Copyright (C) 2003 Victor S. Engel
All rights reserved.
UP AND DOWN FREESTYLE Rules
Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the
General Rules for Up and Down apply. Only those rules that differe from strict Up and Down are enumarated here.
Scoring:
One point is gained for each ball pocketed as long as it is a legal shot and the called shot was made.
One point is lost for each foul committed.
One point is deducted for each ball made when the called ball was not made.
It is possible for a player to have a negative score.
The Break:
The zero ball is used as the cue ball for the break. The remaining balls, numbered 1 through 15
are arranged in any order using a triangle rack with the leading ball on the head spot.
The cue ball must
be shot from the kitchen, and may strike any ball. If a ball is not struck, a foul is committed.
It is NOT necessary for at least one ball to be pocketed or four balls driven to the rails.
If any balls are pocketed on the break (except the cue ball), the player takes another
turn, but no points are scored. If no balls are pocketed, the player's inning ends.
The table is always open immediately following
the break. An open table is one in which it has not yet been determined which player plays in ascending order and
who plays in descending order. When the table is open, the current player may use as his object ball any ball
on the table, so long as it is the next consecutive number, relative to the cue ball still on the table.
In Up and Down Freestyle, the player breaking may carom the cue ball into a pocket. A carom shot that is pocketed on the
break does NOT earn player a point as it normally would. Nor is it a foul. However, it earns the player a continued inning.
Shot Following Break:
If the person breaking makes a ball, he has the next shot. If the person breaking does not make a ball, incoming player has the option of
shooting or forcing the person who broke to continue play.
Fouls:
Balls are never spotted in Up and Down - not even if they jump the table.
The following are fouls in Up and Down:
- Cue ball pocketed on break.
- A ball leaves the table.
- A ball that is not called is pocketed (scratch) and ball that is called is NOT pocketed. Player loses one point for each such
ball pocketed.
- The player does not cause the next consecutively numbered ball to move. If, in an attempt to hit the next consecutively
numbered ball, for example, the cue ball strikes another ball instead, causing the cue ball to veer off, the player commits a foul,
loses a point, and play continues with the next player.
- Player pockets called ball in a pocket that was not nominated (wrong pocket).
If a player commits a foul, he loses a point and play continues to the next player.
After a foul, incoming player has ball in hand.
Ball in Hand:
If a player has ball in hand, he may move exactly one ball and place it ANYWHERE on the table, so long as he does not disturb
any other balls in the process. Note that if there is a grouping of balls, it is likely that the player may not be able to remove the
middle ball without disturbing the others. The only devices permitted for the moving of a ball is the player's own body and cue. If the player
moves another ball in the process of moving his nominated ball, he commits a foul, loses a point, and the next player has ball in hand.
The ball that is moved MUST be used as the cue ball for the next shot. If a ball is moved but not used as a cue ball, player has committed a foul,
and the next player has ball in hand.
Legal Shot:
A player may select any ball currently on the table as the cue ball. This ball must make its first contact with the next consecutively numbered ball
relative to the cue ball that is still on the table (rails do not count as contact for the purpose of this rule, so bank shots are OK). The only playable
object ball is the next consecutive number relative to the cue ball that is still on the table. If the player is going up, he must contact the next
highest ball still on the table. If the player is going down, the ball he must contact is the next smaller number. If the player pockets
a ball legally without committing a foul, he takes another turn. He may select a new cue ball for each turn. His new cue ball can be any ball on the table.
Safety:
A player may call a safety. In a legal safety in Up and Down Freestyle, the nominated cue ball must contact its object ball. Additionally, either a ball
must be pocketed, or a ball must hit a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball. Any balls pocketed count as one point per ball towards the player's
score. However, the player's inning ends.
Combination Shots and Caroms:
In Up and Down Freestyle, any carom or combination shot is allowed, so long as the first ball contacted by the cue ball is the next consecutive
number relative to the cue ball. For example, a player going down may use the 2 ball as cue, carom it off the 3 and pocket the 2. Or, he may shoot
with the 2, contact the 3, which sets up a combination eventually pocketing the 10. One of the balls pocketed must have been called, or else
player has committed a foul.
Pocketing Multiple Balls
A player may pocket more than one ball with one shot. However, ONE of the balls must be called.
Player scores one point for each ball pocketed if the called ball is pocketed. If the called ball is not pocketed, player commits a foul and
loses both his inning and one point for each ball pocketed. If the table was open befor player's shot, it remains open if called ball is not made.
Send comments to author, Victor Engel at victor@victorengel.com.
Go back to Victor's Home Page.