Definition of Marquetry

This is a shot in snooker where the cue ball follows a struck object into the pocket.

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

This is the highest number of consecutive points scored during an inning of continuous pool play.

A bridge formed by the hand where no finger loops over the shaft of the cue. Typically, the cue stick is channeled by a "v"-shaped groove formed by the thumb and the base of the index finger.

This is when it is necessary to change a set handicap after play indicates it favors one player more than the other.

To elevate the back of the cue on a shot.

A tournament format in which a player is out of the tournament after a single match loss.

Side spin on a cue ball on the opposite side of the direction of the cut angle to be played (right-hand english when cutting an object ball to the left, and vice versa). In addition to affecting cue ball position, outside english can be used to decrease throw.

When the object ball banked of a rail goes directly in a pocket without kissing or touching any other object balls.

This is when a ball is spotted because of a foul or a handicap.

This is a certain type of system used to determine who plays first in the next game. These methods are not synonymous with pool skills, and are more along the lines of flipping a coin, paper-rock-scissors, or drawing straws.

A soft joint-like plastic or linen base material. It lets the cue whip, putting more English on the cue ball.

This is what is brought to the table if you are playing at your best potential.

This is the International Billiards and Snooker Federation. This organization governs non-professional snooker and billiards play all over the world.

Technique using different wood inlays to create picture designs on the butt of the cue.

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

A pool cue designed for breaking. Along with sometimes having unusual weight or balance to build maximum speed for the cue ball, some break cues have stiffer shafts and special breaking cue tips to transfer energy more efficiently to the cue ball.

This describes balls that are not able to be made in a pocket, either because they are high up on the table, in a different pocket, or in a cluster that makes the shot difficult. This condition of being out of play obviously exists on different difficulty levels.

Confederation Panamerica of Billiards

To intentionally lose a game, e.g. to disguise one's actual playing ability. An extreme form of sandbagging. See also hustle. See also Match fixing for the synonym "tank", used in sports more generally.

This is a term used in slang to reference the bridge tool.

This is a slang term created by Freddy Bentivegna to refer to a cluster of balls on your side of the table that do not lend to easy pocketing in a game of one pocket.

An exhibition shot designed to impress either by a player's skill or knowledge of how to set the balls up and take advantage of the angles of the table; usually a combination of both. A trick shot may involve items otherwise never seen during the course of a game, such as bottles, baskets, etc., and even members of the audience being placed on or around the table.

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.