UNITED STATES BILLIARD ASSOCIATION THREE-CUSHION RULES

1. USBA-sanctioned tournaments will be governed by the rules that follow. Any exception must be stated in the tournament notice, or discussed and approved by a majority of the players present before the start of any USBA tournament.
   
   
2. A three-cushion billiard is valid and is a count of one in any of the following cases:
   1. cue ball strikes an object ball and then strikes three or more cushions before striking the second object ball;
   2. cue ball strikes three or more cushions and then strikes the two object balls;
   3. cue ball strikes a cushion, then strikes one object ball, and then strikes two or more cushions before striking the second object ball;
   4. cue ball strikes two cushions, then strikes first object ball, and then strikes one or more cushions before striking the second object ball.
      
      
3. Three cushions means three impacts. The number of cushions does not mean three different ones; a valid count may be executed on one cushion, if they are the result of the overspin or underspin on the ball.
   
   
4. LAGGING FOR THE BREAK
   1. The two players select a cue ball, which is placed on the table within the head string, and stroke the ball to the foot of the table and return. The side rails may be touched by the ball in lagging, though it is not required.
   2. Player whose ball comes to rest nearest to the head rail wins the lag.
   3. The winner of the lag has the right to shoot the first shot or assign the break shot to the opponent.
   4. Winner of the lag has the choice of cue balls, which is then used for the duration of the game.
      
      
5. BREAK SHOT
   1. Opponent's ball is placed on the head spot. Starting player’s cue ball is placed within eight inches to the right or left of the head spot. Red ball is placed on the foot spot.
   2. Starting player must contact red ball first. Failure to contact red ball first is an error and ends the starting player’s inning.
   3. On subsequent shots, either red ball or cue ball can be the first object ball.
      
      
6. FOULS WHICH END A PLAYER'S TURN
   1. Jumped balls (Rule 11)
   2. Starting play while balls are in motion.
   3. Touching any of the balls by hand, part of clothing, cue or any other object such as chalk or pen. The balls shall remain in position to which they were thus moved.
   4. Push or shove shot (Rule 15).
   5. Double stroke (Rule 15).
   6. When, at moment of shooting, neither foot is touching the floor.
   7. Wrong ball (Rule 8).
   8. Touching ball with cue during warm-up (Rule 18).
   9. Player interference (Rule 20).
      
      
7. Any foul caused by outside interference is not to be charged as a penalty to the player with shot in progress. If the balls are displaced by the disturbance, they will be restored to their original position as precisely as possible, and the player will continue shooting.
   
   
8. WRONG BALL
   1. Shooting with a wrong ball is a foul, and ends player’s inning.
   2. The opponent or the referee may call this foul; opponent may call before or after the shot, while referee calls it only after the shot.
   3. Such a foul can be called at any time during a run, but the shooter shall be entitled to all points made previous to the stroke in which error was detected.
   4. The incoming shooter shall play the balls as left after error was called.
      
      
9. FROZEN BALLS
   1. If during the course of an inning the shooter's ball comes to rest in contact with the opponent's ball, or if the shooter's ball comes to rest in contact with the red ball, the shooter has the option of playing away from the ball with which he is in contact, or elect to have the balls in contact spotted.
   2. If an inning ends with the shooter's ball in contact with the next shooter's ball, or the red ball in contact with the next shooter's ball, the incoming player has the option of playing away from the ball in contact, or may elect to have the two balls which are in contact spotted.
   3. Only those balls which are in contact are to be spotted. The loose or unfrozen ball is not to be touched. The red ball is spotted on the foot spot, the player's cue ball on the head spot, and the opponent's cue ball on the center spot.
   4. If the spot reserved for the ball to be spotted is hidden by another ball, the ball to be spotted is placed on the spot usually reserved for the hiding ball.
   5. The same rules apply when a ball or balls jump the table.
      
      
10. When a cue ball is frozen to a cushion, a player may shoot into (play against) that cushion, but the first contact shall not count. Subsequent contacts with the same cushion are valid.
    
    
11. When a player's cue ball, the opponent’s ball, or the red ball jumps the table, it is a foul and the player's inning ends. Spot balls by Rule 9 (c and d).
    
    
12. No shot can be started while balls are still in motion, or are still spinning. If a player disregards this rule, it’s a foul and inning ends.
    
    
13. When the cue ball bounces and rides the top of the rail and returns to the table, the ball is in play. It shall count as one cushion. If it rides two or more rails, each rail will count as a cushion. If ball remains on top of the rail, it is considered a jumped ball, which is a foul, and player's inning ends.
    
    
14. If in playing a shot the cue ball leaves the playing surface and rides the rail or cushion, regardless of the number of impacts on that cushion, only one impact will be allowed.
    
    
15. If a player has pushed or shoved the cue ball with his cue, it is a foul and player's inning ends. A push shot is one in which the cue tip remains in contact with the cue ball after cue ball strikes an object ball, or when cue tip again contacts the cue ball after cue ball strikes the object ball. Double stroke is similar and occurs when player's tip or cue shaft hits cue ball twice. If a billiard is made, it shall not count, and the player's inning ends.
    
    
16. All kiss shots are fair, whether they deprive a player of an imminent score, or whether they assist in a score.
    
    
17. Miscues shall not end the player’s inning, unless it is construed that the player’s ferrule or shaft also touched the cue ball. Not all miscues are fouls, and if a billiard is completed in the miscue stroke, it shall be counted and turn continues.
    
    
18. If a player during the “warm-up” stroking should touch the cue ball, it is a foul and inning ends.
    
    
19. A game is official when a player scores the number of points designated as constituting a game, even though the opponent has had one less turn at the table. If a scorekeeper is used, the game becomes official after the score sheet is signed by the players. The referee and the scorekeeper should also sign the sheet. After the losing player signs the score sheet, no protest can be made.
    
    
20. If a player at the table is responsible for interference in any manner, it is a foul, and the inning ends. Incoming player must accept balls in position. A player not at the table must not distract the opponent with undue motions or noise. The referee or tournament official may issue a warning or disqualify the player for unsportsmanlike conduct.
    
    
21. If, for reasons beyond his control, a player cannot start a game as scheduled, the game may be postponed if the tournament director so decides. If a player is unable to finish a game, he forfeits, unless the opponent waives the forfeiture and agrees to finish the game at a time convenient to the tournament management. If a player is unable to return to the tournament, all his games are nullified as they would be in disqualification.
    
    
22. If a player is disqualified in a game, he loses that game and gets no points. The opponent is credited with a game won and is given the number of points he would have scored had he won the game. If a player is disqualified from a tournament, all his games are nullified (that is, games played and games remaining on the schedule). Tournament continues as though one less player started when tournament opened.
    
    
23. It: for reasons beyond his control, a player cannot start a game, he must notify the tournament manager in time to allow for a substitute player, or for another pair of players. All tournament contestants are subject to immediate call if a substitute is necessary.
    
    
24. If a referee is officiating and considers a player to be taking an abnormal amount of time between strokes or in determining the choice of shots with the intention of upsetting an opponent, the referee shall warn the player that he runs the risk of disqualification if he pursues these tactics. Continued disregard of warning shall be proper grounds to disqualify the player. If no referee is officiating, the tournament manager shall have the right to invoke this rule.
    
    
25. Deliberate safeties are not allowed. If played, the incoming player may accept balls as they are, or set up a break shot.
    
    
26. At any tournament sanctioned by the USBA, the tournament director plus some other member of the USBA who is not playing in the tournament shall constitute a grievance committee to whom unsportsmanlike conduct during the tournament may be reported. Before commencement of the tournament, the players shall designate two of the players to serve on such a committee to protect the interests of the players. The two persons representing the USBA and the two persons representing the players shall jointly consider any evidence or reports of unsportsmanlike conduct. If this grievance committee is unable to resolve the complaint, the representatives shall submit a written report to the USBA for consideration by the Board of Directors. The two player representatives may indicate their concurrence in the findings of the USBA representatives or may submit dissenting views to the Board of Directors. At the next regular meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors, these reports shall be considered and the action recommended by a majority shall be binding on the accused member of the USBA.

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