Glossary Of Game Specific Terms
14.1 Continuous
High Run | The greatest number of balls scored in a players one inning.
In the Rack | An object ball that would interfere with the racking of the object balls .
KEY BALL | The 14th ball of each rack; called the key ball because it is so critical in obtaining position for the all important first (or break) shot of each reracking of the balls.
Bank Pocket Billiards
CLEAN BANK | A shot in which the object ball being played does not touch any other object balls (i.e., no kisses, no combinations).
Carom Games
AROUND THE TABLE | Describes shots in which the cue ball contacts three or more cushions, usually including the two short cushions, in an effort to score.
BILLIARD | A count or score; a successful shot.
CLEAR BALL | The all-white ball, devoid of any markings, used in carom games. (See spot ball)
CROSS TABLE SHOT | Shot in which scoring is accomplished by driving the cue ball across the table between the long cushion.
CROTCH | The corner area of a carom table in straight-rail billiards in which a player may score no more than three successive counts with the balls before driving at least one object ball out of the area. The four crotches are defined as those spaces within crotch lines drawn between first diamond on the end rail to the second diamond on the side rail.
GATHER SHOT | A shot on which appropriate technique and speed are employed to drive one or more balls away from the other(s) in such a manner that when the stroke is complete, the balls have come back together closely enough to present a comparatively easy scoring opportunity for the next shot.
LAG | A shot in which the cue ball is shot three or more cushions before contacting the object balls.
NATURAL | A shot with only natural angle and stroke required for successful execution; a simple or easily visualized, and accomplished, scoring opportunity.
NURSES | Techniques whereby the balls are kept close to the cushions and each other, creating a succession of relatively easy scoring opportunities.
RED BALL | The red-colored object ball. (Also the name of a particular 3-cushion billiard game.)
SCRATCH | To score a point largely by accident, due to an unanticipated kiss, unplanned time-shot, etc.
SNAKE | A shot in which the use of english causes the cue ball to make three or more cushion contacts, though utilizing only two different cushions. Also called a double-the-rail shot.
SPOT BALL | The white ball differentiated from the clear by on or more markings; usually spots, dots or circles.
YELLOW BALL | In international competition the spot ball has been replaced by a yellow ball without any markings.
Forty-One Pocket Billiards
BURST | Scoring a total of more than 41 points.
Pocket Games
BOTTLE | A specially shaped leather or plastic container used in various games. (Also called the shake bottle)
Jawed Ball | A ball that fails to fall into the pocket because it bounces back and forth against the jaws of a pocket.
PEAS | Small plastic or wooden balls numbered 1 through 15 or 16, use defined in specific games rules. (Called pills.)
PILLS | See peas.
SHAKE BOTTLE | See bottle.
SHORT-RACK | Games which utilize fewer than 15 countable object balls.
Snooker
BALL ON | A colored (non-red) ball a player intends to legally pocket; same as on ball.
BAULK | The intervening space between the bottom cushion and the Baulk-line.
BAULK-LINE | A straight line drawn 29" from the face of the bottom cushion and parallel to it.
BOTTOM CUSHION | The cushion located at the head of a snooker table--closest to the D.
BREAK | Total scored in one inning.
COMBINATION ON | See plant.
CUE BALL IN HAND WITHIN THE D | See cue ball in hand within the half-circle.
CUE BALL IN HAND WITHIN THE HALF-CIRCLE | The cue ball is in hand within the half-circle when it has entered a pocket or has been forced off the table. The base of the cue ball may be placed anywhere within or on the half-circle. It remains in hand until the player strikes the cue ball with the tip of the cue or a foul is committed while the ball is on the table.
D. | An area, semi-circular in shape, with the straight side formed by the line drawn between the spot for the yellow and the spot for the green measured 29 inches out from the face of the bottom cushion (sometimes referred to as the baulk line) and the semi-circle is determined by the size of the table being used.
FRAME | The equivalent of one game in snooker.
FREE BALL | After a foul, if the cue ball is snookered, the referee shall state "Free Ball." If the non-offending player takes the next stroke he may nominate any ball as on, and for this stroke, such ball shall be regarded as, and acquire the value of, the ball on.
IN-OFF | A losing hazard; that is, when the cue ball enters a pocket. The snooker equivalent of a scratch.
LOSING HAZARD | Occurs when the cue ball is pocketed after contact with an object ball.
MISS | The call the referee makes in snooker if it is judged the player has not endeavored to the best of his ability to hit the ball on.
ON BALL | See ball on.
PLANT | A position of two or more red balls that allows a ball to be driven into a pocket with a combination shot.
POT | The pocketing of an object ball.
PYRAMID SPOT | The same as the pink spot. The spot is marked midway between the center spot and the face of the top cushion.
SNOOKERED | The condition of incoming player's cue ball position when he cannot shoot in a straight line and contact all portions of an on ball directly facing the cue ball (because of balls not "on" that block the path).
STRIKER | The player who is about to shoot and has yet to complete his inning.
TOP CUSHION | The cushion located at the foot of a snooker table--closest to the black spot.
Snooker Golf
HICKEY | Any foul.
Straight Rail Billiards
CHUCK NURSE | A scoring technique used when one object ball rests against the cushion and the second object ball is to one side of the first ball and away from the cushion. Cue ball strikes the object ball at the cushion so that the cue ball just comes back to touch (carom) the second object ball without moving it out of position for a similar subsequent shot.
