Nine-Ball Blitz Official Rules

Before the match begins, players set three match parameters:

• Shot Clock Length — the amount of time each player receives on their Shot Clock.
• Target Score — the number of points required to win the match immediately.
• Match Clock — the total amount of time allowed for the match.

Rack the balls in a standard nine-ball diamond:

• 1-ball on the foot spot.
• 5-ball directly behind the 1-ball in the second row.
• 9-ball in the center.
• All remaining balls randomly placed.

Soft breaking is not permitted.

Standard nine-ball rules otherwise apply. The cue ball must contact the lowest-numbered ball first. Slop counts on an otherwise legal shot. Standard fouls result in ball-in-hand, and the three-foul rule is in effect.

9-Ball Blitz uses an all-ball fouls standard, with the specific interpretation described below.

There are two scoring balls in every rack:

• 5-ball = 1 point
• 9-ball = 2 points

A scoring ball may score whenever legally pocketed during normal play, including when pocketed early.

If both scoring balls are legally pocketed on the same shot, both are eligible to score.

Nine-Ball Blitz scoring is self-managed. Players are responsible for recording earned points in the software at the appropriate time.

A player may earn Bank Bonus Points by intentionally banking either scoring ball.

Before shooting, the player must verbally call both the intended pocket and intended number of rails.

Each successfully completed called rail earns +1 point, up to a maximum of +3 Bank Bonus Points.

Therefore:

• Maximum value of the 5-ball = 4 points
• Maximum value of the 9-ball = 5 points

The scoring ball must complete a clean bank. Kisses, kicks, caroms, combinations, tickies, or similar indirect routes do not qualify.

Other balls may fall without invalidating the Bank Bonus, provided the called scoring ball completes the bank correctly and the underlying shot is legal.

If a scoring ball is legally pocketed but the called bank does not qualify for the bonus, its normal base value still applies.

Completing a rack from the break without relinquishing the table earns a progressive Break-and-Run Bonus:

• First consecutive break-and-run: +1
• Second: +2
• Third: +3
• Fourth: +4
• And so on, with no maximum.

Any legal end-of-rack scenario other than a Golden Break qualifies, provided the breaking player never relinquished the table.

Any turnover to the opponent resets the package. The player's next break-and-run begins a new package at +1.

A Golden Break neither advances nor resets an existing package.

Break-and-Run Bonus Points are added to all other points earned during the rack.

The standard three-foul rule is in effect.

If a player wins the rack by three-fouling their opponent, the winner receives the base value of any scoring balls still remaining:

• 5-ball and 9-ball remaining = 3 points
• 9-ball remaining = 2 points

Points already earned during the rack remain with the players who earned them.

A rack may not be conceded.

Players must allow their opponent the opportunity to complete the rack because the remaining scoring balls may be worth additional Bank Bonus Points.

If a player concedes a rack, the opponent is awarded the maximum potential value of all scoring balls remaining.

Therefore:

• 9-ball remaining = 5 points
• 5-ball and 9-ball remaining = 9 points

These values represent the maximum possible base value plus the maximum three-rail Bank Bonus for each remaining scoring ball.

A concession ends the rack after the applicable points are awarded.

Each player is assigned a color in the Nine-Ball Blitz software.

The color displayed on the active Shot Clock identifies the player who currently owns it.

If the Shot Clock is your color, you own the clock and are responsible for it.

Playing a shot does not stop the Shot Clock.

After a shot, the player is responsible for correctly recording any scoring action in the software OR managing the shot clock to correctly reflect which player should be at the table.

If a scoring ball is made, the player must press either "Made the 5" or "Made the 9" in the 9-Ball Blitz software, whichever corresponds with the scoring ball that was made. The software automatically performs the appropriate Shot Clock and/or Match Clock behavior associated with that scoring action.

If no scoring ball is made, Shot Clock management takes place as follows:

• If the inning continues, the player must manage their time and may use the Reset button once if a ball has been pocketed.
• If the inning ends, the player must press the "End Turn" button to start their opponents clock and transfer shot clock responsibility.

The player remains responsible for ensuring that the clock state correctly reflects which player is entitled to be at the table.

Legally pocketing a ball makes the player eligible for one Shot Clock Reset.

The Reset does not have to be used immediately.

A player may use all remaining time on the current Shot Clock before activating the available Reset. Once activated, the Reset provides the predetermined Shot Clock Length.

Resets do not stack.

Pocketing additional balls before using an available Reset does not accumulate additional future Resets.

When a player's inning ends under normal nine-ball rules, that player must manually press End Turn to transfer the Shot Clock to the opponent.

A miss, safety, scratch, foul, or other turnover does not automatically transfer the clock.

Until End Turn is pressed, the outgoing player continues to own the Shot Clock.

Any delay therefore gives the opponent additional preparation time while the outgoing player's clock continues to run.

A player may press End Turn while balls are still moving.

The player is not required to wait for all balls to stop or for a pocketed ball to complete its travel through the table's ball-return system.

However, an Early End Turn is made at the player's own risk.

If the final outcome of the shot shows that the player's inning should legally have continued, the Early End Turn constitutes a foul and the opponent receives ball-in-hand.

A player may transfer the clock before the shot has completely resolved, but that player is responsible for being correct that the inning is over.

Shot Clock ownership is determined by the software, not by which player is physically shooting.

If a player's inning ends but that player forgets to press End Turn, the outgoing player continues to own the Shot Clock.

The opponent may approach the table and even play a shot while the outgoing player's clock is still running.

If the outgoing player's clock subsequently expires and the Time Foul sound plays, the outgoing player has committed the foul and the opponent receives ball-in-hand.

This remains true even if the opponent has already played a shot, legally pocketed a ball, missed, or otherwise completed an action at the table.

The color displayed on the Shot Clock determines responsibility.

The Nine-Ball Blitz software determines when a Time Foul occurs.

If the Time Foul sound plays while a player owns the Shot Clock, that player has committed a Time Foul.

The opponent receives ball-in-hand.

Striking the cue ball before the Shot Clock reaches zero does not prevent a Time Foul.

The player must leave enough time to play the shot, determine the outcome, complete any required scoring action, and then Reset or End Turn as appropriate.

If the Time Foul sound plays while your color owns the clock, the Time Foul is yours.