Definition of Protect

American CueSports Alliance. Their mission statement is "To heighten the interest and awareness of cue sports through the support and sanctioning of organized competition throughout the United States and North America."

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.

This is a shot where the cue ball contacts an object ball and moves it along a path, but because the cue ball is still in motion it re-contacts the object ball and pushes it in the pocket after it stops.

The material which covers the bed and cushions of a pool table. The cloth used to cover a pool table is very special and can come in a variety of grades. Along with the general quality of the table itself, the cloth play a very important role in how a particular table plays.

This is a particular shot where the potential for a miscue is higher because of the amount of draw that is attempted on the cue ball.

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

This is the white ball in carom games which is separated from the clear ball by a marking (usually a dot or spot).

A shot in which the cue ball is driven to one or more rails (cushions in British English) before reaching its intended target-usually an object ball. Sometimes also known as "Kick Out" or "Skid" (British)

To maneuver a ball on a shot so that it will be favorably positioned for later play into a particular pocket, even at the expense of sacrificing position or the inning to achieve that result.

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

In snooker, the pocket nearest the yellow spot.

Balls remain unmoved after a player's shot.

Jargon for a tournament chart, showing which players are playing against whom and what the results are. Often shortened to card.

Hitting the object ball with not enough of a cut angle; hitting the object ball too full or "fat". It is a well-known maxim that overcutting is preferable to undercutting. See also professional side of the pocket.

A tactic employed in UK eight-ball pool in which a player calls and pots one of the balls in a favorably lying set, then plays safe, leaving as many of his/her well-placed balls on the table as possible, until the opponents commits a foul or leaves a chance that the player feels warrants an attempt at running out.

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.

In snooker, to leave the cue ball ball on the spot of a colour ball after potting it. This is usually performed where re-spotting of the colour ball would cause positional problems for the player, such as blocking available pots on one or more red balls.

A short and loose stroke performed in a manner similar to the way one throws a dart; usually employed for a jump shot. See also nip draw.

A joint type in which the butt and shaft screw together in a tight lock, resulting in a better shot with more hitting power.

Three Cushion is a form of carom billiards.
The object of the game is to carom the cue ball off both object balls and contact the rail cushions at least 3 times before the last object ball. A point is scored for each successful carom.

Describing a difficult pot: "the awkward cueing makes this shot missable."

A reference to the amount of English applied to the object ball from the cue ball.

The triangular device, generally plastic, used to group the balls in a pyramid form prior to the beginning of a game.

A joint type which makes it possible to screw and unscrew the butt and shaft very quickly; faster than standard threads.