Definition of Hanger

Chiefly American: The cushion on the foot rail. Compare top cushion; contrast head cushion.

A successful attempt to get out of a snooker.

This is to intentionally foul by slightly moving the ball, or playing another type of illegally defensive shot in a game where the ball is just turned over to the other player. Like in one pocket, you still take the foul, but can leave the other player with a challenging shot.

Confederation Panamerica of Billiards

This is to win a game by pocketing enough balls before you opponent.

Also known as back spin, a type of spin applied to the cue ball by hitting it below its equator, causing it to spin backwards even as it slides forward on the cloth. Back spin slows the cue ball down, reduces its travel, and narrows both the carom angle after contact with an object ball, and angle of reflection off a cushion. There are several variant terms for this, including "bottom" and "bottom spin" in the US and "screw" in the UK. Draw is thought to be the first spin technique understood by billiards players prior to the introduction of leather tips, and was in use by the 1790s.

When two objects balls are lined up so that you aim to pocket the nearest object ball, the second object ball will pocket. "That was an easy combination shot, the six ball was wired to the four ball". Also wired combination/combo, wired kiss.

This is an imaginary line that separates the halves of the table by crossing at the middle of the side of pockets.

Used by itself often with "low" and "high": "that's a low-percentage shot for me", "I should really take the high-percentage one".

Any standard pool cue used to shoot the majority of shots in a match.

A deliberate foul that leaves the balls in a safe position, reducing the risk of giving a frame-winning chance to the opponent. The miss rule in snooker was implemented primarily to discourage the professional fouls.

Term for object balls in the game of Chicago that are each assigned as having a set money value; typically the 5, 8, 10, 13 and 15. In games where multiple balls must be pocketed in succession to score a point, such as cribbage pool or thirty-ball, when the last ball necessary to score has been potted, the points given is referred to as a way.

Also known as slop. To pocket a ball by luck; "he ratted in the 9 ball"; usually employed disapprovingly.

This refers to a shot that is not banked, does not hit a rail and goes into the pocket without contacting any other balls on the table.

Oceania Pocket Billiard Association.

This is the apex ball in the triangle, racked on the foot spot in a normal game.

An unintentional and often barely perceptible curve imparted to the path of the cue ball from the use of english without a level cue. Not to be confused with a swerve shot.

During a set if the opponent does not win a single game, they are said to have been skunked.

"Pocket billiards," or a game in which balls are shot into pockets.

This is playing to a higher winning score than eight in the game of one pocket.

In snooker, any of the three colour balls that get spotted on the baulk line: the yellow, green or brown ball.

The ball meant to be struck and sunk in your called shot.

Describes a player who needs only one more game win to be victorious in the match.

To play even; without a handicap. Also called heads up.