Rotation (pool)

Rotation, sometimes called rotation pool, 15-ball rotation, or 61, is a pool game, played with a pocketed billiards table, cue ball, and triangular rack of fifteen billiard balls, in which the lowest-numbered object ball on the table must be always struck by the cue ball first, to attempt to pocket numbered balls for their nominal point values. That is, the 3-ball is worth three (3) points, the 8-ball is worth eight (8) points, etc. As the total points possible is 1 + 2 + 3 … + 14 + 15 = 120, a simple majority of 61 points wins the frame.

Some spectator attractions of rotation include performing unconventional or difficult shots to reach the correct ball, and quite often making risky attempts to score a higher number of points. This can be achieved by performing advanced shots such as combination shots, bank shots, and swerves. These in addition to the fortitude to mentally, with knowledge, act out each planned play; complex problem solving displayed when physically performing each cue ball play are the players' main attractions.