H Glossary of cue sports terms

half-ball striking


a shot aimed center of cue ball in line edge of object ball, eclipsing half of ball. hit little thinner half-ball. assuming cling not occur, shot impart post-contact momentum on object ball in direction 30° (which



arcsin
⁡
(
1
−
x
)


{\displaystyle \arcsin(1-x)}

,



x


{\displaystyle x}

fraction of object ball eclipsed:  ⁄2 in case) off direction of cue-ball s pre-contact momentum. notable because carom angle cue ball takes more consistent @ other contact points.
half-century
in snooker , other british usages, break of 50–99 points (100 points or more being called century), involves potting @ least 12 consecutive balls (i.e. last 3 reds @ least 2 blacks , pink, followed colours).
hand chalk
a misnomer hand talc.
handicapping
modification of rules and/or scoring of game enable players of variable abilities compete on more playing field. examples of handicapping include spotting balls , giving games on wire opponent. in league play, common forms of handicapping include awarding compensating points lesser-skilled team, or using numerical player ranking systems adjust final scores between opponents of different skill levels. player s handicap such numerical rank. see handicapping main article more general information on sports handicapping.
hang
said of ball, come rest partially on edge of pocket s fall still resting on table bed. because of ball curvature, if bottom of ball not on sharp rim or beveled slope (depending on table type) of pocket s fall, ball not drop pocket. as approximately 49% of ball s diameter can hanging on sharp drop of standard snooker table fall, considerably less on typical pool table, beveled falls. ball hanging in pocket – hanger – unmissable (though fouling scratching cue ball pocket right after object ball common mistake. can used in transitive sense in reference player action: hung 1 right on edge .
hanger
1.  an shot object ball hanging in pocket.
2.  by extension, extremely easy shot, in carom billiards has no pockets.
have nuts
be in game either because of disparity in skill level, or because of handicap given, difficult lose.
having cue ball on string
used when describing perfect cue ball position play.
hazard
1.  literally, pocket, used in phrases losing hazard – potting (pocketing) cue ball off ball – , winning hazard – using cue ball pot ball – 2 types of legal shots pocket balls in games in term used @ all, few today. term principally survives in english billiards, in both types of shots point-scoring. formerly, large number of different games made use of 2 types of hazards point scorers or losers in various ways (thus suggestive names). term derives holes or pockets in table avoided, in forms of billiards. while terms disused in pocket billiards today, lingering effect obvious, vast bulk of such games focus on making winning hazards , avoiding losing hazards (a notable exception being russian pyramid in both legal shots).
2.  in golf billiards, area of table (sometimes marked) player penalized entering if ball not leave. derives use of term in outdoor game of golf.
head
chiefly american: half of table break shot taken. usage conceptually opposite in british english, end of table called bottom. contrast foot. see kitchen.
head cushion
chiefly american: cushion on head rail. compare bottom cushion; contrast foot cushion.
head rail
chiefly american: short rail @ head of table. traditionally rail on table manufacturer s logo appears. compare bottom rail, baulk rail; contrast foot rail, top rail.
head spot
the intersection of head string , long string, not marked on table spot decal or other mark, unlike foot spot, though pool halls mark both spots racking can done @ either end of table, , wear on cloth racking , breaking more evenly distributed. compare baulk spot.
head string
a line, imaginary (especially in american pool), drawn on cloth, runs horizontally across table second diamond (from head rail) on 1 long rail corresponding second diamond on other long rail. in pool games, opening break shot must performed center (base) of cue ball behind head string (i.e. between head string , head rail). head string intersects long string @ head spot, , delimits kitchen (and, in european nine-ball, outer boundary of break box). head string s position determined diamonds, in contrast similar different baulk line, position of determined measurement bottom cushion (head cushion).
heads up
same straight up.
heart
the strength of player s win; ability overcome pressure; showed lot of heart in making comeback.
high
1.  also highs, high balls, high ones. in eight-ball , related games, shooting striped suit (group) of balls (9 through 15); re high balls or ve got highs ( re high rare, because of intoxication ambiguity). compare stripes, yellows, big ones, overs; contrast low.
2.  with follow, in shot high left , meaning shot follow , left english . derives fact 1 must aim above cue ball s equator, i.e. high on ball, impart follow. optional (e.g. shot high left or shot high left ). contrast low.
3.  in snooker, same above , in ll want finish high on black allow position on red .
4.  with run (uk: break), lengthy series of successful shots; see high run, high break.
high break
uk: same high run, applied snooker , extension pool, blackball , british eight-ball pool: break (series of successful pots) running large numbers player s skill level.
high run

also (rarely) high-run, hi-run, highrun, etc.

a series of successful shots (a run) lengthy player s skill level. exact implication dependent upon context, e.g. high run @ three-cushion 15 , jones had highest run of tournament , pretty high run did , etc. used congratulatorily, may phrased run , great run , nice run , etc. see high break.

hill
see on hill, hill-hill.
hill-hill
the point in match play both players (or teams) need 1 more game (frame) victory win match or race. see on hill, rubber match.
hit , hope
a shot player relying on luck favorable outcome, because no better shot exists.
ho
also ho ball(s). exhortatory cry ball or balls slow down or come stop, made when overshooting position cue ball.
hold spot
in snooker, leave cue ball ball on spot of colour ball after potting it. performed re-spotting of colour ball cause positional problems player, such blocking available pots on 1 or more red balls.
hook
1.  same snooker (verb)
2.  same hook rest.
hook rest
also hook. in snooker, type of mechanical bridge has been endorsed wpbsa allow use in major tournament play. normal rest head in line shaft, last foot or of shaft curved. allows players position curved end around obstructing ball have otherwise left them hampered on cue ball , in need of spider or swan extensions, have less control.
horn
same knuckle. analogy animal horns, not musical instruments.
house
1.  the venue in game being played, e.g. snooker hall, pool bar, etc.
2.  the kitchen or baulk area of russian billiards table; russian: дома, translit. doma, lit.  house .
house cue
usually one-piece cue freely available use patrons in bars/pubs , pool halls.
house man
a pool room employee plays degree of skill.
house rack
a pejorative term improper rack in balls not in contact neighbors, resulting in poor spread on break.
house rules
the rules played in particular venue not in comportment official rules, or common local bar pool custom.
hug rail
describes ball rolling along rail in contact or near contact it, or makes multiple successive contacts rail. see velcro.
hustle

to play money , lull victim thinking can win, prompting them accept higher , higher stakes, until beating them , walking off more money have been willing bet had been beaten soundly in beginning. terms hustler, 1 hustles, , hustling, describing act, common if not more verb form. see sandbag, on lemonade, lemonade stroke, shark, dump.