Traxball

One night while at a local pool hall, I realized I was becoming bored with traditional 8-ball. For the sake of variety, I decided to come up with a game very similar to 8-ball, but with a point-based system. Points would be rewarded for good shots, and subtracted for stupid shots. And so, after several revisions, TRAXBALL was born. Give it a try!

The following points are calculated at the end of the turn:

  • Sinking a single ball: 1
  • Sinking 2 in a row: 2
  • Sinking 3 in a row: 4
  • Sinking 4 in a row: 7
  • Sinking 5 in a row: 11
  • Sinking 6 in a row: 17
  • Sinking 7 in a row: 25
  • Running the table: 50

The following bonus points are awarded immediately after each shot:

  • Sinking ball off break: 1 each
  • Sinking the first ball of the match: 2
  • Sinking two balls in same shot: 3
  • Sinking 3 balls in same shot: 7
  • Combo: 2 (for each ball used in combo, not counting last ball struck)
  • Bank: 2 (for each bank)
  • Sinking 8-ball (when all player’s other balls are sunk): 5

Points are subtracted immediately for the following:

  • Scratch: -2
  • Sinking 8-ball out of turn: -5
  • Sinking opponent’s ball: -3 (each ball)

NOTES:

  • All shots must be called to receive points.
  • Player must use his/her own balls on combo shots.
  • “Banking” includes hitting ball first, then rail, AND hitting rail first, then ball. Cue ball must reside at least 4 inches from rail used for banking to award bank points.
  • If a player scratches, no points are awarded for sinking his/her own balls in that same shot. If the player sinks any opponent’s balls and scratches, -2 points for scratching and -3 points for each opponent’s ball sank.
  • If a player scratches on the 8-ball or sinks it in the wrong pocket, it will be treated as sinking the 8-ball out of turn (-5 pts.) and game ends.
  • If a player sinks the 8-ball off the break, 20 points are awarded and the game ends.