Glossary of cue sports terms

The following is an incomplete list of traditional terms used in the game of billiards.

A

"A" game

A player's best game; "he brought out his "A" game." Not to be confused with the various "a, b, c, d" ranking systems.

Action

Synonymous with gambling.

Ahead race

A match format in which the number of games ahead determines the win; e.g., in a "ten ahead race" a player wins when he or she has ten more wins than the opponent.

Aiming line

An imaginary line drawn from the desired path an object ball is to be sent (usually the center of a pocket) and the center of the object ball.

Angle of incidence

The angle at which a ball approaches a rail, as measured from the perpendicular to the rail.

Angle of reflection

The angle from which a ball rebounds from a rail, as measured from the perpendicular to the rail.

B

Back cut

A cut shot in which if a line were drawn from the cue ball to the rail behind the object ball parallel to the table's rail, the object ball would lie outside the line with respect to the pocket being targeted.

Backspin or Back spin

Same as draw and bottom spin. See draw.

Balance point

The point, usually around 18 inches from the bottom of a cue, at which the cue will balance when resting on one hand.

Balkline

A type of carom game created to eliminate very high runs in straight rail or, a line drawn horizontally from a point on the billiard table's long rail to the corresponding point on the opposite long rail, from which the game of balkine takes its name.

Ball-in-hand

The option of placing the cue ball anywhere on the table prior to shooting. Usually only available to a player when the opposing player has committed some type of foul under a particular game's rules.

Ball-On

Any legally strikable ball on the table in commonwealth terminology. For example, in 8-ball, if a player is playing 'solids', any ball from 1 to 7 can be the 'ball-on' until they are all potted, in which case the 8-ball is the 'ball on'. In Snooker, at the beginning of a player's turn, unless all are already potted, any red ball can be the 'ball-on'.

Bangers

Derogatory term for recreational or beginning players who "bang" the balls without attempting to control the cue ball; also a reference to the predilection of beginners to often hit the cue ball far harder than necessary.

Bank

See bank shot.

Bank shot

1. A shot in which an object ball is driven to one or more rails prior to being pocketed (or in some contexts, prior to reaching its intended target; not necessarily a pocket).
2. In popular usage, may refer to a shot in which the cue ball is driven to one or more rails prior to contacting an object ball; see kick shot.

Baulk-line

A straight line drawn 29" from the face of the bottom cushion on a snooker table. Similar to the head string on a pool table. Not to be confused with the balkline carom games.

Bed of table

The playing area of a table, exclusive of the cushions.

Billiards

In the U.S. refers to the carom games, or sometimes to all cue sports.

Billiard shot

Any shot in which the cue ball caroms off an object ball to strike another object ball.

Blood test

Any very difficult shot that must be made under pressure.

Body english

The useless but common practice of contorting one's body while a shot is in play, in the vain hope that that will influence the balls' paths of travel; the term is considered humorous.

Bottom spin

Same as draw and backspin. See draw.

Break

1. Typically describes the first shot in a billiards games. In carom games it describes the first point attempt, as shot from an unvarying cue ball and object balls placement; in many pocket billiard games it describes the first shot which is used to break open the balls which have been racked together;
2. Also describes a series of consecutive pots by a player during a single turn. More typically applied in Snooker. e.g. "The player had a break of 89 points."

Bridge

Anything used to support the shaft end of a cue stick during a shot, usually a player's left or right hand. See mechanical bridge.

Bumper

The rubber bumper on the bottom of a cue.

Burnish

To seal the pores of a wooden cue by rubbing it vigorously with some material, usually leather; also done to the edge of a cue tip.

Business, doing

Collusion between matchplay opponents who prearrange who will win a match on which other people's money is wagered, in order to guarantee a payday.

Butt

The bottom portion of a pool cue which is gripped by a player's hand.

C

Calcutta

A player's auction at a pool tournament.

Call shot

Any game in which during normal play a player must call the ball to be hit and the intended pocket; "8-ball is a call shot game."

Cannon

English/Canadian variant of 'Carom'.

Carom

Usually refers to a type of point scoring shot in billiards where the player causes his/her cue ball to hit each of the other two balls on the table. Also called a 'cannon' (English/Canadian varient).

Center spot

The spot at the geographic center of the bed of the table.

Chalk

A powdered substance placed on a cue stick's tip to increase its friction an thereby decrease slippage between the tip and cue ball. See "hand chalk."

Chasing your money

The inability of some players to stop gambling once they have lost money because they "have" to get their money back.

Cheat(ing) the pocket

Aiming an object ball away from the center of a pocket so that the cue ball may strike the object ball at a different contact point. Employed for position play.

Choke(ing)

The committing of errors due to pressure.

Closed bridge

A bridge formed by the hand where the index finger is curved over the cue stick and other fingers are spread on the cloth providing solid support for the cue stick's direction.

Cloth or table cloth

The cloth covering the tables playing surface and rails, usually made from wool or a wool-nylon blend. Sometimes cloth is improperly referred to as "felt."

Cluster

Two or more object balls that are touching or are close together.

Collision-induced english

Sidespin imparted to an object ball by the friction from the hit of the cue ball during a cut shot.

Collision-induced throw

Deflection of an object ball's path away from the impact line of a cut shot, caused by sliding friction between the cue ball and the object ball.

Combination

Any shot in which the cue ball contacts another ball, which in turn hits one or more balls to an intended place, usually a pocket.

Contact point

The point on each of two balls at which they touch at the moment of impact.

Corner-hooked

When the corner lip of a pocket blocks the path of the cue ball from contacting an intended object ball. Interchangeable with "tittie hooked".

Cross-corner

A bank shot that rebounds from a cushion and into the nearer corner pocket.

Cross-side

A bank shot that rebounds from a cushion and into the side pocket.

Cue or cue stick

A stick, usually around 45-50 inches in length with a leather tip on the end and sometimes with a joint in the middle, which is used to propel billiard balls. Sometimes "cue" is short for "cue ball".

Cue ball or cueball

The ball in a billiards game, typically white in color, that a player strikes with a cue stick.

Further information: Cue ball

Cue tip

A material, usually leather, placed on the end of a cue stick that comes in contact with the cue ball.

Curve or curve shot

See semi-massé.

Cushion

The elastic bumpers mounted on all rails of a billiards table, usually made from rubber or synthetic rubber, from which the balls rebound.

Cut or cut shot

Technically, any shot that is not a center-to-center hit, but almost always used to describe a shot that has more than a slight degree of angle.

D

Dart stroke

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

Dead

Same as wired.

Dead ball shot

Same as kill shot.

Dead stroke

When a player is playing flawlessly, just "cannot miss" and the game seems effortless.

Deflection or squirt

Displacement of the cue ball's path away from the parallel line formed by the cue stick's direction of travel; occurs every time english is employed. The degree if deflection increases the faster and the more english with which a ball is struck.

Diamonds

Markings, usually inlaid into the surface above the rail cushions, used as target or reference points. Three equally spaced diamonds are normally between each pocket on a pool table. Diamonds get their name from the shape of the markings usually used. Nevertheless, no matter the shape, rail markings are still referred to as "diamonds."

Diamond system(s)

Any system for banking or kicking balls multiple rails which uses table diamonds as aiming references.

Double cheeseburger (the)

Same as hill, hill.

Dog

To dog a shot is to miss a relatively easy shot, often due to pressure. Can be used in many forms: "I dogged the shot"; I hope he dogs it"; "I'm such a dog."

Double elimination

A tournament format in which a player must lose two matches in order to be eliminated.

Double hit

An illegal shot in which the cue stick's tip contacts the cue ball twice during a single stroke. Double hits often occurs when a player shoots the cue ball when it is very close to another ball or rail.

Double kiss

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.

Draw

Bottom spin applied to the cue to make it reverse direction after contacting an object ball.

Drill

1. A set practice routine;
2. To beat badly; "I drilled my opponent."

Drop pockets

Pockets that do not return the balls to a foot end of the table, which must be retrieved manually.

Duck

1. Derived from "sitting duck," as a nounm duck describes an object ball sitting close to a pocket or so positioned that is virtually impossible to miss. Same as hanger.
2. (Verb)To play safe.

E

End rail

Either of the two shorter rail of a billiards or pocket billiards table.

English

Sidespin placed on the cue ball when hit with the cue stick to the left or right of center ball. Sometimes also used to refer to follow (spin in the natural direction of a ball's roll, placed on a cue ball by hitting it above center) and draw (spin in the opposite direction of the natural direction of a ball's roll, placed on a cue ball by hitting it below center).

F

Feather or feather shot

A very thin cut shot in which the cue ball just brushes the edge of an object ball.

Ferrule

A sleeve made from plastic, ivory or other material, upon which the cue tip is mounted and which protects the shaft wood from splitting from cue ball impact.

Fish

1. An easy mark;
2. A person who loses money gambling and keeps coming back for more
3. Sometimes, a poor player
4. (Verb) Hitting the balls hard with no intention in mind other than to get lucky.

Follow-through

On a shot, the extension of the cue stick through the cue ball position during the end of a player's stroke in the direction originally aimed.

Foot rail

The short rail at the end of the table where balls are normally racked.

Foot spot

The point on the table surface over which the apex ball of a rack is centered or, the point half the distance between the second diamond on either side of the racking end of the table.

Force follow

A powerful follow shot with a high degree of topspin on it; usually when the object ball being hit is relatively close to the cue ball and is being hit very full; also known as "prograde topspin".

Foul

A violation of a particular game's rules for which a set penalty is imposed. In many games the penalty for a foul is ball-in-hand for the opponent or ball-in-hand behind the headstring. See ball-in-hand. In other games such as straight pool, a foul results in a loss of one or more points. In one-pocket, in which a set number of balls must be made in a specific pocket, upon a foul the player must return a ball to the table. In some games, three successive fouls in a row is a loss of game. In straight pool, a third successive foul results in a loss of 16 points (15 plus one for the foul).

Possible foul situations (nonexclusive)

• the player shoots the cue ball first into a ball that is not an object ball;
• the player shoots and after contacting an object ball, no ball is pocketed and neither the cue ball nor a numbered ball contacts a cushion (excepting "push out" rules);
• the player pockets the cue ball. See scratch;
• the player does not have at least one foot on the floor at the moment of shooting;
• the player shoots the cue ball before all other balls have come to a complete stop;
• the player hits the cue ball more than once during a shot (a "double hit");
• the player touches the cue ball with something other than the tip of the cue;
• the player touches any ball other than the cue ball;
• the player causes a ball to leave the table's playing surface;
• the player marks the table in any manner to aid in aiming;
• the player who has ball-in-hand touches an object ball with the cue ball while attempting to place the cue ball on the table;
• The player shoots in such a manner that his cue tip stays in contact with the cue ball for more than the momentary time commensurate with a stroked shot (a "push shot").

Free stroking

1. Sometimes, same as dead stroke.
2. Pocketing well and quickly but without much thought for position play
3. Playing loose and carefree.

Freeze up

To dedicate a set amount of money that a gambling match will be played to; no one may quit until one player or the other has won the "frozen up" funds.

Fundamentals

The basic actions necessary to shoot well – Stance, grip, stroke, bridge and follow-through.

G

Games on the wire

To give a handicap to an opponent where they have to win a specified number less games than the other player in order to triumph in the match.

Gapper

An agreement between to players in a tournament, one of whom will advance to a guaranteed money prize if the match is won, to give a certain percentage of that money to the loser of the match.

Gather shot

In the carom games, any shot where the end result is all the balls near each other; ideally, in position for the start of a "nurse" on the next stroke.

Ghost ball

A common aiming method in which a phantom ball is imagined frozen to the object ball at the point where an imaginary line drawn between their centers is aimed at the desired target; the cue ball may then be shot at the center of the "ghost" ball and, ideally, impact the object ball at the proper aiming contact point.

Go off

Describes the propensity of a player losing small money at gambling to suddenly sharply increase the stakes; often continuing to lose until broke. Compare "chasing your money."

H

Hand chalk

Powdery white chalk placed on a player's bridge hand to reduce moisture so that a cue stick's shaft can slide more easily. It is not provided in many establishments as many recreational players will use far more than is necessary and transfer it all over the table's surface.

Handicapping

Modification of the rule and or scoring of a game to enable players of differing abilities to compete on more even terms.

Hanging in the pocket

A ball hanging over the edge of a pocket.

Hanger

An easy shot. Same as duck.

Have the nuts

Be in a game where either because of disparity in skill level, or because of a handicap given, it would be very difficult to lose.

Having the cue ball on a string

Used when describing perfect cue ball position play.

Head rail

The short rail at the opposite end of the table from where a player breaks.

Head string

A line drawn horizontally across a billiards table from the second diamond on one long rail to the corresponding second diamond on the other long rail. In many pool games, the opening break shot must be performed with the center (base) of the cue ball behind the head string. See kitchen. Also called the balk-line, or baulk-line.

Heart

The strength of a player's will to win; the ability to overcome pressure; "he showed a lot of heart in making that comeback."

Hill, hill

The point in match play where both players (or teams) need only one more game to win. See on the hill.

Hook(ed)

Hook: to hide the cue ball in such a manner that the opponent cannot easily contact an object ball. Hooked: to be hidden from a shot. Compare "snookered."

House cue

Usually a one-piece cue freely available for use by patrons in bars and pool halls.

House man

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

House rules

The rules played in a particular venue not necessarily in comportment with official rules.

I

Irish linen

Linen made from flax and produced in Ireland which is often used to wrap the gripping area of the butt of a cue.

Further information: Irish linen

Inning

A player's turn at the table, usually ending with a miss, a failure to score a point, or with a win.

Inside english

Sidespin on a cue ball on the same side of the direction of the cut angle to be played (left hand english when cutting a ball to the left, and vice versa).

Insurance ball

A ball that is easily made from most positions on the table but which is left untouched while the rack is played, so that in the event the player gets out of position, the shooter has an insurance shot. Typically an insurance ball will be in or near the jaws of a pocket.

J

Jack up

To elevate the cue.

Jail

When a player is on the receiving end of a devastating safety where it is very difficult or near impossible to make a legal hit on an object ball.

Jam up

Adjectival expression for a player's deadly game; "watch out, he plays jam up."

Jaws

The inside walls of a pocket billiards table's pockets.

Joint

The interlocking connection between the butt and shaft ends of a two-piece cue stick.

Joint protectors

Plugs that screw into the joint when a two-piece cue is broken down to keep foreign objects and moisture from contacting the joint mechanism.

Jump or jump shot

Any shot where the cue ball is intentionally jumped into the air to clear an obstacle. Jump shots must be performed by hitting the cue ball into the table's surface so that it rebounds from the cloth. Scooping under the cue ball to fling it into the air is deemed illegal by all authoritative rules sources.

Jump cue or jump stick

A cue dedicated to jumping balls; usually shorter and lighter than a playing cue and having a special tip.

K

Key shot or ball

1. A shot or ball that allows a player to obtain "shape" on another ball hard to play position to
2. A shot or ball that is the "key" to "running out"
3. The 14th ball in a rack of straight pool that, when properly positioned, allows position on the last ball for the break shot.

Kick

See kick shot.

Kick shot

A shot in which the cue ball is driven to one or more rails before reaching its intended target; usually an object ball.

Kill or kill shot

A shot intended to slow down or "kill" the cue ball's speed as much as possible after contact with an object ball; usually shot with draw, often combined with inside english.

Kiss or kiss shot

Contact between balls. Usually used in the context of describing an object ball contacting another object ball ("the two ball kissed off the twelve ball"). See double kiss.

Kitchen

The area on the table behind the head string.

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.

Further information: Pocket (billiards)

L

Lag for break

To determine the order of break players each shoot a ball to the end rail and back to the bottom rail. Whichever player's ball comes to rest closest to the bottom rail gets to choose who breaks. It is permissible for the cue ball to touch and rebound from the bottom rail.

Leave

The cue ball's position after a shot. A "good" leave would describe an advantageous position for the next shot.

Lemonade stroke

Intentionally playing with an amateurish stroke to disguise one ability to play. Compare "on the lemonade."

Lock

A game that basically cannot be lost based on disparity of skill levels; "this game is a lock for him."

Lock artist

Someone good at making "lock" games

M

Massé

A steep curve or complete reversal of cue ball direction without any rail or object ball being struck, imparted to the cue ball by a steeply elevated cue.

Mechanical bridge

A special stick with an end attachment that helps guide the cue stick. Usually used only when the shot cannot be comfortably reached with the hand bridge. Sometimes called a "rest" in snooker games.

Miscue

A stroke in which the cue's tip glances or slips off the cue ball not effectively transferring the intended force. Usually the result is a bungled shot. See chalk.

Money ball

Name for the ball that when pocketed, wins the game.

Mushroom

Leather of the cue tip overhanging the ferrule because of compression from repeated contact with the cue ball.

N

Natural

In pocket billiards, an easy shot requiring no english. In three cushion billiards, the most standard shot where the third ball is advantageously placed in a corner.

Nip draw

A short, jabbed draw stroke usually employed to not commit a foul when the cue ball is near the ball being struck.

Nit

Someone who wants too high a handicap or refuses to wager any money on a relatively fair match; a general pool room pejorative moniker.

Nurse

In straight rail carom games, where all the ball are kept near each other and a cushion and with very soft shots, can be "nursed" down a rail on multiple successful shots.

O

Object ball(s)

1. Any ball that may be legally struck by the cue ball
2. All balls other than the cue ball.

Outside English

Sidespin on a cue ball on the opposite side of the direction of the cut angle to be played (right hand english when cutting a ball to the left, and vice versa).

On the hill

Describes a player who needs only one more game win to be victorious in the match. See hill, hill.

On the lemonade

Disguising the level of one's ability to play; also known as sandbagging or hustling (though the latter has other meanings). Compare "lemonade stroke."

On the snap

literally "on the break shot"; usually used in reference to pocketing the "money ball" on the break.

Open bridge

A bridge formed by the hand where no finger loops over the shaft of the cue. Typically, the cue stick is channeled by a "v"-shaped groove formed by the thumb and the base of the index finger.

Orange crush, the

The 5-out. See out.

Out

A specific ball number followed by "out" refers to a handicap in nine-ball where the "spot" is all balls from that designated number to the nine ball. Thus, the 6-out would allow the player getting "weight" to win by pocketing the 6, 7 or 8 in addition to the 9 ball.

Overcut

Hitting the object ball with too large of a cut angle; hitting the object ball too thin. It is a well-known maxim that overcutting is preferable to undercutting. See professional side of the pocket.

P

Package or pack

Successive games won without the opponent getting to the table is a package; a 5-pack would be a package of 5 games.

Parking the cue ball

1. Having the cue ball stop at or near the center of the table on a break
2. Having the cue ball stop precisely where intended.

Professional side of the pocket

To err on the side of overcutting a shot rather than undercutting; "missing on the professional side of the pocket." So called because professionals know that an overcut will far more often leave the cue ball in a unfavorable position for the incoming opponent than will an undercut.

Position

The placement of the balls, especially the cue ball, relative to the next planned shot. Same as shape.

Pot

(Verb)Same as the word pocket; "to pot the ball". Pot is more common in English speaking countries outside the U.S., especially the UK.

Push out

A rule in many games allowing a player to "push" the cue ball to a new position without certain foul rules applying, with the caveat that the opponent may shoot from the new cue ball position or give the shot back to the pusher who must shoot from the new position.

Push shot

Any shot where a player's cue tip stays in contact with the cue ball for more than the momentary time commensurate with a stroked shot. A push shot is a foul.

R

Race

A set number of games players agree to play to; "a race to seven" means whomever wins seven game first wins the match.

Rack

A geometric form, usually wooden or plastic, used to assist in setting up balls in games like 8-ball, 9-ball, and snooker. The rack allows for more consistently tight grouping of balls, which is necessary for a good break shot. The term is often also used to refer to a racked group of balls before they have been broken. In games with 15 balls, the rack is triangle-shaped.

Further information: Rack (billiards)

Rail

The sides of a table's frame upon which the elastic cushions are mounted. Also may be used interchangeably with "cushion".

Rake

Same as mechanical bridge; so-called because of its typical shape.

Rat in

To pocket a ball by luck; "he ratted in the 9 ball."

Road map

A pool table spread in which the balls are easily positioned for a run out.

Rob

Playing an opponent for money who has no chance of winning based on disparity of skill levels.

Road player

A highly-skilled hustler making money gambling while traveling. Fast Eddie Felson in The Hustler was a road player.

Roll (good or bad)

When the player has something lucky or unlucky happen to him on the table; "I had good/bad rolls all night."

Round robin

A tournament format in which each contestant plays each of the other contestants at least once.

Reverse english

Sidespin on a ball which causes it to slow down when it hits a rail, and deflect at a greater angle than it would if no english was on the ball.

Rubber match

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

Running english

Sidespin on a ball which causes it to speed up when it hits a rail, and deflect at a shallower angle than it would if no english was on the ball.

Run out or run the table

To make all of the required shots in a game without the opponent ever getting to the table or getting back to the table.

S

Safety

1. An intentional defensive shot
2. A shot that is called aloud as part of a game's rules; once invoked a safety usually allows the player to pocket his or her own object ball without going again for strategic purposes. In games such as seven ball, in which any shot that does not result in a pocketed ball is a foul under some rules, a safety allows the player to miss without a foul resulting.

Scratch

Pocketing of the cue ball in pocket billiards. In many games a scratch is a type of foul. Scratch is sometimes used to refer to all types of fouls. See foul.

Shaft

The upper portion of a pool cue which is slides on a player's bridge hand and contains the tip of the cue.

Seeding

The placement of player(s) automatically in a tournament where some have to qualify, or automatic placement in later rounds.

Semi-massé

A moderate curve imparted to the cue ball by an elevated hit with use of english.

Session

One or more sets, usually in the context of gambling.

Set

A predetermined number of games, usually played for a specified sum of money. Compare "race."

Sewer

Also "gutter"; a pocket. Usually used in disgust when describing a scratch; "down the sewer."

Shape

Similar to "position"; "she got good shape on the next shot."

Shark

1. A very good player
2. A player that disguises his or her ability with the goal of making money from an unsuspecting mark (see fish.)
3. To intentionally perform some act to distract or intimidate the opponent so that they do not perform well/miss a shot.

Sharp

Similar to "shark;" used in the UK.

Side rail

Either of the two longer rail of a billiards or pocket billiards table; sometimes called the "long rail."

Sidespin

Same as english.

Single elimination

A tournament format in which a player is out of the tournament after one match loss.

Sink

(Verb) Same as the word pocket.

Slate

The material forming the bed of the table, as covered by the cloth.

Slide

Describes a cue ball sliding on the cloth without any topspin or backspin on it.

Slop

1. A luck shot
2. Any game where the rules have been varied to allow luck shots not normally allowed or where no foul rules apply.

Sneaky pete

Any two piece cue constructed to resemble a house cue.

Snooker

Term used primarily in the game of Snooker (but also applied in other billiards games). To place the cue ball such that the 'ball on' cannot be cut (touched) on either side with a direct shot. The player may be able to hit one side or the other of the 'ball on' but not both. This can be accomplished by placing the cue ball on the opposite side of another ball on the table from the 'ball on' (this is the most usual), or by resting against a pocket 'horn' or edge, etc (see [[Glossary of pool and billiards terms#Corner-hooked|corner-hooked). A complete hook (the ball on cannot be hit directly at all) is technically a snooker. But a snookered ball is not necessarily a completely hooked ball. As an added note, jump shots are fouls in the game of Snooker. Compare "Hook(ed)."

Snooker(ed)

The condition existing after a snooker has been accomplished.

Speed

A player's skill level.

Speed control

Use of the correct amount of cue ball speed to achieve proper position for a subsequent shot.

Spot a ball(s)

1. To return an illegally pocketed object ball to the table by placement on the foot spot;
2. In 9 ball, the giving of a handicap to the opponent where they can also win by making a ball or balls other than the 9 ball;
3. In 8 ball, one-pocket and straight pool, the giving of a handicap to the opponent where they have to make less balls than their opponent does.

Spot

A specific handicap given; "he spotted me the eight ball."

Spot shot

The situation arising in many pool games where a ball is spotted to the table's "foot spot" and the cue ball must be shot from the "kitchen."

Stance

A shooter's body position and posture during a shot.

Steering

The lamentable practice of not following through with the cue stick straight, but veering off in the direction of the shot's travel or the side english is applied, away from the proper aiming line; a common source of missed shots.

Stake, stakehorse or back

To provide part or all of the money for a gambling session. As a noun it is "stakehorse" or "backer"

Stall

To intentionally hide one's "speed" (skill level).

Straight up or heads up

To play even; without a handicap.

Stop shot

Any shot where the cue ball stops immediately after hitting an object ball.

Stroke

1. The motion of the cue stick and the player's arm on a shot;
2. The strength, fluidity and finesse of a player's shooting technique; "she has a good stroke."

Stroke (to be in)

Pocketing easily and controlling the cue ball well; "he's in stroke."

Stroke (catch a)

To suddenly be in stroke after poorer prior play, "she caught a stroke."

Short stop

One of the best player in a region but who is not quite good enough to beat a "road player" or a professional.

Stun or stun shot

A shot where the cue ball has no topspin or backspin on it when it impacts an object ball.

Sweaters

Those who are stakehorsing a match or have side bets on it and are "sweating the action."

T

Tangent line

The imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the impact line between the cue ball and an object ball. The cue ball will travel along this line after impact with an object ball if it has no vertical spin on it (is sliding) at the moment of impact on a non-center-to-center collision. See stun or stun shot.

Throw

The object ball's motion away from the impact line due to friction imparted by a relative sideways sliding motion between the cue ball and object ball.

Tickie

A common shot in carom games. The cue ball is driven first to a rail, then hits an object ball and kisses back to the same rail.

Time shot

Any shot in which the cue ball moves another ball into a different position and then rebounds from one or more rails to contact it again (normally sending it into a pocket).

Tittie

The points formed by the corner edges of a table's pockets.

Tittie hooked

Same as corner hooked.

Topspin

Same as follow.

Triangle

Form of "rack" that is triangle-shaped.

Two-way shot

A shot in which if the target is missed, the opponent is safe or will not have a desirable shot.

U

Undercut

Hitting the object ball with not enough of a cut angle; hitting the object ball too full. It is a well-known maxim that overcutting is preferable to undercutting.

W

Warrior, a

A ball positioned near a pocket such that any ball sent there will likely go in off it, even if not aimed perfectly, and would likely miss if the ball was absent.

Weight

To "give someone weight" is to give them a handicap so the game is more even in skill level.

Whitey

The cue ball.

Wild

When a ball is given as a handicap it often must be called. A wild handicap means the ball can be made in any manner without being called.

Wing shot

Shooting at an object ball that is already in motion at the moment of shooting and cue ball impact; illegal in most games and usually only seen in exhibition/trick shots.

Wired

When two ball are or are close to frozen and lined up for a pocket such that contact on the first ball without the necessity of great accuracy will almost certainly pocket the second ball.

Wire, the

The grapevine in the pool world – what action is taken place where in the country.

Wrap

The area of the butt where the person grips often covered with leather, nylon string, or Irish linen.