The Pool
21. Pocketing the 8 ball
Once all of a players or teams group of object balls are pocketed, they may attempt to sink the 8 ball. To win, the player must first designate which pocket they plan to sink the 8 ball into and then successfully pot the 8 ball in that called pocket. If the 8 ball falls into any pocket other than the one designated or is knocked off the table, or a foul occurs and the 8 ball is pocketed, this results in loss of game. Otherwise, the shooters turn is simply over, including when a foul such as a scratch occurs on an unsuccessful attempt to pocket the 8 ball. In short, a World Standardized Rules game of eight ball, like a game of nine ball, is not over until the money ball is no longer on the table. This rule is unusual to some bar and league players, because in American, Canadian and many other varieties of bar pool, and in some leagues, such as APA, such a foul is a loss of game.
22. Winning
Any of the following results in a game win:
A player legally pockets the 8 ball into a designated pocket, after all of that players object balls have been pocketed
The opposing player illegally pockets the 8 ball (e.g. before clearing all of that players object balls, does so on the same shot as the last such object ball, or the 8 falls into a pocket other than the one that was designated)
The opposing player knocks the 8 ball off the table.
The opposing player commits any foul, including scratching the cue ball into a pocket, or knocking it off the table, in the course of a shot that pockets the 8 ball. (As noted above, a scratch or other foul while shooting for the 8 ball is not a loss of the game if the 8 is not pocketed or jumped from the table.)
23. Fouls of Pool
The shooter fails to strike one of his own object balls (or the 8 ball, if all of said object balls are already pocketed) with the cue ball, before other balls (if any) are contacted by the cue ball. This excludes split shots, where the cue ball strikes one of the shooters and one of the opponents object ball simultaneously.
No ball comes into contact with a cushion or is pocketed, after legal cue ball contact with the (first) object ball (or 8 ball, if shooting for the 8).
If an attempt is made at a pot in pool, the ball hits the pocket, bounces out and lands on the ground, the ball is placed in the pocket and the game continues.
The shooter does not have at least one foot on the floor (this requirement may be waived if the shooter is disabled in a relevant way, or the venue has not provided a mechanical bridge)
The cue ball is shot before all balls have come to a complete stop from the previous shot
The cue ball is struck more than once during a shot
The cue ball is jumped entirely or partially over an obstructing ball with an illegal jump shot that scoops under the cue ball
The cue ball is clearly pushed (shoved slowly, rather than struck), with the cue tip remaining in contact with it more than momentarily
The shooter touches the cue ball with something other than the tip of the cue
The shooter touches any ball (with body, clothing or equipment), other than as necessary to move the cue ball when the player has ball in hand
The shooter knocks a ball off the table
The shooter has shot out of turn
On the break shot, no balls are pocketed and fewer than four balls reach the cushions (in which case the incoming player can demand a re rack and take the break or force the original breaker to re break, or may take ball in hand behind the head string and shoot the balls as they lie)
