Table & equipment
Apex
The front ball of a rack, placed on the foot spot.
Glossary
Every pool term on CueSensei, explained in one or two sentences.
19 terms
A
B
Table & equipment
Butt
The thick, back part of the cue that you hold.
C
Table & equipment
Cloth
The fabric covering the slate and cushions. Its speed affects how far balls roll. Often called felt.
Table & equipment
Cue
The stick you strike the cue ball with, made of a butt and a shaft.
Table & equipment
Cushion
The rubber edge around the playing surface that balls bounce off. Often called the rail.
D
Table & equipment
Diamonds
The markers on the rails that divide the table into equal parts. Used for aiming kicks, banks and position.
F
Table & equipment
Foot spot
The marked spot in the foot half of the table where the front ball of the rack is placed.
Table & equipment
Foot string
The imaginary line across the table through the foot spot, a quarter of the table’s length from the foot rail.
H
Table & equipment
Head spot
The centre point of the head string.
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.
K
Table & equipment
Kitchen
The area between the head rail and the head string. You break from here, and after some fouls the cue ball goes here.
L
Table & equipment
Long string
The imaginary line down the middle of the table, from the foot spot to the foot rail.
O
Table & equipment
Object ball
Any ball other than the cue ball.
P
Table & equipment
One of the six openings: four in the corners and two in the middle of the long rails.
R
Table & equipment
Rack
The triangle or diamond frame for setting up the balls — and also one game played from one set-up.
Table & equipment
Rail
The raised frame around the table that holds the cushions and diamonds. Often also used to mean the cushion.
S
Table & equipment
Shaft
The thin, front part of the cue, ending in the ferrule and tip.
Table & equipment
Slate
The heavy stone slabs under the cloth that make the playing surface flat. Also called the bed.
T
Table & equipment
Tip
The leather end of the cue that strikes the cue ball. Needs chalk to grip.