Definition of Mushroom

The overall competition between two players, two pairs of players or two teams of players, usually consisting of a predetermined number of frames or games (sometimes organized into rounds).

A shot in which the cue ball is driven first to one or more rails, then hits an object ball and kisses back to the last rail contacted. It is a common shot in carom games, but can be applied to such an instance in any relevant cue sport.

When complete focus allows you to execute quality billiards play with simplicity and seeming ease.

A requirement under some pocket billiards rulesets that either an object ball be pocketed, or at least four object balls be driven to contact the cushions, on the opening break shot.

Side spin on the cue ball that causes it to roll off a cushion (contacted at an angle) with rather than against the ball's natural momentum and direction of travel. If angling into a rail that is on the right, then running english would be left english, and vice versa. The angle of deflection will be wider than if no english were applied to the cue ball. But more importantly, because the ball is rolling instead of sliding against the rail, the angle will be more consistent. For this reason, running English is routinely used. Also called running side in British terminology. Contrast reverse english.

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

In pool, the degree to which racked balls move apart upon impact by the cue ball as a result of a break shot.
In snooker, a shot sending the cue ball into the pack of red balls and separating them (after potting the ball-on). At least one split is usually necessary in each frame, since the original triangle of reds does not allow any balls to be potted reliably.

This is the portion of the cue you would be holding if there was no wrap or grip present. This is the position where the best gripping power can be generated, and is situated below the forearm and above the butt. This portion is often covered with a wrap, but other times left bare to create a simple seamless style.

This is a ball that is positioned near your pocket that can be used to kiss off of when sinking another object ball.

A situation in which a ball strikes another ball which is close to a rail and the struck ball rebounds back into the ball it was hit by; usually but not always unintended.

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

This is a shot where the cue ball follows directly behind the sunk object ball into the pocket right after it falls.

The pool player who is at the table taking their shot.

The white ball struck by the cue (and so used to strike other colored, numbered, object balls) during play.

This is when you strike a cue ball off center to gain control on the movement on the cue ball.

Same as side rail.

A highly skilled hustler making money gambling while traveling. Fast Eddie Felson in The Hustler was a road player. One of the most notorious real-life road players is Keith McCready.

The deciding match between two tied opponents. Compare hill, hill.

Any shot where the cue ball is intentionally jumped into the air to clear an obstacle

When the object ball lies behind another ball which makes it impossible to be struck by the cue with a direct hit.

This describes a shot where you bank the object ball off of a rail and then sink it in a side pocket.

In APA, once a player has received at least 10 scores in a format, they will have established their skill level. Their established skill level can go up or down depending on their performance and is calculated by the APA's Equalizer Handicap System.

This is the state after which the person returning the break has had the opportunity to catch and even the field after the breakers advantage.

A player skilled at very thin cut shots, and shots in which a ball must pass cleanly through a very narrow space (such as the cue ball between two of the opponent's object balls with barely enough room) to avoid a foul and/or to pocket a ball. Such shots may be referred to as "surgery", "surgical shots", "surgical cuts", etc. (chiefly US, colloquial). See also feather (US) or snick (UK).