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Bumper Pool Rules & Regulations

A smaller version of pool, with bumpers throughout the table, bumper pool is a faster version that almost anyone can play. This game is played on an octagonal or rectangular table. Bumper pool was created as a smaller and less expensive alternative to a pool table. The pool sticks and balls are also smaller than those for a game of pool.

Equipment and Players
- Bumper pool can be played by two people or two teams with two people on each team. You'll need a bumper pool table (smaller version of a pool table with two pockets on each side and bumpers intersecting in the middle). You need five red balls and five white balls, with one of each color marked by a dot. This is your cue ball. You will also need the appropriate number of pool sticks.
Set Up
- Each player's balls are placed on either side of the two pockets. Two balls go on either side of the pocket (for a total of four) and the cue ball of the same color gets placed directly in front of the pocket on the same side. This is repeated on the opposite side of the table.
First shot
- Both players begin by shooting their cue ball toward the opposite pocket. This is done with each player banking his ball by hitting the side cushion of the table. The player who sinks his ball into the pocket or the player who is closest to the pocket gets to shoot again. If both players get the first shot in, they must continue shooting at the same time with the remaining balls, until one of those balls goes in the pocket.
Play
- Players take turns making shots into the pockets. The cue ball must go into the pocket first before the rest of the balls are played. If a player makes a shot into his pocket, he gets another turn. This continues until all five of the balls have been shot into a player's pocket.
Exceptions and Specialty Situations
- If a player shoots a ball off the table, the opposing player gets to put the ball on the table wherever he wants to. That player may also take two of his balls off the table and puts them into his pocket.
  
  If a player shoots a ball over another ball, the penalty is the same. The ball is placed wherever the opposing player wants it and that player may take two of his balls and place them into his pocket.
  
  This penalty is also the same if a player doesn't pocket his cue ball before any other balls.
  
  There is no foul for a player shooting an opposing player's balls into the pocket.
  
  If a player hits his last ball into his opponent's pocket, the game is automatically lost.

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