14.1 CONTINUOUS. More commonly known as "straight pool", it was for many years the most popular game in pool and the game on which all World Championships were based. 14.1 is a call-shot game played with all 15 numbered balls and cue ball. Every ball pocketed counts as one point and a game is played to an agreed  score, generally 50, 100, or 150 points. Traditional straight pool matches are played to 150 points.14.1 is also called "continuous pool" because, after the opening break, play continues until a player reaches the winning score. When only one numbered ball is left on the table, the remaining 14 are racked (with the apex ball missing), and play continues.

 

 

7-BALL. A fast paced offensive game similar to 9-ball but only using balls numbered 1 through 7. Pocketing the 7-ball wins the game. Under the current pro rules of 7-ball, any missed shot gives your opponent ball-in-hand.

 

 

8-BALL. Unquestionably the most popular game in all pocket billiards history. 8-ball is often the first game new players learn. It is widely played in pool rooms and is the predominant game outside of pool rooms, such as in bars and taverns.

All fifteen numbered balls are used in a conventional triangle rack. Each player is assigned either the solid balls (1-7) or the striped balls (9-15). The object is to pocket all of your assigned balls and then pocket the 8-ball.

The rules of 8-ball vary drastically. You are cautioned to become familiar with the house rules before entering into a game.

 

 

9-BALL. 9-ball is the current championship game in pocket billiards. Players love the fast pace of the game, and it has proven ideal for television coverage with races to seven fitting well into a one hour time slot. 9-ball is a rotation game so a player must hit the lowest numbered ball first. The object of the game is pocket the 9-ball on any legal shot.

 

 

ANGLE SHOT.  A shot that requires the cue ball to drive the object ball other than straight ahead. (See cut shot)
 

 

APEX OF TRIANGLE. The position in the grouping of object balls that is on the foot spot; the front ball position of the pyramid or rack.
 

 

ARTISTIC POOL. A somewhat new term that applies to trick shooting. Artistic pool players and artistic pool competitions have to do trick shots on a pocket billiard table.

 

 

BALANCE POINT.  The point on a cue at which it would remain level if held by a single support, usually about 18" from the butt end of the cue.

 

 

BALL IN HAND. Being able to place the cue ball anywhere on the table for your next shot.

 

 

BALL RETURN SYSTEM. A special feature on some tables that allows pocketed balls to drop into a rail where they automatically travel to a box built into the foot of the table.

 

 

BANK SHOT. A shot in which the object ball is driven to one or more cushions before it is pocketed; incidental contact as a ball moves along and adjacent to a cushion does not qualify as a

cushion or bank. It is not an obvious shot and must be called in games requiring called shots. (See kick shot)

 

 

BED OF TABLE. The flat, cloth-covered surface of the table within the cushions; the playing area exclusive of the cushions.

 

 

BILLIARDS. Any of the group of games played on a rectangular table with cushions (with or without pockets).

 

 

BILLIARDS SHOT. A billiard shot is when the cue ball touches a numbered ball on its ways to strike the intended object ball. Note that there is a subtle distinction between caroms, billiards, and combinations.

 

 

BILLIARD TABLE. A rectangular table with cushions bounding the playing area, but without pockets A billiard table is typically larger than a pool table, generally measuring 10 feet by 5 feet.

Also, billiard tables often have heated beds that cause them to play much faster than pool tables. See also pool table.

 

 

BLIND DRAW.  A method used to determine pairings or bracketing of players in tournaments that assures totally random placement or pairing of contestants.
 

 

BREAK. The first shot of any game that is intended to break the racked balls apart. Note that different pool games have specific requirement about how many balls must touch a cushion in order for a break to be legal. Also the penalty for an illegal break varies among games.

 

 

BREAKING VIOLATION.  A violation of special rules which apply only to the opening break shot of certain games. Unless specified in individual game rules, a breaking violation is not a foul.

 

 

BRIDGE.  The hand configuration that holds and guides the shaft-end of the cue during play. Also see mechanical bridge, closed bridge, and open bridge.

 

 

BUMPER. The rubber knob on the bottom of the cue which protects it when rested on the floor. Novices often incorrectly refer to the cushions on a pool table as bumpers.

 

 

BUTT. The large end of a cue stick. Although the term butt is often used to mean the entire lower half of the cue, it actually only refers to the portion of the cue below the wrap (area where

the cue is gripped).

 

 

CAROM.  To bounce off or glance off an object ball or cushion; a shot in which the cue ball bounces off one ball into another is termed a carom.

 

 

CALL SHOT. A rule or type of game which requires the shooter to specify the ball to be pocketed and the pocket into which it will be made, prior to making the shot. Calling your shot generally requires only that call the ball and the pocket. You do not need to call banks, caroms, kisses, or other methods you will use to pocket the ball.

 

 

CALLED BALL.  The ball the player has designated to be pocketed on a shot.
 

CALLED POCKET.  The pocket which a player has designated a ball to be shot.

 

 

CENTER STRING. An imaginary line that passes between the centers of the side pockets.

 

 

CHALK. A caked powder in a small cube which is applied to a the cue tip and causes friction between the cue tip and the cue ball.

 

 

CHEAT THE POCKET.  Shooting the object ball to the left or right side of the pocket in order to create an angle for position play. Commonly used on a shot that would otherwise be straight-in.

 

 

CHIN LOCK. A technique used for maintaining proper alignment when moving into the shooting position. A shot should always be lined up before you move down into your shooting position.

If you lock your chin on the vertical plane of the shot, you will naturally be in proper alignment when you are down on the table.

 

 

CINCHING A SHOT. Total focus on the aim point and making the ball, perhaps even not worrying about resulting position.

 

 

CLOSED BRIDGE. A specific way of holding the shaft in your hand. In a closed bridge, the cue is held in the circle by touching the tips of your index finger and thumb together.

 

 

CLOTH. 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.

 

 

COMBINATION.  Shot in which the cue ball first strikes a ball other than the one to be pocketed, with the ball initially contacted in turn striking one or more other balls in an effort to score.

 

CONTACT POINT. The precise point of contact between the cue ball and the object ball when the cue ball strikes the object ball.
 

 

CORNER-HOOKED.  When the corner of a pocket prevents shooting the cue ball in a straight path directly to an object ball, the cue ball is corner-hooked; same as angled.

 

 

CROSS CORNER.  Term used to describe a bank shot that will rebound from a cushion and into a corner pocket.

 

CROSS SIDE.  Term used to describe a bank shot that will rebound from a cushion and into a side pocket.

 

 

CRUTCH. Slang for a mechanical bridge.

 

 

CUE. Tapered device, usually wooden, used to strike the cue ball to execute carom or pocket billiard shots. (Also called cue stick).

 

 

CUE BALL. The white (unnumbered) ball used to shoot at object (numbered) balls.

 

CUE BALL IN HAND BEHIND THE HEAD STRING.  Cue ball may be put into play anywhere between the head string and the cushion on the head end of the table not in contact with an object ball.

 

 

CUE TIP. A piece of specially processed leather or other fibrous or pliable material attached to the shaft end of the cue that contacts the cue ball when a shot is executed

 

 

CUEING. Using other than a center hit to control the movement of the cue ball.

 

 

CUSHION. The cloth-covered rubber which borders the inside of the rails on carom and pocket billiard tables; together the cushions form the outer perimeter of the basic playing surface.

 

 

CUT SHOT.  A shot in which the cue ball contacts the object ball to one side or the other of full center, thus driving it in a direction other than that of the initial cue ball path.

 

 

CUTTHROAT. A game in pool designed for three players.

 

 

DEAD STROKE. Similar to playing on autopilot where a player is at peak level and is playing without conscious effort or thought.

 

 

DEAD BALL.  A cue ball stroked in such a manner that virtually all of the speed and/or spin of the cue ball is transferred to the object ball, the cue ball retaining very little or none after contact.

 

DEAD BALL SHOT.  A shot in which a dead ball stroke is employed; often called a kill shot, because of the relative lack of cue ball motion after contact with the object ball.

 

 

DIAMONDS. Inlays or markings on the table rails that are used as reference or target points. The diamonds are essential for the utilization of numerous mathematical systems employed by carom and pocket games players.
 

 

DOUBLE ELIMINATION. A tournament format in which a player is not eliminated until he has sustained two match losses.

 

 

DOUBLE HIT.  A shot on which the cue ball is struck twice by the cue tip on the same stroke.
 

DOUBLE ROUND ROBIN. A tournament format in which each contestant in a field plays each of the other players twice.

 

 

DRAW. A shot in which the cue ball is struck below center, and the resulting back spin causes the cue ball to return towards the player after full contact with an object ball.

 

 

DROP POCKETS. Type of pockets with no automatic return of the balls to the foot end of the table; balls must be removed manually

 

 

DUCK. An object ball right in front of a pocket that cannot be missed.

 

 

ENGLISH. To apply English or spin to the cue ball, you hit the cue ball away from the center which puts spin on the cue ball. English mean different things to different people. Some players

feel English mean hitting the cue ball anywhere except center-ball, including follow and draw shots, while others feel English means hitting the cue ball either right or left of the center axis.

 

 

FEATHER SHOT.  A shot in which the cue ball barely touches or grazes the object ball; an extremely thin cut.

 

 

FEEL. Feel generally refers to that elusive quality that makes one cue feel special or superior to another. In essence, it is the cumulative effect of all of a cues characteristics, including weight, shaft diameter, balance, grip material, length, etc. It can vary greatly from one player to another. A cue that feels great to one player does not necessarily fell good to another.

 

 

FERRULE. A piece of protective material (usually plastic, horn or metal) at the end of the cue shaft, onto which the cue tip is attached.

 

 

FLAT DRAW. A low hit on the cue ball (but not as low as normal draw), often used to change the cue ball's angle of deflection off the object ball.

 

 

FOLLOW. A shot in which the cue ball is struck above center and the resulting forward spin causes the cue ball to roll forward after contact with an object ball.

 

 

FOLLOW-THROUGH. The movement of the cue after contact with the cue ball through the area previously occupied by the cue ball.

 

 

FOOT SPOT. The spot marked on the foot of the table where the balls are racked. It is centered in the table, two diamonds from the foot rail.

 

 

FOOT STRING. A line on the foot end of the table between the second diamonds of the long rails, passing through the foot spot. The foot string is never drawn on the table, and has no use in play.

 

 

FORCE.  The power applied on the stroke to the cue ball, which may result in distortion and altering of natural angles and action of the ball.

 

 

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

 

 

FORCE FOLLOW. A follow shot with extreme overspin applied to the cue ball, with the term generally used in reference to shots in which the cue ball is shot directly at and then "through" an object ball, with a pronounced hesitation or stop before the overspin propels the cue ball forward in the general direction of the stroke.
 

 

FOREARM. On two piece cues, the area of the cue between the joint and the wrap.

 

 

FOUL. An infraction of the rules of play, as defined in either the general or the specific game rules. (Not all rule infractions are fouls.) Fouls result in a penalty, also dependent on specific game rules.

 

FOUL STROKE.  A stroke on which a foul takes place.

 

 

FRAME. A player's turn at the table, also known as an inning.

 

FULL BALL.  Contact of the cue ball with an object ball at a contact point on a line bisecting the centers of the cue ball and object ball.

 

 

FROZEN. When a ball is in firm contact with a cushion or another ball.

 

 

GAME BALL.  The ball which, if pocketed legally, would produce victory in a game.

 

 

GRANNY STICK. Slang for a mechanical bridge.

 

 

GRIP. Holding the cue with your back hand.

 

 

GULLY. A pool table with rails under the pockets which returns all pocketed balls to a common ball box at the foot of the table.

 

 

HANDICAP. A scoring method that evens the chances between players of varying skill levels.

 

 

HEAD SPOT. The spot marked on the head of the table which is in the center of the table and two diamonds from the head rail.

 

 

HEAD STRING. An imaginary line that passes between the second diamonds on the long rails and through the head spot.

 

 

HIT. In addition to referring to how one might hit the cue ball, it also is often used to describe how a cue plays. A player might ask another if a particular cue "hits well?"

 

 

HOLD.  English which stops the cue ball from continuing the course of natural roll it would take after having been driven in a certain direction.

 

 

HUSTLER. A term used to describe players who take advantage of less skilled players in money games. The ethics of such players are dubious.

 

 

INLAY. The ornamentation on a cue is often made by inlaying exotic materials into the wood of the butt portion of the cue. Inlays of ebony and ivory are quite common. The value of a cue is

often based on the number inlays..

 

 

INNING.  A turn at the table by a player, and which may last for several racks in some pocket games.

 

 

JAW.  The slanted part of the cushion that is cut at an angle to form the opening from the bed of the table into the pocket.

 

JAWED BALL. Generally refers to a ball that fails to drop because it bounces back and forth against the jaws of a pocket.

 

 

JOINT. On two-piece cues, the screw-and-thread device, approximately midway in the cue, that permits it to be broken down into two separate sections.
 

 

JUMP SHOT. Intentionally causing the cue ball to become airborne so that it jumps over balls which are obstructing the path to the object ball.

 

 

JUMPED BALL. A ball that has left and remained off the playing surface as the result of a stroke; a ball that is stroked in a manner which causes it to jump over another ball.
 

 

KICK. A shot in which the cue ball banks off a cushion(s) prior to making contact with an object ball or scoring.

 

 

KITCHEN. The area of the table behind the head string. If you have "ball in hand in the kitchen" you must shoot from behind the head string.

 

 

KISS.  Contact between balls.

 

 

LAG. Determining who will break. Each player shoots a solid ball (not the cue ball) from behind the head string to the foot of the table. The player whose ball returns closest to the head rail

wins the lag and the break. The winner of the lag may elect to pass the break to his opponent.

 

 

LONG. Usually refers to a ball which, due to english and speed, travels a path with wider angles than those that are standard for such a ball if struck with natural english and moderate speed.

 

LONG STRING.  A line drawn from the center of the foot cushion to the foot spot (and beyond if necessary) on which balls are spotted..

 

 

LOT.  Procedures used, not involving billiard skills, to determine starting player or order of play. Common methods used are flipping coins, drawing straws, drawing cards, or drawing peas or pills.

 

 

MASSE SHOT.  A shot in which extreme english is applied to the cue ball by elevating the cue butt at an angle with the bed of the table of anywhere between 30 and 90 degrees. The cue ball usually takes a curved path, with more curve resulting from increasing cue stick elevation.

 

MATCH. The course of play that starts when the players are ready to lag and ends when the deciding game ends.

 

 

MECHANICAL BRIDGE. A grooved device mounted on a handle providing support for the shaft of the cue during shots difficult to reach with normal bridge hand. Also called a crutch or rake.

 

 

MISCUE. A stroke which results in the cue tip contact with cue ball being faulty. Usually the cue tip slides off the cue ball without full transmission of the desired stroke. The stroke usually

results i a sharp sound and discoloration of the tip and/or the cue ball at the point of contact.

 

 

MISS.  Failure to execute a completed shot.

 

 

NATURAL ENGLISH. Moderate sidespin applied to the cue ball that favors the direction of the cue ball path, giving the cue ball a natural roll and a bit more speed than a center hit.
 

 

NATURAL ROLL.  Movement of the cue ball with english applied

 

 

NIP DRAW.  A short, sharp stroke, employed when a normal draw stroke would result in a foul due to drawing the cue ball back into the cue tip.

 

OBJECT BALLS. The balls other than the cue ball on a shot.
 

OBJECT BALL, THE. The particular object ball being played on a shot.

 

OPEN BREAK. The requirement in certain games that a player must drive a minimum of four object balls out of the rack to the cushions in order for the shot to be legal.

 

OPENING BREAK SHOT.  The first shot of a game.

 

 

OPEN BRIDGE. A specific way of holding the shaft in your hand. An open bridge is created by placing your bridge hand on the table and resting the cue in a crease made by your thumb and index finger.

 

 

POINTS. The ornamentation on a cue, between the wrap and the joint, is often made by inlaying exotic materials into the wood so the inlays form points. The value of a cue is often based on the number points.

 

 

POOL TABLE. A rectangular table with cushions bounding the playing area and six pockets. Regulation size is 4 1/2i x 9i.

 

 

POSITION.  The placement of the cue ball on each shot relative to the next planned shot. Also called shape.

 

 

POSITION PLAY. Consistently controlling the movement of the cue ball after it strikes the object ball to gain a subsequent favorable shooting position.

 

 

PUSH OUT. In 9-ball, the first player to shoot following the break can elect a pushout, which is a kind of free shot. Pocketing the cue ball or causing the cue ball to leave the table are the

only fouls. Any balls pocketed are spotted. The incoming player may make a legal shot or hand the table back to the player who pushed out.

 

 

POWDER.  Talc or other fine, powdery substance used to facilitate free, easy movement of the cue shaft through the bridge.

 

 

PYRAMID.  Positioning of the object balls in a triangular grouping (with the front apex ball on the foot spot), used to begin many pocket billiard games.

 

 

RACK. The triangular equipment used for gathering the balls into the formation required by the game being played.

 

 

RACE.  Pre-determined number of games necessary to win a match or set of games. For example, a match that is the best 11 out of 21 games is called a race to 11, and ends when one player has won 11 games.
 

 

RAILS.  The top surface of the table, not covered by cloth, from which the cushions protrude toward the playing surface. The head and foot rails are the short rails on those ends of the table; the right and left rails are the long rails, dictated by standing at the head end of the table and facing the foot end.

 

RAKE. Slang for mechanical bridge.

 

 

REST.  The mechanical bridge.

 

REVERSE ENGLISH.  Sidespin applied to the cue ball, that favors the opposite direction of the natural cue ball path - i.e. inside english.

 

ROUND ROBIN.  A tournament format in which each contestant plays each of the other players once.

 

RUNNING ENGLISH. Sidespin applied to the cue ball which causes it to rebound from an object ball or a cushion at a narrower angle and at a faster speed than it would if struck at the same speed and direction without english.

 

 

ROCK. Slang for the cue ball.

 

 

RUN. The total of consecutive scores, points or counts made by a player in one inning. The term is also used to indicate the total number of full short-rack games won without a missed shot in a match or tournament (Run Out).
 

 

SAFETY. A defensive move which is designed is to leave your opponent without a shot (The nature and rules concerning safety play are decidedly different in specific games.) Player's inning ends after a safety play.
 

 

SCRATCH. When the cue ball is pocketed.

 

SEEDING.  Pre-determined initial pairings or advanced positioning of players in a field of tournament competition.

 

 

SET.  Pre-determined number of games necessary to win a match.

 

 

SHAFT.  The thinner part of a cue, on which the cue tip is attached. On a two-piece cue, the shaft extends from the cue tip to the joint.

 

 

SHARKING. Any one of numerous acts which unethical players employ to rattle or upset their opponent. Talking, making noise, and chalking your cue while your opponent is shooting are all

considered sharking tactics.

 

 

SHOOTING SYSTEM. A term embraced by the BCA to indicate all of the fundamental components that go into making a shot, i.e. stance, grip, bridge, stroke, etc.

 

 

SHORTSTOP. An excellent player but not quite at the same level of the very best. The term is used relative to who the player is compared to, i.e. a local shortstop is one of the better players on the local scene. When speaking of pros, a shortstop is one who often finishes in the money but never wins the tournaments.

 

 

SHOT. An action which begins when the cue tip contacts the cue ball and ends when all balls have stopped moving.

 

 

SHOT CLOCK.  Any timing device used to gauge the time limit in which a player is allowed to play a shot. The timing device must have at least the functions of a stop watch: reset to zero, start, and stop. A simple wrist watch without timing functions is not sufficient.

 

SHORT.  Usually refers to a ball which, due to english and stroke, travels a path with narrower angles than those for a ball struck without english.

 

SHORT-RACK.  Games which utilize fewer than 15 countable object balls.

 

 

SINGLE ELIMINATION.  A tournament format in which a single loss eliminates a player from the competition.

 

 

SLATE. The preferred material for the bed of a pool table. The slate of a good pool table is between 1-1.5 inches thick and accounts for the majority of a pool table's weight (often in excess of 800 pounds).

 

 

SNOOKERED. When the object ball lies behind another ball which makes it impossible to be struck by the cue with a direct hit.

 

 

SPLIT DOUBLE ELIMINATION. A modification of the double elimination tournament format, in which the field is divided into sections, with one player emerging from each of the sections to compete for the championship, in a single showdown match for the championship.

 

 

SPLIT HIT. A shot in which it cannot be determined which object ball(s) the cue ball contacted first, due to the close proximity of the object balls.

 

SPOT.  The thin, circular piece of cloth or paper glued onto the cloth to indicate the spot locality (i.e.., head spot, center spot, foot spot); also an expression to describe a handicap.

 

 

SPOT SHOT. Player shoots a ball on the foot spot with the cue ball in hand behind the head string.

 

 

SPOTTING BALLS.  Replacing balls to the table in positions as dictated by specific game rules.

 

 

STANCE. The position of the body during shooting..

 

 

STOP SHOT.  A shot in which the cue ball stops immediately upon striking the object ball.

 

 

STUN SHOT. Similar to a stop shot, but used when there is a slight angle on the shot. The cue ball is stunned but still has some lateral movement along the tangent line.

 

 

STROKE.  The movement of the cue as a shot is executed.
 

SUCCESSIVE FOULS.  Fouls made on consecutive strokes by the same player, also called consecutive fouls.

 

TABLE IN POSITION.  Term used to indicate that the object balls remain unmoved following a shot.

 

 

TANGENT LINE. One of the critical concepts in pool. The tangent line is an imaginary like that is perpendicular to the line the object ball will follow on any shot that is not straight in. If the cue ball strikes the object ball while it is still skidding, i.e. with out any forward or backward roll, it will move along the tangent line after striking the object ball. This single concept is the basis for all position play in pool. The use of follow and draw allows you to modify the path of the cue ball in relation to the tangent line. Follow will cause the cue ball to travel forward of the tangent line, while draw forces the cue ball to travel a path behind the tangent line.

 

 

THROW SHOT. 1. A shot in which english alters the path of the object ball. 2. A combination shot of frozen or near frozen object balls in which to rubbing of the first ball across the second ball pulls the shot away from the line joining the centers of the two balls.

 

TIME SHOT.  A shot in which the cue ball (most often) moves another ball into a different position and then continues on to meet one of the moved balls for a score.

 

 

TIP. The end of the cue stick which strikes the cue ball. Normally the tip is made of leather or multiple thin layers of laminated leather. Synthetic materials have also been used for cue tips but were not favorably received by players and are seldom seen anymore.

 

 

TRIANGLE.  The triangular device used to place the balls in position for the start of most games.

 

 

WRAP. The part of the cue, near the butt, which is commonly covered with linen or leather, designed for the player's grip.