BilliardHutch Game Concept
Double 8-Ball.
Double 8-Ball adds a second finishing ball to the table. The traditional black 8-ball is paired with the custom BilliardHutch “Hutch Ball,” creating separate finishing balls for solids and stripes and a bank-to-win ending inspired by the Cincinnati/Covington bank-pool tradition.
Hutch Ball — manufacturer concept
A product-development presentation intended for Aramith/Saluc engineering review, with the black body, full-circumference white stripe and BilliardHutch “H” medallion shown as a premium tournament ball.
Manufacturer concept presentation — final resin formulation, tolerances, marking method, stripe width, balance and production specifications are for Aramith/Saluc engineering review.
Two finishing balls
The traditional 8-ball remains one finishing ball. The Hutch Ball is the second, visually distinct finishing ball.
Visual concept for manufacturer discussion, not a final production drawing.
Official rules
BilliardHutch Double 8-Ball Rulebook
1. EquipmentUse a standard set of 15 numbered object balls plus the BilliardHutch Hutch Ball. The traditional black 8-ball and the striped Hutch Ball are the two finishing balls.
2. Assigned finishing ballsSolids finish on the traditional black 8-ball. Stripes finish on the Hutch Ball. A player must clear all seven balls of the assigned group before attempting the assigned finishing ball for the win.
3. RackRack the standard 15 object balls in a triangle with the apex ball on the foot spot. The traditional 8-ball is centered in the third row. One rear corner is a solid and the other rear corner is a stripe. All other positions are random.
4. Hutch Ball starting positionThe Hutch Ball begins on the head spot, separate from the 15-ball rack.
5. Home spotsThe traditional 8-ball's home spot is the position from which it began in the rack. The Hutch Ball's home spot is the head spot. Whenever either finishing ball must be spotted, it returns to its own home spot.
6. Legal breakThe cue ball begins behind the head string. A legal break pockets an object ball or drives at least four object balls to one or more cushions.
7. Illegal breakIf the legal-break requirement is not met, the incoming player may choose a new rack and break or require the original breaker to break again.
8. Break scratchA cue-ball scratch or cue ball driven off the table on the break gives the incoming player ball in hand anywhere on the table. There is no kitchen-only restriction.
9. Balls made on the breakPocketed solids and stripes remain down, but they do not assign groups. The table is always open after the break.
10. Finishing ball made on the breakIf either finishing 8-ball is pocketed on the break, it is spotted back to its own home spot. It is never an automatic win or loss.
11. Open-table first contactWhile the table is open, the cue ball must first contact a solid or stripe. Either group may be contacted first. Neither finishing 8-ball may be contacted first; doing so is a foul.
12. Open-table combinationsAfter legal first contact with a solid or stripe, any other object ball may be involved in the combination, including either finishing 8-ball. The finishing balls may be in the middle of a legal combination without foul.
13. Establishing groupsWhile the table is open, the player becomes solids or stripes by legally pocketing a ball from that group in the called pocket. The called, legally pocketed ball determines the group; the first object ball contacted does not determine the group.
14. Call-pocket gameDouble 8-Ball is call-pocket, not call-shot. On ordinary shots, the shooter calls the intended pocket. The shooter does not have to call every rail, kiss, carom, combination, or exact path.
15. Continuing the inningThe shooter continues after legally pocketing the called ball from the correct group without fouling. Extra solids or stripes pocketed on an otherwise legal shot stay down.
16. Opponent's ball pocketedAn opponent's group ball pocketed on an otherwise legal shot stays down. It does not by itself end the inning if the shooter's called ball was legally made.
17. Legal first contact after groups are assignedOnce groups are assigned, the cue ball must first contact a ball from the shooter's own group while any of those group balls remain. Neither finishing 8-ball may be contacted first until the shooter has cleared the assigned group.
18. Combinations after groups are assignedA combination is legal when the cue ball first contacts a legal ball from the shooter's group. Either finishing 8-ball may be contacted later in the combination before the shooter is on the finishing ball.
19. Cushion-or-pocket requirementAfter legal first contact, at least one ball must be pocketed or the cue ball or an object ball must contact a cushion. Otherwise the shot is a foul.
20. Standard foulsFouls include scratching the cue ball, driving the cue ball off the table, contacting an illegal ball first, failing the cushion-or-pocket requirement, double-hitting or pushing the cue ball, shooting while balls are still moving, an illegal jump stroke, and using equipment or balls to improperly mark or measure a shot.
21. Foot on floorAt least one foot must touch the floor when the cue tip contacts the cue ball unless an approved accessibility accommodation applies.
22. Ball in handAfter a standard foul, the opponent receives ball in hand anywhere on the playing surface unless a specific Double 8-Ball rule states otherwise. The cue ball may be placed and repositioned until the next stroke.
23. SafetyA player may declare a safety before shooting. After a legal safety, the inning ends even if a ball is pocketed. A safety while the table is open does not establish solids or stripes.
24. Any non-winning finishing-ball pocket spotsIf either finishing 8-ball is pocketed at any time without satisfying the legal bank-to-win requirement, it is spotted back to its own home spot. This includes the break, combinations, accidental pockets, intentional strategic pockets, wrong-pocket shots, wrong-rail-count shots, and shots where both finishing balls are pocketed.
25. Occupied home spotIf an object ball occupies a finishing ball's home spot, place the finishing ball directly behind it on the proper spotting line and freeze it to that object ball. If the cue ball occupies the home spot, place the finishing ball directly behind the cue ball with legal separation; never freeze the finishing ball to the cue ball.
26. Early or non-winning pocket — legal shotIf a finishing 8-ball is pocketed without a foul but the shot is not a legal winning bank, spot the finishing ball and end the shooter's inning. The opponent shoots from where the cue ball rests. No ball in hand is awarded.
27. Finishing-ball pocket with a foulIf a finishing 8-ball is pocketed and the same shot contains a foul, spot the finishing ball and give the opponent ball in hand anywhere on the table. A foul never creates a win.
28. Strategic finishing-ball pocketA player may intentionally pocket a hanging finishing ball on an otherwise legal shot for position or strategy. The finishing ball is spotted, the inning ends, and the opponent plays from the cue ball's resting position unless the shot also contained a foul.
29. On the finishing ballA player's assigned finishing 8-ball becomes the legal first object ball only after no balls from that player's assigned solids or stripes remain on the table.
30. Bank-to-winThe only way to win the rack is to clear the assigned group and then legally bank the assigned finishing 8-ball into the called pocket.
31. What counts as a legal winning bankThe finishing 8-ball itself must make the called bank route and enter the called pocket. The shot must be a true bank shot. A kick, kiss, carom, combination, or another type of shot does not satisfy the bank-to-win requirement.
32. Call the rails and pocketFor the winning bank, the shooter calls the intended pocket and bank route, including the number of rails. For example, “four rails in that corner” requires the finishing 8-ball to complete that called four-rail route and enter that called corner pocket.
33. Wrong rail count or wrong pocketIf the shooter calls one rail and the finishing ball takes two rails, or if it enters a pocket other than the called pocket, there is no win. Spot the finishing ball and end the inning. It is not a foul unless a separate foul occurred.
34. Scratch or foul on the attempted winning bankIf the finishing ball is pocketed on the attempted winning bank but the cue ball scratches or another foul occurs, there is no win. Spot the finishing ball and give the opponent ball in hand.
35. No accidental lossPocketing either finishing 8-ball early, in the wrong pocket, by the wrong bank route, or on a foul is never an automatic loss. The rack continues under the spotting and foul rules.
36. Only legal win ends the rackThe rack ends only when a player who has cleared the assigned group legally completes the called bank route with the assigned finishing 8-ball into the called pocket without a foul.
BANK THAT 8 BALL: Every non-winning finishing-ball pocket is spotted back up. If the shot was otherwise legal, it is loss of turn. If the shot included a foul, spot the finishing ball and award ball in hand to the opponent. The only way to win is to make your assigned finishing 8-ball with a legal bank shot into the called pocket.
Manufacturer concept
What we want from the Hutch Ball
Professional playSame dimensional, weight, balance, rebound and durability standards as a premium professional pool-ball set.
Instant recognitionClearly different from the standard 8-ball for players, referees, cameras and spectators.
Competition firstThis is intended as a real playing ball for leagues and tournaments, not merely a novelty or souvenir.
In honor of the bank game
Dedicated to the Cincinnati/Covington bank-pool tradition.
The bank-to-win finish is a tribute to the players and rooms that made bank pool part of the identity of the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky pool scene, and to the generations who kept that style of play alive.
Eddie TaylorGary SpaethDonny AndersonMike LeekButch WolfButch BrumbackJohnny BrumbackGeorge HallTruman HogueLuis DemarcoShannon DaultonShannon MurphyMelvin TaylorBilly Thorpe
With special personal dedication to Billy Flynn and the local bank-pool heritage that helped inspire BilliardHutch Double 8-Ball.