The Game
- 9-Ball is played with balls 1–9. The cue ball must contact the lowest-numbered ball on the table first, but balls may be pocketed in any order off a legal hit (combos, caroms, kisses all count).
- Nothing is called in APA 9-Ball — any ball that drops on a legal stroke counts, slop included.
- Winner of the lag shoots first. The winner of each rack breaks the next one.
- There is no push-out and no three-foul rule in APA play.
Scoring — It’s a Points Game
- Balls 1–8 are worth 1 point each; the 9-ball is worth 2 points — 10 points in every rack.
- You win the match by reaching your Points Required to Win (based on skill level, chart below) before your opponent reaches theirs.
- Pocketing the 9 ends the rack; any balls still on the table are dead (no one scores them).
| Skill Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|
| Points to Win | 14 | 19 | 25 | 31 | 38 | 46 | 55 | 65 | 75 |
Fouls — Ball in Hand
- Scratching, failing to hit the lowest ball first, no rail after contact, and other standard fouls give the opponent cue ball in hand anywhere.
- Balls pocketed on a foul stroke are dead — they stay down but score for no one. Exception: a 9-ball pocketed on a foul is spotted.
- There is no point penalty for a foul — the penalty is ball in hand.
Dead Balls
- Dead balls are balls credited to neither player: balls made on a scratch or foul, and balls left on the table when the 9 is made.
- Mark them as you go — every ball in every rack must be accounted for (10 points per rack, scored or dead).
Innings & Defensive Shots
- An inning is one turn for each player. It's complete when the player who shoots second (lag loser) misses or fouls.
- A defensive shot is any shot with no intent to legally pocket a ball. It still ends the turn and counts in the inning — but it must be marked on the scoresheet. Accurate defense counts keep handicaps honest.
Break, Break-and-Run, 9 on the Snap
- The break must be an open break. Balls made on a legal break count for the breaker and the breaker keeps shooting.
- 9 on the Snap: pocketing the 9 on the break stroke wins the rack instantly (2 pts + any other balls that fell).
- Break and Run: breaking and clearing the entire rack without the opponent ever getting to the table.
- Both are tracked separately on the scoresheet (and in this app) — no innings are charged on those racks.
Score of Match — 20 Match Points
Every match splits 20 match points between the two players. Find the loser’s skill level row, then the range containing the loser’s points earned — that column is the final split (winner–loser).
| Loser’s SL | 20-0 | 19-1 | 18-2 | 17-3 | 16-4 | 15-5 | 14-6 | 13-7 | 12-8 |
|---|
| 1 | <3 | 3 | 4 | 5-6 | 7 | 8 | 9-10 | 11 | 12-13 |
| 2 | <4 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9-10 | 11-12 | 13-14 | 15-16 | 17-18 |
| 3 | <5 | 5-6 | 7-9 | 10-11 | 12-14 | 15-16 | 17-19 | 20-21 | 22-24 |
| 4 | <6 | 6-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18 | 19-21 | 22-24 | 25-27 | 28-30 |
| 5 | <7 | 7-10 | 11-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26 | 27-29 | 30-33 | 34-37 |
| 6 | <9 | 9-12 | 13-17 | 18-22 | 23-27 | 28-31 | 32-36 | 37-40 | 41-45 |
| 7 | <11 | 11-15 | 16-21 | 22-26 | 27-32 | 33-37 | 38-43 | 44-49 | 50-54 |
| 8 | <14 | 14-19 | 20-26 | 27-32 | 33-39 | 40-45 | 46-52 | 53-58 | 59-64 |
| 9 | <18 | 18-24 | 25-31 | 32-38 | 39-46 | 47-53 | 54-60 | 61-67 | 68-74 |
Summary of the APA/CPA 9-Ball Equalizer® format per the official APA scoresheet and rules.poolplayers.com. Local league operators’ rulings prevail.