Below is some explanations of words that are complicated in cue sports.

1–9
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1 ball 
 *Also **the 1**.* The ball numbered *1*; in American pool ball sets, it is yellow. 
 1-cushion 
 *See the One-cushion billiards main article.*
2 ball 
 *Also **the 2**.* The ball numbered *2*; in American pool ball sets, it is blue.
 1-pocket 
 *See One-pocket.* 
3 ball 
 See the three-ball.

*Also **the 3**.* The ball numbered *3*; in American pool ball sets, it is red.
 3-cushion 
 *See Three-cushion billiards.* 
4 ball 
 See Four-ball billiards.

*Also **the 4**.* The ball numbered *4*; in American pool ball sets, it is purple or rarely pink.
5 ball 
 *Also **the 5**.* The ball numbered *5*; in American pool ball sets, it is orange. 
 5-pins 
 *See Five-pin billiards; or Danish pin billiards for the five-pin game of Denmark.* 
6 ball 
 See the Nine-ball § Derived games section for the game.

*Also **the 6**.* The ball numbered *6*; in American pool ball sets, it is green.
7 ball 
 See the Seven-ball main article for the game.

*Also **the 7**.* The ball numbered *7*; in American pool ball sets, it is usually brown. Some variants, for the seven-ball game, are brown with a black or white stripe.
8 ball 
An 8 ball (with the cue ball behind it)
See the Eight-ball and Eight-ball pool (British variation) main articles for the games.

*Also **the 8**.* The ball numbered *8*; in both American- and British-style pool ball sets, it is solid black, though it is an unnumbered black ball.
9 ball 
See the Nine-ball main article for the game

*Also **the 9**.* The object ball numbered *9*; in American pool ball sets, it is striped yellow.
10 ball 
See the Ten-ball main article for the game

*Also **the 10**.* The ball numbered *10*; in American pool ball sets, it is striped blue.
11 ball 
 *Also **the 11**.* The object ball numbered *11*; in American-style pool ball sets, it is striped red. 
12 ball 
 *Also **the 12**.* The object ball numbered *12*; in American-style pool ball sets, it is striped purple or rarely pink 
13 ball 
 *Also **the 13**.* The object ball numbered *13*; in American-style pool ball sets, it is striped orange. 
14 ball 
 *Also **the 14**.* The object ball numbered *14*; in American-style pool ball sets, it is striped green. 
15 ball 
 *Also **the 15**.* The object ball numbered *15*; in American-style pool ball sets, it is striped} brown. 
 16-red clearance 
 In snooker, a total clearance in which the break starts with a free ball. The break includes potting a colour ball counting as a red and all 15 reds.

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| Contents: | Top – 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |

A
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 above 
 Used in snooker for where the cue ball is. Also "high" 
 action 
1.  Gambling (US).
2.  Lively results on a cue ball from use of spin.
3.  *Short for cue action.*
 added 
 More money added to an event's prize by the organisers. 
ahead race 
 *Also **ahead session**.*
A match format in which a player has to establish a lead of an agreed number of frames (games) in order to win (e.g. in a ten-ahead race, a player wins when she/he has won ten more racks than the opponent). *Contrast race [to].* 
 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. 
 anchor 
 To freeze a ball to a cushion; such a ball may be said to be **anchored** (British: tight). This term is largely obsolete jargon. 
 anchor nurse 
 A type of nurse shot used in carom billiards games. With one object ball being anchored (frozen, British: tight) to a cushion and the second object ball just slightly away from the cushion, the cue ball is gently grazed across the face of both balls, freezing the away ball to the rail and moving the frozen ball away the same distance its partner was previously, in an identical but reversed configuration, in position to be struck again by the cue ball from the opposite side to repeat this pattern, back and forth. *Compare cradle cannon.* 
anchor space 
 A 7-by-14-inch (180 mm × 360 mm) box drawn on the table in balkline billiards that sets the area for playing. 
 angle of incidence 
 The angle at which a ball approaches a cushion. The phrase has been in use since as early as 1653. 
 angle of reflection 
 The angle from which a ball rebounds off a cushion. 
angled ball 
 In snooker and pool, a cue ball in the jaws of a pocket such that the ball-on cannot be hit. *Compare corner-hooked.* 
 arc 
 The extent to which the cue ball curves as a result of a *massé* or *massé* shot. }}

apex 
 Also **apex ball**, **apex of the triangle**, **apex of the diamond** or **apex of the rack**.

The ball placed at the front of a group of racked object balls. 
 around the table 
 In carom games, a shot in which in attempting to score, the cue ball contacts three or more cushions, usually including both short rails. 
 around the houses 
 Used in snooker, a shot that hits many cushions.

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| Contents: | Top – 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |

B
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 back 
 *Same as stake (verb).* 
 back cut 
 A thin cut shot. 
 backer 
 *Same as stakehorse.* 
back spin 
Steve Davis plays a back-spin ball to prevent the cue ball from falling into the side pocket.
Also **backspin**, **back-spin**, **backward spin**.

*Same as draw.* *See illustration at spin.*

*Contrast top spin.*
 bag 
 *Same as pocket.* 
 baize 
 See the main article: Baize
A cloth used to cover billiard tables, usually green. Sometimes called felt. 
 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. 
 balk 
Also **balk space**.

1.  An area defined on a billiard table by one or more balklines.
2.  An area defined on a billiard table, the line drawn across the top of the table.
 balkline 
Also **balk line**.

See balk.
ball-and-pocket 
 *Same as call-shot.* 
ball-in-hand 
 *Also **cue ball in-hand**.* Play the next shot with the cue ball in any position. 
ball-on 
 Not always hyphenated. Plural: **balls-on**. Also **on[-]ball**.

Any legally strikeable ball on the table in snooker and generally British terminology. For example, in blackball, if a player is playing yellows, any yellow ball (or any solid, from 1 to 7, if using a solids-and-stripes ball set) 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. *Compare object ball.* 
 ball rack 
1.  *Same as rack (noun), sense 1*
2.  *Same as scoring rack*
3.  A wall rack designed exclusively for storing balls
ball return 
A collection bin mounted below the foot end of a table, to which balls potted in any pocket will return by means of gravity-assisted gutters or troughs running from each pocket opening to the bin; these are the **ball-return mechanism**, which may be internal to the table or an external gutter system. Ball returns have been in use since at least the 1700s. Pockets that simply collect balls are known as drop pockets. A table without a ball return may be called a "drop pocket table", while a table featuring a ball return may be called a "gully table". Coin-operated bar tables have ball-return mechanisms that separate the cue ball from the object balls so that the object balls are captured when pocketed until the game ends, then released when paid for again, while the cue ball is continually returned for continued play after scratches. This type of table can use a variety of methods to distinguish the cue ball from object balls including the Magnetic cue ball, the dense ceramic "rock" and the oversized "grapefruit" ball. Ball return mechanisms have also been devised that use a smaller, lighter cue ball, instead of a magnetic or heavier one. There are tables that use optical sensors to distinguish a standard cue ball from object balls. Some of them are also setup to return the 8 ball as well, so that pocketing it on the break does not end the game.
 banger 
 A derogatory term for a recreational or beginning player who "bangs" the balls without any thought for position nor attempt to control the cue ball; also a reference to the predilection of beginners to often hit the cue ball far harder than necessary. *Compare British potter.* 
bank 
1.  *Same as cushion.*
2.  *Same as bank shot.*
 bank shot 
*Also **bank**.* 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). Sometimes "bank" is conflated to refer to kick shots as well, and in the UK it is often called a **double**. 
bank-the-8 
 A rule variant common in bar pool versions of eight-ball, in which the 8-ball must be pocketed on a bank shot (generally this would either be accomplished via a bank shot proper or a kick shot); shooting the 8 straight in is a loss of game. Players may agree before the game begins to invoke this rule, or one player may challenge another player (who might accept or refuse) to conclude the game in this manner after it is already under way. Playing bank-the-8 can be considered rude if many other players are waiting to use the table, since it often makes the game last considerably longer. Often on bar tables three scratches while shooting for the 8 determines a loss. The same with last-pocket.
bar player 
 *Also **bar league player**.*
A player that predominantly plays in bars/pubs, or is in a bar-based pool league. Often used pejoratively by pool hall players to refer to a perceived lesser skill level of such players. *See also bar pool, bar table.* 
bar pool 
 Also **bar rules**, **pub pool**, **tavern pool**.

Pool, almost always a variant of eight-ball, that is played by bar players on a bar table. Bar pool has rules that vary from region to region, sometimes even from venue to venue in the same city, especially in the U.S. Wise players thus ensure understanding of and agreement to the rules before engaging in a money game under bar rules. Typical differences between bar pool and tournament eight-ball are the lack of ball-in-hand after a foul, the elimination of a number of fouls, and (with numbered ball sets) the requirement that most aspects of a shot be called (including cushions and other object balls to be contacted) not just the target ball and pocket. Bar pool has evolved into this "nitpicky" version principally to make the games last longer, since bar pool is typically played on coin-operated tables that cost money per-game rather than per-hour. Competitive league pool played on bar tables, however, usually uses international, national or local/regional league rules, and is not what is usually meant by "bar pool". *Not to be confused with the game of bar billiards.* 
bar table 
 Also **bar box**, **pub table**, **tavern table**, **coin-operated table**, **coin-op table**.

A distinctive size of pool table found in bars, pubs, or taverns as well as venues such as family entertainment centers, arcades and bowling alleys. These are smaller than the full-size tables found in pool halls. While typical professional and competition tables are 9 ft × 4+1⁄2 ft (2.7 m × 1.4 m), bar tables are typically 7 ft × 3+1⁄2 ft (2.1 m × 1.1 m). In bars they are almost always coin-operated. Another distinguishing factor is the cue ball; these tables capture pocketed object balls to remove them from play, but selectively return a scratched cue ball. The cue balls historically were differently sized or of different density so they could be mechanically separated. Because this changes the mechanics of the cue ball, these cue balls do not play as competition cue balls, and they are therefore deprecated by aficionados. However, modern bar tables typically make use of a magnetic layer inside a regulation size and weight cue ball paired with a magnet mechanism within the table's ball return system that separates out the cue ball without requiring cue ball characteristics that affect play. Systems that use optical sensors to distinguish the cue ball have also been introduced. Pool hall players complain also that the cloth used on bar tables is often greatly inferior (in particular that it is "slow" and that english does not "take" enough), and often find that the cushions are not as responsive as they are used to. 
baulk 
 *Also **baulk area**, **baulk end**.*
In snooker, English billiards, and blackball, the area of the bottom of the table that is between the baulk line and the baulk cushion, which houses the "D" and is somewhat analogous to the kitchen in American-style pool. 
baulk colour 
 In snooker, any of the three colour balls that get spotted on the baulk line. The left-to-right green, brown and yellow ball order is the subject of the mnemonic phrase "**G**od **b**less **y**ou". 
 baulk cushion 
 In snooker, the cushion opposite the top cushion and bounded by the yellow and green pockets. Also known as the bottom cushion. 
baulk line 
 *Also **baulk-line**.*
A straight line drawn 29 inches (73.66 cm) from the face of the baulk cushion on a standard 6 × 12 foot snooker table. Its positioning varies on other sizes of tables. Baulk lines may also be drawn on English billiards tables, and even British-style pool tables. The baulk line is an integral part of the "D". The baulk line's position is always determined by measurement from the baulk cushion, in contrast to the similar but different head string, the position of which is determined by the diamonds. *Not to be confused with balkline.* 
 baulk pocket
 In snooker, a corner pocket located at either end of the baulk cushion. The yellow pocket and green pocket are both baulk pockets.
 baulk rail 
 *Same as bottom rail (UK), head rail (US).*
 baulk spot 
 Also **middle spot in baulk**, **baulk line spot**, **middle of the baulk-line spot**, etc.

The Spot, usually unmarked because of its obviousness at the intersection of the baulk line and long string. As such, it is also the middle of the flat side of the "D". In snooker, *same as brown spot*. *Compare head spot.* 
 bed 
 The flat surface of a table, exclusive of the cushions. The bed is covered with billiard cloth like the cushions. The playing area of the table consists of the bed except where the cushion overhangs the bed, i.e. it is all of the bed between the cushion noses. Quality beds are made of smooth-ground slate, though very cheap tables may use particle board or plywood. The earliest beds were simply the surfaces of the wooden tables on which the game was played. 
 be in stroke 
 *See In stroke.* 
 below 
 Used in snooker in reference to the position of the cue ball. It is "below" the object ball if it is off-straight on the top cushion side of the imaginary line for a straight pot (e.g. she will want to finish below the black in order to go into the reds). This may seem counterintuitive; see above for an explanation. 
big 
 Also **bigs**, **big balls**, **big ones**.

In eight-ball, to be shooting the striped suit (group) of balls (9 through 15); "you're big, remember", "you're big balls" or "I've got the big ones". *Compare stripes, yellows, high, overs; contrast little.* *Not to be confused with the carom billiards concept of a big ball.* 
 big ball 
 A carom billiards metaphor, it refers to an object ball positioned and being approached in such a manner that a near miss will rebound off a cushion and still score. It is *as if* the ball were larger than normal, making it easier to contact. Normally a ball near a rail is a big ball, but only if being approached from an angle and if all the prerequisite rails have already been contacted. 
Not to be confused with the eight-ball term "the big balls", referring to the higher-numbered striped balls. In older British usage the concept was referred to as "large ball". *See also "big pocket".* 
 big pocket 
 A pool and occasionally snooker term (inherited from carom billiards by way of "big ball", above), it is a metaphor for a shot that is very difficult to miss pocketing for any of a number of reasons, most commonly: either the object ball is positioned such that a near miss on one side of it will likely cause the cue ball to rebound off the rail into the object ball and pocket it anyway; or another ball is positioned such that if the target ball does not go straight in, it is still likely to go in off the other ball in a kiss. It is *as if* the pocket, for this one shot, had become larger. The term can also refer to the angle of shot toward a pocket, especially a side pocket; the pocket is said to be "bigger", for example, on a shot that is only a 5-degree angle away from straight on, than on a 45-degree angle shot which is much more likely to hit one of the cushion points and bounce away. 
 billiard 
Also **billiard shot**.

1.  Any shot in which the cue ball is caromed off an object ball to strike another object ball (with or without contacting cushions in the interim).
2.  In certain carom billiards games such as three-cushion, a successful attempt at making a *scoring* billiard shot under the rules for that game (such as contacting three cushions with the cue ball while executing the billiard). A failed attempt at scoring would, in this context, not be called "a billiard" by players of such games even if it satisfied the first, more general definition.
 billiards 
1.  In the US, Canada and in many different countries and languages (under various spellings) as well as historically, generally refers to all cue sports;
2.  Sometimes refers to just carom games as opposed to pool (especially in the US and Canada);
3.  In British terminology, chiefly refers to the game known in the rest of the world as English billiards.
billiards glasses 
 Billiards glasses
*Also **pool spectacles**, **snooker specs**, etc.*

Eyeglasses specially made for cue sports, with tall lenses, set unusually high, so that when the head is lowered over the cue stick for aiming, with the nose pointing downward, the eyes can still look through the lenses instead of over them. They are especially popular among snooker players (notably, 1985 World Champion Dennis Taylor). 
black ball 
Also **the black**.

1.  In snooker, the highest-value colour ball on the table, being worth seven points. It is placed on the black spot. In some snooker ball sets, it is numbered "7" on its surface.
2.  Chiefly British: The 8 ball in a pool set, applying both to the casino balls typically used in blackball pool as well as the solids-and-stripes used in other pool games, such American-style eight-ball, nine-ball and straight pool. In some casino ball sets, the black ball is actually striped black on white.
 black spot 
 The marked spot on a snooker table at which the black ball is placed. On tournament-size tables, it is ​12 3⁄4 inches (324 mm) from the top cushion, on the long string. That is, it is between the top cushion and the pyramid. 
blank 
1.  An unfinished bottom half of a two piece cue (the butt section) with the splice completed, but the cue not yet turned on a lathe to produce the final shape, and certain features having not yet been added such as a wrap, joint mechanism, butt cap, bumper and inlays.
2.  An unsuccessful inning at the table. Also known as a **duck egg**, **goose egg**, **cipher** or **naught**.
blue ball 
Also **the blue(s)**.

1.  In snooker, the colour ball worth five points, placed on the blue spot in the centre of the table. In some ball sets, it is numbered "5" on its surface.
2.  In blackball pool, a common alternate colour for the reds group.
 blue spot 
 The marked spot on a snooker table at which the blue ball is placed. Regardless of table size, it is at the lengthwise and widthwise centre of the table (i.e. it is the same as the centre spot. 
 body english 
 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. *See also english.* 
bottle 
 Also **shake bottle**, **pea bottle**, **pill bottle**, **tally bottle**, **kelly bottle**.

The bottle used in various games to hold numbered peas, it is employed to assign random spots to players in a roster (such as in a tournament), or to assign random balls to players of a game (such as in kelly pool and bottle pool). 
 bottom 
1.  *Chiefly British:* The half of the table from which the break shot is taken. This usage is conceptually opposite that in North America, where this end of the table is called the head. *Contrast top.* *See also baulk.*
2.  *Chiefly American:* Exactly the opposite of the above – the foot end of the table. No longer in common usage.
3.  *Short for bottom spin, i.e. same as screw (British), draw (American).*
 bottom cushion 
 *Chiefly British:* The cushion on the bottom rail. Also known as the baulk cushion, especially in snooker. *Compare head cushion (U.S.); contrast top cushion.* 
 bottom rail 
 *Chiefly British:* The short rail at the bottom of the table. Traditionally this is the rail on which the table manufacturer's logo appears. Also known as the baulk rail, especially in snooker. *Compare head rail (U.S.); contrast top rail.* 
bottom spin 
 Also **bottomspin**, **bottom-spin**, **bottom**.

 *Same as back spin, i.e. screw (UK), draw (US).* *Contrast top spin.* *See illustration at spin.* 
*bouclée* 
 A type of bridge formed between the thumb and forefinger, creating a loop for the cue to pass through. Principally used in carom billiards, the term is French for 'curled'.
break 
1.  *Also **break shot** or **break off**, as a noun.* Typically describes the first shot in most types of billiards games. In carom games it describes the first point attempt, as shot from an unvarying cue ball and object balls placement; in many pool games it describes the first shot, which is used to separate the object balls that have been racked together;
2.  A series of consecutive pots by a player during a single inning. Most often applied in snooker and English billiards, e.g. "The player had a break of 89 points." (Chiefly British; *compare US run*.) *See also maximum break and century break.*
break and dish 
 *Same as break and run* (chiefly British). 
break and run 
 *Also **break and run out**.*
*Chiefly American:* In pool games, when a player breaks the racked object balls, pockets at least one ball on the break, and commences to run out the remaining object balls without the opponent getting a visit at the table. Hyphenated when used as an adjective or compound noun instead of a verbal phrase. *See also run the table, rack and run.* 
 break ball 
In straight pool, the last object ball left on a table before the remaining fourteen balls must be racked so the player at the table may continue their run. It is called the "break ball" because it is common for players to try to leave this ball in such a position that they may easily pot it and billiard off of it to break open the rack of fourteen balls and continue their run.
break box 
Diagram showing the break box and its relation to the kitchen area and head string
In European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) nine-ball, the break box is a zone in the "kitchen" of the head (British: bottom) of the table, from which the break shot must be taken with the cue ball. The break box consists of the middle 50% of the kitchen area, delimited latitudinally by the head rail (British: bottom rail) and head string (not the baulk line), and longitudinally by two parallel lines drawn (on the cloth, or more often imaginarily) from the head rail diamonds that are closest to the head corner pockets, out to the head string *(see illustration to the right)* on either side. This departure from WPA World Standardised Rules defeats the common break-from-the-side-rail technique for pocketing the 9 ball to win the game on the break; while 9 ball breaks are still possible, they are much more difficult under this rule. This EPBF Euro-Tour requirement was added in 2008 to the Europe vs. US all-star team event, the Mosconi Cup, but has not otherwise been seen much by non-Europeans as of 2011.[update]
 break down one's cue 
 To take one's two-piece cue stick apart. When done before a game's conclusion, it may indicate that the game is conceded. Different leagues have different rules on this matter.
 bridge 
 Either the player's hand or a mechanical bridge used to support the shaft end of the cue stick during a shot. Also the particular hand formation used for this purpose (there are many). 
 bridge hand 
 The hand used by a player as a bridge during a normal shot that does not involve a mechanical bridge. The bridge hand is usually a player's non-dominant hand. 
brown ball 
 *Also **the brown**.*
In snooker, the highest-value baulk colour, worth four points. It is placed on the brown spot. In some (especially American) snooker ball sets, it is numbered "4" on its surface. 
 brown spot 
 The spot (often not marked) on a snooker table at which the brown ball is placed. Regardless of table size, it is the middle point of the baulk line. I.e. it is the *same as the baulk spot.* The left-to-right order of the green, brown and yellow balls is the subject of the mnemonic phrase "**G**od **b**less **y**ou". 
 bumper 
 The bumper on the bottom of a cue, usually made from rubber, which insulates the butt cap from contact with the floor and greatly reduces noise. The bumper was first patented in 1880. 
 burnish 
1.  To seal the pores of a wooden cue's shaft by rubbing vigorously with some material. Leather is commonly employed for the task, as is paper money.
2.  To similarly vigorously rub the edge of a cue tip (especially a new one) to fortify it against mushrooming and ensure that it is perfectly flush with the ferrule.
3.  To smooth out minor dents in the shaft with a rigid burnisher.
 burnisher 
1.  A pad, usually of leather, used to burnish (seal the wood pores of) a cue shaft.
2.  A rigid tip tool used to finish and harden the sides of a new cue tip.
3.  A shaft maintenance tool, most commonly a cylindrical glass rod, used for smoothing minor nicks in the shaft. This is sometimes done after swelling the wood at the nick site with some moist application.
 bushka rings 
 Named after their innovator, legendary cuemaker George Balabushka, bushka rings are decorative bands of material incorporated into pool cues, commonly just above the wrap area, in the form of ebony and ivory blocks, or sometimes other materials, alternating in a checked pattern. 
business, doing 
 Collusion between matchplay opponents who prearrange the winner of 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.
 butt cap 
 A protective cap mounted on the end of the butt of a cue. 
 button 
 A point bead on a scoring string. 

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| Contents: | Top – 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |