Member Services & Stats

The Game Of 8-Ball

8-Ball is a billiard game played with a cue ball and 15 billiard balls on a pool table with 6 pockets. It is arguably the most popular bar table pool game today.

The balls numbered 1-7 are solid in color and are often referred to as "low balls" or "solids". The balls numbered 9-15 are striped and are often referred to as "high balls" or "stripes". The 8-Ball, though solid black, is not considered one of the solid balls. You begin a game by racking the balls into a triangle with the 8-ball placed in the center.

The balls are then broken apart using the solid white cue ball. Through this break, or by legally pocketing a "stripe" or "solid" ball after the break, that category of balls is assigned to the player. A legal shot consists of a player using a pool stick to drive the cue ball into one of their category of balls in an attempt to sink it into one of the 6 pockets. A player's turn ends when they fail to do this or commit a foul, such as pocketing the cue ball. The object of the game is shoot in your category of balls, and then pocket the 8-ball before your opponent does the same.

A Night In An APA 8-Ball Pool League...

A coin flip determines which team picks a player to shoot the night's first match. A player is chosen and announced to the opposing team. The opposing team then decides who on their team is best suited to play that player and the match is set.

Every APA player is assigned a "skill level". This skill level lets the teams know the playing ability of each player on both team rosters. A player's "Skill Level" also dictates the number of games that player must win in order to win their match. Teams use this information when picking a player to shoot a specific opponent. A handicap chart can be found on the scoresheet and is used to determine the number of games each player must win in a match.

Once both players are chosen, the match is started and the players race to be the first one to win their assigned number of games. The first player to win the assigned number of games claims the match for their team.

With the match decided, the process is repeated with teams alternating who puts up a player first in each of the remaining four matches.

Through the five matches played, the total skill levels of the 5 players (on each team) cannot total more than 23 points. This means that teams have to be diverse in the rankings of their players. It also allows the beginner and intermediate players to benefit from the experience of the stronger players on their team.

Teams try to win as many of the weekly matches as possible. One point is awarded for each match won. At the end of week #14, those teams with the most points, in their division, advance to our City Tournament. We have two weeks of playoffs, with the winner of the playoffs also advancing to the City Tournament. We will fill all byes with a random draw from the teams that were voted best Sports.

9 Ball Leagues

If you've watched the pros play on TV, chances are they were playing 9-Ball.

The game of 9-Ball is a games where position and strategy mean everything! It is an extremely fast paced game.

In 9-Ball, the balls are racked in a diamond, with the one ball at the front apex. The nine ball goes in the center. The balls are broken by striking the one ball, and attempting to pocket a ball. The lowest numbered ball on the table must be struck first in order for the shot to be legal, and from there a ball must be pocketed or driven to a rail.

The object of the game is simple: Run the balls out and pocket the nine ball, or shoot a combo that legally pockets the nine ball. Do this before your opponent and you win the game.

A Night In An APA 9-Ball Pool League...

APA "Amateur" 9-Ball is played like Professional 9-Ball...but scored like Straight Pool.

In APA 9-Ball all balls have a point value. The balls numbered 1-8 are worth one point each... the nine ball is worth two. This makes each rack worth a total of 10 points. Players compete not to win games but rather to score the most points from each rack.

Under The Equalizer® in 9-Ball, players are assigned a certain number of points (balls) to make. A lower ranked player, would need to pocket few balls than a more skilled opponent. Because every ball counts, the more skilled player cannot simply win by pocketing the nine ball, they must be aware of all the balls on the table and make every shot count.

APA 9-Ball leagues use a wider range of skill levels. Players are ranked from SL-1 to SL-9. This wider range allows for greater accuracy when determining a player's ability, and creates a more competitive environment where all players have an equal chance of winning.

Every week 100 points are up for grabs (20 points per match). The players in each match compete to earn as many of those 20 points as possible. Even in a loss, a player may earns points for their team. The more balls a player makes, the more of the 20 points they earn. This keeps the match competitive.

Teams try to win as many weekly points as possible. At the end of week #14, those teams with the most points, in their division, advance to our City Tournament. We have two weeks of playoffs and the teams in first place at the end of week #16, in their division, get to go to the City Tournament. We will fill all byes with a

random draw of the teams voted best Sports.

APA Ladies Only Divisions

APA Ladies Only Divisions

NO MEN ALLOWED

Unless ya just wanna watch!

Leave the guys at home and spend an evening with the girls! You could win a trip to Vegas for the Ultimate Ladies Night Out! When you go out to play... PLAY APA POOL with the girls!

The Ladies League offers all the same benefits as the 8-Ball an 9-Ball open Divisions.
You only compete against women throughout the session.
The ladies division will follow all the rules of the open division except the total of the skill levels of the five players shooting that night can't exceed 19.

Charlotte Metro's Ladies league is a slightly different format than weekly 8 ball leagues. This the best way to leave the men at home. Please call the office for more details.

MASTERS FORMAT

JUMP CUES ~ YES
PUSH OUT ~ YES
3 FOUL RULE ~ NO
COACHING ~ NO

NO TEAM SKILL LEVEL LIMIT
NO INNINGS TO TRACK ~ MINIMUM SCOREKEEPING
NO MATCHES AGAINST LOWER SKILL LEVEL PLAYERS

This format was designed to showcase the "Best of the Best" competing on a weekly basis. There is No Handicap Limit and No Scorekeeping ~ play a "Quality Match" every week ... STACK YOUR LINE-UP WITH THE BEST PLAYERS YOU CAN FIND. Win your Division, play in the Masters Las Vegas Qualifier Tournament, then go to Las Vegas and compete against the best in the Country for the APA Masters Championship! The actual number of Masters teams we send to Las Vegas, depends on the number of 'slots' we are awarded by the APA in St. Louis.

• Must be APA members.
• Up to a maximum of 4 players on roster.
• Teams may choose any 3 of the 4 team members to participate in each match.
• No Skill Level Limit
• Follow USAM rules and format.
• Race-to-7 (8 games of 9-Ball and 5 games of 8-Ball).
• Player will lag with winner of lag having choice of game (8-Ball or 9-Ball) or the break. Once the format has been chosen, the entire set of that format must be completed before moving to the next format.
• Player will earn one point for each game won. Team can earn a maximum of 21 points per night.

APA Game Rules apply with some exceptions which are listed below.

Please consult your Official Team Manual for both 8-Ball and 9-Ball rules.

HOW TO GET STARTED
Players will lag with winner of the lag having the choice of game (8-Ball or 9-Ball) or the break. Once the game has been chosen, the entire set of that game must be completed before moving to the next game.

AFTER THE BREAK IN 9-BALL
On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play a push out. On a push out, the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball or any rail. The player must announce his intention of playing a push out before the shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and is spotted. Following a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to shoot from that position or to pass the shot back to the player who pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul as no rule is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed.

HOW TO WIN IN 8-BALL
A player has won the game when all of the balls of his numerical group have been pocketed, and he has legally pocketed the 8-ball in a properly called pocket without scratching. Note: You cannot play the 8-ball at the same time you play the last ball of your category. The 8-ball must be a separate shot.

HOW TO WIN IN 9-BALL
A player has won the game when he has legally pocketed the 9-ball without scratching.

BYES
15 points are awarded for a bye.

FORFEITS
An individual player match is worth 7 points.

COACHING
Coaching is not allowed.

JUMP CUES
The use of jump cues is allowed in Masters Division play. Be aware that even though Masters format rules do allow jump cues, there may be Local Bylaws or individual “House Rules” in many location limiting or prohibiting the use of jump cues.

TIEBREAKING IN PLAYOFFS
Playoffs and championship matches are scored the same as in weekly play, except a forfeited individual player match is worth 7 points. In case of a tie at the end of a team match, the tie would be broken by the number of individual matches won.

HOW TO KEEP SCORE

PLAYER INFORMATION
The winner of the lag is listed first (on top). List his team number, last name and initial and player number (the from team roster).

THE “GAMES” BLOCKS
A separate box has been created for each game. Indicate who won the game by marking an “X” in the upper or lower block in the right hand portion of each game box. Upper for the player listed first (on top) and lower for his opponent.

THE “SCORE” BLOCK
This is where the total number of games won by each player is recorded.

THE “W-L” BLOCK
Indicate who won or lost the match with a “W” or “L” in the “W-L” block.

TEAM CAPTAIN’S SIGNATURE BLOCK
When your team match is over, add up the total number of games won shown in the “SCORE” block earned by each team. Record the total number of points earned by your team on both scoresheets in the block provided at the end of your Team Captain’s signature line and then signs both scoresheets.