Definition of White ball

The useless but common practice of contorting one's body while a shot is in play, usually in the direction one wishes a ball or balls to travel, as if in the vain hope that this will influence the balls' trajectories; the term is considered humorous.

This is a handicapping method where one player gets the break, and is allowed to choose any ball afterwards to put in their pocket.

A pool table where two shims have been placed on the sides of each pocket (in the jaws beneath the cloth), making the pockets "tighter" (smaller). Such tables are "tougher" than unshimmed or single-shimmed tables.

In snooker, the cushion opposite the top cushion and bounded by the yellow and green pockets (i.e. same as bottom cushion).

In eight-ball and related games, describes the situation in which neither player has yet claimed a suit (group) of balls. Often shortened to simply open: "Is it still an open table?" "Yes, it's open."

When two or more object balls are frozen or nearly frozen, such that cue-ball contact with one object ball, without the necessity of great accuracy, will almost certainly pocket an intended object ball in the cluster. The most common form of dead arrangements are the dead combination or dead combo (a combination shot in which contact with the first object ball will pocket another one), and the dead kiss, in which contact with the first object ball will pocket it off of another one. See also wired.

The point on the table surface over which the apex ball of a rack is centered (in most games). It is the point half the distance between the long rails' second diamonds from the end of the racking end of the table. The foot spot is the intersection of the foot string and the long string, and is typically marked with a cloth or paper decal on pool tables.

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

Also known as a "power draw", means applying very powerful draw on the cue ball thereby causing the maximum amount of draw.

In one pocket pool this means that you change your play based on where the count is during the game. If you are ahead you might choose more conservative shots, and if you are behind you could choose more aggressive shots.

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

When the cue ball contacts three or more cushions in carom games.

This is placed on a ball by hitting it slightly below center. This action makes the ball travel in a motion against its originally hit direction.

This is the raised portion on the side of the table; the cushions are essentially rubber bumpers covered in the table cloth.

This a shot that hits the object ball at the nine ball to see if you can get lucky by sinking the nine ball in any pocket. (also see Rolling the Cheese and Cheese the Nine).

Same as back spin.

In the game 9 Ball, making the nine ball early with a legal shot, but not on the break.

This is a table that offers poor conditions for play; it is either dirty, wet, or overall poor quality.

In team match play when playing one-on-one matches, if one team is short a player, a player on that team is called back to play a second match.
For example: Team A has 6 players, Team B has 4 players. There will be five individual matches played. For the fifth match Team A can pick a player from Team B to play a second match against their fifth match player.

This is a player that will regularly loose money to a particular player that is obviously a better player.

This is a carom shot that utilizes english and only two rails to achieve three cushion contacts.

This is the portion of your cue below joint, and includes the forearm, handle, sleeve, and the cap. Usually made with exotic wood and creatively designed to be pleasing to the eye, and often times wrapped at the handle, this is the attractive portion of the cue stick. (Sometimes this word is used alone to refer to the butt sleeve portion of the cue stick).

Toward the foot of the table.

Random method for pairing of opponents when setting up a bracket system for a tournament.