The following glossary contains those billiard terms and definitions essential
to utilization of the rules of games provided on these pages. In addition to definitions
of such terms, there are also many references to equipment, accessories and
phrases in common usage by billiard players.
Each definition begins with the term in bold face type, followed by a
parenthetical notation of the game variation or classification in which the term is
used or to which it primarily applies.
Where a diagdram or other supplemental information is available elsewhere on
this page, it is referenced parenthetocally following the definition.
Angled
(Snooker, pocket games)
When the corner of a pocket prevents a player shooting the cue ball directly at an object ball (See corner-hooked.)
Angle Shot (Pocket games)
A shot that requires the cue ball to drive the object ball other than straignt ahead. (See cut shot.)
Apex of Triangle (Pocket games)
The position in the grouping of object balls that is on the foot spot; the front ball position of the pyramid or rack.
Around the Table (Carom games)
Describes shots in which the cue ball contacts three or more cushions, usually including the two short cushions, in an effort to score.
Balance Point (General)
The point on a cue at which it would remain level if held by a single support, usually about 18" from the butt end of the cue.
Ball In Hand (Pocket games)
See cue ball in hand.
Ball On (Snooker)
A colored (non-red) ball a player intends to legally pocket; same as on ball.
Bank Shot (Pocket games)
A shot in which the object ball is driven to one or more cushions before it is pocketed; incidental contact as a ball moves along and adjacent
to a cushion does not qualify as a cushion or bank. It is not an obvious shot and must be called in games requiring called shots. (See kick shots.)
Baulk (Snooker)
The intervening space between the bottom cushion and the Baulk-line.
Baulk-Line (Snooker)
A straight line drawn 29" from the face of the bottom cushion and parallel to it.
Bed of Table(General)
The flat, cloth-covered surface of the table within the cushions; the playing area exclusive of the cushions.
Billiard (Carom games)
A count or score; a successful shot.
Blind Draw (General)
A method used to determine pairings or bracketing of players in tournaments that assures totally random placement or pairing of contestants.
Bottle (Pocket games)
A specially shaped leather or plastic container used in various games. (Also called the shake bottle.)
Bottom Cushion (Snooker)
The cushion located at the head of a snooker table -- closest to the half circle.
Break (Pocket games)
See open break and opening break shot.
Break (Snooker)
Total scored in one inning.
Breaking Violation (Pocket games)
A violation of special rules which apply only to the opening break shot of certain games. Unless specified in individual
games rules, a breaking violation is not a foul.
Bridge (General)
The hand configuration that holds and guides the shaft-end of the cue during play. (See mechanical bridge
Burst (Forty-One Pocket Billiards)
Scoring a total of more than 41 points.
Butt of Cue (General)
The larger end of a cue, opposite the tip. On a two-piece cue, the butt extends up to the joint.
Call Shot (Pocket games)
Requirement that a player designate, in advance of each shot, the ball to be made and the pocket into which it will be made. In calling
the shot, it is NEVER necessary to indicate details such as the number of cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc. The rules of "Bank
Pool" are an exception.
Called Ball (Pocket games)
The ball the player has designated to be pocketed on a shot.
Called Pocket (Pocket games)
The pocket which a player has designated a ball to be shot.
Carom (General)
To bounce off or glance off an object ball or cushion; a shot in which the cue ball bounces off one ball into another is termed a carom.
Carom, Scoring (General)
Contact by the cue ball with object balls, the bottle or cushions in such a way that a legal score is made, according to specific game rules.
Center Spot (General)
The exact center point of a table's playing surface.
Chalk (General)
A dry, slightly abrasive substance that is applied to the cue tip to help assure a non-slip contact between the cue tip and the cue ball.
Chuck Nurse (Straight Rail Billiards)
A scoring technique used when one object ball rests against the cushion and the second object ball is to one side of
the first ball and away from the cushion. Cue ball strikes the object ball at the cushion so that the cue ball just comes back to touch
(carom) the second object ball without moving it out of position for a similar subsequent shot.
Clean Bank (Bank Pocket Billiards)
A shot in which the object ball being played does not touch any other object balls (i.e., no kisses, no combinations).
Clear Ball (Carom games)
The all-white ball, devoid of any markings, used in carom games. (See spot ball.)
Combination (Pocket games)
Shots in which the cue ball first strikes a ball other than the one to be pocketed, with the ball initially contacted in turn striking
one or more other balls in an effort to score.
Combination On (Pocket games)
Two or more balls positioned in such a way that a ball can be driven into a called pocket with a combination shot; often called a
"dead combo" or "on combo".
Combination On (Snooker)
See plant.
Contact Point (General)
The precise point of contact between the cue ball and the object ball when the cue ball strikes the object ball.
Corner-Hooked (Pocket games, Snooker)
When the corner of a pocket prevents shooting the cue ball in a straight path directly to an object ball, the cue ball is corner-hooked;
same as angled.
Count (General)
A score; a successful shot.
Count, The (General)
The running score at any point during a player's inning in games where numerous points aare scored successively.
Cross Corner (Pocket games)
Term used to describe a bank shot that will rebound from a cushion and into a corner pocket.
Cross Side (Pocket games)
Term used to describe a bank shot that will rebound from a side cushion and into a side pocket.
Cross Table Shot (Carom games)
Shot in which scoring is accomplished by driving the cue ball across the table between the long cushions.
Crotch (Carom games)
The corner area of a carom table in straight-rail billiards in which a player may score no more than three
successive counts with the balls before driving at least one object ball out of the area. The four crotches
are defined as those spaces within crotch lines drawn between first diamond on the end rail to the second diamond
on the side rail.
Crutch (General)
Slang term for the mechanical bridge.
Cue (General)
Tapered device, usually wooden, used to strike the cue ball to execute carom or pocket billiard shots. (Also called "cue stick.")
Cue Ball (General)
The white, unnumbered ball that is always struck by the cue during play.
Cue Ball In Hand (Pocket games)
Cue ball may be put into play anywhere on the playing surface.
Cue Ball In Hand Behind the Head String(Pocket games)
Cue ball may be put into play anywhere between the head string and the cushion on the head end of the
table not in contact with an object ball.
Cue Tip (General)
A piece of specially processed leather or other fibrous or pliable material attached to the shaft end of
the cue that contacts the cue ball when the shot is executed.
Cushion (General)
The cloth-covered rubber which borders the inside of the rails on carom and pocket billiar5ds tables;
together the cushions form the outer perimeter of the basic playing surface.
Cut Shot (Pocket games)
A shot in which the cue ball contacts the object ball to one side or the other of full center, thus driving it in a direction
other than that of the initial cue ball path.
D (Snooker)
An area, semi-circular in shape, with the straignt side formed by the line drawn between the spot for the yellow
and the spot for the green measured 29" out from the face of the bottom cushion (sometimes referred to as the
baulk line) and the semi-circle is determined by the size of the table being used.
Dead Ball (Pocket games)
A cue ball stroked in such a manner that virtually all of the speed and/or spin of the cue ball is transferred to
the object ball, the cue ball retaining very little or none after contact.
Dead Ball (Pocket games)
A cue ball stroked in such a manner that virtually all of the speed and/or spin of the cue ball is
transferred to the object ball, the cue ball retaining very little or none after contact.
Dead Ball Shot (Pocket games)
A shot in which a dead ball stroke is employed; often called a killed shot, because of the relative
lack of cue ball motion after contact with the object ball.
Dead Combinations (Pocket games)
See combination on.
Diamonds (General)
Inlays or markings on the table rails that are used as reference or target points. The diamonds are
essential for the utilization of numerous mathematical systems employed by carom and
pocket games players.
Draw Shot (General)
A shot in ;which the cue ball is struck below center, and the resulting back spin causes the cue ball to return
towards the player after full contact with an object ball.
Drop Pockets (Pocket games)
Type of pockets with no automatic return of the balls to the foot end of the table; balls must be removed manually.
Double Elimination (Pocket games)
A tournament format in which a player is not eliminated until he has sustained two match losses.
A tournament format in which each contestant in a field plays each of the other players twice.
English (General)
Side spin applied to the cue ball by striking it off center; used to alter the natural roll of the cue ball and/or object ball.
Feather Shot (General)
A shot in which the cue ball barely touches or grazes the object ball; an extremely thin cut.
Ferrule (General)
A piece of protective material (usually plastic, horn, or metal) at the end of the cue shaft, onto which the cue tip is attached.
Follow Shot (General)
A shot in which the cue ball is struck above center and the resulting forward spin cause the cue ball to roll
forward after contact with an object ball.
Follow Through (General)
AThe movement of the cue after contact with the cue ball through the area previously occupied by the cue ball.
Foot of Table (General)
The end of a carom or pocket billiard table at which the balls are racked or positioned at the start of a game.
Foot Spot (General)
The point on the foot end of the table where imaginary lines drawn between the center diamonds of the short rails and the
second diamonds of the long rails intersect.
Foot String (General)
A line on the foot end of the table between the second diamonds of the long rails, passing through the foot spot.
The foot string is never drawn on the table, and has no use in play.
Force (General)
The power applied on the stroake to the cue ball, which may result in distortion and altering of natural
angles and action of the ball.
Force Draw (General)
A shot with extreme draw, usually directly at and then "through" an object ball.
Force Follow (General)
A follow shot with extreme overspin applied to the cue ball, with the term generally used in reference to shots in which the cue ball is shot
directly at and then "through" an object ball, with a pronounced hesitation or stop before the overspin propels the cue ball
forward in the general direction of the stroke.
Foul (General)
An infraction of the rules of play, as defined in either the general or the specific game rules. (Not all rule infractions are fouls.) Fouls result
in a penalty, also dependent on specific game rules.
Foul Stroke (General)
A stroke on which a foul takes place.
Frame (Snooker)
The equivalent of one game in snooker.
Free Ball (Snooker)
After a foul, if the cue ball lis snookered, the feferee shall state "Free Ball." If the non-offending player takes the
next stroke he may nominate any ball as on, and for this stroke, such ball shall be regarded as, and acquire the value of,
the ball on.
Free Break (Pocket games)
An opening break shot in which a wide spread of the object balls may be achieved without penalty or risk.
Free breaks are detailed in individual games rules.
Frozen (General)
A ball touching another ball or cushion.
Full Ball (General)
Contact of the cue ball with an object ball at a contact point on a line joining the centers of the cue ball and object ball.
Game
The course of play that starts when the referee has finished racking the balls, and ends at the conclusion
of a legal shot which pockets the last required ball. In 14.1 continuous, a game lasts several racks.
Game Ball (General)
The ball which, if pocketed legally, would produce victory in a game.
Gather Shot (Carom games)
A shot on which appropriate technique and speed are employed to drive one or more balls away from the other(s) in such a manner
that when the stroke is complete, the balls have come back together closely enough to present a comparatively easy scoring
opportunity for the next shot.
Grip (General)
The manner in which the butt of the cue is held in the hand.
Gully Table (Pocket games)
A table with pockets and a return system that delivers the balls as they are pocketed to a collection
bin on the foot end of the table.
Handicapping (General)
Modifications in the scoring and/or rules of games to enable players of differing abilities to compete on more even terms.
Head Of Table (General)
The end of a carom or pocket billiard table from which the opening break is performed; the end
normally marked with the manufacturer's nameplate.
Head Spot (General)
The point on the head of the table where imaginary lines drawn between the center diamonds of the short rails
and the second diamonds of the long rails intersect.
Head String (General)
A line on the head end of the table between the second diamons of the long rails, passing through the head spot.
Hickey (Snooker Golf)
Any foul.
High Run (14.1 Continuous)
During a specified segment of play, the greatest number of balls scored in one turn (inning) at the table.
Hold (General)
English which stops the cue ball from continuing the course of natural roll it would take after
having been driven in a certain direction.
Inning (General)
A turn at the table by a player, and which may last for several racks in some pocket games.
In Hand (Pocket games)
See cue ball in hand.
In Hand Behind the Head String (Pocket games)
See cue ball in hand behind the head string.
In-Off (Snooker)
A losing hazard; that is, when the cue ball enters a pocket. The snooker equivalent of a scratch.
In the Rack (14.1 Continuous)
A ball that would interfere with the reracking of the object balls in 14.1 Continuous that extend past one rack.
Jaw (Pocket games)
The slant part of the cushion that is cut at an angle to form the opening from the bed of the table into the pocket.
Jawed Ball (Pocket games)
Generally refers to a ball that fails to drop because it bounces back and forth against the jaws of a pocket.
Joint (General)
On two-piece cues, the screw-and-thread device, approximately midway in the cue, that permits it to be broken
down into two separate sections.
Jump Shot (General)
A shot in which the cue ball or object ball is caused to rise off the bed of the table.
Jumped Ball (General)
A ball that has left and remained off the playing surface as the result of a stroke or a ball that is stroked in a manner
which causes it to jump over another ball.
