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Do Balls Have to Touch a Rail if You Hit the Object Ball?

1/24/2008 5:44:31 PM

Do Balls Have to Touch a Rail if You Hit the Object Ball?

When playing 8 ball, if I hit an object ball with the cue ball, do any balls have to touch a rail?

Does the shooter foul if nether his target ball (which he hits) or the cue ball strikes a rail?

I am a little confused on the rules for this.

This question relates to the following billiard rules:

Do Balls Have to Touch a Rail if You Hit the Object Ball?

Replies & Comments
  1. El Gato Maloranger on 2/17/2018 9:24:07 AM

    Yes, if no ball is pocketed, the cue ball must contact an object ball, and then any ball must be driven to a rail.

    In most systems that I have played in, the rule is that after a cue ball-to-object ball strike, a ball must touch a rail (or get pocketed). It can also be another ball (other than the target object ball) that was hit by the target object ball or cue ball in the course of making the shot. Otherwise it is a foul and the opponent gets ball-in-hand from anywhere on the pool table.

    Simply put, a ball (any ball) must touch the rail or go into a pocket, or it is a foul.

    Here are the World Pool-Billiard Association 8 Ball rules which apply:

    1. Rule #3.9 - "Standard Fouls" tells us that "no rail after contact" is indeed a standard foul, and also tells us that the penalty for standard fouls is that play passes to the opponent with the cue ball in-hand from anywhere on the table.

      3.9 - Standard Fouls

      If the shooter commits a foul, play passes to his opponent. The cue ball is in hand, and the incoming player may place it anywhere on the playing surface. (See 1.5 Cue Ball in Hand.)

      The following are standard fouls at eight ball:

      • [...]
      • 6.3 - No Rail after Contact
      • [...]

    2. Rule #6.3 - "No Rail After Contact" tells us that if no balls are pocketed during a shot, the cue ball must:

      • contact an object ball, then,
      • at least one ball (any object ball or the cue ball) must touch a rail.

      ...otherwise it is a foul.

      6.3 - No Rail after Contact

      If no ball is pocketed on a shot, the cue ball must contact an object ball, and after that contact, at least one ball (cue ball or any object ball) must be driven to a rail, or the shot is a foul. (See 8.4 Driven to a Rail.)

    3. Rule definition 8.4 - "Driven to a Rail" provides clarity on exactly what "driven to a rail" means. For a ball to be "driven to a rail".

      8.4 - Driven to a Rail

      A ball is said to be driven to a rail if it is not touching that rail and then touches that rail.

      A ball touching a rail at the start of a shot (said to be “frozen” to the rail) is not considered driven to that rail unless it leaves the rail and returns. A ball is assumed not to be frozen to any rail unless it is declared frozen by the referee, the shooter, or the opponent. See also Regulation 29, Calling Frozen Balls.

      A ball that is pocketed or driven off the table is also considered to have been driven to a rail.

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Do Balls Have to Touch a Rail if You Hit the Object Ball?

  • Title: Do Balls Have to Touch a Rail if You Hit the Object Ball?
  • Author:
  • Published: 1/24/2008 5:44:31 PM
  • Last Updated: 12/13/2022 2:04:22 PM
  • Last Updated By: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)