For tactical reasons, a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and also discontinue a turn at the table by declaring safety in advance. A safety shot is defined as a legal shot. If the shooting player intends to play safe by pocketing an obvious object ball, then prior to the shot, the shooter must declare a safety to the opponent. It is the shooter s responsibility to make the opponent aware of the intended safety shot. If this is not done, and one of the shooter s object balls is pocketed, the shooter will be required to shoot again.
Any ball pocketed on a safety shot remains pocketed.
A player is entitled to continue shooting until failing to legally pocket a ball of his group. After a player has legally pocketed all of his group of balls, he shoots to pocket the 8-ball. This rule prevents a player from making intentional fouls which would put an opponent at a disadvantage. When placing the cue ball in position, any forward stroke motion contacting the cue ball will be a foul, if not a legal shot. Otherwise, should such contact occur on the 8-ball, it is a foul.