Aiming
Aiming line
The imaginary line the cue ball travels along to reach the contact point on the object ball.
Glossary
Every pool term on CueSensei, explained in one or two sentences.
50 terms
A
Table & equipment
Apex
The front ball of a rack, placed on the foot spot.
B
Rules
Ball in hand
After a foul, the incoming player may place the cue ball anywhere (or, in some cases, only behind the head string).
Shots
Bank shot
A shot where the object ball hits one or more cushions before going into the pocket.
Game play
Break
The opening shot of a rack, played into the racked balls.
Technique
Bridge
The support for the front of the cue — your hand (open or closed bridge) or a mechanical bridge.
Table & equipment
Butt
The thick, back part of the cue that you hold.
C
Rules
Call shot
Naming the ball and pocket before a shot, required in 8-ball, 10-ball and straight pool.
Shots
Carom
A shot where a ball glances off another ball on its way — e.g. the object ball kisses off a second ball into the pocket.
Technique
Center ball
Hitting the cue ball in its exact centre, with no spin added.
Shots
Combination
A shot where the cue ball hits one object ball into another, which goes into the pocket.
Aiming
Contact point
The spot on the object ball that the cue ball must hit to send it towards the pocket.
Table & equipment
Cushion
The rubber edge around the playing surface that balls bounce off. Often called the rail.
Aiming
Cut angle
How far off a straight-in line a shot is: the angle between the cue ball's path and the object ball's path.
Shots
Cut shot
Any shot that is not straight in — the object ball is hit off-centre and goes off at an angle.
D
Table & equipment
Diamonds
The markers on the rails that divide the table into equal parts. Used for aiming kicks, banks and position.
Rules
Double hit
Hitting the cue ball twice on one stroke — a foul.
Technique
Draw
Backspin: hit below centre so the cue ball comes back towards you after contact.
E
Technique
English
Side spin, added by hitting the cue ball left or right of centre. Changes the angle off a cushion.
F
Technique
Follow
Topspin: hit above centre so the cue ball keeps rolling forward after contact.
Technique
Follow-through
Letting the cue continue straight through the cue ball after contact instead of stopping at the ball.
Table & equipment
Foot spot
The marked spot in the foot half of the table where the front ball of the rack is placed.
Rules
Frozen
A ball touching another ball or a cushion. Must be declared before the shot to count.
G
Aiming
Ghost ball
An aiming method: picture a ball touching the object ball, exactly opposite the pocket, and send the cue ball to that spot.
H
Table & equipment
Head string
The imaginary line across the table one quarter of its length from the head rail. Breaks are played from behind it.
I
Rules
Inning
One turn at the table.
J
Shots
Jump shot
Making the cue ball leave the cloth to go over an obstacle, by striking down on it with an elevated cue.
K
Shots
Kick shot
A shot where the cue ball hits a cushion before reaching the object ball.
Shots
Kiss
A contact between two balls, usually unplanned, that changes their path.
L
Rules
Lag
The shot that decides who breaks: both players send a ball to the far cushion and back.
Table & equipment
Long string
The imaginary line down the middle of the table, from the foot spot to the foot rail.
M
Shots
Massé
A shot with a steeply raised cue that makes the cue ball curve sharply.
Technique
Miscue
When the tip slides off the cue ball, usually from hitting too far from centre or a dry tip.
O
Table & equipment
Object ball
Any ball other than the cue ball.
Rules
Open table
In 8-ball, the state before groups are decided; any ball except the 8 may be hit first.
P
Strategy
Position
Controlling where the cue ball stops, so the next shot is easy. Also called shape.
Rules
Push out
In 9-ball and 10-ball, a special shot right after the break with relaxed rules; the opponent then chooses who shoots.
R
Table & equipment
Rack
The triangle or diamond frame for setting up the balls — and also one game played from one set-up.
Strategy
Run-out
Pocketing every remaining ball in one inning to win the rack.
S
Strategy
Safety
A defensive shot meant to leave your opponent without a good shot.
Rules
Scratch
Pocketing the cue ball — a foul.
Table & equipment
Shaft
The thin, front part of the cue, ending in the ferrule and tip.
Rules
Spotting
Putting a ball back on the table on the long string, as close to the foot spot as possible.
Technique
Squirt
Cue ball deflection: when you use side spin, the cue ball pushes off slightly in the opposite direction.
Technique
Stop shot
Hitting a straight-in shot so the cue ball stops dead where it hits the object ball.
Technique
Stun
Hitting so the cue ball slides without spin at contact; on a cut shot it leaves at about 90° to the object ball's path.
Technique
Swerve
The curve of the cue ball's path caused by side spin combined with an elevated cue.
T
Technique
Throw
The small change in the object ball's direction caused by friction between the balls at contact.
Table & equipment
Tip
The leather end of the cue that strikes the cue ball. Needs chalk to grip.
Technique
Tip offset
How far from the centre of the cue ball the tip strikes. More offset means more spin, up to the miscue limit.