Rules:

Initiating Play

Players agree to the number of target balls and the number of steel balls. For example, play might entail two target balls for the table and four steel balls per player. For a two target-ball game, each goalie gets one target ball. If there are an odd number of target balls or different size target balls, goalie's alternate launching the large ball or extra ball.

When both goalies say they are "Ready," all players loudly count "One - two - three - GO!" with a steady cadence. Play starts upon the word "Go!" after which goalies have at most one second to release at least one target ball down their chute. If the count gets out of sync among players, abort the count and start again. Goalies are not allowed to accompany a target ball with a steel ball when launching a target ball down a chute.

If a ball falls off a chute before "Go," the countdown stops. If a target ball falls off a chute after "Go" it is in play. If it rolls or is hit to the back wall, it is a point. If it is hit out or rolls out of the goal area, it is not a point. If a player drops a target ball on the floor, it is a point.

Scoring

The first team to get five points wins a game. The team that wins at least 3 games, wins a set. Goalies yell the total points scored against their team as points occur, and roughly every 10 seconds when no score occurs. Players can attempt to influence the goalies, but they are the ultimate decision makers on the points scored against their team.

Wing players yell to their goalie if they commit any of the following violations, which are points:

• touching a target ball in play.
• interfering with steel balls released by an opponent toward a target ball.
• hitting a target ball with the side of a chute.
• pushing a steel ball into a target ball.
• accelerating a ball down a chute by any means other than gravity.

Touching: The only time that a player can touch a target ball without losing a point is after the target ball scores and it is still in the goal area. It is also OK to pick up a target ball that has fallen on the floor. However, if that target ball is dropped on the floor or dropped so that it hits or rolls to the back wall, it is a point.

Hitting: A hit is defined as forward rotational motion of a chute toward a target ball. A goalie may stop a target ball with the tip of a chute. The difference between hitting with the side of the chute and blockage with the tip is defined by a 45 degree angle. A player may reflect a target ball with the side of a chute, but there must not be any rotational motion toward a target ball at the instant of impact.

Pushing: Players incur a point if while picking up steel balls they push a steel ball into a target ball or they cause a steel ball to fly above the level of the tops of the chutes.

Accelerating: To ensure that balls are released down a chute only under the force of gravity, hand motion releasing balls should only be perpendicular to the surface of the chute, not down the chute. Balls may not be dropped onto a chute. They must be put in the groove of the chute and then released. Players may not accelerate steel balls on the table by whacking them with the side of the chute.