9 Ball Rules: Racking The Balls, Break Shots To Bad Hits

9 ball is a great game to watch but, like any sport, it's easy to take for granted all the rules that the players (and referee) have to abide by.

Generally speaking, most professional games of 9 ball are played by the "World Standardized Rules". The object of the game is the first, important thing to understand about 9 ball; after that, the racking of the balls and the break shot, the latter of which is easy to do wrong. Practising the break off shot is something all players spend a lot of time on - not just to get a good start on the rack but to ensure they don't make an illegal break shot. Continuing play, understanding what makes a foul shot, making jump shots and of course how to win the game are some of the other key points in the rules of 9 ball.

More 9 ball rules information (also a separate link to view the rules of 'straight pool' or 14.1 Continuous as some people call it).

In every sport there seems to be a range of terms unique to that sport - and the game of 9 ball is no different. Here are a few examples:

head string
break shot
push out
ball in hand
no rail
jump shot
massé
hooked
foul shot

There's lots more too which all goes towards making 9 ball pool so characterful!