Baize
A slower cloth found on snooker and billiard tables. It is traditionally only found in a green color.

Ball in Hand
The right to place the cue ball anywhere on the table.

Bank Shot (double)
A shot where the object ball contacts a rail before going towards another side of the table.

Billiard
To carom the cue ball of an object call into another as going in-off. The term billiard can have multiple meanings.

Break
The opening shot of any game pool.

Break Cue
A cue stick with a harder tip that I used specifically for breaking. The weight of a break cue is a matter of preference. Some players like heavier, lighter, or the same weight as their primary cue stick.

Combination (Plant)
A shot where the object ball is caromed into another ball(s) with the intention of making another ball.

Concede
The concede button forfeits the match and gives your opponent the victory.

Cue Ball
The white ball, which is struck first.

Cue Elevation
A control which raises and lowers the butt of the cue stick. Depending on obstacles the range of this control can be limited.

Double (Bank Shot)
See "Bank Shot".

English Spin
A shot stuck with spin cause by hitting the cue ball outside of its axis and equator.

Felt
The cloth playing surface found on pool tables. It can come in a variety of colors and speeds.

Fluke
An unforeseen lucky shot.

Follow
A shot hit with top-english which spins forward.

Follow Through
The control that controls the follow through of the shot. This control is most prominent in situations that use English.

Footspot (Spot)
The spot opposite the headstring where balls are re-spotted and typically the apex of a rack is set.

Foul
A shot that is not legal. There are different options in different games for an opponent of a player that has fouled.

Headstring
A line (sometimes imaginary) between the 2nd diamonds opposite of the footspot.

In-off
When the cue ball hits an object ball and directly goes into another pocket. This is a normal shot in certain types of games.

Jump Cue
A shorter cue stick with specific legal dimensions which has a harder tip, and is used primarily for jump shots.

Jump Shot
A shot hit with and elevated cue and short follow through that allows the cue ball to jump an obstacle.

Kitchen
The area behind the headstring.

Object Ball
Any ball that is a legal target of the cue ball.

On-the-Hill
Having only one more game to win for the match in a race.

Plant (Combo)
See "Combination".

Pocket
The hole which balls fall into.

Pot
To pocket a ball.

Power Bar
The slider bar which sets the power of the shot.

Pushout
A shot in 9-ball immediately following the break, which allows the shooter to play a shot without the normal foul rules. After a pushout, the opponent has the option whether to accept the table and shoot, or let the player executing a pushout keep going.

Race
A match where the winner must win the specified number of games.

Rail
The cushions on the side of the table.

Run
A player’s turn at the table where multiple balls are made.

Run-Out
The act of clearing all the remaining balls in one turn.

Safety
A shot which leaves a difficult shot for your opponent. In 8-ball declaring a safety means that you will lose your turn even if you make a legal ball. This usually has strategical reasons.

Scratch
A foul where the cue ball is pocketed.

Screw
A shot hit with bottom-english which spins back.

Side
A shot hit with english on either side of the cue balls axis.

Snooker
A situation where you cannot directly see any legal object ball on. When snookered you must either perform a bank, masse, or jump shot to make a legal shot.

Three Fouls
In some games, 9-ball in particular, if you foul on three consecutive turns you lose the game automatically. This has strategical implications sometimes early in the game when you have two fouls. A record of consecutive fouls is kept, designated by a red letter “F”.

Tip
The end piece of a cue stick which strikes the cue ball.