Rule of the Week - Cue Ball Placement for the Break

March 25, 2024 11:26 PM

by San Diego APA

Rule of the Week - Cue Ball Placement for the Break

March 25, 2024 11:26 PM

by San Diego APA

Situation: Can I place the cue ball anywhere for my Break?

No, a player must break from behind the head string for the break to be considered legal. The cue ball's point of contact with the table is used to determine if it is behind the head string, also referred to as being in. To make this determination simply compare the head string, an imaginary line connecting the two diamonds that are second from the head rail (see Table Diagram, pg. 86), to the cue ball's point of contact. A ball that is dead-center on the head string is considered out, or not behind the head string.

The same is true if a scratch on a legal break occurs (see page 46 section f of the OTM).

Rule: Official Team Manual (OTM) page 45 “Breaking”: https://media.poolplayers.com/TMRB/Team-Manual-English.pdf

This section also covers:
  • Legal contact with the rack based on format
  • Legal and illegal break, what happens
  • Previous post: https://league.poolplayers.com/sandiego/post/34026

You can submit a "Rule of the Week" to the league office:

  • Email to sandiego@apaleagues.com.
  • Email Subject Line must read “SDAPA Rule of the Week”
  • Clearly state the rule/situation and if you know where the answer is found please provide those details.

Lagging - Rule of the Week
3/30/26 - 5:00 pm
Situation: Both players don't lag at the approx same time, is this a re-lag? No, only the following conditions will result in a re-lag: If the lagged balls make contact with each other, both players fail to strike the foot rail during the lag, or a ball stops in the jaw of a pocket, re-lag. Rule: Official Team Manual (OTM) page 44 section 1 “Lagging”: https://media.poolplayers.com/TMRB/Team-Manual
Eligibility: Playoffs, Tri-Annuals and World Qualifiers
3/25/26 - 7:00 am
Match Requirements for Eligibility Related to Playoffs, Tri-Annuals, and World Qualifiers 4 Matches on that team by the end of the regular session (associated with the Tri-Annuals being run) → Eligible for Playoffs for that team. 6 Matches Lifetime in that format by the end of the session (associated with the Tri-Annuals being run; playoff matches in that session count toward the 6) → Eli
SDAPA Sending SIX (6) 8-Ball Teams to WPC
3/24/26 - 6:53 pm
More Vegas-bound teams to represent San Diego at the 2026 APA World Pool Championships! SDAPA earns SIX (6) 8-Ball WPC Slots For the first time since 2012, San Diego APA (SDAPA) will be sending six (6) 8-ball teams to Vegas for the 8-Ball World Pool Championships (WPC). In 2025, SDAPA sent five (5) 8-ball teams to compete with the 793 teams that participated in 8-Ball. This year we are adding to t