Enjoy our modern designs
Rules & Strategy
Pool
Scratch
Rules
What counts as a scratch, what it costs you, how the rules differ across governing bodies — and how to keep the cue ball off the felt floor.
In pool, a scratch isn't merely a small blunder — it's a foul that can shift the momentum of an entire game. Understanding scratch rules is vital whether you're learning the basics or competing seriously. Let's break down exactly what counts, what it costs, and how to stop doing it.
✦
The Definition
What Constitutes
a Scratch?
A scratch occurs when the cue ball is pocketed, driven off the table, or — in certain rule sets — contacts an object ball already sitting in a full pocket. In any of these scenarios, the opponent typically gains a significant advantage: most commonly ball-in-hand, allowing them to place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
While all scratches are fouls, not all fouls are scratches. Other fouls include illegal jump shots, hitting the wrong object ball first, or a double-hit on the cue ball. But pocketing or losing control of the cue ball remains the hallmark of the classic scratch — and the most consequential.
The Four Types
Types of
Scratches
Active play — where scratches happen
-
Type 018-Ball Scratch
Scratching while attempting to sink the 8-ball. If both the cue ball and the 8-ball drop on the same shot, the game is an immediate loss. If only the cue ball is pocketed and the 8-ball stays on the table, it's a standard foul — your opponent gets ball-in-hand and you continue playing.
Can mean instant loss -
Type 02Gameplay Scratch
The cue ball accidentally finds its way into a pocket or off the table during normal play. Generally your opponent is rewarded with ball-in-hand. Some house rules instead require placing the cue ball behind the head string, but ball-in-hand is now the standard in most competitive formats.
Ball-in-hand penalty -
Type 03Break Scratch
The cue ball is pocketed or leaves the table on the opening break. Under most modern rule sets — BCA and WPA included — this is not an automatic loss. Your opponent receives ball-in-hand and the game continues. The exception is if the 8-ball is also pocketed on the same break, which can end the game depending on the rule set.
Usually ball-in-hand only -
Type 04Table Scratch
A foul in which the cue ball never enters a pocket but the shot is still illegal — most commonly by failing to contact any legal object ball. No ball drops, but the penalty is treated the same: ball-in-hand for the opponent. The cue ball stays on the table, making this the least dramatic of the four types but equally costly in a tight game.
Depends on league rules
Rule Sets
Scratch Rules by
Governing Body
| Scenario | WPA / BCA | APA | House Rules (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay scratch | ● Ball-in-hand anywhere | ● Ball-in-hand anywhere | ● Behind head string |
| Break scratch | ● Ball-in-hand; game continues | ● Ball-in-hand; game continues | ● Re-rack or behind head string |
| Scratch on 8-ball (8-ball stays) | ● Ball-in-hand; game continues | ● May be instant loss | ● Usually ball-in-hand |
| Scratch + 8-ball both drop | ● Instant loss | ● Instant loss | ● Instant loss |
| 8-ball pocketed on break | ● Re-rack or respotted | ● Re-rack or win (varies) | ● Varies widely |
| Table scratch (no contact) | ● Ball-in-hand | ● Ball-in-hand | ● Ball-in-hand |
APA Note
The American Pool Association can be stricter regarding scratches on the 8-ball. In some APA leagues, scratching while targeting the 8-ball — even if the 8-ball stays on the table — is a game-ending foul. Always clarify which version of the APA rules is in play before competing. The difference between a standard ball-in-hand penalty and an instant loss on the same shot is significant enough to change how you approach defensive play in the final stages of a game.
Understanding scratch rules isn't just about avoiding mistakes — it's about knowing exactly what you can afford to risk, and when a deliberate foul is actually the correct play.— On the strategic dimension of scratch rules
Prevention
How to Avoid
Scratches
Controlled cue ball management — the foundation of scratch prevention
Most scratches aren't flukes — they're the result of predictable cue ball paths that the player failed to anticipate. Two geometric principles cover the majority of scratch-prevention situations and are worth memorizing before anything else.
Principle 01
The 30° Rule
After contact with an object ball on a ¼ to ¾ ball hit, a rolling cue ball deflects approximately 30 degrees from its original path. Recognizing this beforehand tells you where the cue ball is heading after contact — and whether it's heading toward a pocket. If the 30° line ends at a pocket, adjust your spin or hit thinner or fuller to redirect it.
Principle 02
The 90° Rule
On a stun shot — center-ball hit with no top or bottom spin — the cue ball and object ball separate at close to a 90° angle. Learning this principle helps you identify the natural "scratch lines" in your position and avoid them by choosing a stun shot when the 90° path is safe, or a draw/follow shot when it isn't.
Technique 01
Stop Shots
A center-ball hit at the right speed causes the cue ball to stop dead on contact with the object ball — zero residual movement, zero possibility of drifting into a pocket after the shot. The stop shot is the single most reliable scratch-prevention tool for straight or near-straight shots into a pocket.
Technique 02
Draw Shots
Striking below center applies backspin that pulls the cue ball back toward you after contact. Ideal for tight positions where the cue ball would naturally follow the object ball into the pocket. The draw is the correct response when the 30° or 90° natural path leads straight to disaster — redirect it actively rather than hoping for the best.
Advanced Strategy
The Intentional
Scratch
Though counterintuitive, advanced players sometimes scratch on purpose as a tactical move. In One Pocket or defensive 9-ball play, a well-timed intentional foul can limit an opponent's scoring opportunities by leaving them with a difficult cue ball position or a safety they can't escape cleanly.
This strategy becomes particularly relevant in rule sets that include a three-consecutive-fouls loss condition: by forcing your opponent into a position where they must also foul — and keeping track of the count — a skilled defensive player can use the foul structure itself as a weapon. It is one of the deeper layers of high-level pool where even costly mistakes can be engineered into advantages.
// Conclusion
By integrating the 30° and 90° rules, perfecting stop and draw shots, and understanding exactly what each governing body penalizes, scratches become something you predict rather than stumble into. The cue ball does not have to be your enemy — it just requires the same attention as every other ball on the table.
Ready to Elevate Your Game?
Explore our premium collection of pool tables — built for players who take their game seriously.
Discover Now →
