C Glossary of cue sports terms

carambole

also carambola.

1.  the red object ball in carom games. term thought derived orange-colored, tropical asian fruit, called carambola in english, spanish , several other languages, in turn karambal in marathi language of india.

2.  a general-purpose term carom billiards games
3.  (obsolete.) alternate name game of straight rail
4.  a carom.
carpetbagger
see lemon.
catch stroke
see stroke, catch a.
center spot
also centre spot, . spot (usually unmarked, except in snooker) @ geometric center of bed of table. lies @ intersection of center string , long string. in snooker, more commonly known blue spot uncommonly called middle spot.
center string
also centre string. (usually unmarked) line bisecting centers of 2 long rails (and of side [brit.: centre] pockets if any) , center spot. runs widthwise (i.e. short way) across center of table. intersection long string, running lengthwise down middle of table, defines position of center spot.
centre pocket
in uk, 1 of 2 pockets 1 either side of pool, snooker or english billiards table halfway long rails. cut shallower corner pockets because have 180 degree aperture, instead of 90 degrees. called middle pocket. these terms not used in us, side pocket prevails.
century

also century break. in snooker, english billiards , other british usage, break of 100 points or more, involves potting @ least 26 balls consecutively, in snooker, can earned via combination of scoring techniques in english billiards, etc. century means scoring 100+ points in single turn in straight pool. century of centuries achievement of 100 or more century breaks in career, feat few players have performed date. see double century.

chalk
a powdered substance placed on cue s tip increase friction , thereby decrease slippage between tip , cue ball. cue chalk not chalk (calcium carbonate) @ all, compound of silica , aluminium oxide. chalk sold in compressed, dyed (most commonly blue) cubes wrapped on 5 sides paper label, , applied (properly) in manner similar lipstick on mouth. chalk essential shots involving spin, , failure use during game lead miscuing. modern cue chalk co-invented pro player william a. spinks , engineer william hoskins. see talc, incorrectly referred hand chalk .
chasing 1 s money
the inability of players stop gambling once have lost money because have money back.
cheat pocket
to aim @ object ball such enter 1 side or other, rather center, of pocket. permits cue ball strike object ball @ different contact point obvious one. cheating pocket employed position play, allow ball pass partially obscuring path pocket, , prevent scratches on dead-straight shots in cases draw not desirable (or may not dependable, e.g. because of distance pocket or smash-through).
check side
also commonly referred check type of spin imparted cue ball make rebound cushion @ shallower angle if spin had not been used. played when natural angle no player next shot.
chesney
sometimes known chesney allen , slight indentation in table s slate can add behavioral aspects ball passing on it. tables containing chesney legal match play, avoided serious , professional players.
chinese snooker


chinese snooker on red ball

a situation cue ball directly in front of ball in line of shot such player hampered it, having bridge on awkwardly likelihood of foul looming if object ball inadvertently touched. term common in game of snooker used in u.s. parlance.

chuck nurse
known rocking cannon in british terminology. type of nurse used in carom billiards games. 1 object ball frozen (british: tight) cushion , second object ball few inches away cushion, cue ball gently rebounded off frozen ball not moving it, enough speed meet other object ball rocks in place, not change position. developed thwart restrictions emplaced parker s box.
choke
to commit errors while shooting, @ money ball, due pressure. see dog, one-stroke.
cinch ball
to play shot stroke , speed makes easiest pocket object ball, @ expense of sacrificing position.
cinch pocket
to maneuver ball on shot favorably positioned later play particular pocket, @ expense of sacrificing position or inning achieve result.
cinch position
to play shot using more difficult application of stroke , speed achieve desired position next shot, @ expense of or sharply increasing likelihood of miss.
clean
1.  chiefly british. describing pot goes straight pocket without touching either knuckle.
2.  chiefly american. describing shot in bar pool: pocketing of object ball in manner such target object ball not kiss other object ball, , not banked, kicked, caromed, or combo d in, , without double-kissing, though may hit knuckles, , depending upon local bar-rules may allowed contact either of cushions, not @ knuckle, run target pocket. usage example: 7 in corner, clean . usage can narrower, indicate clean other specified, e.g. bank 7 in corner, clean .
clearance
in snooker , british pool, successful potting of object balls-on in single frame. player said have cleared or have cleared table . also, if snooker player compiles break consisting of 15 reds colours, colours in sequence, known total clearance . compare break , run.
cling
phenomenon 2 balls, (usually cue ball , object ball) have foreign material (often residual chalk or dirt picked unbrushed cloth) between them @ point of contact, resulting in struck object ball being thrown offline expected trajectory, , affecting post-impact path of cue ball. typical precaution against cling ask cue ball and/or object ball cleaned referee in order remove chalk on ball prior shot. table cloth should clean. however, no precaution can ward against cling resulting chalk transferred cue tip cue ball during single shot. coincidental cling can therefore cause unpredictable play , lead rudimentary shots being missed @ highest levels of game. cling (and derived words clung , clinger , clinging , etc.) may used mass noun, less commonly count noun, verb, , adjective ( cling annoying , 2 clings in 1 frame , clung , unintentional cling shot , respectively). known skid, or in uk, kick (sense 2). see dead ball, sense 2.
closed bridge
also loop bridge. bridge formed hand finger (normally index finger) curved on cue stick , other fingers spread on cloth providing solid support cue stick s direction. closed bridge less common in snooker play in other games.compare open bridge.
cloth
the baize cloth covering tables playing surface , rails, made wool or wool-nylon blend. in use since 15th century, cloth traditionally green-colored, chosen evocation of grass. cloth improperly referred felt. properties of cloth used cover table, environmental conditions can affect it—notably humidity, degree has been stretched when installed, , level of cleanness—have profound effect on play. see fast.
cloth speed
same table speed.
cluster
two or more object balls touching or close together. more rare uses of term include intended action of gather shot, , run of points.
cocked-hat double
also cocked hat double. term applied in snooker type of double off 3 cushions, e.g. around baulk colours , centre pocket. such shot difficult make , not played more shot nothing.
collar
the protector of joint of cue on joint end of butt , shaft (i.e., butt collar , shaft collar respectively). modern cues use collars of steel and/or other materials, carom billiards cues have collarless wood-on-wood joint, sneaky petes .
collision-induced side spin
side spin imparted object ball friction hit of cue ball during cut shot.
collision-induced throw
deflection of object ball s path away impact line of cut shot, caused sliding friction between cue ball , object ball. 1 of 2 types of throw.
colour ball


a complete set of snooker balls 15 red balls, 6 coloured balls , cue ball.

also coloured ball(s), colour(s); american spelling color used.

1.  in snooker, of object balls not reds. colour ball must potted after each red in continuation of break, , re-spotted until reds run out, after colours must potted in order:

although full term includes ball after colour, commonly referred omission of ball , stating colour (e.g. s taken 5 blacks reds far ).

2.  in blackball, generic, collective term red , yellow groups of object balls, corresponding (originally american, used more today) solids , stripes, respectively.
combination
also combination shot, combo. shot in cue ball contacts object ball, in turn hits 1 or more additional object balls (which in turn may hit yet further object balls) send last-hit object ball intended place, pocket. in uk referred plant.
contact point
the point on each of 2 balls @ touch @ moment of impact.
containing safety
a type of safety shot in middle of safety exchange not intended put opponent in difficult situation regarding next safety, rather played not leave easy pot on. typical example in snooker, sees shots of kind, slow roll-up pack.
corner-hooked
when corner lip of pocket blocks path of cue ball contacting intended object ball. interchangeable tittie-hooked .
corner pocket
any of 4 pockets in each corner of pool or snooker table. have 90 degree aperture , such cut deeper center pockets, have 180 degree apertures.
count
1.  a successful shot or score; more common in carom games.
2.  the running score during game inning multiple successive points have been made.
cotgrave
similar fluke whereby shot played seemingly no aim pot or snooker ends desired outcome.
counter rack

also counting rack, counter ball rack, etc.

same scoring rack.

cradle cannon
a type of nurse shot used in english billiards in 2 coloured balls positioned on either side of mouth of snooker table pocket not touching and, placed, can successively contacted , scored off on , on cue ball without moving them. cradle cannon s first known use walter lovejoy in 1907. unofficial record using shot held tom reece in 1907, on course of month, scored 499,135 points using cradle cannon before stopping without missing. feat prompted billiards association outlaw shot. official record held william cook 42,746 points scored. compare anchor nurse.
creep
deviation of ball initial direction of travel. result of poor-quality table , may artifact of cloth, bed, ball uneven weight distribution, or floor table stands on being uneven. should not confused nap of cloth.
cribbage
a set of paired balls in game of cribbage pool have number value combined equal 15. example, 8 ball , 7 ball added equal 15 , constitute 1 cribbage if pocketed in succession.
cross


cross rake

also cross rake or jigger. type of rest, straight shaft , x -shaped head resting cue upon.

cross-corner
a bank shot rebounds cushion corner pocket across table.
cross double
a british term describing bank shot in cue ball crosses future path of object ball. such shots played center pocket because there danger of double-kiss if played corner pocket.
cross-side
a bank shot rebounds cushion , side pocket.
crotch
the corner formed rails on carom billiards table. in modern straight rail rules, 3 counts may made while both object balls inside boundaries of crotch before 1 ball must driven away. boundaries of each of 4 crotch areas measured drawing line first diamond on end rail second diamond on long rail.
crucible curse

the phenomenon (as of 2016) no first-time winner of world snooker championship has defended title following year since moved crucible theatre in 1977.

cue
1.  noun: cue stick. stick, around 55-60 in length tip made of material such leather on end , joint in middle, used propel billiard balls.


2.  noun: cue short cue ball.
3.  verb: same stroke, definition 1
cue action
chiefly british: posture , timing used players on shots, indicative of how play in shot selection. fast, natural player tend more aggressive whereas less naturally gifted player might have slow action , tend more conservative on table. thought better snooker players lower table chins on cue, have straight leg, elbow hinging in line shot, , straight follow-through after cue ball has been struck.






cue ball
also cue-ball, cueball. ball in cue sport, typically white in color, player strikes cue stick. referred white ball , whitey or rock . more information, see billiard ball main article.
cue ball control
see position play.
cue holder
1.  a portable device holding cues upright , @ ready immediate use. common types either weighted , placed on table top, semicircular cut-outs cues may lean, or clamping varieties firmly affix table , have clips or holes cues placed added security.
2.  same cue stand.
3.  same wall rack.
cue power
a chiefly british term describing amount of control player can retain when playing shots heavy spin , great pace; took tremendous cue power onto 2 ball having been relatively straight on 1 .
cue rack
1.  same cue stand.
2.  same wall rack.
cue stand
a piece of stand-alone or island furniture designed store cue sticks , other accessories such mechanical bridge (rest), balls, chalk, etc., when not in use. contrast wall rack.
cue stick
also cue-stick, cuestick. same cue.


cue tip

a material, leather, placed on end of cue stick comes in contact cue ball.

curve shot
same semi-massé. compare swerve shot.
cueist
a player of cue sports.
cushion
the elastic bumpers mounted on rails of billiards table, made rubber or synthetic rubber, balls rebound.
cut shot
technically, shot not center-to-center hit, employed when describing shot has more slight degree of angle.