Main Changes From World Rules - droitwichpool.com

MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL POOL RULES AND WORLD POOL RULES
ITEM	INTERNATIONAL POOL RULES	WORLD RULES
THE BREAK Rule 4f	3 point system. You can score points in one of two ways. There will be an imaginary line in the middle of the table between the middle pockets. You get one point for every ball potted on the break and one point for every ball passing over the imaginary line. If 3 balls or more come past that line it’s a fair break, or one ball potted and 2 balls past over the imaginary line is also a fair break.	4 Balls must hit a cushion.
FAILURE TO PERFORM A LEGAL BREAK Rule 4g	Balls must be re-racked. The opponent has the option to break or choose to give the break back to the original breaker.	Balls are re-racked and opposing player is given the break with two shots.
POTTING THE BLACK BALL OFF THE BREAK Rule 4i	If the black ball alone is potted off the break then the black ball is re-spotted and the incoming player proceeds to play on. If the black ball is potted with any other colour then the black ball is re-spotted and play continues with the original player providing a legal break has been performed.	Re-rack if the black ball is potted. Same player breaks again.
POTTING THE WHITE BALL OFF THE BREAK Rule 4j	Incoming player has the white ball in hand played from behind the baulk line. If the white ball leaves the table from the break then the incoming player has ball in hand anywhere on the table with one shot.	Incoming player has the white ball in hand played from behind the baulk line. If the white ball leaves the table from the break then the incoming player has 2 shots with ball in hand to be played played from behind the baulk line.
SELECTING GROUPS Rule 6a	Once a legal break has been completed you have the opportunity to pot balls and decide your group of colours. The group cannot be decided off the break so whatever drops off the break will not decide the group. All it does is allow the breaker to continue their shot. Even if one or both colours are potted on the break you still need to select a colour and pot that colour on your next shot to own that colour group.	If a colour is potted is potted off the break and then nominated then the player remains on that colour.
COMBINATION SHOTS Rule 6c	A combination shot before a group has been decided isnot a legal shot, simply because you cannot be targeting one colour and potting another. One of the legal combination shots you can play in this game once groups have been decided is to play your group colour into a pocket and then onto the other colour group and pot that other colour. This is a legal shot and the player may continue with their break. You can also hit your colour ball onto a ball of the opposite colour and pot that other colour. If your ball also pots then that is a legal shot and your visit can continue. If your ball does not get pocketed after the other colour drops then it’s just a loss of turn but no foul shot. So in summary there’s a couple of combination shots that you can make and a few you can’t. You can’t make a combination shot from your final colour to pot the black ball and you can’t make a combination shot to pot a ball before groups have been decided.	A combination shot potting an opponent’s colour is a foul shot and two visits would be awarded.
LEGAL BLACK Rule 6c	The frame is decided by potting the black ball with a legal shot. In certain circumstances this can be performed with a combination shot. For example – If there was an opponents ball in front of a pocket you could play your black onto that colour and follow the black through to pot it then that’s a legal shot and wins the frame. You can pot the black and also pot an opponents ball in another pocket to win the frame, but if you pot the black and also pot the cue ball in the same shot then that is loss of frame.	If another ball is pocketed in the same shot that the black is potted then that is “loss of frame”.
LOSS OF TURN Rule 6d	A failed combination shot is not a foul, it’s just a loss of turn. Potting an opponent’s ball accidentally. A tactical shot e.g. playing a designated group legally to pot an opponent’s ball. Failure to call a group after potting a ball, whilst the table is ‘open’, if the group was not obvious.	All combinations are given two shots to the opponent.
STANDARD FOULS Rule 6e	The referee awards a cue ball in hand, which can be placed anywhere on the playing surface with one visit to the opponent. The referee must pick up the cue ball and hand it to the incoming player. If a player picks up the cue ball then that is loss of frame (rule 6f.9)	Two visits awarded to the incoming player.
DELIBERATE FOULS Rule 6f	In international rules you cannot deliberately foul as this is deemed loss of frame. You must make a genuine attempt to hit your ball and if the referee deems it is not a genuine attempt he can call “loss of frame” If you do manage to hit your ball you still need to hit a cushion following contact with your ball as there are no “total snookers” or “foul snookers” in international rules.	Two shots from where the cue ball lies or if still snookered a free ball and two shots or move the cue ball behind the balk line with two shots.
STALEMATE SITUATION Rule 6g	If any situation arises whereby a ‘legal shot’ cannot be played, It is a player’s responsibility to ask for a stalemate. If the referee confirms a stalemate, the frame shall be restarted with a re-rack. The player who originally broke will restart the re-racked frame. If no stalemate is confirmed, the players must continue their visit.	If a legal shot cannot be played then the player can play away and the opponent is awarded two visits.
SHOT CLOCK Rule 6j	Each player is allotted 45 seconds for each shot. The timekeeper will verbally count down from 5 seconds.	Each player is allotted 60 seconds for each shot with a reminder at 30 seconds.