How to PlayHand Pool.

Same table. Same balls. Zero cue stick. Here's everything you need to know to start playing in under five minutes.

Find Your Spot

Find a Table Near You

Search your city or zip code to find bars and venues with pool tables. Show up, rack 'em, and play Hand Pool.

Women playing Hand Pool around a pool table

The Basics

What you need.

A Pool Table

Any standard 7-foot, 8-foot, or 9-foot billiards table works perfectly. Bar tables, home tables, pool hall tables — all fair game.

A Full Rack of Balls

Standard set of 15 object balls plus one cue ball. No modifications needed — the same balls you'd use for regular pool.

Your Hands

That's it. No cue stick, no chalk, no gloves required. Your dominant hand is your only tool.

2 or More Players

Hand Pool works with 2 players (head-to-head) or 3+ players in Cutthroat mode. The more the merrier.

The Official Rules

Rule #1 — There are no rules.

Just kidding. There are five.

Scratches are ball-in-hand. Always.

Scratching — including table scratches — gives your opponent ball-in-hand. A scratch never results in a loss, no matter when it happens.

Exception:Scratch + 8-ball = tie. Unless you made two consecutive balls immediately before and the 8-ball was your final ball — in that case, you win.

Jump shots are legal.

You may pick up the cue ball and launch it over other balls. No restrictions on jump shots.

Getting on the table is legal.

There is no one-foot-on-the-ground rule. Climb up if you need to — whatever it takes to make the shot.

Release before contact.

You must fully release the cue ball before it makes contact with your target ball. No pushing, guiding, or holding through the shot.

Pro Tips

Play smarter.

Warm up your wrist

Shake out your hand and rotate your wrist before playing. A loose, relaxed hand gives you far more control than a tense one.

Think two shots ahead

Don't just pocket the ball — think about where the cue ball ends up. Position is everything in Hand Pool, just like regular pool.

Use the rails

Bank shots are your friend. The felt slows your hand, but a well-aimed bank shot can get you out of any tough spot.

Have fun with it

Hand Pool is meant to be played loud, laughed at, and enjoyed. Don't take it too seriously — the best shots are the ones nobody saw coming.

Ready to rack 'em?

Now that you know the rules, grab a table and start playing.

How to Play