Gossary Pool Billiards will help you understand the terms specific to the game, giving you the confidence to communicate like a pro. There are glossaries specific to each type of cue game, as the definitions while similar may have different nuances. A Glossary Pool Billiards can help you understand the game by giving meaning to not only the technical terms but the slang used by players. You can find glossaries specific to each type of cue game, as the definitions may have different nuances for the type of game played.

A few common terms and definitions are listed below.

8-ball: A cue game with 15 balls racked in a triangle. The objective is to pocket your seven balls, striped or solid, and the 8-ball.

9-ball: A cue game played with the first 9 balls racked in a diamond shape with the 9-ball in the center. The balls are hit in numerical order, with the person pocketing the 9-ball as the winner.

Action: A game played for money.

Angle shot: A shot where the cue ball drives the object ball other than straight ahead.

Ball-in-hand: A situation where the cue ball can be placed anywhere on the table resulting from a scratch or foul.

Bank shot: A shot when the object ball is bounced off one or more railings before being pocketed.

Billiard shot: A shot where the cue ball is deflected off an object ball to strike a second object ball.

Cross-Corner: A bank shot off the long rail into a corner pocket.

Cross-side: A bank shot off the long rail into a side pocket.

Defensive shot: A shot where you try to pocket the ball, but in the case of a miss you have left the cue in a difficult position for your opponent.

Follow-through: Movement of the cue through position during the end of the stroke.

Inside cut: A bank shot where the cue ball hits the object on the side toward the bank imparting natural cut-induced English to the object ball.

Jump Shot: Can be legal or illegal. The cue ball is bounced off the table surface.

Leave: The position of the balls after a shot.

Object ball: The ball to be pocketed or legally struck by the cue.

Pocket speed: A slow hit where the object ball is given just enough speed to pocket.

Spin: The rotation of the ball to the side, top, bottom or any combination.

Thin cut: When only a slight fraction of the cue glances the object ball in a large cut angle.

Topspin: A forward rotation of the cue ball.

Wing balls: In 9-ball, the two balls towards the side rails adjacent to the 9-ball.

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