American Poolplayers Association - Nine-ball Equalizer

Nine-ball Equalizer

In APA nine-ball, two players compete until one person reaches a score determined by their respective skill level. The scoring is recorded by awarding a single point for potting the balls numbered 1 through 8 and two points for the 9 ball. For example, if Player A breaks and makes two balls on the break (not including the 9 ball), that player would have 2 points for the rack and continue shooting. If the player "runs the table" (makes all the balls without missing), they score 10 points for the rack (the maximum) as they would have scored 8 points for the balls 1 through 8 and then 2 for the 9 ball.

The match ends when a player reaches the number required for their respective skill level. The table below lists the number of balls needed for a player of each skill level to win their match.

The lowest skill level in APA nine-ball is a "1" while the highest skill level is a "9".

Using the table above, you can see that if Player A is rated a "2" and plays Player B who is rated a "6", then Player A wins if he scores 19 points before Player B scores 46 points. Conversely, for Player B to win the match, he must score 46 points before Player A scores 19 points.

As APA nine-ball is based on points and not games won (for example BCA League nine-ball is based on games won, where the winner of each game is the player potting the 9 ball), a match can end before all the balls of a given rack have been potted. Using the previous Player A (Skill Level 2) vs. Player B (Skill Level 6) example, let's say that the Player B is breaking a new rack leading 44–16. In this case, Player A needs 3 points to win and Player B needs 2 points to win. The match is over at the point where either player acquires the needed points to win regardless of balls still remaining on the table.