Glossary of cue sports terms

The term '''' is sometimes used to refer to all of the cue sports, to a specific class of them, or to specific ones such as English billiards; this article uses the term in its most generic sense unless otherwise noted. The labels "British" and "UK" as applied to entries in this glossary refer to terms originating in the UK and also used in countries that were fairly recently part of the British Empire and/or are part of the Commonwealth of Nations, as opposed to US (and, often, Canadian) terminology. The terms "American" or "US" as applied here refer generally to North American usage. However, due to the predominance of US-originating terminology in most internationally competitive pool (as opposed to snooker), US terms are also common in the pool context in other countries in which English is at least a minority language, and US (and borrowed French) terms predominate in carom billiards. Similarly, British terms predominate in the world of snooker, English billiards, and blackball, regardless of the players' nationalities. The term "blackball" is used in this glossary to refer to both blackball and eight-ball pool as played in the UK, as a shorthand. Blackball was chosen because it is less ambiguous ("eight-ball pool" is too easily confused with the international standardized "eight-ball"), and blackball is globally standardized by an International Olympic Committee-recognized governing body, the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA); meanwhile, its ancestor, eight-ball pool, is largely a folk game, like North American , and to the extent that its rules have been codified, they have been done so by competing authorities with different rulesets. (For the same reason, the glossary's information on eight-ball, nine-ball, and ten-ball draws principally on the stable WPA rules, because there are many competing amateur leagues and even professional tours with divergent rules for these games.) Foreign-language terms are generally not within the scope of this list, unless they have become an integral part of billiards terminology in English (e.g. ), or they are crucial to meaningful discussion of a game not widely known in the English-speaking world. ==1–9==

Also the 1. The numbered 1; in American-style pool ball sets, it is yellow. See the One-cushion billiards main article. See the One-pocket main article for the game. Also the 2. The numbered 2; in American-style pool ball sets, it is blue. In some American snooker ball sets, the is numbered 2, its point value. Also the 3. The numbered 3; in American-style pool ball sets, it is red. In some American snooker ball sets, the is numbered 3, its point value. See the Three-cushion billiards main article for the game. Also the 4. The numbered 4; in American-style pool ball sets, it is purple or rarely pink. In some American snooker ball sets, the is numbered 4, its point value. Also the 5. The numbered 5; in American-style pool ball sets, it is orange. In some American snooker ball sets, the is numbered 5, its point value. See the Five-pin billiards main article for the formerly Italian, now internationally standardized game; or Danish pin billiards for the five-pin traditional game of Denmark. Also the 6. The numbered 6; in American-style pool ball sets, it is green. The 6 is the (or ) in a game of six-ball. It is the last ball that must be pocketed, after the remaining five object balls have been pocketed, or may be pocketed early to win the game so long as the lowest-numbered ball on the table is struck before the 6. In other games, such as eight-ball, the 6 is simply one of the regular object balls. In some American snooker ball sets, the is numbered 6, its point value. Also the 7. The numbered 7; in American-style pool ball sets, it is maroon, brown, or rarely tan. Some variants, for the seven-ball game, are brown with a black or white stripe. The 7 is the (or ) in a game of seven-ball. It is the last ball that must be pocketed, after the remaining six object balls have been pocketed, or may be pocketed early to win the game so long as the lowest-numbered ball on the table is struck before the 7. In other games, such as eight-ball, the 7 is simply one of the regular object balls. In some American snooker ball sets, the is numbered 7, its point value. Also the 8. The numbered 8; in both American- and British-style pool ball sets, it is black, though some of the latter use an unnumbered . The 8 is the (or ) in a game of eight-ball and related games. It is the last ball that must be , after the of seven belonging to the player who is shooting for the 8. (Pocketing the 8 early is a loss of game—unless done on the , in most rules variants.) In other games, such as nine-ball and straight pool, the 8 is simply another object ball. Due to its striking colouration and regular use as a money ball, it is commonly used as a symbol in popular culture. Also the 9. The numbered 9; in American-style pool ball sets, it is yellow. The 9 is the (or ) in a game of nine-ball. It is the last ball that must be pocketed, after the remaining eight object balls have been pocketed, or may be pocketed early to win the game so long as the lowest-numbered ball on the table is struck before the 9. In other games, such as eight-ball, the 9 is simply one of the regular object balls. See the Goriziana main article for the game sometimes called nine-pins. Also the 10. The numbered 10; in American-style pool ball sets, it is blue. The 10 is the (or ) in a game of ten-ball. It is the last ball that must be pocketed, after the remaining nine object balls have been pocketed, or may be pocketed early to win the game so long as the lowest-numbered ball on the table is struck before the 10, and the 10 ball and pocket are . In other games, such as eight-ball, the 10 is simply one of the regular object balls. Also the 11. The numbered 11; in American-style pool ball sets, it is red. Also the 12. The numbered 12; in American-style pool ball sets, it is purple or rarely pink Also the 13. The numbered 13; in American-style pool ball sets, it is orange. Also the 14. The numbered 14; in American-style pool ball sets, it is green. Also the 15. The numbered 15; in American-style pool ball sets, it is maroon, brown, or rarely tan. In snooker, a total in which the starts with a . The break includes a counting as a and all 15 reds. ==A==

Used in snooker in reference to the position of the . It is above the if it is off-straight on the side of the imaginary line for a straight (e.g. "he'll want to finish above the in order to go into the and "). It is also common to use the term instead. 1.  Gambling or the potential for gambling (US). 2.  Lively results on a ball, usually the , from the application of . 3.  Short for . Used with an amount to signify to a tournament prize fund in addition to the amount accumulated from entry fees (e.g. "$500 added"). Also ahead session. A format in which a player has to establish a lead of an agreed number of () in order to win (e.g. in a ten-ahead race, a player wins when she/he has won ten more than the opponent). A type of used in carom billiards games. With one being (, British: ) to a and the second object ball just slightly away from the cushion, the is gently grazed across the face of both balls, freezing the away ball to the rail and moving the frozen ball away the same distance its partner was previously, in an identical but reversed configuration, in position to be struck again by the cue ball from the opposite side to repeat this pattern, back and forth. The phrase has been in use since as early as 1653. Compare . The extent to which the curves as a result of a or shot. The ball placed at the front of a group of (i.e., toward the and furthest from the racker), and in most games situated over the table's . In carom games, a shot in which in attempting to score, the cue ball contacts three or more , usually including both . Used in snooker to describe the path that the must take into and out of as a result of poor , specifically coming around the off three or more , normally on a shot on the to finish on a as a result of finishing on the blue. ==B==

Same as (verb). Same as . plays a back-spin ball to prevent the cue ball from falling into the side pocket. Same as . See illustration at . Contrast . The part of the where a player's is moved away from the before striking it. Chiefly British. Same as . A coarse woolen cloth used to cover billiard tables, usually green in colour. Sometimes called felt, based on a similarity in appearance, though very different in makeup. In the earlier (and short-lived) "champions' game", there were four triangular balks, one at each corner, defined by single diagonal balklines. Not to be confused with (second definition). 2.  An area defined on a billiard table, in games such as pool, snooker, English billiards and bagatelle, by a single (drawn or imaginary) that runs across the table near the () end; exactly where depends upon table type and size. This balk is where the cue ball is placed in for lead, for making the opening shot, and sometimes for other purposes, depending upon the game. This usage of "balk" is strictly technical, and rarely used in practice. In pool, this area is called the and is divided from the rest of the table by the , while in snooker, English billiards and blackball it is the somewhat differently sized and delimited , defined by the . On baulk tables, which have inside baulk, and on pool tables with a in the kitchen, the actual area from which to shoot is even smaller than the baulk or kitchen, respectively – a balk within the balk. 1.  A line drawn horizontally from a point on a billiard table's to the corresponding point on the opposite rail, thus defining a region (a ). In the eponymous balkline billiards there are four balklines, drawn parallel to and typically 14 or 18 inches from the cushions of the table, dividing it into nine compartments or divisions, of which the outside eight are the balks, in which only a set number of caroms may be scored before at least one ball must leave the area. Some of them are also setup to return the 8 ball as well, so that pocketing it on the break does not end the game. A derogatory term for a recreational or beginning player who "bangs" the balls without any thought for nor attempt to control the ; also a reference to the predilection of beginners to often hit the cue ball far harder than necessary. Systems that use optical sensors to distinguish the cue ball have also been introduced. In snooker, any of the three that get on the . In snooker, the opposite the and bounded by the and . Also known as the . A straight line drawn 29 inches (73.66 cm) from the face of the on a standard 6 × 12 foot snooker table. The baulk line's position is always determined by measurement from the baulk cushion, in contrast to the similar but different , the position of which is determined by the . Not to be confused with . In snooker, a located at either end of the . The and are both baulk pockets. Same as (UK), (US). The , usually unmarked because of its obviousness at the intersection of the and . As such, it is also the middle of the flat side of . In snooker, same as . 1.  A person who records the for each player during a game; 2.  A . In some snooker ball sets, it is numbered "7" on its surface. 2.  Chiefly British: The in a pool set, applying both to the typically used in blackball pool as well as the solids-and-stripes used in other pool games, such American-style eight-ball, nine-ball and straight pool. 2.  An unsuccessful inning at the table. Also known as a duck egg, goose egg, cipher or naught. The marked on a snooker table at which the is placed. Regardless of table size, it is at the lengthwise and widthwise centre of the table (i.e. it is the same as the . 1.  Also break shot or break off, as a noun. Typically describes the first shot in most types of billiards games. In carom games it describes the first point attempt, as shot from an unvarying and placement; in many pool games it describes the first shot, which is used to separate the object balls that have been together; The break box consists of the middle 50% of the kitchen area, delimited latitudinally by the (British: ) and (not the ), and longitudinally by two parallel lines drawn (on the cloth, or more often imaginarily) from the head rail that are closest to the , out to the head string (see illustration to the right) on either side. This departure from WPA World Standardised Rules defeats the common break-from-the-side-rail technique for pocketing the 9 ball to win the game on the break; while 9 ball breaks are still possible, they are much more difficult under this rule. It is placed on the . Collusion between matchplay opponents who prearrange the winner of a match on which other people's money is wagered, in order to guarantee a payday. ==C==

A players' auction at a pool tournament. Each player is called and players and spectators bid on the player. The highest bidder(s) pays their bid to the calcutta, and by doing so invest in that player's success. If a player wins or places in the tournament, those who "bought" the player receive a percentage of the total calcutta payout, usually tracking the percentage payout of the tournament prize fund. Typically, players have the option of purchasing half of themselves when the high bid is won by a third party. Like and , usually not capitalized. Any instance of a player having to say what they are about to do. For example, in straight pool a player must call the pocket in which a ball is intended to be potted. More formal terms, used in rule books and instructional materials, include and . Contrast , . Applies specifically to games that enforce "/call-safe" rules, which require the player to either call the ball and pocket, or call a on every shot. After a legal shot, where a called ball is not pocketed as designated, the incoming player has the option to pass the shot back to the player who missed the called shot. If a player calls "safe", then after a legal shot, the incoming player must accept the next shot, and may not pass the shot back to the player who called "safe". A call-shot/call-safe nine-ball example: Player A calls the , the 3 ball in this case, in the corner pocket but misses the shot. The rolls down table and comes to rest behind the 5 ball leaving no clear path to the 3 ball for the incoming player B. Since player A did not call "safe", incoming player B may elect to pass the shot back to player A (who must shoot). Describes any game in which during normal play a player must call the ball to be hit and the intended pocket; "eight-ball is a call-shot game." 1.  The red in carom billiards games. The term is thought to be derived from an orange-coloured, tropical Asian fruit, called a carambola in English, Spanish, and several other languages, in turn from in the Marathi language of India. 2.  A general-purpose term for carom billiards games. 3.  (Obsolete.) Alternative name for the game of straight rail. 4.  A shot. Short for . (a ) off a cushion or especially a ball. 2.  More specifically, short for a carom shot, a in British terminology, in which a point is scored in carom billiards games by careening the cue ball into the two object balls. See also , often incorrectly referred to as "". The inability of some players to stop gambling once they have lost money because they "have" to get their money back. To aim at an object ball such that it will enter one side or the other, rather than the center, of a pocket (and possibly striking the of the pocket then rebounding into the pocket). This permits the cue ball to strike the object ball at a different than the most obvious one. Cheating the pocket is employed for , to allow a ball to pass another partially obscuring the path to the pocket, and to prevent on dead-straight shots in cases where draw is not desirable (or may not be dependable, e.g. because of distance from the pocket or ). The amount of pocket cheatability available varies widely by game, due to equipment differences. Pool has wide and thus very "cheatable" pockets, while snooker and Russian pyramid have pockets barely wide enough to admit a ball and therefore little room for error or for pocket-cheating. Also checkside or check. A type of imparted to the to make it rebound off a at a shallower angle than it would if the spin had not been used. Normally played when the natural angle is no good to the player for the next shot. Sometimes known as a "Chesney Allen", a slight indentation in the table's slate which can add behavioral aspects to any ball passing over it. Tables containing a chesney are legal for match play, but are generally avoided by serious and professional players. A situation where the is directly in front of another ball in the line of the shot such that the player is by it, having to over it awkwardly with the likelihood of a looming if the object ball is inadvertently touched. The term is most common in the game of snooker but is also used in US parlance. Known as a '''''' in British terminology. A type of used in carom billiards games. With one object ball (British: ) to a and the second object ball a few inches away from the cushion, the cue ball is gently rebounded off the frozen ball, not moving it, but with just enough speed to meet the other object ball, which rocks in place but does not change position. Developed to thwart the restrictions emplaced by the . To commit errors while shooting, especially at the , due to pressure. See also , . To play a shot with the stroke and speed that makes it easiest to pocket the object ball, even at the expense of sacrificing position. "Cling" (and derived words like "clung", "clinger", "clinging", etc.) may be used as a mass noun, less commonly as a count noun, as a verb, and rarely as an adjective ("cling is annoying", "two clings in one frame", "they clung", "unintentional cling shot", respectively). See for snooker-specific notes. See also , sense 2. Also loop bridge. A bridge formed by the hand where a finger (normally the index finger) is curved over the cue stick and the other fingers are spread on the cloth providing solid support for the cue stick's direction. A closed bridge is less common in snooker play than in other games. Compare . The baize cloth covering the tables playing surface and rails, usually made from wool or a wool-nylon blend. In use since the 15th century, cloth is traditionally green-coloured, chosen for its evocation of grass. Sometimes cloth is improperly referred to as "felt." The properties of the cloth used to cover a table, as well as environmental conditions that can affect it—notably humidity, the degree it has been stretched when installed, and its level of cleanness—have a profound effect on play. See also . Same as . Two or more object balls that are touching or are close together. Rarer uses of the term include the intended action of a , and a of points. Also cross rake or jigger. A type of , with a straight and "x"-shaped head for resting the upon. A bank shot that rebounds off a cushion into a corner pocket across the table. In Russian pyramid, the cue ball is usually red, but any ball can be used as a cue ball, with the exception of the dynamic pyramid variant. For more information, see the billiard ball main article. See . 1.  A portable device for holding cues upright and at the ready for immediate use. The most common types are either weighted and placed on a table top, with semicircular cut-outs into which cues may lean, or clamping varieties that firmly affix to a table and which have clips or holes into which cues are placed for added security. 2.  Same as . 3.  Same as . A chiefly British term describing the amount of control a player can retain when playing shots with heavy and great pace; "it took tremendous cue power to get onto the 2 ball having been relatively straight on the 1". 1.  Same as . 2.  Same as . A piece of stand-alone or "island" furniture designed to store cue sticks and sometimes other accessories such as the (), balls, , etc., when not in use. Contrast . Also cue-stick, cuestick. Same as . A formed tip, usually made of leather, that is affixed to the end of the cue stick that comes into with the cue ball. Same as . Compare . A player of cue sports. The elastic bumpers mounted on all s of a billiards table, usually made from rubber or synthetic rubber, off which the balls rebound. Before the advent of vulcanized rubber manufacturing in the mid-19th century, cushions of early billiard tables were often simply cloth stuffed with straw, cotton, or other fibers; they were not very elastic, but simply quieter than bare wooden boards. The existence of cushions and rails dates to the era of outdoor ground billiards, the courts for which were often bounded by short wicker or wood fences, sometimes padded. For specific modern cushion parts, see: , , and . (object-ball away from the path of the ), induced by ball-against-ball "sliding" friction on all s to at least some degree. Sometimes more vaguely referred to as . One of several types of throw; see for details. Technically, any shot that is not a center-to-center hit, but almost always employed when describing a shot that has more than a slight degree of angle. ==D==

A semicircle with an -inch (291 mm) radius, drawn behind a snooker table's , centred on the middle of the line, and resembling the upper case letter "D" in shape. The "D" is also used in English billiards and sometimes also in blackball and other pool games played on British-style tables. "Rea showed his best form ... to win the final 'dead' frame". A that has either lost a degree of elastic resiliency or is not firmly attached to the wooden ; or a rail that is not firmly bolted to the table frame. In all three cases, the result is that balls rebound from the cushion with less energy than is normal. When a player is playing flawlessly, just "cannot miss" and the game seems effortless. Describing a played at such a pace as to just reach the and drop in without hitting the back. Also decider or deciding rack. The frame that decides the winner of a match when two opponents are tied (at a draw) on an equal number of frames, with just one remaining. The total number of frames in a match is set at an odd number to allow the final frame to act as a tie-breaker – a decider – in the event of the match reaching this frame. 1.  Displacement of the 's path away from the parallel line formed by the cue stick's direction of travel; occurs every time () is employed. The degree of deflection increases as the amount of applied increases. It is also called squirt, typically in the United States, or cue-ball deflection. The physics of the squirt or deflection phenomenon has been analyzed in other contexts, such as with ice-hockey pucks. 2.  Also object-ball deflection: same as . Also deliberate fault. A shot, especially common in straight pool and in some variants of blackball (but not WEPF/EPA rules See also , . 2.  Same as shot (chiefly Southern US, colloquial). In chiefly UK parlance, the non-striped ball of a fifteen ball set that are numbered 1 through 7 and have a solid colour scheme. Compare , , , , , , ; contrast . Same as (chiefly British). Also double-century break. In English billiards, a of 200–299 (i.e. double a ). Larger multi-centuries are regularly achieved. Rare in amateur play, triple centuries are routine (and quadruples not uncommon) at World Professional Billiards Championships; 2007 winner Mike Russell shot four triples in the final round alone, while of sixteen competitors, three shot quadruple centuries (one once, one twice, and Russell three times). Quintuple centuries are rare even at the professional level, with only the 494 shot by nine-time world champion Russell (who has more such titles than any other player in history as of 2007) coming close in that event. Peter Gilchrist holds the world record, with a tredecuple century of 1346 consecutive points. Same as . Also double elimination. A tournament format in which a player must lose two in order to be eliminated. An extreme form of . See also . See also Match fixing for the synonym "tank", used in sports more generally. A type of shot in snooker where the is played slowly up the table in order to "dump" it on the (usually) and leave the safe. ==E==

1.  One of several games that arose around the beginning of the 20th century from pyramid pool. They have in common the use of a of fifteen and a single , a hard from behind the or , and a goal of () all of one's own of balls then finally the black . There are two main formalized versions of the game: • eight-ball, an originally American and now internationally standardized professional version, also subject to competitive team play in numerous leagues. It is the most-played form of competition pool in the world, though not for professionals, among whom nine-ball dominates. Uses a set of and numbered balls. Ball-and-pocket are for each shot, with () resulting in for the opponent, anywhere on the table. • blackball a.k.a. British-style eight-ball pool, an originally British variant, also favoured in many Commonwealth countries, and parts of Continental Europe, with amateur and professional leagues. The two names reflect slightly variant rulesets, which differ primarily in handling of (). Shots are not . Uses a set of and balls. usually consists of minor local variations on one of these two standardised rule sets. Most forms of are variants of eight-ball, although rules may vary from venue to venue even within the same city. These variants arose primarily to drag out the game on coin-operated tables (""). In North America, many casual recreational players are unaware any other form of pool exists beyond bar pool. 2.   A spelled-out name for the . Either of the two shorter of a billiards table. Compare ; contrast /. Chiefly American: Also known as , (which is usually not capitalized) is placed on the when hit with the to the left or right of the ball's center. English has a marked effect on rebound angle off (though not off ), and is thus crucial for gaining ; it can also be used to "" an object ball slightly off its otherwise expected trajectory, to , and for other effects. "English" is sometimes used more inclusively, to colloquially also refer to and . In combination one could say bottom-right English, or like the face of a clock (4 o'clock English). The British and Irish do not use this term, instead preferring "". See illustration at . Same as . See for details. The horizontal plane directly in the center of the , which when hit exactly by the should impart no or . A successful attempt to get out of a . 1.   Any mechanical aid that serves to extend the length of the player's cue, normally added to the end of the either by clipping around the end or screwing into the base. Though extensions are used for pool, it is more common in snooker because of the significantly larger table size. 2.  In a tournament where players get limited time to make their shots (common in televised matches), an extension is extra time granted before making a shot; players have a limited number of extensions in each . ==F==

Also cushion face. 3.  Unusually accepting of balls; said of pockets; see (sense 1) for more information. "" is the direct opposite of "fast" in all of these usages. See . Same as (chiefly British, and declining in usage; even the WPA and WEFP blackball rules use "foul"). Also feather shot. A very thin in which the cue ball just brushes the edge of an object ball. "Feather" by itself can be both noun and verb (e.g. "feathering the ball"). See also . Same as (deprecated; it is factually incorrect, for felt is a completely different kind of cloth from baize). A sleeve, permanently fitted onto the lathed-down tip end of the cue, made from fiberglass, phenolic resin, brass, titanium, ivory, horn or antler, melamine, plastic, or other rigid material, upon which the is mounted and which protects the wood from splitting due to impact with the . Common slang in the U.S. for a cheap, poorly made cue. Compare . 1.  An easy ; 2.  A person who loses money gambling and keeps coming back for more; 3.  Sometimes, a poor player; 4.  As a verb, either to hit the balls hard with no intention in mind other than to get lucky and perhaps scatter the balls a bit more ("hit-and-hope"), or to shoot hard at the with the same intention ("smash-and-pray"). Compare and ; contrast (sense 3) and . A where the rules are blatantly, intentionally violated; in contexts where this qualifies as unsportsmanlike conduct, a stiffer penalty may apply (e.g. loss of ) than normal for a foul. In snooker, a situation during a in which the first line of the remaining grouped together, where the original was, are in a straight horizontal line. This has implications when opening the pack, as a contact off the top cushion will usually cause the to stick to the red and fail to develop a potting opportunity. A shot that has an ostensibly positive outcome for the player, although it was not what the player intended. Examples of flukes include an unexpected off several or other balls having missed the pocket aimed for, or a lucky position after having missed a shot. Many players are apologetic after a fluke. In many games, flukes result in a loss of turn, although some rule sets (most notably those of snooker, nine-ball and related games, and the eight-ball rules of the American Poolplayers Association and its affiliates) count flukes as valid, point-making shots. Compare and ; contrast (sense 3) and . The forward rotation of the that results from a . Also known as ' or top', follow is applied to the by hitting it above its , causing it to spin more rapidly in the direction of travel than it would spin by merely rolling on the cloth from a center-ball hit. Follow speeds the cue ball up, and widens both the after contact with an , and off a . See illustration at . A shot in which the is struck above its equator with sufficient to cause the cue ball to travel forward after it contacts an . When a cue ball with follow on it contacts an object ball squarely (a center-to-center hit), the cue ball travels directly forward through the space previously occupied by the object ball (and can sometimes even be used to pocket a second ball). By contrast, on a cut shot, a cue ball with follow on it will first travel on the after striking the object ball, and then arc forward, widening the angle. See illustration at . On a shot, the extension of the cue stick through the position during the end of a player's stroke in the direction originally aimed. Chiefly American: The half of the table in which the are (in games in which racked balls are used). This usage is conceptually opposite that in British English, where this end of the table is called the . Contrast . Chiefly American: The on the . Compare ; contrast . Chiefly American: The at the of the table. Frequently used imprecisely, to mean . Compare ; contrast . The point on the table surface over which the apex ball of a rack is centered (in most games). It is the point half the distance between the ' second diamonds from the end of the racking end of the table. The foot spot is the intersection of the and the , and is typically marked with a cloth or paper decal on pool tables. Contrast . An imaginary line running horizontally across a billiards table from the second diamond (from the foot end of the table) on one long rail to the corresponding second diamond on the other long rail. The foot string intersects the at the . It is rarely drawn on the table. Same as . Principally used in snooker. A powerful with a high degree of on it; usually when the being hit is relatively close to the and is being hit very full; also known as "prograde top spin" or "prograde follow" (when referring to the action on the shot rather than the shot per se), and as a "jenny" in Australia. Same as (). A violation of a particular game's rules for which a set penalty is imposed. In many pool games the penalty for a foul is anywhere on the table for the opponent. In some games such as straight pool, a foul results in a loss of one or more points. In one-pocket, in which a set number of balls must be made in a specific pocket, upon a foul the player must return a ball to the table. In some games, three successive fouls in a row brings the loss of a game. In straight pool, a third successive foul results in a loss of 16 points (15 plus one for the foul). Possible foul situations (non-exhaustive): A term for each from the until a , losing foul or has been made. A is made up of several frames. See also (sense 1), which has a slightly broader meaning. In snooker, the ball that, if potted, will leave the trailing player . Also free shot. A situation where a player has , leaving the opponent . In UK eight-ball this would normally give the opponent the option of one of two plays: (1) with ; (2) being allowed to contact, or even , a ball other than one from their set from the snookered position (although the black may not be potted), with the loss of the first shot. In addition, some variations of the game allow the player to pot one of the opposition's balls, on the first visit only, without the loss of a "free shot". In snooker, a free ball is awarded if a player, after a by their opponent, is left in a position where they cannot strike both extreme edges of the (or a cluster of touching balls). It gives the player the option to nominate any other ball as the , potting it for the same number of . A player may not lay a behind the ball nominated as a free ball unless only the and are left on the table. Receiving a free ball while all 15 remain on the table makes possible a as well as a exceeding . 1.  Potting well and quickly but without much thought for position play. 2.  Playing loose and carefree. 3.  Same as . To dedicate a set amount of money that a gambling match will be played to; no one may quit until one player or the other has won the "frozen up" funds. Chiefly American: A resting ball that is in actual contact with a or with one or more other balls is said to be "frozen" (or, colloquially, "froze") to that cushion or the touching ball(s). (For frozen combination/combo, frozen kiss, etc., that is almost impossible to miss, see the more common variants under ). The chiefly British "" is equivalent to "frozen", but only applied to frozen/tight to a cushion, not to another ball. For situations in which the is frozen to an , different rule sets have different approaches. In some, the cue ball must be addressed with the cue at an angle at least 45 degrees divergent from an imaginary line running through the center of the balls, to minimize chances of a . In snooker (and some British pool rules), this is called a , and the cue ball must be shot away from the object ball without the latter moving. Also full-ball. A type of between two balls from which no or little angle is created between their paths; the contact required to a straight shot. It is commonly used in reference to how much of an a player can see with the : "Can you hit that full?". The basic actions necessary to shoot well: , grip, , , and . ==G==

1.  Play, from the opening until one player has won (or the game has been halted for some reason by a referee). Games are the units that make up , (in some senses of that term) and . Essentially the same as , except with regards to straight pool, which is a multi- game. 2.  An identifiable, codifiable set of rules. Pool is not a game, but a class of games. Nine-ball is a game. 3.  ''There are also slang usages, such as "to have game" (to be a good player, as in "he['s] got game") and "to be game" (to be willing to play or to gamble, as in "yeah, I'm game, so let's see what you've got"). But these usages are not particular to cue sports.'' The ball required to win the . See also . The name refers to posting games on the scorekeeping mechanism known as a or , though the phrase may still be employed when no actual use of the particular device is available or intended. An agreement between two players in a tournament, one of whom will advance to a guaranteed money prize if the match is won, to give a certain percentage of that money to the loser of the match. Also known as a . It is one of the , and is placed on the . In some (especially American) snooker ball sets, it is numbered "3" on its surface. The (usually not specially marked because it is obvious) on a snooker table at which the is placed. Regardless of table size, it is the intersection of and the on the left side. The left-to-right order of the green, and balls is the subject of the mnemonic phrase "God bless you". In snooker, the that is closest to the . 1.  The way in which a player holds the end of the cue stick. 2.  The wrap of the cuestick where the hand is placed, also known as the "grip area." Same as , predominantly in British terminology, i.e., in eight-ball either of the set of seven balls ( or ) that must be cleared before . Generally used in the generic, especially in rulesets or articles, rather than colloquially by players. 1.  A table with a system, as opposed to a table. 2.  Also gutter table. Same as . ==H==

A shot aimed so that the center of the is in line with the edge of the , eclipsing half of the ball. "Hit it just a little thinner than half-ball." Assuming a does not occur, the shot will impart post-contact momentum on the object ball in a direction 30° (which is \arcsin(1-x), where x is the fraction of object ball eclipsed: in this case) off the direction of the cue-ball's pre-contact momentum. Also notable because the carom angle the cue ball takes is more consistent than at other s. In snooker and English billiards, a that is approximately 3 metres long and used with a of about the same length, used for shots that cannot be reached with normal rests and cues. In snooker and other British usages, a of between 50 and 99 points (100 points or more being called a century), which requires at least 12 consecutive balls (e.g. the last three reds with at least two blacks and a pink, followed by all the colours). Chiefly American; same as . A term borrowed from a similar idea in American football. A misnomer for hand . Modification of the rules and/or scoring of a game to enable players of variable abilities to compete on a more even playing field. Because of ball curvature, if the very bottom of the ball is not over the sharp rim or beveled slope (depending on table type) of the pocket's fall, the ball will not drop into the pocket. As much as approximately 49% of a ball's diameter can be hanging over the sharp drop of a standard snooker table fall, but considerably less on a typical pool table, with beveled falls. A ball hanging in the pocket – a "" – is nearly unmissable 1.  Literally, a , but generally used in the phrases – () the off another ball – and – using the cue ball to pot another ball – the two types of legal shots that pocket balls in games in which the term is used at all, which is very few today. The term principally survives in English billiards, in which both types of shots are -scoring. Formerly, a large number of different games made use of the two types of hazards as point scorers or losers in various ways (thus their suggestive names). The term ultimately derives from holes or pockets in the table to be avoided, in very early forms of billiards. 2.  In golf billiards, an area of the table (sometimes marked) that a player will be penalized for entering if their ball does not leave. Derives from the use of the term in the outdoor game of golf. Chiefly American: The half of the table from which the is taken. This usage is conceptually opposite that in British English, where this end of the table is called the . Contrast . See also . Chiefly American: The on the . Compare ; contrast . Chiefly American: The at the of the table. Traditionally this is the rail on which the table manufacturer's logo appears. Compare , ; contrast , . The intersection of the and , which is usually not marked on a table with a spot decal or other mark, unlike the , though some pool halls mark both spots so that racking can be done at either end of the table, and wear on from racking and breaking is more evenly distributed. See also , . A shot in which the player is relying on luck for a favorable outcome, because no better shot seems to exist. Compare , and . Also ho ball(s). An exhortatory cry to a ball or balls to slow down or come to a stop, often made when overshooting position with the cue ball. In snooker, to leave the ball on the of a after it. This is usually performed where of the colour ball would cause problems for the player, such as blocking available pots on one or more . 1.  Same as (verb) 2.  Same as . Also the hook. In snooker, a type of that has only since the 2010s been endorsed by the WPBSA to allow its use in major tournament play. It is a normal rest with the head in line with the , but the last foot or so of the shaft is curved. This allows players to position the curved end around an obstructing ball that would have otherwise left them on the and in need of a or with , which would have less control. Same as . By analogy to animal horns, not the musical instruments. Position at the end of the winner bracket in a double-elimination tournament, waiting to face the winner of the loser's bracket in the finals. 1.  The venue in which the game is being played, e.g. a snooker hall, , etc. 2.  The or area of a Russian billiards table; from . Usually a one-piece cue freely available for use by patrons in bars/pubs and pool halls. A pool room employee who plays with a good degree of skill. A pejorative term for an improper rack in which the balls are not properly in contact with their neighbors, often resulting in a poor spread on the break. The rules played in a particular venue not necessarily in comportment with official rules, or with common local custom. Describes a ball rolling along a rail in contact or near contact with it, or making multiple successive contacts with the rail. See . To play for money and lull a victim into thinking they can win, prompting them to accept higher and higher stakes, until beating them and walking off with more money than they would have been willing to bet had they been beaten soundly in the beginning. The terms hustler, for one who hustles, and hustling, describing the act, are just as common if not more so than this verb form. See also , , , , . ==I==

As in many other sports, "illegal" means causing or likely to cause a (the opposite being ). (See for specific examples of usage.) 1.  Shortening of . 2.  In snooker, the ability to place the anywhere inside the boundaries of . This occurs at the start of a , and after the cue ball has been or forced off the table. A player's (or team's) turn at the table, usually ending with a failure to score a or to a ball, depending on the game, a , a or with a win. A player who had not been doing well but then suddenly picks up (as happens during the course of many matches) may be said to catch a stroke. See also . A ball that is easily made from many positions on the table but which is left untouched while the rack is played, so that in the event the player gets out of position, the shooter has an insurance shot. Typically an insurance ball will be in or near the of a pocket. Also intentional fault; same as . In snooker, a phrase used to describe a situation in which the player has an easy and where in general the balls are in a position to go on to make a sizeable . Compare (sense 4). in a two-person game, the non-shooting player is referred to as being "in the chair". This terminology likely originates from the fact that many high level billiards events require the non-shooting player to sit in a designated chair while their opponent is at the table. In a tournament, to high enough to receive a payout. E.g., in a tournament that pays from 1st down to 5th places, to be at least 5th place is to be in the money. When a particular ball is given as a in nine-ball, designating that ball in turn means that it must be made in rotation, when it is the lowest numerical ball remaining on the table, and cannot be made to garner a win earlier in the game by way of a combination, carom or any other shot. For example, if a player is the 8 ball, they only win by making that ball after balls 1 through 7 have been cleared from the table. The phrase is not common in the U.S. Linen made from flax, and produced in Ireland, which is often used to wrap the gripping area of the of a cue. ==J==

1.  To elevate the back of the cue on a shot. 2.  In gambling, to "jack up a bet" means to increase the stakes. When a player is on the receiving end of a devastating where it is very difficult, or near impossible, to make a legal hit on an object ball. Adjectival expression for a player's deadly game; "watch out, she plays jam up." A ball that fails to drop into a pocket after bouncing back and forth between the of a pocket. The inside walls of a , from the to the drop hole. Chiefly Australian: Same as a shot. Same as . The interlocking connection between the butt and shaft ends of a two-piece cue stick. Usually connects via means of a steel or wooden , and may be protected by a of metal or some other material, or may connect wood-on-wood. Plugs that screw into the joint when a two-piece cue is broken down to keep foreign objects and moisture from contacting the joint mechanism. Also jump shot. Any shot where the is intentionally jumped into the air to clear an obstacle (usually an , even in games with non-ball objects, e.g. bottle pool). Jump shots must be performed by hitting the into the table's surface so that it rebounds off the ; scooping under the cue ball to fling it into the air is deemed a foul by all authoritative rules sources. A legal jump shot works by compressing the cue ball slightly against the under the cloth, causing it to spring upward when the downward pressure of the cue is released. Some billiard halls and even entire leagues prohibit all jump (and usually also ) shots, out of fears of damage to the equipment, especially the cloth. Specialized exist to better facilitate jump shots; they are usually shorter and lighter, and with harder tips, than normal cues. Jump shots that go through or into objects rather than over them are common in trick shot (artistic pool and artistic billiards) competition. Also jump stick. A dedicated to balls; usually shorter and lighter than a playing cue and having a wider, harder . A rare and very difficult trick that turns into a upon landing. Requires precise application of in addition to the precise application of ball pressure to effectuate the jump. Jump draws are fairly often seen in professional trick shot competition. A rare and extremely difficult trick that turns into a upon landing. Requires very precise application of in addition to the precise application of ball pressure to effectuate the jump. ==K==

The involved in a . Noun, verb, and rare adjective usage as per "cling". (See for less snooker-specific notes.) A shot in which the is driven to one or more or before reaching its intended target—usually an . Often shortened to "kick" in North American usage, though this word by itself has a very different meaning in British usage (see entry above, sense 2). Also kill. A shot intended to slow down or "kill" the 's speed as much as possible after contact with an ; usually a shot with , often combined with . Also known as a . An instance of contact between balls, usually used in the context of describing an contacting another object ball (e.g. "the 2 ball kissed off the 12 ball"), or in snooker the cue ball making contact with some object ball after the initial contact with a . If the player's intention was to cause two object balls to kiss (e.g. to pocket a shot ball by ricocheting it off a stationary one), it is often called a . Compare ; contrast . A shot in which the object is to () an by striking it with the and then having the object ball ricochet off another object ball into a . The area on the table behind the . The origin of the term has been the subject of some speculation but the best explanation known is that in the 1800s, many homes did not have room for both a billiard table and a dining room table. The solution was a billiards table that had a cover converting it into a dining table. Kept in the dining room, play on such a table was often restricted by the size of the room, so it would be placed so that the head rail would face the connected kitchen door, thus affording a player room for the backswing without hitting a wall. A player was therefore either half or sometimes fully (literally) "in the kitchen" when breaking the balls. See also . One of two jutting points or curves of the of the on either side of each where cushion and pocket meet, forming the of the pocket. The knuckles are the intersection of the outer edge of the cushions, parallel to the , and the pocket . The knuckles are protrusive and comparatively sharp on a pool table, the facings of which can be used like a basketball backboard to rebound a ball into a pocket. On billiard tables for snooker, English billiards and various other games, the knuckles are rounded, and thwart the backboard effect. The curvature of snooker and English billiards knuckles are determined by produced by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Russian pyramid tables also have pointed knuckles, but the facings are angled inward, so the knuckles cannot be used as a backboard. The knuckle is also known as a , or , depending on area and the company one keeps. See illustration at the entry. ==L==

Also 'lady's aid'. A denigrating term for the . Also the lag (noun), lagging, lag for the break, and lagging for the break. To determine the order of play, players (representing only themselves, or sometimes teams) each near simultaneously shoot a ball from the (or in British games, from the ) to the and back toward the . Whichever shooter's ball comes to rest closest to the bottom rail gets to choose who . It is permissible but not required for the lagged ball to touch or rebound off the bottom rail, but not to touch the side rails. Lagging is usually a two-party activity, though there are games such as cutthroat in which three players might lag. In the case of a tie, the tying shooters re-lag. The lag is most often used in tournament play or other competitions. In hard-break games like nine-ball and eight-ball the winner of the lag would normally take the break, while in soft-break games like straight pool would likely require the loser of the lag to break, since breaking would be a disadvantage. See also . Also last pocket. A common rule in informal , especially bar/pub eight-ball, in which the must be () in the same pocket as the shooter's last (each player may be said to eventually "own" a pocket, for the duration of the game, in which their 8 ball shot must be played if they have already run out their ). The variant is not extremely common in the United States or the UK, but is near-universal in much of Latin America (where two are permitted when attempting the 8 ball shot and count as simple fouls, with only a third scratch constituting a loss of game). Last pocket is also common in North Africa. Last-pocket rules require careful , and frequently result in and with the 8 ball. An organization that promotes competitive, usually team, amateur cue sports, most commonly pool, especially eight-ball and nine-ball, although there are also well-established snooker leagues. Some leagues, many of which are decades old, are entirely local and either informal or incorporated, and may use their own local rules or may have adopted more widely published rulesets, such as those of the WPA. Other leagues are organized on a multi-regional or even international level, and may be non-profit or for-profit enterprises, usually with their own fine-tuned rule books. Despite differences, the largest leagues are increasingly converging toward the WPA rules, with the exception of the APA/CPA, which retains rules much closer to US-style . At least four major pool leagues hold international championships in Las Vegas, Nevada annually (APA/CPA, BCAPL, VNEA and ACS/CCS). Some leagues also offer tournaments, events, artistic pool competition, and other non-team activities. (See :Category:Cue sports leagues for a listing of articles on various leagues.) The cue ball's position after a shot. "Good" or "bad" in reference to a leave describe respectively and advantageous or disadvantageous position for the next shot, or to leave an incoming opponent . See also ; compare , . As in many other sports, "legal" means not causing or likely to cause a (the opposite being ). A legal hit is one in which the requirements for a non-foul hit are met (e.g., in nine-ball, the lowest-numbered ball on the table was hit by the first, and at least one was , or any ball reached a , after the hit on the first object ball.). A legal shot is one in which no foul of any kind was involved (e.g. there was not a by the cue, the player's hand did not move a ball, etc.). A legal stroke is one in which the cue obeyed the rules (e.g. the shooter did not perform an illegal by scooping under the cue ball with the cue ). A legal ball is a , an object ball at which it is permissible for the player to shoot. And so on. The term can be used in many ways consistent with these examples ("legal pocket" in one-pocket, "legal equipment" under tournament specifications, etc.). Short for left (), i.e. spin imparted to the by it to the lefthand side of its vertical axis. Contrast . A player is said to be a "lemon", "lemon man", or "playing on the lemon" when they intentionally play below their true ability in order to attract more gambling action and win more money. Players who fall for the ruse would be less likely to gamble with the lemon if they showed their full ability at all times. An intentionally amateurish stroke to disguise one's ability to play. Compare . To allow an opponent to stop playing a set for money in exchange for something. If a player is winning a set by a wide margin, with $100 on the line, the player could say, "I'll let you out now for $75." This is usually meant to save pride. In eight-ball, to be shooting the solid () of balls (1 through 7); "you're little, remember", "you're the little balls" or "I've got the littles". Compare , , , , , , ; contrast . A game that basically cannot be lost based on disparity of skill levels; "this game is a lock for him." Someone talented at making games. The act of playing a devastating that leaves the opponent in a situation where it is very difficult, or near impossible, to make a legal hit on an object ball. See also . A bank shot from one end of the table to the other (i.e. across the ). Long banks are considerably more difficult, because of the smaller margin for error due to distance and angle widening, than banks and short cross-corner banks from the same end of the table. Chiefly British: played up and down the longer length of the table off a and into a , as opposed to the more common bank across the short length into a or corner. In snooker, a into any of the where the had started in the opposite lengthwise half of the table. In other words, a pot in which the or crosses an imaginary line joining the . Same as . An imaginary line dividing the table into two equal halves lengthwise. It intersects the , and at the , and , respectively. To enter the loser bracket in a double elimination tournament, or otherwise slip in standing in other tournament formats (i.e., to lose a ///, but still remain in the competition). Same as . Also loser, largely obsolete. A shot in which the is after off another ball. In snooker and most pool games doing this would be a (), but the move will score in many games in which (as such) apply, such as English billiards, or in the final or game point in Cowboy pool. The term derives from this hazard costing the player points in early forms of billiards. Compare , . Contrast . 1.  Also lows, low balls, low ones. In eight-ball, to be shooting the solid () of balls (1 through 7); "you're low, remember", "you're low balls" or "I've got the lows." Compare , , , , , ; contrast . 2.  With , as in "I shot that low left", meaning "I shot that with draw and with left ". Derives from the fact that one must aim below the 's equator, i.e. "low" on the ball, to impart draw. Contrast . ==M==

The forerunner of the cue was the mace, an implement similar to a lightweight golf club, with a foot that was generally used to shove rather than strike the cue ball. When the ball was against a , use of the mace was difficult (the foot would not fit under the edge of the cushion to strike the ball squarely), and by 1670 experienced players often used the tail or butt end of the mace instead. 1.  In , a that involves lining up a number of balls, for example along the , then, after striking the toward a , hitting the other balls directly with the into that pocket before the cue ball reaches it. 2.  In , a where a number of object balls are placed in a row to form a line, sometimes near a , or in a line and the cue ball is shot into the balls so as to reverberate between them while traveling and hit each one of the object balls in series, issuing a machine gun-like sound. A that, due to embedded iron content, is responsive enough to a strong magnet that a modern coin-operated with a magnetic can distinguish and separate the cue ball from the . Magnetic cue balls are usually the same standard size as the object balls in the set, and near regulation weight, typically 0.5 to 1 ounce (14–28 g) heavier than the object balls. As such they do not suffer the playability problems of either excessively dense, ceramic "" or notable oversized "" cue balls, and demonstrate only minimal . Magnetic balls are standard equipment in some leagues, including the VNEA. Magnetics come in three construction types of iron embedded in the same phenolic resin or other modern, resilient plastic that the are made of: a solid metal core (prone to being off-center and not rolling true); small metal bars distributed around the interior of the ball (the most common, and less prone but not immune to balance defects); and tiny metal filings throughout the material (the most consistent, only made by one manufacturer, and expensive). 1.  The target of a scam or hustle; 2.  A foolish person in a pool room; 3.  To indicate where something is to be done. To "mark the pocket" means to indicate which pocket you intend to sink an . Contrast . during an 1893 exhibition game against Jacob Schaefer Sr. Starting from bottom left, his swerves into and off one , then due to its extreme rebounds into the four times before finally rolling away for a perfect, scoring hit on the other object ball. And Spinks lost this game. Also shot. A steep curve or complete reversal of cue ball direction without the necessity of any rail or object ball being struck, due to extreme imparted to the cue ball by a steeply elevated cue. Its invention is credited to François Mingaud. Compare . Breaking and going on to win the game in one visit. 1.  The overall competition between two players, two pairs of players or two teams of players, usually consisting of a predetermined number of or (sometimes organized into ). There are also specialized match formats where the game number is not predetermined; see and for examples. 2.  To agree to rise to a higher wager, as in "$100? Yeah, I'll match that" (i.e., basically equivalent to "call a raise" in poker). The ball required to guarantee victory in a match. Sometimes used figuratively to mean the last difficult ball required (chiefly British and usually used in multi-frame matches, particularly snooker). 1.  Chiefly British: Competitive play in with standings consequences, such as local snooker league competition or the World Snooker Championship, as opposed to practice, playing with friends at the pub, or hustling pool for money. 2.  Chiefly American: Same as as applied to play. (Definition appears to have been introduced by USA Pool League misapplying the term "match" to what is otherwise termed a "".) Also simply maximum. In snooker, the highest attainable with the balls that are ; usually 147 points starting by fifteen , in combination with , and clearing the . Also called a 147 (one-four-seven). In six-red snooker, the maximum break is only 75 points, due to fewer red balls and thus fewer black-scoring opportunities. See also . A special stick with a grooved, slotted or otherwise supportive end attachment that helps guide the cue stick – a stand-in for the hand. It is usually used only when the shot cannot be comfortably reached with a hand bridge. In American English, often shortened to bridge or called a bridge stick; the term '''''' is also common. An entire class of different mechanical bridges exist for snooker, called '''' (see that entry for details)'', also commonly used in blackball and English billiards. Mechanical bridges have many derogatory nicknames, such as "", "crutch", "granny stick", and "sissy stick", because of the perception by many amateur players that they are evidence of weak playing skills or technique (the opposite is actually true). Small mechanical bridges, that stand on the table surface instead of being mounted on sticks, exist for disabled players who do not have or cannot use both hands or arms. Jargon term for a type of that has a plain forearm, without the tapered "points" that are a common feature of standard cue sticks. Same as . Same as ; uncommon. A stroke in which the cue's tip glances or slips off the cue ball not effectively transferring the intended force. Usually the result is a bungled shot. Common causes include a lack of on the , a poorly groomed cue tip and not stroking straight through the cue ball, e.g. because of . Sometimes played intentionally to avoid a when the is very close to an or . Also the distinctive metallic sound made when a miscue occurs. In snooker, a calls a miss when a player by failing to hit the and the referee decides that the player has not made a good enough attempt to hit the ball. The miss rule gives the opponent the option to have the referee replace the balls to their original positions and make the player take the shot again. A miss usually occurs when a player makes an unsuccessful attempt at escaping from a snooker. It is a controversial rule aimed at formally discouraging . In professional snooker, a referee will almost always call a miss on any foul where the player misses the ball on, regardless of how close the player comes to hitting it. If a player is called for a miss three times in a single visit while not snookered, they forfeit the frame; to avoid this, players almost always play an easy hit on their third attempt, even if it is likely to leave a chance for the opponent. Describing a difficult : "the awkward cueing makes this shot missable." In professional snooker, the modern era is the period from 1969 to the present day. The BBC launched its Pot Black series in 1969 and the World Snooker Championship reverted to a knockout tournament format in the same year. The modern era has seen increasing professionalisation of the sport, more television and media coverage, greater numbers of tournaments, and higher prize money. Said of a tournament in which the of money to pay out to the winner(s) contains sponsor monies in addition to competitor entry fees. Often used as an adjective: "a money-added event". See also . Name for the ball that when legally pocketed, wins the game, or any ball that when made results in a payday such as a "" in the game of Chicago. If a money ball is illegally pocketed, it usually results in a loss of game, or a . A game (often actually a ) the outcome of which is the subject of gambling by the players and/or by . Participants may use the phrase "this is a money game" to indicate to others that they take the contest more seriously than a casual game and, e.g., are unwilling to make sportsmanlike compromises or do not appreciate distractions. A clear illustration of the latter is in the "two brothers and a stranger" hustling scene in the film The Color of Money. See . The table reserved for or, by extension, the best table in the house. This table is typically of better quality and regularly maintained, and may have that are unusually . Money tables in popular venues may be outright reserved for major . Also mushroomed tip. Leather of the cue overhanging the because of compression from innumerable repeated impacts against the without proper maintenance of the tip. It must be trimmed off, or it will cause and inaccuracies, as it is not backed by the solid ferrule and thus will compress much more than the tip should on impact. See also . Also mushroom shaver, mushroom cutter. A sharp-bladed used to trim the portion off a and restore it to its proper shape. ==N==

A directional pile created by the short fuzzy ends of fibers on the surface of projecting upward from the lie and which create a favorable and unfavorable direction for rolling balls. 1.  Noun: In pool, a natural is an easy shot requiring no (). 2.  Adjective: In pool, a shot is said to be natural if it does not require adjustments, such as a angle, side spin, or unusual force. A natural , for example, is one in which simply shooting straight into the at medium speed and with no spin will send the object ball directly into the target pocket on the other side of the table. 3.  In three cushion billiards, the easiest type of shot, in which the second object ball is advantageously placed in a corner. ==O==

1.  Any ball that may be legally struck by the (i.e., any ); 2.  Any ball other than the cue ball. Usage notes: When speaking very generally, any ball other than the cue ball is an object ball. In narrower contexts, this may not be the case. For example, when playing eight-ball, one might not think of the 8 ball as an object ball unless shooting for the 8. The aspect of gameplay concerned with scoring rather than . 1.  pool: See . 2.  Carom billiards: Order may be inverted: "as if the balls had strings on them". Compare . As a result of the opening shot (the "snap"), usually said of winning by the ("won on the snap", "got it on the snap", etc.) Employed most commonly in the game of nine-ball where pocketing the at any time in the game on a legal stroke, including the break shot, is a win. Sometimes used alone as an exclamation or exhortation, "On the snap!" (Same as , definition 2.) Several large leagues use this format, including APA/CPA and USAPL. (Contrast .) One of the most challenging pool games, in which each player is designated a specific on the , and can only score by ing the s into it. The game (played to a set number of points) typically involves a higher proportion of challenging shots than other games, especially s and s. To shoot without taking enough warm-up strokes to properly aim and feel out the stroke and speed to be applied. One-stroking is a common symptom of nervousness and is a source of missed shots and failed position. Compare , , ; contrast .'' ==P==

1.  In snooker, the bunch of that are typically left below the spot in the early stages of a , not including those reds that have been released into positions. 2.  A cluster of balls. 3.  Same as . Successive games won without the opponent getting to the table; a five- would be a package of five games. Same as (chiefly British). Same as (US) or (UK) (US, colloquial). 1.  Having the cue ball stop at or near the center of the table on a forceful break shot (the breaking ideal in many games such as nine-ball); 2.  Having the cue ball stop precisely where intended. Also pills, tally balls and shake balls. Small, round markers typically numbered 1 through 16, which are placed in a for various random assignment purposes, such as in a tournament roster, to assign order of play in a multiplayer game, or to assign particular balls to players in games such as kelly pool. 1.  In , a made when the s are about two or three inches apart; parallel to, and close to a . The object balls remain nearly stationary, and the player can then play a shot that reverses the striking order of the against to object balls. 2.  Same as . Also the pink. In snooker, the second-highest value , being worth six points. It is placed on the . For each pocket type, one template is used to determine pocket width and other horizontal aspects, while the other measures the of the cushions including any , the of the pocket, and other vertical aspects. A British term for someone with little experience or understanding of the game, who may be skilled at individual balls but does not consider tactics such as or ; "he's a potter, not a player." Compare U.S. . The desired angle that must be created between the path of the and the path of the upon contact to the object ball. It is usually measured to the center of the . See also . Extreme application of . By contrast, in eight-ball, except when both players are shooting at the , the incoming player after a miss is shooting for different object balls, so this maxim does not apply, and the opposite may be good strategy as, if the object ball stays near the pocket through an undercut, it is advantageously positioned for a subsequent turn and may block the opponent's use of the pocket. 2.  Also pyramids. The game of Russian pyramid or any related game. 1.  In pool, same as : The on which the is , with the ball on this spot. Chiefly British today, but also an American usage ca. World War I. 2.  In snooker (and by extension modern English billiards), same as : The spot on which the is placed, in front of the pyramid. ==Q==

Also quadruple-century break. See . Also quintuple-century break. See . ==R==

A predetermined, fixed number of or points a player must achieve to win a or game; "a race to seven" means whoever wins seven games first wins the . sheet of material such as paper or plastic 3.  A nine-ball ring game is played by more than two players and has special rules. Typically, the players choose a random method for setting the order of play, with the winner breaking. Safeties are not allowed and there are two or more – usually the five and nine. A pool table spread in which the balls are extremely easily positioned for a run out, and where little movement of the cue ball on each shot is necessary to obtain position on the next. A highly skilled hustler making money gambling while traveling. However, when said without an adjective ascribing good or bad characteristics to it, "roll" usually refers to a positive outcome such as in "he sure got a roll". 1.  Descriptive of any game in which the must be struck in numerical order. Billiard researcher Mike Shamos observes that it would be more intuitive to call such games "'series' or 'sequence'". The term actually derives from the set-up of the game Chicago, in which the balls are not racked, but placed numerically around the table along the (and must be shot in ascending order). Other common rotation games include 15-ball rotation, nine-ball, and ten-ball 2.  The specific pool game of rotation. 1.  A multi- division of a , as used in some league and tournament formats. For example, in a match between two teams of five players each, a 25-game match might be divided into five rounds of five games each, in which the roster of one team moves one line down at the beginning of each round, such that by the end of the match every player on team A has played every player on team B in fashion. 2.  A level of competition elimination in a tournament, such as the quarter-final round, semi-final round and final round. A tournament format in which each contestant plays each of the other contestants at least once. In typical team play, round robin format means that each member of the home team plays each member of the visiting team once. This format is used by BCAPL, VNEA and many other leagues. Contrast . Describing a shot that requires one or more balls to be played off several , such as an elaborate or a shot; "he'll have to send the cue ball round the angles to get good position." The deciding match between two tied opponents. Compare . A British term (especially in snooker) for the of a group of balls when another ball is sent into them, typically with the intent of deliberately moving them with the to them. The number of balls in an in pool (e.g., a run of five balls), or points scored in a row in carom billiards (e.g., a run of five points). Compare British (sense 2), which is applied to pool as well as snooker in British English. Used chiefly in British snooker terminology to suggest that a player has enjoyed more luck than their opponent in a or , such as by getting or other unintentional touches of good fortune. "He certainly had the run of the balls in that match." 1.  (verb) Make all of the required shots in a game without the opponent ever getting to the table or getting back to the table 2.  (noun) usually run-out, sometimes runout) An instance of running out in a game. Similar to (sense 1), but more specific to making all required shots from the start of a rack. See also , . In English billiards, running a coup is when a player, from , directly pockets the when no ball(s) are out of . If the ball first makes contact with the flat of a cushion and then (indirectly) enters a pocket, this is not regarded as running a coup. Also running side spin, running spin. ("") on the that causes it to roll off a (contacted at an angle) rather than the ball's natural momentum and direction of travel. If angling into a cushion that is on the right, then running would be left , and vice versa. The angle of deflection will be wider than if no were applied to the cue ball; but more importantly, because the ball is rolling instead of sliding against the cushion, the angle will be more consistent. For this reason, running is routinely used. Also called running in British terminology. Contrast . ==S==