24 Random Essential Billiards Terms
Australian: Defeated with all seven of one's object balls (in blackball or eight-ball) remaining on the table.
A situation where the cue ball is directly in front of another ball in the line of the shot such that the player is hampered by it, having to bridge over it awkwardly with the likelihood of a foul looming if the object ball is inadvertently touched.
Also Gentleman's call. An informal approach to the "call-everything" variation of call-shot, common in bar pool. Obvious shots, such as a straight-on or near-straight shot for which the shooter is clearly aiming and which could not be mistaken for another shot, need not be called. Bank shots, kicks, caroms and combinations are usually less obvious and generally must be called, though this may depend upon the mutual skill level and shot selection perception of the players. An opponent has the right to ask what the shooter's intention is, if this is unclear.
When the cue ball is tucked behind the corner of a pocket, therefore not allowing a direct shot at the object ball without it bouncing of the corner of the rail.
This is a kind of cue made of only two pieces of wood, and joined together using an advanced adhesive along the points of the cue. This connection gives the cue a flawless look and a fluid feel when shooting.
This is a bank in which the object ball hit will cross the path of the cue ball on the way to its destination.
In snooker and British pool, the successful potting of all object balls-on in a single frame.
Describes a ball rolling along a rail in contact or near contact with it, or which makes multiple successive contacts with the rail.
This is a ball that is resting on the edge of a pocket, and would be a very easy shot to pocket.
This is also used to describe the ball when it rests on the edge of the pocket, almost begging to drop.
This is also used to describe the ball when it rests on the edge of the pocket, almost begging to drop.
A break shot in which the rack (pack) is disturbed as little as possible within the bounds of a legal shot, in order to force the opponent to have to break it up further. A soft break is desirable in some games, such as straight pool, in which breaking is a disadvantage; and forbidden by the open break rules of other games such as nine-ball and eight-ball.
A soft joint-like plastic or linen base material. It lets the cue whip, putting more English on the cue ball.
The act of playing a devastating safety which leaves the opponent in a situation where it is very difficult or near impossible to make a legal hit on an object ball
This refers to the cluster of balls remaining in a similar position to where they were within the break
This is the imaginary line that a ball would need to follow in order for it to result in an effective bank shot.
In blackball, a situation where the player cannot see any of the balls she/he wants to hit due to obstruction by other balls or the knuckle of a pocket. The player must call "total snooker" to the referee, which allows a dispensation to the player from having to hit a cushion after contacting the object ball, which is otherwise a foul.
These are fouls made in one turn and then on the next by the same player each time. Some games have a rule that a player will lose the rack or match with three succesive fouls.
Deviation of a ball from its initial direction of travel. Often the result of a poor-quality table and may be an artifact of the cloth, the bed, a ball with uneven weight distribution, or simply the floor the table stands on being uneven.
A barrel is how much money per game a player is betting. As in, "I have ten barrels at $20 a game".
This is when it is necessary to change a set handicap after play indicates it favors one player more than the other.
Describes a cue ball sliding on the cloth without any top spin or back spin on it.
This is a type of shot that is executed by an object ball caroming off of another object ball in order to gain the pocket.
This refers to the distance of deflection that the ball comes off of the cue stick after a hit is applied with side spin on it.
To play a shot using a more difficult application of stroke and speed to achieve a certain desired position for the next shot, even at the expense of or sharply increasing the likelihood of a miss.
Also lady's aid or girly stick. A denigrating term for the mechanical bridge.