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redball
Games are played either with two players sitting opposite each other or with four players in two teams with partners sitting opposite. With four players, play rotates counter-clockwise around the table.
In our pictures, notice that each player has in front of him two lines with a red circle (a "moon") at each end. To begin a shot, you must place the striker so that it straddles both lines, but it cannot touch or overlap either moon. You may also lay the striker so that it completely covers either moon. You cannot place the striker so that it covers part of a moon and straddles lines. You must pick up and place the striker before every shot you take.
You shoot the striker by flicking it with a finger, usually the forefinger or middle finger. The best way to shoot is to position your finger as close to the striker as possible and then pushing it with your finger. You may not push the striker by moving your arm. You shoot at pieces behind your lines by making a "backshot" or "home shot." You do this by hitting the striker with your thumb (either hand). With a little practice, you will find the backshot to be an easy shot. The UKCA rules do not allow backshots. If you play with a novice, you can even up the game a little by disallowing backshots by the stronger player.
As you sit at the board, you see two diagonal lines (arrows) to your left and right. Except for your hand, your body must stay inside the diagonal lines and the extensions of those lines. You must also keep your elbow off the board, which means you cannot twist your arm around to shoot a backshot.
When shooting, you are not required to hit any piece first, and it does not matter in which order pieces fall into pockets. If you pocket one of your pieces, you may place the striker and shoot again. If you pocket your opponent's pieces, they stay in the pocket, but you pay penalties if you pocket the striker.
To begin a board, the pieces are racked within the center ring as shown in the
diagram. Notice that each ring alternates between black and white pieces, and
the whites ones form three spokes. The player who breaks automatically owns the
white pieces, and he may rotate the rack before he breaks. (The usual practice is
to point one of the white spokes toward a pocket.)
how to play the real game
redball - a simple pocket billiards-like game
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