Billiards Games Glossary at
gamerisms is
divided into 2 parts. The first part or introduction is followed by
game terms and includes a learning games section that describes rules
and defines 4 billiards games.

Billiards
Glossary is dedicated to avid players who compete and are keen for
billiards gamerisms related to 8-ball, 9-ball, snooker and carom.
Billiards Games Glossary:
Rules
The equipment
required for a game of billiards is a table that measures 12 feet by 6
feet with 6 pockets. It is played with one red ball and two white cue
balls, one of which would have a small black spot whereas the other one
will not.
The tapered sticks are used to strike the cue balls with
a tip that is called a cue. Other accessories for billiards are rest, a
full-butt and a half-butt that is used to rest the cue to extend the
playing lengths or to hit long shots.
A singles game of billiards is
generally played rather than doubles. Each turn that a player takes is
called a break, followed by a series of strikes to the cue ball,
eventually resulting in a declared winner.
When the cue ball knocks another ball into a pocket, it is known as
potted.
Billiards Games Glossary:
8 and 9 Ball
8-Ball:
The
object of the game is that one player should pocket balls numbered 1
through 7=solid colors while the other player pocket balls
from 9
through 15=stripes.
The player pocketing his share of balls is allowed to legally pocket
the 8-Ball and thus, win the game.
9-Ball:
This
billiards version is played with 9 object balls numbered from one to
nine along with the cue ball. The first contact made should always be
the lowest numbered ball on the table and it won’t matter which ball is
potted. After the first player misses, the second player would take
over from the position where the first player left off.
The game is won by pocketing the 9-Ball.
Billiards Games Glossary:
Snooker
The
cue ball is used to strike and pocket the object balls in one of the 6
pockets. There are six different colored balls each assigned points. Played with 1
white cue ball and maximum 15 red balls worth one point
each. Otherwise Yellow=2 points, Green=3, Brown=4, Blue=5, Pink=6 and Black=7. Each ball should be potted in a sequence and
points are awarded accordingly.
The player with the most points
wins the frame. The player who has the maximum frame wins out of 19
frames is declared the winner of the match.
Billiards Games Glossary:
Carom:
French
billiards or Carom is played with two white and one
red ball
on a table without pockets. The objective of this game is to drive one
of the white balls=cue ball into both the other balls and by doing so
the player earns one point. The three balls used in this game are
white, red and white with a spot.
When one player fails to score any points, the play is then passed to
another player, who plays the game as it was left.
The game continues until one player reaches an agreed number of points
that is often 50.
Billiards Glossary A – C follows the learning games section.
Billiards Games
Glossary: A
- Angled:
when the corner of a pocket hinders a player
shooting the cue ball directly at an object ball.
- Apex:
positioning of the front ball in the rack or pyramid
of object balls.
- Around the
Table: in carom, term used when the cue ball
contacts 3 or more cushions in order to score.
Billiards Games
Glossary: B
- Balance
Point: point at which the cue will balance when lying on
one hand.
It is approximately 18 inches when
this point is
measured from the bottom of the cue.
- Ball On:
snooker term for trying to score with a non-red
ball.
- Bank Shot: also referred to as bank. When an object ball is
driven to one or more cushions or rails before being pocketed.
- Baulk-line:
snooker, term for 29" line along bottom cushion.
- Billiard:
carom, winning count.
- Black Ball: in snooker, the black ball is the highest valued colored ball worth 7 points.
- Blind Draw:
jargon for random selection of tournament
players.
- Blue Ball: in snooker, the blue ball is worth 5 points.
- Blood Test: a
very tough shot that has to be played under
pressure.
- Break:
opening shot in pocket games or carom whereas in
snooker, it’s the total points scored in one inning.
- Breaking
Violation: in pocket billiards, occurs at the
opening break.
- Bridge:
used to hold the end of the cue to make a shot.
- Brown Ball: in snooker,
brown color
ball is worth 4 points.
- Burst:
when the total score is more than 41 points.
- Butt of Cue:
term for thicker end of the cue or the
opposite end of the tip.
Billiards Games
Glossary: C
- Called Ball:
the ball specified or indicated by the player
to be pocketed on a shot.
- Called Pocket:
refers to next shot as to specific pocket
expected.
- Canon:
term used mainly by the Englishmen for carom.
- Carom:
jargon for bounce of one ball into another.
- Center Spot:
the center point of the table playing area.
- Chalk:
dry substance that is applied to the tip of the cue
to prevent slippery contact with the cue ball.
- Clean Bank:
stroke in which the cue ball does not touch any
object ball.
- Clear Ball:
lingo for unmarked white ball in carom.
- Combination:
pocket shot of a separate ball from the called
shot.
- Combination
On: term refers to 2 balls placed that allow
for the called shot to be completed.
- Contact Point:
contact occurs between cue ball and object
ball.
- Corner-hooked:
occurs when a pocket corner impedes a cue
ball shot to the object ball.
- Count:
a shot where point/s are scored.
- Cross Corner:
jargon for a rebound shot from a cushion into
a corner pocket.
- Cross Side:
same as above, but into a side pocket.
- Cross Table
Shot: occurs when the ball travels across the
table between the long cushion.
- Crutch:
jargon for a bridge.
- Cue:
wooden stick that is used to strike the cue ball.
- Cue Ball: unmarked
white ball hit during the game.
- Cue Ball in
Hand: occurs when the cue ball is placed and
played within the table boundaries.
- Cue Tip:
end of the cue shaft that touches the ball before
a shot.
- Cushion:
rubber, covered by cloth that borders both
billiards and carom tables creating the playable area.
Billiards
Games Glossary and Learning Games is followed by terms D – Z
Other Skill Games Clicks
Canasta Game Glossary +
5 Poker Tips
Chess Quiz
Backgammon Game Terms