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Bumper Pool Instructions

Pocket billiards, or the game of pool, may have developed out of adaptations from ball-and-mallet lawn games, like croquet. Bumper pool, in turn, is an adaptation of classic pool that is played on a smaller, often octagonal, table that has two pockets and 12 to 14 permanent pegs, or "bumpers," that act as obstacles. Each peg is positioned just far enough from the next one to allow one ball to pass if aimed well. The game depends largely on well-aimed, well-planned bank shots and usually is played with two or four players.

Things You'll Need

1 bumper pool table
2 bumper pool cues
5 red bumper pool balls
5 white bumper pool balls
2 players or 2 teams of 2 players

Instructions

Set Up the Table and Begin
- 1
  Place two white balls on each side of one of the pockets. Place the remaining white ball in front of the same pocket. This front ball will be the cue ball.
- 2
  Repeat Step 1 with the five red balls on the opposite end of the table, where the opposite pocket is located.
- 3
  Shoot both balls simultaneously with a bumper pool stick, with each player shooting one. Attempt to bank the shot off of a side wall and into the pocket on the opposite end of the table. The player who accomplishes this, or the one whose ball is closest to the appropriate pocket, shoots again. The cue balls must be pocketed first.
- 4
  Repeat Step 3 if both players are successful in making the shot until only one player achieves it or until there is a clear distinction between which ball is closest to its intended pocket.
- 5
  Enforce the following penalty if a ball other than the cue is pocketed first: The opposing player may remove two of her own balls and place them directly in her target cup, which is the cup at the opposite end of the table from where her balls were originally set up.
Play To Win and Enforce Penalties
- 6
  Shoot balls according to your turn. The player who pocketed the last ball gets the next shot. When she misses, it's the opposing player's turn.
- 7
  Win by being the player who first gets all five balls into the target pocket, whether it's by shooting the balls or by penalty enforcement. House rules, or local rules of a given establishment, determine if the winner can play the next game and for how many consecutive games winners can play.
- 8
  Apply the penalty of forfeiture to the player who shoots the last of her own balls into the wrong pocket.
- 9
  Apply the penalty outlined in Step 5 of Section 1 if a player shoots the ball off of the table. The opposing player also may retrieve the ball that has gone out of play and place it anywhere on the table.
- 10
  Apply the penalty outlined in Step 5 of Section 1 if a player sinks her own ball in the opposing cup, as long as it is not her fifth and final ball. Apply the same penalty if a player shoots her opponent's ball or if a player's ball jumps over another ball or over a bumper.

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