This page follows Section 7 of the WPA Rules of Play, effective 15 September 2025, which builds on the general rules. Straight pool is scored by points rather than by the rack, so several rules work differently from eight-ball and nine-ball: fouls cost points, and a score can go below zero.
Equipment and the rack
The opening rack is all fifteen object balls in a triangle with the apex ball on the foot spot (rule 7.2). Later racks use fourteen balls with the apex position left empty. The Ball Rack Template is not used in straight pool.
Whether a ball is inside the rack area is judged by a triangle outline marked on the cloth. If the table has no outline, one is drawn for that purpose.
Objective and scoring
Every ball you legally pocket on a called shot scores one point, and each extra ball that drops on the same shot also scores one. The first player to reach the target score for the match wins. The rulebook sections we read do not set a standard target score.
Shots are called under the general calling rules: name the ball and the pocket unless both are obvious. The 14.1 rules we read set no group of balls for either player, unlike eight-ball.
The opening break
Unless you pocket a called ball, rule 7.3 requires the cue ball and two object balls to each reach a rail after the cue ball hits the rack. If that does not happen, it is a breaking foul.
A breaking foul costs two points (rule 7.10). Your opponent may accept the table as it lies, or make you break again, and keep doing so until the requirements are met. Breaking fouls do not count toward the three-foul rule.
Continuing play and re-racks
When fourteen balls from a rack have been legally pocketed, play pauses while those fourteen are re-racked, and the same player keeps shooting (rule 7.4).
Rule 7.8 covers what happens when the remaining object ball (the fifteenth ball of the rack) or the cue ball is in the way of the new rack:
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| The 15th ball drops on the same shot as the 14th | All fifteen balls are re-racked. |
| Both the cue ball and the 15th ball interfere with the rack | All fifteen are re-racked, and the cue ball is in hand behind the head string. |
| Only the 15th ball interferes | It goes on the head spot, or on the center spot if the cue ball is in the way. |
| Only the cue ball interferes, object ball on or in front of the head string | The cue ball is in hand behind the head string. |
| Only the cue ball interferes, object ball behind the head string | The cue ball goes on the head spot, or the center spot if the head spot is occupied. |
Safeties and spotted balls
You may call a safety. It ends your turn, and any object ball you pocket on it is spotted (rule 7.5). More generally, rule 7.6 spots balls that are pocketed on fouls or safeties, pocketed on shots where the called ball did not go in, or driven off the table.
Fouls and penalties
- Standard foul. Costs one point (rule 7.9). The cue ball normally stays where it is. After a scratch, the cue ball is in hand behind the head string, as the general rule 3.1 also says for straight pool.
- Breaking foul. Costs two points, as described above.
- Third consecutive standard foul. Costs the usual one point plus an extra fifteen points (rule 7.11). The foul count then goes back to zero, and you must break a full fifteen-ball rack under the opening-break rules.
The CSI rules (1-22) also apply a successive-foul count in 14.1, with a required warning and acknowledgment before a third foul can count.
Stalemate
After a straight pool stalemate, the players lag again for the opening break, and the score carries over (rule 7.12).
A proposal, not a rule
Dr. Dave Alciatore's list of suggested WPA rule changes includes banning jump cues in straight pool and one-pocket. This is his proposal, not part of the current rules.