P Glossary of cue sports terms

pot
1.  (verb, chiefly british) sink ball pocket. see pocket (verb).
2.  (noun, chiefly british) instance of potting ball ( pot considering angle , distance of shot ).
3.  (noun) pooled money being played for, in money games or tournaments, in poker , other gambling activities. old term derives players placing stakes pot or other receptacle before play begins.
pot , tuck
a tactic employed in uk eight-ball pool in player calls , pots 1 of balls in favorably lying set, plays safe, leaving many of his/her well-placed balls on table possible, until opponents commits foul or leaves chance player feels warrants attempt @ running out.
potter
a british term little experience or understanding of game, may skilled @ potting individual balls not consider tactics such position or safety; s potter, not player. compare u.s. banger.
potting angle
the desired angle must created between path of cue ball , path of object ball upon contact pot object ball. measured center of pocket. see aiming line.
power draw
extreme application of draw.
professional foul
a deliberate foul leaves balls in safe position, reducing risk of giving frame-winning chance opponent. miss rule in snooker implemented discourage professional fouls.
professional side of pocket

also pro side of pocket; of pocket left off phrase.

the long-rail side of corner pocket. aim profession side of pocket overcut difficult corner-pocket cut shot, cheat pocket, rather undercutting, in nine-ball. erring in direction missing on professional side of pocket. called because experienced players understand on thin cut, overcutting object ball corner pocket far more leave object ball in unfavorable position, i.e. along short rail incoming opponent undercut, leaves object ball sitting in front of or nearby pocket had been intended on miss.

by contrast, in eight-ball, except when both players shooting @ 8 ball, incoming player after miss shooting different object balls, maxim not apply, , opposite may strategy as, if object ball stays near pocket through undercut, advantageously positioned subsequent turn , may block opponent s use of pocket.

program
also (chiefly british) programme. short shot program.
push
1.  same push out.
2.  same push shot.
push out
as adjective or compound noun: push-out. rule in many games (most notably nine-ball, after , after break shot), allowing player push out cue ball new position without having contact ball, less pocket 1 or drive cushion, not counting pocketed ball valid (other foul rules apply, such double hits, scratching cue ball, etc.), caveat opponent may shoot new cue ball position or give shot pusher must shoot new position. in nine-ball particularly, , derived games such seven-ball , ten-ball, pocketing money ball on push-out results in ball being respotted (which can used strategic advantage in circumstances, such when break leaves no shot on ball-on, , failure hit give incoming player instant-win combination shot on money ball).
push shot
any foul shot in player s cue tip stays in contact cue ball more momentary time commensurate stroked shot. in game of snooker, considered push if cue strikes cue ball more once in given shot (a double hit) or if cue stick, cue ball , ball-on in contact during shot (if cue ball , object ball frozen together, special dispensation given provided cue ball struck @ downward or otherwise off angle; is, not directly line of 2 balls).
put money
1.  for player place money wager in openly visible spot (typically on hanging light above table, origin of phrase); demonstrates money present , obviates need demand production loser s pocket. want play 500? put up!
2.  to stake particular amount of money on gambling player. ll put 2000, d better win time.
3.  on coin-operated bar table, place 1 or more coins on rail, or on bed of table under cushion, marker of 1 s place in line (uk: on queue) play. didn t put quarters up. , alternative put 1 s name on list, e.g. on chalkboard.
pyramid
1.  the full fifteen ball set of pool or snooker object balls after being racked, before break shot (i.e., same rack, definition 2, , triangle, defn. 2). chiefly british today, american usage ca. world war i.
2.  also pyramids. game of russian pyramid or related game.
pyramid spot
1.  in pool, same foot spot: spot on pyramid racked, apex ball on spot. chiefly british today, american usage ca. world war i.
2.  in snooker (and extension modern english billiards), same pink spot: spot on pink ball placed, in front of pyramid.