WPA 6.1
Who breaks
The lag winner chooses who breaks the first rack; after that the break alternates.
10-ball
Ten object balls, played in numerical order, and every shot is called. Win the rack by legally pocketing the 10 on a called shot when it's the last object ball on the table.
The short version
- Hit the lowest-numbered ball first, and call ball and pocket on every shot except the break.
- There is no “safety” call in 10-ball.
- Pocket a ball without making your called shot (and without fouling): your opponent decides who shoots next.
- Fouls give ball in hand anywhere; three fouls in a row lose the rack.
Jump to rule
10-ball rules
WPA 6.2
The rack
The ten balls are racked tightly in a triangle with the 1 at the front on the foot spot and the 10 in the middle; the others go in without a deliberate pattern.
WPA 6.3
The break
You break with ball in hand behind the head string. If nothing is pocketed, at least four object balls must reach a rail or the break is a foul.
WPA 6.4
The push out
As in 9-ball: on the shot after a break without a foul, the shooter may declare a push out. Hitting the lowest ball first and reaching a rail are not required; if there's no foul, the opponent decides who shoots next.
WPA 6.5
Calling shots
Every shot except the break is called: name the ball and the pocket. There is no “safety” call in 10-ball.
WPA 6.6
Wrongly pocketed balls
If you pocket a ball but don't make your called shot, and don't foul, your opponent decides who shoots next.
WPA 6.7
Continuing play
Make your called shot and you keep shooting; any other balls that drop on that shot stay down (except the 10). Miss or foul and play passes over. You win the rack by legally pocketing the 10 on a called shot when it is the only object ball left.
WPA 6.8
Spotting balls
The 10 is spotted whenever it's knocked off the table or pocketed on anything but the final, winning shot. No other ball is ever spotted.
WPA 6.9
Standard fouls
After a foul your opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on the table. The fouls are the same as in 9-ball: scratch, wrong ball first (lowest-numbered ball first), no rail after contact, no foot on the floor, ball off the table (only the 10 is spotted), touched ball, double hit, push shot, shooting while balls move, bad cue ball placement, playing out of turn, slow play and the rack-template foul.
WPA 6.10
Serious fouls
Three fouls in a row lose the rack. For unsportsmanlike conduct the referee chooses a fitting penalty.
WPA 6.11
Stalemate
The player who broke this rack breaks again.