49 pool and billiards terms with plain definitions: English, scratch, kitchen, pool shark, masse and the rest of the table talk.
Pool halls run on their own vocabulary, and most of it is learned by ear rather than from a rulebook. What follows is the billiards terminology you actually hear at the table: the words related to billiards equipment, the words associated with billiards shots and fouls, and the pool slang that turns a simple miss into a story. The billiards glossary further down collects every term in one place when you need a quick answer mid-game.
Must-Know Billiards Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Break
- Cue ball
- Eight ball
- English
- Foul
- Frame
- Hustler
- Jump shot
- Massé
- Rack
- Scratch
- Stripes
- Solids
- Bank shot
- Bridge
- Carom
- Chalk
- Combo
- Cushion
- Double kiss
- Freeze
- Handicap
- League
- Play safe
- Rail
- Re-rack
- Side pocket
- Spin
- Trick shot
Billiards Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Ball in hand | The right to place the cue ball anywhere on the table, awarded to the opponent after a scratch or certain fouls. |
| Bank shot | A shot in which a ball is played off one or more cushions before reaching its target or a pocket. |
| Behind the eight ball | Stuck in a position with no good shot, because the eight ball blocks the path. The phrase left the pool hall long ago and now means trouble in general. |
| Break | The opening shot that scatters the racked balls. A strong break can pocket a ball and hand you control of the table. |
| Break and run | Pocketing a ball on the break and then clearing the rest of your group without giving up the table. |
| Bridge | The hand position, or the mechanical rest, that supports the cue shaft during a stroke. Stability here decides accuracy. |
| Carom | A shot where the cue ball contacts two or more balls in succession, used to pocket a ball or to park the cue ball somewhere useful. |
| Chalk | The cube of abrasive applied to the cue tip so it grips the cue ball instead of sliding off it. |
| Combo (Combination shot) | The cue ball strikes one object ball, which then drives a second ball toward a pocket. |
| Cue ball | The white ball, the only one a player is allowed to strike with the cue. Controlling where it stops matters as much as potting. |
| Cue stick | The tapered stick used to strike the cue ball, tipped with leather and usually built in two screw-together halves. |
| Cushion | The padded rubber running along the inside of the rails. Balls rebound off it, which is what makes bank and kick shots possible. |
| Cut shot | Any shot where the cue ball meets the object ball off-center, sending it away at an angle rather than straight ahead. |
| Double kiss | The cue ball touches an object ball, then contacts it a second time on the rebound. Almost always unwanted. |
| Draw | Backspin. The cue ball is struck below center so it rolls back toward the shooter after contact. |
| Eight ball | The black number 8 ball, and the name of the most common pool game. It is pocketed last, once your own group is cleared. |
| English | Sidespin put on the cue ball by striking it left or right of center. It changes both the cue ball's path and how it comes off a cushion. |
| Follow | Topspin. The cue ball is struck above center so it carries forward after contact with the object ball. |
| Foul | Any breach of the rules, such as missing your own group entirely or pocketing the cue ball. The penalty normally hands the table to the opponent. |
| Frame | One complete game inside a longer match. Snooker uses the word constantly, with a match decided over a set number of frames. |
| Freeze | To leave the cue ball resting against another ball. A frozen cue ball strips an opponent of most of their options. |
| Handicap | A scoring adjustment that lets players of different standards compete, usually as extra points or a shorter target for the weaker player. |
| Head string | The line across the table behind which the cue ball must be placed for the break. The area behind it is often called the kitchen. |
| Hustler | A player who hides their real standard to win money from opponents who think they are the better player. |
| Jump shot | A downward stroke below the cue ball's center that lifts it off the cloth and over a blocking ball. |
| Kick shot | The cue ball is played off one or more cushions first, then into the object ball. The standard escape when your target is hidden. |
| Kitchen | The area of the table behind the head string. After some fouls the incoming player must shoot from inside it. |
| League | An organized group of players competing in scheduled matches under a fixed set of rules, from bar leagues up to national bodies. |
| Massé | An extreme curve shot, played with the cue raised steeply so heavy spin bends the cue ball around an obstructing ball. |
| Miscue | The tip slips off the cue ball at impact, usually from missing chalk, producing a dull click and a wild result. |
| Object ball | Any ball a player intends to hit or pocket, as opposed to the cue ball. |
| Play safe | To play a shot with no intention of potting, aiming instead to leave the opponent without a shot. |
| One of the six openings at the corners and long sides of the table where balls are sunk. | |
| Pocket billiards | The formal name for pool, the family of games played on a six-pocket table with a cue ball and numbered balls. |
| Pool shark | Slang for a very strong player, especially one who plays for money and lets opponents underestimate them. |
| Rack | The triangular or diamond arrangement of the balls before the break, and the frame used to set it. |
| Rail | The raised wooden edge of the table that carries the cushion. |
| Re-rack | Setting the balls up again, after a faulty break or at the start of a new game. |
| Run out | Clearing every remaining ball of your group plus the eight in a single visit to the table. |
| Safety | A defensive shot played to leave the cue ball where the opponent has nothing on. The same idea as playing safe. |
| Scratch | Pocketing the cue ball or knocking it off the table. It is a foul and normally gives the opponent ball in hand. |
| Shape | The position the cue ball is left in for the next shot. Playing shape is planning two or three balls ahead. |
| Side pocket | One of the two pockets at the middle of the long rails. The tighter approach angle makes them less forgiving than the corners. |
| Skid | An object ball that leaves the cue ball at a strange angle, usually because chalk or dust on the contact point kills the normal throw. |
| Snooker | To leave the opponent with no straight path to their ball. Also the name of the separate cue sport played on a larger table. |
| Solids | The balls numbered 1 through 7, colored throughout. One player takes solids and clears them before the eight ball. |
| Spin | Rotation on the cue ball from an off-center strike, which alters its path after contact and off the cushions. |
| Stripes | The balls numbered 9 through 15, each with a colored band. The other half of the eight-ball split. |
| Trick shot | An exhibition shot built from banks, jumps, spins or combinations, played to show craft rather than to win a frame. |
#1 Break
The initial shot that starts the game by scattering the billiard balls from their racked formation. A dominant break can be strategic, potentially pocketing a ball and setting the pace of the game.
#2 Cue Ball
The white ball in billiards, which players strike with the cue stick to hit other balls. Control of the cue ball is crucial for positioning and making successful shots.
#3 Eight Ball
In the game of eight ball, this is the black ball marked with the number 8. It is the game-winning ball that must be pocketed after a player’s group of stripes or solids is cleared.
#4 English
Also known as “side spin,” English is the spin a player imparts on the cue ball by striking it off-center. It influences the cue ball’s path and reaction after it hits another ball.
#5 Foul
An infraction of the rules, such as a player failing to hit their own ball first or pocketing the cue ball. Fouls typically result in a penalty, like giving a turn to the opponent.
#6 Frame
A single round or game within a larger match of billiards. In snooker, a frame is won by scoring more points than the opponent, with multiple frames constituting a match.
#7 Hustler
A player who conceals their true skill level to win bets against less experienced opponents. Hustling is frowned upon and is associated with gambling within the sport.
#8 Jump Shot
A jump shot in billiards involves striking the cue ball below its center with a sharp, downward stroke, causing it to jump off the table surface over an intervening ball rather than rolling past it. This type of shot is often used to clear an obstructing ball that blocks a direct shot at the intended target ball.
#9 Massé
An advanced shot where the cue ball is struck with a high degree of spin, causing it to curve dramatically around obstacles. It’s often employed when a direct shot path is blocked.
#10 Pocket
The receptacle at the corners and sides of a billiards table where balls are intended to be driven. Each successful shot that lands a ball in a pocket is a key step towards winning the game.
#11 Rack
The geometric arrangement of billiard balls, typically in a triangle or diamond formation, at the beginning of a game. The formation is set up before the break shot is taken.
#12 Scratch
An infraction occurring when the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table. This often results in a penalty, allowing the opponent to place the cue ball anywhere behind the head string for their shot.
#13 Stripes
One of the two groups of balls in games like eight-ball, characterized by a striped color pattern. Players must sink all of their assigned group (stripes or solids) before attempting the eight ball.
#14 Solids
Contrasting with stripes, solids are the group of balls with solid colors. In eight-ball, a player is assigned either solids or stripes, which they must clear before legally pocketing the eight ball.
#15 Bank Shot
A bank shot is a shot where the cue ball or another ball rebounds off one or more cushioned rails (sides of the billiards table) before hitting the target ball or sinking into a pocket. This type of shot is used to reach balls that are not in a direct line of sight or to strategically position the cue ball after the shot.
#16 Bridge
The hand position or mechanical device used to support the cue stick when making a shot. A stable bridge is essential for precision and control during the execution of various strokes.
#17 Carom
A shot in which the cue ball hits two or more balls in succession. Caroms are strategic shots often used to position balls favorably or pocket multiple balls with a single stroke.
#18 Chalk
The substance applied to the tip of the cue stick to increase friction between the cue tip and the cue ball. Chalking is crucial to prevent miscues and enhance spin control.
#19 Combo (Combination shot)
A shot where the cue ball strikes one object ball which then hits another, with the intention of pocketing the second ball. This is a strategic play to sink balls that are not in a direct line to a pocket.
#20 Cushion
The padded rails around the edges of a billiard table which the balls can bounce off. Mastering the angles off the cushions is vital for advanced positional play and creating safety shots.
#21 Double Kiss
Occurs when the cue ball strikes an object ball and then, due to its spin and momentum, contacts that ball again. This is typically an undesired outcome that can disrupt the intended path of the balls.
#22 Freeze
To have the cue ball come to rest touching another ball. A frozen ball may limit an opponent’s shot options and is often used strategically in defensive play.
#23 Handicap
In billiards, a handicap is a system used to level the playing field between players of different skill levels. It allows less experienced players to compete against better ones by providing a starting advantage, such as extra points or balls.
#24 League
A league is an organized group of billiards players who compete in regular matches following specific rules and guidelines. It promotes consistent competition and can range from amateur local groups to professional national organizations.
#25 Play Safe
To play safe in billiards means to make a shot that does not intend to pocket a ball but instead aims to leave the cue ball in a position that is difficult for the opponent. It’s a strategic defensive move.
#26 Rail
The rail in billiards refers to the raised, cushioned edges of the table that the balls can bounce off. Players use the rails to execute bank and kick shots, where the ball is played off one or more rails.
#27 Re-rack
Re-rack is the term used when the balls need to be set up again in their starting formation, typically because of a faulty break or after a game concludes. It ensures a fair and standardized start for each new game.
#28 Side Pocket
A side pocket is one of the four pockets located in the middle of the long sides of a billiards table. Shots made into the side pockets often require precision due to their angled position relative to the player.
#29 Spin
Spin refers to the rotation imparted on the cue ball when struck off-center with the cue stick. Depending on where the cue ball is hit, spin can dramatically affect the travel path and behavior of the ball after it hits other balls or the table’s cushions.
#30 Trick shot
A trick shot in billiards is a shot that involves complex maneuvers like spins, banks, jumps, or combinations thereof. Trick shots are typically used in exhibition or artistic billiards to showcase the player’s skill and creativity.
FAQ
What is the white ball in pool called?
The cue ball. It is the only ball a player may strike with the cue, and every other ball on the table is moved through it.
What does billiards mean?
Billiards is the family of cue sports played on a cloth-covered table with balls struck by a cue. In American usage it usually means pool, while in Britain it can mean English billiards or serve as an umbrella term that also covers snooker.
What do you call someone who plays pool?
A pool player, or a cueist in more formal writing. A strong player who plays for money is a pool shark, and one who hides their real standard to set up a bet is a hustler.
What is it called when a player clears the table in one turn?
A run out. If the player pockets a ball on the break and then clears the table without their opponent getting a shot, it is a break and run.
What is a pool shark?
A very strong player, usually one who plays for money. The word carries the sense of someone who lets opponents talk themselves into a bet they cannot win.
What is the head string in pool?
The line drawn across the table near the break end. The cue ball must be placed behind it for the opening shot, and the area behind it is commonly called the kitchen.
They fall into three groups: equipment (cue stick, cue ball, rack, chalk, cushion), shots (break, bank shot, carom, draw, massé) and faults (foul, scratch, miscue, double kiss). The billiards glossary above lists all of them.
What are some Billiards terms for beginners?
“Break,” “cue ball,” and “rack” are some Billiards terms beginners should start with. These words describe the initial shot, the ball hit by the cue stick, and the arrangement of the balls.
What are some funny Billiards terms?
“Jump shot,” “massé,” and “scratch” are some funny Billiards terms. They depict advanced playing moves or mishaps, like hitting the cue ball into the air or pocketing it accidentally, adding playful elements to the game.
What is a famous Billiards phrase?
“Behind the eight ball,” is a famous Billiards phrase. It refers to a difficult situation in the game, similar to the colloquial use indicating a challenging position in everyday situations.
