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Opening break shot -- The opening break shot is determined by either lag or lot (random choice). (The lag-for-break procedure is required for tournament and other formal competition.) The player winning the lag or lot has the choice of performing the opening break shot or assigning it to the opponent. (Continued below)
Cue ball on opening break -- The opening break shot is taken with cue ball in hand behind the head string. The object balls are positioned according to specific game rules (Eight Ball, Nine Ball, etc.). On the opening break, the game is considered to have commenced once the cue ball has been struck by the cue tip and crosses the head string. Deflecting the cue ball on the game's opening break -- On the break shot, stopping or deflecting the cue ball after it has crossed the head string and prior to hitting the racked balls is considered a foul and loss of turn. The opponent has the option of receiving the cue ball in hand behind the head string or passing the cue ball in hand behind the head string back to the offending player (exception: ball in hand on the whole table, for example, in Nine Ball.) A warning must be given that a second violation during the match will result in the loss of the match by forfeiture (see Rule 27). Cue ball in hand behind the head string -- This situation applies in specific games whereby the opening break is administered or a player's scratching is penalized by the incoming player having cue ball in hand behind the head string. The incoming player may place the cue ball anywhere behind the head string.The shooting player may shoot at any object ball so long as the base of the object ball is on or below the head string. He or she may not shoot at any ball whose base is above the head string, unless he or she first shoots the cue ball below the head string and then by hitting a rail causes the cue ball to come back above the head string and hit the object ball. The base of the ball (the point of the ball touching the table) determines whether it is above or below the head string. If the incoming player inadvertently places the cue ball on or below the head string, the referee or the opposing player must inform the shooting player of improper positioning of the cue ball before the shot is made. If the opposing player does not so inform the shooting player before the shot is made, the shot is considered legal. If the shooting player is informed of improper positioning, he or she must then reposition the cue ball. If a player positions the cue ball completely and obviously outside the kitchen and shoots the cue ball, it is a foul, if called by the opponent or referee. When the cue ball is in hand behind the head string, it remains in hand (not in play) until the player drives the cue ball past the head string by striking it with the cue tip. The cue ball may be adjusted by the player's hand, cue, etc., so long as it remains in hand. Once the cue ball is in play per the above, it may not be impeded in any way by the player; to do so is to commit a foul.
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