Questions

Questions & Answers

Questions about league play should be submitted to m.garfield@insightbb.com. Answers may be derived from the League Operator, the APA rule book, and/or the APA governing body.

Question - A player attempts a break. He/she scratches on the break by jumping the cue ball off the table, the rack is not struck.

Answer - The player re-breaks. The rack must be struck for a foul to occur. If the player had scratched, struck the rack, and a legal break did not occur the balls would be re-racked and broken by the opponent. Breaking safe or soft is not allowed. You should always break as hard as you can with control to avoid possible penalties issued by the league operator.

Question - A player calls for a third party to watch a shot. What if the player or other team mates disagree with the watcher's call?

Answer - Since the APA wishes the games to be decided by shooting rather than reading, "close" calls should go to the shooter. However, if an attempted shot appears to be "close", the shooting or the sitting team may ask a third party to observe the shot and make the call. This third parties call will be the accepted call.

Question - What happens if a team breaks the 23 (handicap) rule?

Answer - Any team that violates the 23-rule forfeits all the points it won during the team match and the opposing team will receive those points. 9-ball differs in that the team that violates the 23 rule still loses all of the points won but the opposing teams only receives the points they won during the match plus 15 points for the match that put the other team over the 23 mark and any matches (if any) after that.

Question - How many senior skilled players can you play in a match of 8-ball? 9-ball? (skilled players have a handicap of 6 or higher)

Answer - There is no limit in 8-ball, although mathematically speaking 3 would be the maximum, but you can only play 2 senior skilled players in 9-ball.

Question - What can be used to "mark" the pocket in 8-Ball?

Answer - To properly mark the pocket, a coaster or some other reasonable marker (other than chalk) must be placed next to the pocket the 8-Ball is intended to enter. Both teams may use the same marker. Only one marker should be on the table. However, if more than one marker is on the table , as long as you clearly mark the pocket where you intend to pocket the 8-Ball you have properly marked the pocket. If the marker is already at the intended pocket from a previous attempt or game, it is not necessary for you to touch it, pick it up, or reposition it.

Question - What is the rule regarding changing cues during a match?

Answer - A player may use one cue stick for breaking and a different cue stick for shooting. During the course of a game a player may not change cue sticks or shafts unless their cue becomes damaged. A player can change cues or shafts between games, but once he has made a shot in a game he must continue playing with that cue stick until that game is over.

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