In pool, when you play 8 ball and somebody scratches...?

Question

When you play 8 ball, and somebody scratches, the next player can put the que ball anywhere, correct? or must they stay behind the second dot like when you break? because i have noticeed that some people play one way and others play another, so i was wondering if there were any official rules

Answer 1

If you are playing in an organized pool league all fouls allow the incoming player ball-in-hand anywhere on the table... unless it's after the break... then it's behind the head string.

If you are playing bar rules all fouls are taken behind the head string.

Answer 2

HOUSE RULES. HOW EVER THEY PLAY AT THE ESTABLISHMENT YOUR PLAYING IN. I'D MAKE REAL SURE OF THIS IF YOU ARE PLAYING FOR MONEY IN A BAR IT COULD GET REAL UGLY NOT KNOWING IT.

Answer 3

The world-standardized rules allow you to place the cue ball anywhere on the table, except for a scratch on the break, in which case it's behind the line.

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.)

Answer 4

Yes, there are official global rules for 8 ball, although many bar players and gamblers still ignore rules set specifically for sportsmanship if favour of rules that may allow a shooter to manipulate the game to win.

Historically, bar rules were set locally by the better more experienced players rather than the newcomer and a foul played behind the head string actually often benefits the player who made the foul instead of providing a penalty for the scratch. You may play by any "house rules" you both decide and agree in advance are to be in effect, but since 1990, the International Rules would dictate the penalty goes to the player who made the foul. In sportsmanship, the incoming player is given ball in hand anywhere on the table as an advantage for the previous player’s foul penalty.

WORLD POOL-BILLIARD ASSOCIATION

WORLD STANDARDIZED 8 BALL RULES

4.14 FOUL PENALTY

Opposing player gets cue ball in hand. This means that the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table (does not have to be behind the headstring except on opening break foul). This rule prevents a player from making intentional fouls which would put an opponent at a disadvantage. With "cue ball in hand," the player may use a hand or any part of a cue (including the tip) to position the cue ball. When placing the cue ball in position, any forward stroke motion contacting the cue ball will be a foul, if it is not a legal shot by full definition.

Answer 5

supposed to stay behind the line