Foul Meaning in Billiards

A foul is any action that breaks the rules during a shot. Common fouls include scratching or hitting the wrong ball first. Fouls usually end a player’s turn. They often give the opponent ball-in-hand control. Players must follow game rules carefully. For example, a player strikes the wrong group of balls first in 8-ball. The referee calls a foul. Fouls protect fairness and structure in the game.