In billiards whats the difference between APA and BCA rules?

Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 1

Lea got all the rules differences correct, so I won't rehash them. I will say that BCA rules make concessions for call shot OR non-call shot in 8 ball, so call shot is not always the rules used.

BCA rules are the most correct rules, so that is the main advantage to using them. 99% of all international competitions use them, and if you want to play correctly, you should too.

APA rules differences are for a few reasons. First of all, since APA leagues are played on bar tables, some changes must be made, such as the 8 on the break being a win. Some rules are made to simplify the game and minimize the chance of arguments, such as not requiring you to call shots and not having push outs or 3 foul rules in 9 ball. I believe the APA rule that your group can be determined on the break is meant to reduce break and runs. The APA rules are designed for handicapped matches, and reducing the amount of break and runs will make it easier for the handicap to "do it's job" (give lower handicaps a chance against higher handicaps).

Which are better? Well, I prefer BCA rules, and think they should always be used in non-handicapped competitions on standard (non-coin op) tables. APA rules serve their purpose well, which is to reduce arguments in situations where there are no referees and to help implement a handicap. So both sets serve a purpose, and neither is really better than the other.

Answer 2

If you're asking about BCA league rules, I have absolutely no idea; I'm only familiar with just BCA rules. Here are a few ways APA rules are different from the world-standardized BCA rules:

8-ball:

APA: if you make a solid on the break, you're solids...if you make a stripe, you're stripes, if you make one or some of both, it's open.

BCA: if you make a ball on the break (except for the eight or the cue ball), you get to shoot again at whatever you want...the table is open until someone makes a ball after the break.

APA: an 8 on the break is a win (unless you scratch, then it's a loss)

BCA: an 8 on the break is a rerack or it gets spotted and the breaker keeps shooting...breaker decides

APA: you have 3 tries to make a legal break (at least four balls other than the cue ball driven to the rail)

BCA: if you don't drive four balls to a rail, it's a foul and the incoming player can shoot or have the balls reracked and break or have the original breaker break again

APA: as long as you contact one of your balls first (or a ball other than the 8-ball if the table is open), you continue shooting if one of your balls falls.

BCA: call-shot

APA: a scratch while shooting the 8-ball is loss of game whether the 8 goes or not

BCA: a scratch on the 8-ball is a regular foul if the 8-ball doesn't go

9-ball:

APA: no push-out after the break (except in Masters)

BCA: push-out allowed after the break

APA: no 3-foul rule (even in Masters)

BCA: 3-foul

APA: must drive four object balls to a rail on the break...get three tries before the break gets turned over to the other player

BCA: if you don't drive four balls to a rail, it's a foul and the incoming player gets ball in hand.

Both 8-ball and 9-ball:

APA: a ball off the table gets spotted, no foul

BCA: a ball off the table is a foul and doesn't get spotted (unless it's the 9-ball in 9-ball)

APA rules help out the novice player a bit just as far as keeping decision-making to a minimum (so no help in the long run, just maybe keeping the games shorter?)...the decision on whether to shoot stripes or solids is made for him if he makes one ball on the break...he has to kick at the one-ball instead of deciding where to push out to...he gets to shoot again if he misses a ball a foot and it goes three rails in another pocket...you know, that sort of thing. The win for the 8 on the break is good for coin tables, which is what most APA players play on. I do think, though, that APA players should make an effort to get familiar with BCA rules...We play APA because we enjoy playing pool, and pool just gets more fun the more you know about it :)

--Lea

EDIT-- the BCA website doesn't mention anything other than call-shot for 8-ball...is that league play?