Billiards

:This article is about the group of cue games. In the UK, "billiards" is the name for the specific game of English billiards. In the Netherlands, billiards is the name for the game of Carambole billiards.

Glossary

• Ball-in-hand - Some game types allow this after a scratch. The opposing player or team is allowed to place the cue ball anywhere on the table for a free shot.
• Bank - Short for bank shot where the cue ball contacts a ball, the ball hits into a rail, and then that ball is pocketed.
• Baulk-line - A straight line drawn 29" from the face of the bottom cushion. Similar to the head string. Not to be confused with the balkline carom games.
• Balkline - A type of carom game created to eliminate very high runs in straight rail.
• Beer-In-Hand - A modification of billiard games where the players are required to shoot holding the cue stick with one hand, while the other holds a beer.
• Break - Many billiards games start with a break shot. For example, in 8-ball the first person to start play must place the cue ball in the kitchen and shoot the cue ball into the rack.
• Cue - Short for pool cue, or sometimes cue ball.
• Cue ball - A usually white ball. In most games the players start each shot by hitting their pool cue into the cue ball in an attempt to score points or pocket balls.
• Cue stick - A cue stick is usually around 5 ft. long which can be easily gripped with a tip which not only cushions the impact, but allows for spin to be transferred to the cue ball.
• English - An added spin placed on the cue ball when hit with the cue stick. This is done by aiming to either side or above or below the center of the ball. Adding English to the sides will cause the ball to curve after being struck, whereas top or bottom English will cause the ball to continue forward or make a sudden reverse after striking another ball or the rail.
• Head string - A line indicating an area where the cue ball can be placed when a player is making a break shot. The line runs across the short side of the table from the second diamonds on either side. The line is rarely drawn on the table. Also called the balk-line, or baulk-line.
• Kick shot - Like a bank shot, except the cue ball contacts the rail before striking the object ball. Some people use the term bank shot for this shot as well.
• Kiss - After the object ball is struck by the cue ball, it may bank off a cushion to restrike the cue ball, usually throwing the cue ball and object ball into undesired directions.
• Kitchen - The area on the table behind the head string. Where the cue ball must be played from after a scratch and before the break.
• Pocket - An opening in a table into which balls are shot. Also used as a verb to describe the act of a ball being sent into a pocket.
• Pot - Same as the word pocket used as a verb.
• Rack - A wooden or plastic triangle which is used to assist in setting up balls in games like 8-ball, 9-ball, and snooker. The rack allows for conistently tight grouping of balls, which is necessary for a good break shot. The term also is often used to refer group of balls itself. In games with 15 balls, the rack is triangle shaped. In 9-ball either a standard triangle rack is use, or a nine ball diamond rack is used.
• Rail - Pool tables have elastic rails which are covered in cloth. They are also called cushions.
• Safety - An intentionally defensive shot. This is a perfectly legal in many games, and there are often rules restricting how this shot may be executed. For example, in many pool games you cannot shoot into a ball which is in contact with a rail when playing a safety.
• Scratch - Any time the cue ball is hit into the pocket a scratch is called. Most standard rule sets allow the opposing player or team to place the cue ball anywhere in the kitchen for a free shot. Other game types allow "ball-in-hand" after a scratch.
• Sink - Same as the word pocket used as a verb.