This image provides a detailed visual guide to the rules and setup of 8 Ball and 9 Ball pool games. Here’s a breakdown of everything shown:

🎱 8 BALL

✅ Basic Rules

• A player (via coin toss or previous win) breaks the rack.

• If a ball is pocketed, the shooter claims solids or stripes based on the ball type pocketed.

• The shooter continues if they pocket a ball.

• If no ball is pocketed on the break, the opponent takes over.

• The objective is to pocket all your assigned balls, then legally pocket the 8 ball.

• Calling the pocket for the 8 ball is required (no lucky shots).

❌ Common Fouls

• Failing to hit your assigned ball with the cue ball first.

• Scratching (cue ball goes into a pocket).

• Hitting the cue ball more than once in a shot.

• Pushing the cue ball instead of striking.

• Knocking a ball off the table.

• Fewer than four balls hitting rails on the break.

🔺 Proper Rack Configuration

• Apex ball (any) at the top on the foot spot.

• 8 ball in the center.

• One solid and one stripe in the back two corners.

• The rest randomly placed.

🎱 9 BALL

✅ Basic Rules

• Played with balls 1 through 9.

• The object is to hit the lowest-numbered ball first on every shot.

• The 9 ball can be pocketed at any time (as long as the lowest ball was hit first).

• Pocketing the 9 ball legally = you win.

• On a foul, the opponent gets ball-in-hand (place cue ball anywhere).

🔄 The Push Out

• After the break and before the second shot, players may “Push Out.”

• Push Out = hit cue ball anywhere, no contact rules.

• Used to reposition cue ball if initial layout is poor.

• Opponent can choose to shoot or give it back.

🔺 Proper Rack Configuration

• 1 ball at the top on the foot spot.

• 9 ball in the center.

• Others placed randomly.

🧠 Notable Quote:

“Make all the easy ones first and you won’t have no hard ones.”
— Minnesota Fats