APA VS WPA Rule Differences

Sur De 44 uses WPA rules, with exceptions

See Rules for MSP for more details

Link to WPA Rules: https://wpapool.com/rules/

Call Shots

WPA: Yes, call shot (ball and pocket only).

APA: No, slop counts except the 8 ball. 8 ball shots must be marked.

Sur De 44: Per WPA 

8 on the break

WPA 8-ball gets spotted and the breaker keeps shooting...breaker decides.

APA: Shooter Win the game.

Sur De 44: if 8-ball called correctly, WIN

Scratch while attempting to make the 8 ball

WPA: Make 8-ball: Lose, Don't Make 8-ball: Ball in hand for

opponent.

APA: You lose

Sur De 44: Per WPA

Make a ball on the break

WPA: The table is open, you can shoot any ball.

APA: You have to shoot the suit you make, (ex: Make Solid, Shoot Solids).

Sur De 44: Per WPA

Jump Cues

Sur De 44: NOT ALLOWED

Legal Break 

WPA: If you don't drive four balls to a rail, it's a foul and the

incoming player can shoot or have the balls re-racked and break

or have the original breaker break again.

APA: If a ball isn’t pocketed and four balls (not counting the cue ball)

don't touch a rail, its a re-rack. Repeat until there's a legal break or

the breaker fouls, at which time the other player breaks. No limit.

break until they make a legal break or scratch on an otherwise non-

legal break

Sur De 44: Per WPA

Scratch on break

WPA: Ball in hand, behind the head string

APA: Opponent shoots from the Kitchen.

Sur De 44: We play BIH after scratch, regardless if on break shot or not.

Ball off the table

WPA: Is a foul and doesn't get spotted (unless it's the 9-ball  which is spotted).  (8-ball off table is a loss in 8-ball).

APA: spot ball, no foul.

Sur De 44: Per WPA

Accidentally move a ball with your hand or stick

WPA: opponent has the option to leave it in current position or

return it to previous position. The ball must remain in current

position if a foul occurs due to it's movement.

APA: MUST be moved back by opponent to the original position. The

ball must remain in current position only if moved ball contacts the

cue ball, which is a BIH foul.

Sur De 44: Per WPA

Touching an object ball

WPA: it is not a foul if you accidentally touch or disturb a single

stationary object ball with any part of your body, clothing or

equipment, unless the disturbed ball has an effect** on the

outcome of the shot.

APA: It is not a foul, however, to accidentally move any other balls

(including the 8-ball) unless, during his turn at the table, a player

moves a ball and it in turn comes in contact with the cue ball.

**Effect on the outcome of the shot" means that either the disturbed

ball makes contact with any ball set in motion as a result of the shot,

or that the base of any ball set in motion as a result of the shot

passes through the area originally occupied by the disturbed ball.

That area is defined as a circle approximately seven inches in

diameter centered on the position originally occupied by the

disturbed ball

1) you disturb the cue ball;

2) you disturb more than one object ball

3) a disturbed ball contacts any other ball;

4) you disturb a ball that is in motion.

5) If the game-winning ball is disturbed in conjunction with a violation

of (1) through (4) and falls into a pocket, it is loss of game.

Sur De 44:  YIKES! Can’t follow all that “effects” stuff.  

If you disturb only one object ball, ok, no FOUL

Disturb more than one object ball: FOUL

Accidentally disturbing the CB is a FOUL

Call Safe on made ball: 8-ball; (no called safes in 9-ball)

WPA: Yes, opponent would shoot

APA: No

Sur De 44: Per WPA

Practice During Match

WPA: It is a foul if you practice at any time during your match,

including during time-outs and periods of suspended play.

APA: Yes

Sur De 44: Per WPA

Judge whether the cue ball or an object ball would fit through a

gap:

WPA: Shooter may only use their vision to judge whether the cue

ball or an object ball would fit through a gap, or to judge what

ball the cue ball would contact first. You may not use any ball,

cue, rack, or any other equipment or other part of your body as a

width-measuring device.

APA: The shooter may measure the distance with part of body or

equipment. Shooter can also remove a dropped ball and check if ball

fits in gap. It would not be a foul if object ball is moved, it must be

moved back before shooting.

Sur De 44: Per WPA