Definition of Roll up

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

When the cue ball is tucked behind the corner of a pocket, therefore not allowing a direct shot at the object ball.

A cue made specificaly for an individual player. The term may also describe a quality product of a low volume yielding cue maker who puts more time and effort into both the design and structural integrity of the cue stick, as opposed to a cue manufacturer that builds their cues in a more assembly line fashion.

A type of nurse shot used in English billiards in which two coloured balls are positioned on either side of the mouth of a snooker table pocket but not touching and, thus placed, can be successively contacted and scored off over and over by the cue ball without moving them.

This is a shot where the cue ball double kisses in order to direct the object ball toward the pocket.

Sandbagging, in any handicapped sport, is the unethical practice of deliberately playing below your ability in order to alter your handicap so it does not reflect your true ability.

A particular shot where the object ball hits or grazes another object ball on the way to its pocket or toward hitting yet another object ball.

One of the alternating turns players (or doubles teams) are allowed at the table, before a shot is played that concedes a visit to his/her opponent (e.g. "he ran out in one visit"). Usually synonymous with inning as applied to a single player/team, except in scotch doubles format.

Any game which uses a rack composed of less than 15 balls.

Same as angle of reflection.

The object ball involved in a key shot.

Used when describing perfect play. "as if the balls had strings on them"

This is the way your hand is configured to support the shaft of the cue during a shot.

A pool room employee who plays with a good degree of skill.

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

A game of pool played on a table shaped like a rectangle, with or without pockets.

In the UK, one of the two pockets one either side of a pool, snooker or English billiards table halfway up the long rails.

To determine the order of play, players (representing only themselves, or teams) each simultaneously shoot a ball from the kitchen (or in British games, from the baulk line) to the end rail and back toward the bottom rail. Whichever shooter's ball comes to rest closest to the bottom rail gets to choose who breaks the rack. It is permissible but not required for the lagged ball to touch or rebound from the bottom rail, but not to touch the side rails. Lagging is usually a two-party activity, though there are games such as cutthroat in which three players might lag. In the case of a tie, the tying shooters re-lag. The lag is most often used in tournament play or other competitions. In hard-break games like nine-ball and eight-ball the winner of the lag would normally take the break, while in soft-break games like straight pool would likely require the loser of the lag to break, since breaking would be a disadvantage.

To win an inning that counters a good game your opponent just won.
The inning win that counters a good game your opponent just won.

This term refers to a low percentage one pocket shot.

This is a simple method of gambling where bets are determined between each game instead of playing matches.

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.

Either of the two longer rails of a billiards or pocket billiards table, bisected by a center pocket and bounded at both ends by a corner pocket. Also called a long rail.

To intentionally miss a shot (that results in a foul) in order to create a position for the cue ball that makes it hard for the other player to execute their shot. Not to be confused with a "Safety", since a safety is a legal hit.