Definition of Action

This is when a mistake is made in the shot and the resulting contact between balls forces you to miss the shot.

In snooker, after particular fouls are committed, the referee can call a "free ball." This allows the next player to assign any ball as "ball on" if he or she is shooting next.

This is a tip tool for cleaning the edges of you tip after mushrooming occurs.

Descriptive of any game in which the object balls 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 cushions (and must to be shot in ascending order). Other common rotation games include pool (obviously), nine-ball, seven-ball, ten-ball.

This is a shot on the cue ball that will push through to a frozen ball on the cue ball. If the contact is made on the object ball while the cue stick is still contacting, essentially pushing the second ball, then it is usually considered a foul.

In certain carom billiards games, any shot in which the cue ball is sucessfully caromed off an object ball to strike another object ball (with or without contacting cushions in the interim) is a considered a billiards shot.

This is any game of pool played with money on the line. You can "put some action" on the game.

Describing a ball that is safe because it is in close proximity to one or more other balls, and would need to be developed before it becomes pottable.

The 5 out (meaning the player getting the handicap can win by making the 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 balls).

Balls remain unmoved after a player's shot.

This is English that turns into reverse English after contact with the object ball. This will close up the angle on a bank.

A player who was not shooting well during a match but suddenly turns it around and starts playing better and more accurately. Also known as "Finding a stroke" or "Found their stroke".

To seal the pores of a wooden cue's shaft or to smooth out minor dents in the shaft by rubbing vigorously with some material.
To similarly vigorously rub the edge of a cue tip (especially a new one) to fortify it against mushrooming and ensure that it is perfectly flush with the ferrule.

An imaginary line drawn from the desired path an object ball is to be sent (usually the center of a pocket) and the center of the object ball.

This is a version of double elimination tournament play that splits the field of competitors into two brackets that come together for a single elimination championship game.

Also massé 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 spin imparted to the cue ball by a steeply elevated cue. For Example: shooting with extreme english by holding the cue at a position of 30-90 degrees while applying left or right spin.

The sides of a table's frame upon which the elastic cushions are mounted. May also be used interchangeably with cushion.

In snooker, the pocket nearest the yellow spot.

This is a kind of cue made of four pieces of wood, the butt sleeve, the points, the handle, and the forearm, with each piece pinned, doweled, and glued together.

North American Poolshooters Association. Mission: To provide a competitive and fun amateur pool league competition with cash and prizes awarded to the players at the local level.

This refers to the cluster of balls remaining in a similar position to where they were within the break.

To indicate where something is to be done. To "mark the pocket" means to indicate which pocket you intend to sink an object ball.

When a successful non penalized break is achieved which gives the object balls a broad spread on the table.

Any shot in which the cue ball or an object ball has to squeeze by (just miss with almost no margin for error) another ball or balls in order to reach its intended target.