Pool Scratch Rules: Understanding the Basics

While playing pool, you will inevitably come across the term “scratch.” Players use it all the time, but what does it mean?

Fortunately, you’re about to find out. This guide runs through what happens in these circumstances and how to react.

Understanding a Scratch in Pool

In pool, the term “scratch” covers various violations involving the cue ball. Usually, it refers to pocketing the ball, but it can also involve touching it with the hands, driving it off the table or knocking it too many times with the cue (more on this later).

Most often, scratching leads to a penalty of some description. Most games require you to give the opposing player a free play called “ball in hand.” However, some rules result in forfeiting the game to the other player – it depends on the violation.

Common Pool Scratch Rules

Various pool scratch rules exist depending on how you violate the game’s rules. During casual matches, the opposing player will call a foul whereas umpires will do it during tournament play. Players who refuse to adhere to scratch rules automatically forfeit the match.

Gameplay Scratches

Gameplay scratches occur during the normal course of play. These can include all sorts of cue ball violations, depending on the underlying rules.

Pocketing the cue ball during play is one such violation. Also called “general scratches,” these are common and happen in most amateur and professional matches at some point.

The penalty for these scratches is to hand over the cue ball to your opponent. Then, the other player places the ball anywhere, called “ball in hand.”

Failing to hit a ball with the cue ball is another example of a gameplay scratch. Players still violate the rules if the ball bounces off the table’s bumpers and whizzes around for a time before coming to a stop. It doesn’t matter how much it moves: if it doesn’t make contact with another ball, it’s a foul.

Another gameplay scratch is striking the cue ball twice on the same shot. This effect can occur when the cue ball and target ball are close to each other and the former bounces backward on the latter, hitting the cue a second time during the follow-through.

Detecting double strikes can be challenging. However, the most reliable method is to watch the speed of the resulting balls. Cue balls will lose momentum when they hit another ball, causing them to slow down and change direction. If both balls move away from the cue at the same speed, it means the cue ball got an extra nudge to gain its speed.

Players and umpires also sometimes listen for a double-thud. These can be hard to detect, but a trained ear can often perceive them, leading to a scratch.

Finally, there is an obscure gameplay rule that calls a scratch if the cue ball or target ball doesn’t interact with anything after being struck. This rule is not well-known in the amateur game but is upheld in most professional pool tournaments.

The rule states that after making a legal shot and contact with a target ball, the shot only remains legal if one of the following applies:

• The target ball goes into a pocket
• The target ball hits a side cushion
• The cue ball hits a side cushion
• The target or cue ball hit another ball that hits the side cushion or goes into a pocket

This rule means that players commit a foul if they simply nudge a ball or try to get as close to it as possible, as in snooker. The rule makes matches as fluid and fair as possible while reducing certain types of tactical play.

Break Scratches

Break scratches are another scratch type when the cue ball goes into a pocket or jumps off the table during a break.

Pool requires players to break the ball with force, so this problem is common. Players can’t anticipate where balls will go when tightly packed, making accidental pockets a regular occurrence.

After a break scratch that involves pocketing the cue ball, your opponent receives a free ball in hand. Then, they must place it behind the head string and take another shot.

Other balls (besides the cue ball) remain pocketed. Any remaining object balls retain their position on the table. The opposing player is free to make a shot or play for safety – it’s their choice.

Previously, break scratches meant you had to forfeit the game. However, these rules are becoming less common, due to the difficulty of knowing where the cue ball will land after striking the pack.

Table Scratches

Table scratches are also a foul. These occur when the cue ball pops off the table.

Under most rule sets, you must pass the ball to the other player for them to gain a free shot. The opposing player can place the cue ball anywhere.

Table scratches are most likely to occur on older tables or when cue techniques are incorrect. However, even pros can fall foul to them when breaking hard or trying to put a backspin on a shot.

8 Ball Scratch: What Happens?

The scratch situation is different when dealing with the 8-ball. Here, you can forfeit the game under most rules.

An 8-ball scratch occurs when:

• You pocket the cue ball when attempting to pocket the 8-ball
• You pocket the cue ball when successfully pocketing the 8-ball

If you pocket the cue ball but don’t pocket the 8-ball, it is a regular scratch and the cue ball goes to the opposing player for a ball in hand free shot. However, if you pocket both balls, you forfeit the game immediately.

Pool has this rule to ensure players don’t use highly rewarding potting tactics without also accepting risk. Smashing balls and getting them moving in multiple directions increases the likelihood of a pocket, it also bumps up the risk of an 8-ball scratch.

Slightly different rules apply when you pocket the 8-ball on a break. Some rules call for re-racking and breaking again. Others ask players to re-spot the 8-ball, even if other balls were potted.

However, the rules that apply can vary between various leagues and tournaments. For example, some games let you win if you pocket the 8-ball on the break and do not scratch. Meanwhile, others have you losing if you pocket and scratch (which is common on coin-operated tables).

After a break scratch, the table remains open. This rule means that players can play any ball except the 8-ball, choosing solid or stripes first (whichever they choose).

Further scratches that lose you the game occur when:

• You pocket the 8-ball in a non-called pocket (a different one from the one you state)
• You pocket the 8-ball before pocketing the other balls in your chosen group
• You drive the 8-ball off the table during any part of the game (including the break)

Scratches In Different Versions of Pool

So far, we’ve discussed scratch rules in 8-ball pool, the most common version in the U.S. However, scratch rules also apply in other forms of the game.

9-Ball Pool

In 9-ball pool, scratches can result from potting the cue ball, touching it with the hands, or knocking it off the table. When this happens, the opposing player gets a ball in hand, giving them a free shot.

Scratches also occur when you knock the 9-ball off the table, sometimes called “pushing” or “driving.” These situations see the 9-ball respotted (as close to its spot as possible given the layout of the balls).

9-ball pool permits three scratches on three consecutive shots before forfeiting the game. As such, players must exercise extra caution after their second violation, even if they use them tactically.

10-Ball Pool

In 10-ball pool, the rules are similar to 9-ball: scratches result when touching or potting the cue ball, shooting it off the table, or potting it during a break. In these situations, the opposing player receives the ball in hand for a free shot.

However, 10-ball pool can’t be won on a foul. If you scratch while potting the 10-ball, you re-spot it and give the opposing player the ball in hand. (The respotting rule doesn’t apply to any other ball on the table).

Bank Pool

Scratching in bank pool results in giving the other player the ball in hand. You don’t lose any points but you may lose positional advantage during many games.

Straight Pool

Scratching in straight pool results in a one-point penalty. You must also give the other player the ball in hand.

Scratching three times in a row results in an additional penalty of 15 points. This rule discourages anti-social play and ensures proper pool etiquette (as discussed below).

Types of Scratches in Billiards

Billiards came before pool. As such, many of its scratch rules passed over to modern 8-ball. Some violations are similar, but others are different:

• Driving the cue ball off the table
• Pocketing the cue ball
• Missing all the balls with the cue ball
• Hitting an object ball off the table
• Potting the black before other colors
• Jumping the cue ball over an object ball
• Striking or pushing the cue ball more than once with the cue in a single shot
• Failing to strike the cushion before hitting a ball on the cushion

The consequences of committing a foul are also different in English billiards. Players must concede their turn and award the opposing player two points. Forfeiting is not a part of the game (unless the forfeiting player agrees to it consensually).

Tips to Avoid Scratching in Pool

Scratches in pool are annoying but there are ways to avoid them. All it requires is proper cue technique and a little planning.

Use Tangent Lines

Understanding tangent lines is an excellent way to avoid scratching in pool and is most helpful when avoiding pocketing the cue ball or other players’ balls.

Tangent lines result from the physics of momentum. When the cue ball hits the target ball, it ricochets along a new path running at 90° from the pocket and the target ball’s direction of travel.

These lines can predict where the cue ball will wind up after you hit it. But leveraging them successfully still requires a high level of accuracy. Even if the tangent line shows the cue ball avoiding another pocket when struck perfectly, small mistakes can send it off course, increasing the risk of a scratch.

For instance, you need to be careful if applying spin. Backspin will cause the tangent line to become more obtuse (relative to the pocket), while topspin will make it more acute. These actions then change the resulting path of the cue ball after it strikes the object ball, causing it to wind up in less predictable locations.

Sometimes, you can afford to put a lot of spin on the ball to get you into a better position. But you only have a small margin of error to make mistakes and are at a higher risk of committing a foul.

Sometimes the cue ball will slide into the target ball (instead of rolling into it). If this happens, it can also change the resulting angles of the balls. Knowing how they react requires considerable practice, which is why advanced players are usually the ones using this technique.

Add Draw And Follow To Your Shots To Change The Resulting Angle

Another approach is to make use of topspin (follow) and backspin (draw) to change the tangent angle to avoid scratches. While these techniques are more challenging and can go wrong, they are necessary in some situations when a conventional 90° tangent isn’t available ( perhaps because it leads into a pocket).

You can create a follow by striking the top half of the ball with the cue. This action will make it roll forward after striking the object ball because of its residual rotational energy (topspin).

Similarly, you can create draw by striking the lower half of the cue ball. This action produces backspin, causing the ball to retreat from the target ball at a greater angle.

Use English

Sometimes you will need to use English to avoid scratches. But the number of situations where it is essential are few and far between.

English occurs when you strike the cue ball on the left or right side, creating side spin. English doesn’t affect the path of the cue ball, but it does affect how it interacts with the side cushions.

English is sometimes necessary when the cue ball is at risk of potting an opponent’s ball or entering a pocket on the other side of the table after a shot. Changing the angle with English slightly can improve positional play and prevent fouls.

Use Cheat Pocketing

Cheat pocketing is another way to avoid scratches in pool. It’s helpful when target balls are close to the pocket.

If you shoot a target ball head-on over a pocket, the cue ball is likely to go in along with it, leading to a scratch. However, cheating the pocket by striking the object ball at a 30° angle improves safety substantially. The ball should enter the side of the pocket while the cue ball goes in the other direction and hits the side bumper.

Cheating only works on pool tables with large pockets, though. Don’t try this technique on a conventional snooker table – it won’t work.

Cheating can be highly effective when you want to reposition the cue ball after a shot. The strength of the shot can bounce it off two or three side cushions, setting you up for the next play. However, be careful to avoid striking the target ball too hard. Excessive force could push it off the table, leading to a scratch or game forfeit if it is the 8-ball.

Cue Gently

Another pro tip is to cue gently (unless you need to strike the ball hard). Softer shots are less likely to bounce around, hit other objects, and lead to unwanted pocketing.

New players often strike the ball harder than necessary. But shooting gently can result in more accuracy, more opportunities for draw, follow, and English, and better positional play. Moreover, it can help you predict where the cue ball will end up after a shot, instead of solely focusing on the contact with the target ball.

Use Stop Shots

You can also use stop shot skills to avoid scratches. These involve using techniques that stop the cue ball dead after making a shot.

Stop shots are most effective when the pot is all but guaranteed (like when the ball is close to the pocket). Playing this shot causes the cue ball to linger in the position previously occupied by the object ball, preventing it from running into the pocket.

Stop shots are challenging to pull off and require you to remove all spin from the ball. Getting them right requires striking the ball dead-center and quite hard. However, you can get the hang of it fast if you only focus on that part of the game.

Get Better Pool Cues

Finally, you can buy better cues to reduce the risk of scratching in pool. Some players use different cues for breaking and general gameplace, while others get products infused with carbon fiber for more predictable shot-making.

Myths About Scratches In Pool

Because pool is an amateur game played in bars and clubs, several myths surrounding the scratches and the rules have emerged. Many of these have a grain of truth to them, while others are downright false and designed to take advantage of inexperienced players.

You Can Scoop The Cue Ball

Official pool rules forbid “scooping” of the cue ball. Ramming the cue under the ball to lift it into the air is an illegal maneuver and is a scratch in official tournaments. If you get caught, the other player will receive a ball in hand.

The foul exists because the action causes multiple points of contact with the ball. First, the tip connects with the lower half while the rod section of the cue then lifts the ball off the felt.

The only legal way to jump the cue ball is to strike it from above. Pushing it onto the table at a downward angle with a backspin causes it to hop, allowing it to avoid objects in the way.

Failing To Call Shots

Failing to call shots is a foul, but it is not a scratch. The difference seems trivial to new players, but it matters to those with more experience in the sport.

Failing to call a shot (when it isn’t obvious) causes the player to forfeit their turn, whether they pot the target ball or not. But it is not a scratch, meaning the opposing player doesn’t receive a ball in hand allowing them to place the cue ball anywhere on the table. Instead, they must play the ball from its final resting place.

By contrast, 9-ball does not require players to call shots under most rules sets. As such, playing shots unannounced is neither a foul nor a scratch.

The 8-Ball Requires A Specific Pocketing Requirements

Sometimes, players will claim that the 8-ball has specific pocketing requirements. For example, they might say:

• The 8-ball must bounce off a bumper first before going into the pocket
• The 8-ball must go into the same pocket as the last shot

These rules can be fun, but they aren’t sanctioned by any billiards association. No professional players use these rules in their tournaments.

The real rules are:

• You can pocket the 8-ball in any pocket after clearing the other required object balls
• You must call the pocket into which you intend to sink the 8-ball

If you break these rules, you can either forfeit the game (as in the first case) or give your opponent a ball in hand (as in the second case).

You Can Hit Three Bumpers Without Striking Another Ball

Another strange myth is that you can strike three bumpers without striking another ball and avoid a scratch. Again, this fictional rule isn’t true. It doesn’t matter how many times you ricochet off the table’s edge, it’s always a scratch.

The only way to avoid this foul is to hit a legal target ball. Then, the ball must go into a pocket or either the cue or target ball (or another ball) hits a bumper. If this doesn’t happen at least once, it is a foul.

You Must Place The Cue Ball In A Specific Location After A Scratch

The final myth is that you must put the cue ball in a specific location after a scratch. This rule isn’t true in many situations. Most scratches result in a ball in hand, meaning players can place balls anywhere they want on the table.

There are only two exceptions:

• The American Poolplayers Association (APA) and United State Poolplayers Association (UPA) require players to place the ball behind the headstring if the scratch occurs after a break
• Some rules require all scratches in one pocket

How to Handle a Scratch

Despite your best efforts, you will eventually commit a foul in pool. Even professionals do it. The trick is to know how to respond to it.

Once you know how to handle a scratch, you put yourself in a better position. You can play more strategically and enjoy a higher chance of winning.

Cluster Your Opponent’s Balls

During the game, focus on clustering your opponent’s balls. Try to get them to concentrate in a small area, making it less dangerous if you concede a ball in hand. Even if your opponent can place the cue ball anywhere, they can’t get the angle to pot.

You can build clusters by using the cue ball’s tangent. Planning shots to knock into your opponent’s balls to shepherd them into one small area of the table, keeps them out of the way while making it more challenging for your opponent to mount a come-back during their turn.

Stay Calm

When scratches occur, it can be tempting to lose your cool. But it pays to stay relaxed and focused. The more you can concentrate on the game in front of you, the more likely you are to succeed in the long-term.

Remember, unless your scratches involve the 8-ball, it doesn’t mean a loss. You can wait for your opponent to make a mistake and rethink your strategy to win. If you play strategically, you can force an error and turn the tables back in your favor.

You could also play safety shots when it’s your turn again. These aim to position the ball in areas that make it difficult for your opponent to avoid a foul. For example, you could put the cue ball behind a row of your balls blocking theirs or you could whizz the white to the opposite end of the table from the rest of their object balls, preventing easy pots.

Think About Your Cue Ball Control

Instead of always focusing on potting balls, concentrate more on the cue ball's path. Knowing where it will land can give you more control over matches, even if it means you don’t pot as often.

Plan Your Next Shot After A Scratch

A final strategy is to plan your next shot following a scratch. Watching the other player gives you more time to decide what to do next.

Sometimes, it is sensible to go all-out for the win. However, you may need to make strategic plays if the odds of getting to a more favorable position aren’t with you.

You can also use your next turn to control the match’s pace. Going fast might suit your opponent, or vice versa, giving you more options around how to play and prevent them from controlling the match.

Pool Etiquette: Scratching on Purpose

Sometimes, it pays to scratch on purpose. Strategic players can use it to gain an advantage over their opponents. However, most professionals view it as unsportsmanlike, and some governing bodies have rules to prevent it.

Players consider scratching on purpose bad etiquette for several reasons. The first is that it is simply “unfair.” Scratching disrupts the natural flow of the game, which can put some players off.

Scratching deliberately also brings the game into disrepute. If both players start doing it, it can prevent any player from taking a tough shot (that would enrich the game and entertain audiences).

With that said, there are tactical situations where deliberate scratching makes sense.

One is when the ball layout favors defensive play. Deliberately scratching can work if there are no clear shots for your opponent, even if they gain the ball in hand.

Usually, you see deliberate scratching during safety battles. Players try to position the object balls in ways that make it challenging or impossible for the other party to pot them.

Sometimes, scratching makes sense when the balls are in a difficult position for your opponent and you don’t have opportunities. Handing play over to them could worsen their situation while improving yours, allowing you to pot more balls on your next turn.

However, scratching deliberately only helps you if the rules support it. Most pool associations forbid more than three consecutive scratches in 8-ball and 9-ball competitions, meaning you need to manage your risk. Furthermore, straight pool has penalties for fouls, resulting in point deductions that could give your opponent a strong advantage. Sometimes, it just isn’t worth it.

Scratches In Online Pool

Scratches in online pool can occur, but it depends on the parameters set by the game’s designers. Most scratches can occur (such as hitting the wrong ball or potting the 8-ball early) but others, such as driving the cue ball off the table don’t.

Most games are fair by programming errors into the computer player. These mean that computers can still commit scratches, giving you the advantage in open play.

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