at ANY time by hitting the lowest number to get the 9th ball in?
Best case scenario you would win in like two shots? Opening shot and legal ricochet shot that pockets the 9 ball?

[fahedking]

How about the push when u start the game and number 1 is close in this case do I have push the white ball or not?

[michaelbennett]

Thanks a lot man
Had a party with my friends and we were trying to learn how to play

[beko_]

but what is the point of scoring other balls? I score the first 8 and opponent just pots the 9th ball and wins? this doesn't make so much sense

[house]

I had no idea it was this complicated a game.

[abby]

Jd inget jaman SMA dulu klo maen biliard nine ball dmana”

[LeotheTiger]

I think I prefer 9 ball to 8 ball. 9 ball doesn't have automatic losses like 8 ball does.

[thelordhumungus]

What happens when I step up to the table after a missed shot and the cue ball is touching a ball that is not the object ball?.. can I just play away?

[growupbiku]

Could you explain what happend at 2:27 ?

[dopeya.j.]

What happens if you pocket the nine ball and the cue ball in a 9 ball game? Do you loose the game or does the nine ball return to its original spot and the other player gets ball in hand?

[zman]

Now i know why i don’t play 9 ball. Too many rules! Lol

[martinist]

No wonder i'm getting foul breaks. Nobody mentioned you had to contact the 1 ball on the break.

[erastorodriguez]

Can you teach us how to play video games like sonic mania super smash bro. Zleda or splatoon

[AnathexAdventurer]

I see that little blurb in the thumbnail's top left corner.

[trevorwesterdahl]

Right around 1:52 you bring up a player having ball in hand and then showed the dumbest choice ever. Like, seriously, dumbest. The lowest number ball was #1. You could have placed the cue ball between the #1 and #9, hit #1 first and pocketed #9 to win. The most important rule in 9 ball you didn't explain at all. You only need to contact the lowest number ball first, but any ball can go in... including #9. Why didn't you show that? Instead you hit #1 into the side pocket. LOL That particular circumstance is ideal to show the critical rule you skipped altogether.

Boo! How did you miss that?

Could also complain about other rules like how to determine who starts first or the push rule, but after that disaster, who cares.

[vadaipochu]

Take simple game and complicate it times infinity voila you have 9 ball pool.