Suggested Pool Rule Changes

What rules should the WPA and league systems consider changing?

First of all, all league systems should embrace as many of the WPA official rules of pool as possible. See league system rule differences.

Here are some rules changes that should be considered by the WPA in the next major release:

  • In general, remove as many rules and fouls as possible to make the game less tedious, more friendly (for players, referees, and spectators), and easier for inexperienced players to learn and understand.
  • Revise the “driven to a cushion” legal-hit rule so an OB frozen to a cushion struck by ball (CB or OB) after at hit is considered “driven to a cushion.” Otherwise, when hitting an OB frozen to a cushion, require that the OB be driven to a different cushion (or off a ball and back to the same cushion) if nothing else hits a cushion or is pocketed. Alternatively, change the rules so contacting a ball frozen to a cushion satisfies the “driven to a cushion” requirement. This simplify things quite a bit with no real downsides.
  • Consider changing the rule concerning balls bouncing out of a pocket. Currently, if an OB bounces out of a pocket and lands on the playing surface, play continues as if the ball were not pocketed. However, if the CB bounces out of a pocket, it is a foul if any balls in the pocket are touched (which might be a judgement call, for example if the CB bounces off the back of the pocket with lots of balls in the pocket). Here’s a possible alternative set of rules: “If any ball (CB or OB) hits any part of the rails or pockets or balls in a pocket during a shot, but ends up on the playing surface after the shot, the ball is in play with no foul (unless balls are purposely left or added to a pocket to make it more difficult to scratch, which would incur an unsportsmanlike conduct foul).“
  • When balls are moved by mistake, in addition to it being a foul, also re-position the moved balls as closely as possible to their original locations.
  • Consider setting 9-ball break rules to a more-modern standard (e.g., rack 9 on the spot, break from the box, forceful break, random ball placement other than the 1 and 9) that solves many of the problems associated with the break.
  • Consider requiring that jump shots be allowed only if the tip hits the top half of the CB (above the horizontal equator). That would prevent scoop shots (intentional or not), cue-lift jumps, and through-a-mesh-pocket jumps demonstrated in this video.
  • Consider making all miscues fouls since all miscues involve a sliding contact (a push) and secondary hits per this video. A foul should be called on a miscue only if the miscue is obvious based on the distinctive sound and clear visual evidence of the miscue (the CB having motion very different from what would be expected for the shot being played, as a result of the sliding-tip push and secondary contact). Otherwise, be more clear that even though miscues almost always involve sliding and secondary contact, they are not called as fouls unless there is clear visual evidence of a foul (and provide examples).
  • Make it clear what kind of evidence can be used to judge double-hit fouls. For example, if super-slow motion video is available, could otherwise-imperceptible double hits be called (e.g., for secondary hits that often occur with scoop shots, miscues, and fouette shots)? Or can the CB be inspected after a hit to call a foul based on a distinctive and obvious line of multiple chalk marks and skids on the CB that often occur with elevated follow shots, as demonstrated in the pertinent videos on the double-hit foul resource page?
  • In 8-ball, if a player shoots the wrong group and no foul is called, and it is later noticed that someone is shooting at the wrong group, the game will be replayed with the same breaker. If the game has already ended, the game is not replayed and the result stands.
  • In the 8-ball rack, consider requiring a stripe and solid to be in the 2nd row (in addition to the back-row corner balls), since they are the most likely to be pocketed.
  • With ball in hand, consider allowing the player to use the CB however they want (even to measure a gap between balls).
  • If the game ball is pocketed and the CB is still moving but has no conceivable chance of scratching, consider not penalizing a player for removing balls from pockets or moving any remaining balls on the table if the CB and other ball motion can’t possibly be affected.
  • Prohibit jump cues in both one pocket and straight pool (14.1).
  • Add an intentional push shot to the list of example unsportsmanlike conduct violation (for example, so trapping the CB against the facing of a pocket to corner hook opponent in One Pocket is no longer a viable option).
  • Consider enforcing a minimum cue weight (e.g., 8 oz). For example, a jump cue should not be allowed to be close to or less than the weight of the CB (6 oz). Otherwise, it makes highly-elevated jump shots and avoiding small-gap double hit fouls too easy.
  • Remove requirement that chalk be a color “compatible” with the cloth color.
  • Allow players to adjust the position of the lag shot ball as long as the ball remains above the head string.
  • No longer allow a player to get coaching during a match, and add it as an unsportsmanlike conduct foul.
  • When spotting balls (e.g., in straight pool and one-pocket), allow balls to be frozen to the CB so it is treated the same as other balls.
  • Explicitly allow video review in refereed and nonrefereed matches and allow (and encourage) referees to use smartphone slow-mo video with suspect shots.
  • Consider moving all rules-related stuff from the Regulations document to the Rules document so all important rules details are in one place. Otherwise, if the Regulations contain important advice and guidance concerning rules, always link to the appropriate Regulations section in the appropriate Rules section.
  • Add regulations related to Equipment Spec 16 dealing with ball cleanliness to prevent waxing issues raised after the 2015 World Championship.
  • Remove all gender-specific pronouns from the rules, referring to the “shooter,” “player,” “referee,” and “opponent” instead.

Here is the current complete set of WPA Rules and Regulations with a Summary of the Most Recent Changes, which are demonstrated in this video:

Should rules be changed to allow an anything-goes one-continuous stroke?

No. This would allow double hits, miscues, pushes, scoop jump shots (see the fouls resource page) an many other things that might not be desirable additions to the game. For more info and examples, see “Legal Fouls” (BD, Nov ‘ 16) and “A Modest Proposal” (BD, January, ’06).

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