|
 Bridge: The hand configuration that holds and guides the shaft-end of the cue during play. Butt of cue: The larger end of a cue, opposite the tip. On a two-piece cue, the butt extends up to the joint. Call shot: Requirement that a player designate, in advance of each shot, the ball to be made and the pocket into which it will be made. In calling the shot, it is NEVER necessary to indicate details such as the number of cushions, banks, kisses, etc. Called ball: The ball the player has designated to be pocketed on a shot. Called pocket: The pocket in which a player has designated a ball to be shot. Centre spot: The exact centre point of a table's playing surface. Centre string: This is an imaginary line that separates the halves of the table by crossing at the middle of the side of pockets. Chalk: A dry, slightly abrasive substance that is applied to the cue tip to help assure a non-slip contact between the cue tip and the cue ball. The chalk is also available in different colour to match your felt. 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. Combination on: Two or more balls positioned in such a way that a ball can be driven into a called pocket with a combination shot; often called a "dead combo" or an "on combo". Cross corner: Term used to describe a bank shot that will rebound from a cushion into a corner pocket. Cross side: Term used to describe a bank shot that will rebound from a side cushion into a side pocket. 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 that is always struck by the cue during play. 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 the shot is executed. 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. Diamonds: Inlays or markings on the table rails that are used as reference or target points. Double elimination: A tournament format in which a player is not eliminated until he has sustained two match losses. Double round robin: A tournament format in which each contestant in a field plays each of the other players twice. 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. Foot of table: The end of a carom or pocket billiard table at which the balls are racked or positioned at the start of a game. Foot spot: The point on the foot end of the table where imaginary lines drawn between the centre diamonds of the short rails and the second diamonds of the long rails intersect. 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. 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. Game ball: The ball which, if pocketed legally, would produce victory in a game. Grip: The manner in which the butt of the cue is held in the hand. Handicapping: Modifications in the scoring and/or rules of games to enable players of differing abilities to compete on more even terms. Head of table: The end of a carom or pocket billiard table from which the opening break is performed; the end normally marked with the manufacturer=s nameplate. Head spot: The point on the head of the table where imaginary lines drawn between the centre diamonds of the short rails and the second diamonds of the long rails intersect. Head string: A line on the head end of the table between the second diamonds of the long rails, passing through the head spot. 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: A shot in which the cue ball or object ball is caused to rise off the bed of the table. Kiss: Contact between balls (see kiss shot). Kiss shot: A shot in which more than one contact with object balls is made by the cue ball; for example, the cue ball might kiss from one object ball into another to score the latter ball. Shots in which object balls carom off one or more other object balls to be pocketed. Masse shot: A shot in which extreme spin is applied to the cue ball by elevating the cue butt at an angle with the bed of the table, anywhere between 30 and 90 degrees. The cue ball usually takes a curved path, with more curve resulting from increasing cue stick elevation. 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 in a sharp sound and discolouration of the tip and/or the cue ball at the point of contact. Object balls: The balls other than the cue ball 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. Peas: Small plastic or wooden balls numbered 1 through 15 or 16; use defined in specific game rules. Position: The placement of the cue ball on each shot relative to the next planned shot. Also called "shape". Powder: Talc or other fine, powdery substance used to facilitate free, easy movement of the cue shaft through the bridge. Rack: The triangular equipment used for gathering the balls into the formation required by the game being played. 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. Rails: A particular shot where the object ball hits or grazes another object ball on the way to its pocket or toward hitting yet another object ball. For an object ball to graze another object ball on the way to its pocket. Round Robin: A tournament format in which each contestant plays each of the other players once. 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. Safety: Defensive positioning of the balls so as to minimize the opponent's chances to score. (The nature and rules concerning safety play are decidedly different in specific games; see individual game rules regarding safety play.) A player's inning usually ends after a safety play. Scratch: The cue ball is going into a pocket on a stroke. Set: A subdivision of a match, usually consisting of a number of games. For example, a match might be best 3 or 5 sets, with each set a race to 7 games. 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. Shot: An action that begins at the instant the cue tip contacts the cue ball, and ends when all balls in play stop rolling and spinning. Single elimination: A tournament format in which a single loss eliminates a player from the competition. 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. Spot: The thin, circular piece of cloth or paper glued onto the cloth to indicate the spot locality, i.e. head spot, centre spot, foot spot; also an expression to describe a handicap. Spotting balls: Replacing balls to the table in positions as dictated by specific game rules. Stroke: The movement of the cue, as a shot is executed. Triangle: The triangular device used to place the balls in position for the start of most games. |
Related Links & Information
  
|