New to pool? Don’t know when to break and how to scratch? Especially for you, a pool-billiards glossary with definitions of the most essentials terms used in pool games.

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

0-9

8-Ball
A popular pocket billiard game (pool game) played with 15 balls divided into two groups of object balls – solid and striped balls. The object of the game is to pocket the 8-ball after pocketing the player’s group of object balls.

9-Ball
Another popular pool game played with 9 object balls. The object of the game is to pocket the 9-ball while shooting the lowest number ball on the table.

B

Break

The first shot in the game; see opening break shot

C

Call Shot

A pool game in which the players are required to designate a certain pocket/ball before making the shot; 8-ball pool is an example of a call shot pool game. The designated pocket is named a Called Pocket and the ball a Called Ball.

Cue Stick/Cue

The stick used to shoot the balls in billiards

Cue Ball

The white ball struck by the cue ball in pool and billiard games

Cue Ball in Hand

When a player is allowed to place the cue ball on the table (usually as a reaction to the opponent’s foul)

E

English

A side spin applied on the cue ball in order to change the natural roll of the ball

F

Foul

A violation of the pool game rules; the definition of foul can change from one pool game to another

I

Inning

The player’s turn

O

Object Balls

The colored, numbered balls hit by the cue ball in pool games

Opening Break Shot

The first shot in the game meant to break open the rack

P

Pocket

The act of sinking an object ball into the table holes

Position

The location of the cue ball in relation with the object ball at the end of the shot

R

Rack

The triangle that groups the ball together at the start of the game

S

Safety

When the position of the balls is arranged so the scoring chances of the opponent are decreased to minimum

Scratch

When the cue ball falls unintentionally into one of the table pockets

Shot

The act that begins with the hitting the cue ball with the cue sticks and ends when all balls stop motionless on the table

Spotting Balls

When the pocketed balls are being brought back to the table

Stroke

The movement of the cue stick when shooting the balls