It is okay for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a rail before contacting his object ball, however, after contact with his object ball, an object ball must be pocketed, OR the cue ball or any numbered ball must contact a rail. The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are made from only one or both groups. The choice of group is only determined when a player legally pockets an object ball after the break shot. A safety shot is defined as a legal 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 he fails 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. Failure to execute a legal shot as defined above. A scratch shot on a legal break. Shooting without at least one foot touching the floor.