(About the Author)

These series of “Game Rules’ provide rules of many different games for the pool table. The rules here have been simplified from the official versions – to make them a little easier to understand.

There are other games that have been invented, copyrighted and generally available to the playing public. Web searches will turn these up and the rules printed out for use.

Speed Pool

Tactically, the cue ball can be moved a better position by making a legal shot at a ball that is in a bad location (thereby improving it) and rolling into a better shooting position.

Object

This game requires balls to be pocketed as quickly as possible. Another person uses a stop watch to track the time and to track penalty times. The player with the shortest time wins.

Opponents

Any number of players.

Balls

Regular set of balls.

Racking

Standard random rack with 8 in the middle.

Breaking

Breaker determined by local rules (coin, lag, card draw, etc.)

The rack is broken with a standard break shot.

Regular play

As soon as the cue ball is hit for the break, the timer starts.

Cue ball must come to a complete stop before shooting.

Any ball may be pocketed, but the 8 ball must be last.

Optional: call ball and pocket.

Fouls/penalties

• Scratch on the break – 5 seconds added, cue ball played from the kitchen.
• Scratch – 10 seconds added, cue ball played from the kitchen.
• Cue ball jumped off table – 10 seconds added, cue ball played from the kitchen.
• Illegal shot – 5 seconds added, table layout as is.
• Uncalled ball pocketed, 5 seconds added, table layout as is.
• Contact 8 ball first (before it is a legal ball) – 10 seconds added, table layout as is.
• Illegal double-hit shot – 10 seconds added, table layout as is.
• No legal hit on the 8 ball (when legal) – 10 seconds added, table layout as is.
• 8 ball pocketed out of turn – 10 minutes added to current score and player’s inning immediately ends.