Glossary Of Competition Terms
Action | Playing a game for money.
Adjust | Modifying a player's handicap or terms of the match.
Ahead Race | A match that ends when a player is ahead of the other player by a specified amount of games.
Air Barrel | Playing a game or match for money with no intent or actual money to pay the opponent in the event of a loss.
Answer | A player's successful inning after the opponent's successful inning.
Around the World | Tracking games won by placing a coin under the rail next to each diamond starting at the center diamond on the head rail. The object is to win a game and move the coin to the next diamond until reaching the center diamond on the head rail again.
Back or Backer | The person who funds the player with the money to gamble for a cut of the winnings.
Ball In Hand | The cue ball may be placed anywhere on the bed of the table.
related terms: cue ball in hand behind the head string, cue ball
Blind Draw | A method used to ensure random placement of players in a tournament bracket by drawing numbers or computer generated randomization.
Bye | A player or team is scheduled to compete with no opponent when an uneven number of participants are scheduled to participate.
Call Shot | The player must call the pocket and call the object ball before each shot is executed. Unless otherwise noted in specific game rules, any kisses, caroms or cushions or combinations do not need to be called.
related terms: called pocket, called ball
Called Ball | The object ball the player has designated to be pocketed.
related terms: called shot, called pocket
Called Pocket | The pocket the player has designated an object ball to be pocketed.
related terms: called shot, called ball
Cue Ball In Hand | The cue ball may be placed anywhere on the bed of the table.
related terms: cue ball in hand behind the head string, cue ball
Cue Ball In Hand Behind the Head String | The cue ball may be placed anywhere on the bed of the table behind the head string.
related terms: cue ball in hand, cue ball
The Count | When numerous points are scored successively at any time during a player's inning.
Double Elimination | A competition format in which a player is not eliminated until the player loses two matches.
related terms: single elimination, split double elimination
Double Round Robin | A competition formation in which the participants competes with each player twice.
related terms: round robin
Frame | One completed cycle during which each player has one turn at the table.
related terms: inning
Game | A game begins with racking the object balls and ending with legally pocketing the last required object ball for a player to win.
Game Ball | The object ball which determines the winner of a game when legally pocketed.
Handicapping | Modifying the rules or scoring of any game to allow players of different abilities to compete evenly.
related terms: spot
Hustler | A term used for unethical players who try to hide their true ability to bait someone of lesser ability into playing for money or more money.
Inning | Counted as one completed cycle of each player having one turn at the table.
related terms: frame
Lag | Method to determine the player who will execute the opening break. Each player simultaneously shoots an object ball from behind the head string to rebound from the foot cushion to return the ball as closely as possible to the head cushion to win.
related terms: lot
Lot | Any method used to determine the starting player or order of play such as a blind draw or flipping a coin.
related terms: lag
Match | A match is a series of successive games beginning with the lag or racking the object balls and ending with legally pocketing the last required object ball in the last required game.
Race | Specified number of games to win a match.
related terms: set
Round Robin | A competition formation in which the participants competes with each player once.
related terms: double round robin
Seeding | The deliberate placement of players in a tournament.
related terms: blind draw
Set | Number of games necessary to win a match.
related terms: race
Sharking | Any unethical behavior by a player while their opponent is shooting.
Shot Clock | A timing device used to count time to ensure players shoot within the time limit specified for a shot.
Single Elimination | A competition format in which a player is eliminated by losing one match.
related terms: split double elimination, double elimination
Split Double Elimination | A double elimination format in which the tournament is divided into groups. The winning player from each group competes in single elimination format to be the winner.
related terms: double elimination, single elimination
Spot | A handicapping method where a player of better ability gives a player of lower ability the specified handicap to ensure fair play.
related terms: handicapping
