How do you decide who breaks in pool?
I · Intermediate · The general rules · 1 of 8The lag is the first shot of a match. Both players shoot a ball from behind the head string to the foot cushion and back, at about the same time, and the ball that stops nearer the head cushion wins. The winner chooses who breaks. In games scored by the rack, such as 9-ball, the break then alternates.
How it works
- Set-up: the referee places a ball on each side of the table, above and near the head string.
- The shot: each ball must touch the foot cushion and return as close to the head cushion as possible.
- A bad lag: crossing the long string, touching the foot cushion more than once, being pocketed or driven off, touching a side cushion, or resting in the corner pocket past the nose of the head cushion.
- Other fouls: most fouls not involving an object ball also make a lag bad.
- Lag again: if one ball is struck after the other has touched the foot cushion, if the referee cannot tell which is nearer, or if both are bad.
- The winner: chooses who takes the first break.
- Later racks: in games scored by the rack, the break alternates.
The glossary has the lag, the break shot, the rack, the nine-ball, the eight-ball and the inning.
Tricky cases
One player's lag ball touches the side cushion. Can it still win?
No. Touching a side cushion makes the lag bad.
A player waits until the other ball has hit the far cushion before shooting. What happens?
The players lag again.
Both lags are bad. Who breaks?
Neither yet. The players lag again.
Does the winner of the lag have to break?
No. They choose who breaks.
Why the rule exists
Breaking can be a big advantage, so the first break is decided by a skill shot, not a coin. Alternating breaks after that keeps one player from keeping the advantage.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lag | Decides the first break | WPA 1.2 |
| Racks after the first | Alternate breaks in rack-scored games | WPA 1.3 |
| Straight pool stalemate | Players lag again | WPA 7.12 |
| Snooker | Order by lot; the Shootout uses a lag | WPBSA Snooker 3.3; Shootout rule 10 |
From the rule book
World Pool-Billiard Association, Rules of Play (effective 15 September 2025), General Rules 1.2 and 1.3 and the break rules of each discipline (4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.3, 12.1 and 13.1). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the WPA Rules of Play, revised from time to time.