Every pool term, explained properly.

Also: Eight ball, 8 ball pool

8-ball is played with 15 object balls: solids (1–7), stripes (9–15) and the black 8. Each player pockets their group, then legally pockets the 8 to win. Pocketing the 8 early or scratching on it loses the game.

Also: Nine ball, Rotation

9-ball is played with balls 1 to 9. The cue ball must hit the lowest-numbered ball on the table first on every shot; any ball pocketed on a legal shot counts, and legally pocketing the 9 — even on the break — wins.

Also: Ten ball

10-ball is a rotation game like 9-ball, played with balls 1 to 10, but every shot is call shot and pocketing the 10 on the break does not win — it is spotted. That makes it harder and less luck-dependent than 9-ball.

The 30-degree rule says that a naturally rolling cue ball deflects about 30° from its original direction after a half-ball hit, and stays close to 30° across a wide range of cuts around half-ball.

Also: Stun rule

The 90-degree rule says that a stun (sliding) cue ball always separates from the object ball at 90° to the object ball's path, along the tangent line, for any cut angle.

An aiming system is a structured method to find the cue's line for a pot — for example ghost ball, fractional aiming or reference-point systems. No system replaces practice; the best one is the one you can repeat and calibrate under pressure.

A back cut is a cut shot where the cue ball travels back toward the pocket's side of the table — the object ball is cut 'backward' relative to how you are standing. It is visually harder because you shoot away from the pocket.

Also: BHE

Back-hand english (BHE) is a way to apply sidespin while compensating for squirt: aim at center ball, then pivot the cue from the bridge by moving only the back hand. If the bridge length matches the cue's pivot point, squirt is cancelled.

The backswing is the part of the stroke where you draw the cue back before delivering it. Its length should match the speed you need: short for soft shots, longer for power — so that you can accelerate smoothly instead of forcing or decelerating.

Also: BIH, Cue ball in hand

Ball in hand means you may place the cue ball anywhere on the table before your shot. Under WPA rules it follows any foul by the opponent; some bar and league rules restrict it to behind the head string after a scratch.

Bank pool is a game in which balls only count when banked into a called pocket off at least one cushion. It is excellent training for bank shot systems and speed.

Also: Bank, Double

A bank shot sends the object ball off one or more cushions into a pocket. You aim using the mirror principle — angle in roughly equals angle out — then adjust for speed, cut and spin.

Also: Tension, Tight grip

Body tension — in the grip, shoulders or jaw — stiffens the cue arm, shortens the stroke and makes it jerky. It is the physical side of pressure and one of the most common hidden causes of missed shots.

Also: B&R

A break and run is winning a rack by pocketing a ball on the break and then running out every remaining ball without your opponent taking a shot. It is a standard performance measure for strong players.

A break ball is the ball used to break open the next rack in straight pool (14.1), or more generally a ball used to send the cue ball into a cluster. It must be pottable while leaving the cue ball on line for the break-out.

Also: Breaker, Break/jump cue

A break cue is a separate cue used for the opening break. It usually has a very hard tip (often phenolic) and a stiff shaft so the energy goes into the cue ball instead of compressing the tip — and your playing tip is not damaged.

Also: Break, Opening break

The break is the opening shot that splits the rack. A good break is controlled power: a square, center hit on the head ball, keeping the cue ball in the middle of the table and pocketing at least one ball.

Also: Breaking out, Bump

A break-out is a shot that separates a cluster or moves a problem ball to a pocketable position. It may come as part of a pot or, in 8-ball, as a safe 'bump' that moves a ball while leaving the opponent nothing.

Also: Bridge hand

The bridge is the front hand that supports and guides the cue. The two main types are the open bridge, where the cue rests in a V between thumb and index finger, and the closed bridge, where the index finger loops over the cue.

Also: Calling the shot

Call shot means you must indicate which ball you intend to pot and in which pocket. If the ball goes elsewhere, it does not count and your turn ends. Under WPA 8-ball rules, obvious shots need not be called.

Also: Carom shot, Cannon

A carom is a shot where one ball glances off another and continues on a new path — either the cue ball off a ball into the target, or an object ball off another into the pocket. The 30° rule helps predict the cue ball's carom path.

Also: Center hit

Center ball means striking the cue ball exactly in its middle, with no side spin. It is the reference for every other tip position and the safest way to pot because it removes squirt, swerve and spin-induced throw.

Chalk is an abrasive compound applied to the cue tip to increase friction between tip and cue ball. Without it, any hit away from center slides off the ball and miscues.

Cheating the pocket is aiming the object ball at one side of the pocket instead of the center, to change the cut angle slightly and send the cue ball where you need it for position.

Also: Choke, Dogging it

Choking is performing worse under pressure than in practice — usually through tension, a faster or shorter stroke and a broken routine. You reduce it by rehearsing pressure in practice and sticking to a fixed pre-shot routine.

Also: Loop bridge

A closed bridge wraps the index finger over the cue to form a loop, with the cue also resting against the middle finger and thumb. It locks the cue in place sideways and is popular for power shots, follow and breaking.

Also: Felt, Baize, Worsted cloth, Napped cloth

Pool tables are covered in cloth (often wrongly called felt). Tournament tables use smooth worsted wool cloth, which is fast and has no nap; cheaper napped wool cloth is slower and makes balls roll off line more.

Also: Clump

A cluster is a group of touching or near-touching balls that cannot be pocketed directly. You break it out by pocketing a nearby ball and sending the cue ball into the cluster at controlled speed, ideally while keeping position.

Also: Combo, Combination

A combination shot is when the cue ball hits one object ball into another to pot the second ball. In 9-ball, a combination using the lowest ball first is a classic way to pot the 9 early.

The contact point is the spot on the object ball directly opposite the pocket — on the line from the pocket through the ball's center. The cue ball must touch that point to send the object ball toward the pocket (before throw).

Also: Pool cue, Cue stick, Playing cue

A standard pool cue is about 57–58 inches long, weighs 18–21 oz (19 oz is common) and has a tip of 12–13 mm. It has two parts — the shaft and the butt — joined in the middle so it can be taken apart.

Also: White ball, Whitey, Rock

The cue ball is the plain white ball you strike with the cue. Regulation pool balls, cue ball included, measure 2¼ inches (57.15 mm) and weigh about 5.5–6 oz. Controlling where it stops after each shot is the core skill in pool.

Also: Tip, Leather tip

The cue tip is the leather pad on the end of the shaft that contacts the cue ball. It holds chalk and grips the ball for a split second, which is what lets you apply draw, follow and english without miscuing.

Also: Position, Whitey control

Cue-ball control is the ability to decide where the cue ball goes after hitting the object ball, using speed, tip position (draw, follow, stun, english) and the tangent line. It is what turns single pots into runs.

Also: Rubber, Bumper

The cushion is the triangular rubber strip covered in cloth that lines the inside of each rail. Balls rebound off its nose, which sits at roughly the height of the ball's upper contact point so the ball bounces cleanly instead of jumping.

The cut angle is the angle between the cue ball's path and the object ball's path to the pocket. 0° is straight in, 30° is a half-ball hit, and anything over about 60° is a thin cut that needs very precise aim.

Also: Cut

A cut shot is any pot where the cue ball hits the object ball off-center, sending it at an angle into the pocket. You aim by sending the cue ball to the ghost-ball position on the line from the pocket through the object ball.

Also: Dead combination, Dead shot

A dead ball (or dead combination) is a shot that will go in almost regardless of small aiming errors — usually two frozen balls lined up at a pocket. Recognising dead shots creates easy pots and safeties.

Also: In the zone, Flow

Dead stroke is the state of playing almost automatically at your best — calm, focused and without conscious thinking about technique. You cannot force it, but a solid routine and good preparation make it more likely.

Deceleration is slowing the cue down as it approaches the cue ball. It makes the cue twist off line and delivers less speed than planned, so both accuracy and cue-ball control suffer.

Also: Purposeful practice, Structured practice

Deliberate practice is training a specific weakness with a measurable goal, immediate feedback and full focus — instead of hitting balls or playing racks. It is the most efficient way to improve at pool.

Also: Kick system, Bank system, Mirror system

A diamond system uses the numbered diamonds to calculate aim points for kicks and banks. The simplest is the mirror (reflection) method: aim at the point on the cushion where the target's mirror image lines up, so the angle in equals the angle out.

Also: Sights, Diamond markers

Diamonds are the 18 inlaid markers on the rails, spaced evenly so each long rail splits into eight equal sections and each short rail into four. Players use them as reference points for bank and kick systems, position targets and speed control.

A double hit is when the cue tip contacts the cue ball more than once in a stroke. It is a foul and most often happens when the cue ball is very close to or frozen against an object ball.

Also: Drag draw

A drag shot is a low-tip shot hit firmly enough to carry the cue ball a long way, but timed so the backspin wears off on the way. The cue ball arrives with little or no spin, giving you stop or stun at long distance at lower speed.

Also: Draw, Screw, Backspin

A draw shot puts backspin on the cue ball by hitting it below center, so after hitting the object ball it spins backwards and comes back toward you. In the UK it is called screw.

Also: Practice drill, Exercise

A drill is a repeatable table setup that isolates one skill — stroke, potting, speed, position or safety — with a score so you can measure progress. The best drills are short, specific and slightly harder than your current level.

Elbow drop is the back elbow moving downward during the stroke. A drop after contact is normal; a drop before contact changes tip height and often the cue line, causing unintended spin and misses.

Also: Over-the-ball bridge

An elevated bridge raises the bridge hand onto the fingertips to shoot over a ball that blocks a normal bridge. The cue is tilted down, so stay near vertical center and use a short, smooth stroke to avoid swerve and miscues.

Also: Side spin, Side

English is sidespin put on the cue ball by hitting it left or right of center. It changes the cue ball's angle off a cushion, but it also causes squirt, swerve and throw, so it changes your aim on the object ball too.

The ferrule is the white collar between the tip and the wooden shaft. It protects the wood from splitting on impact and contributes to how much end mass the shaft has, which affects squirt.

Also: Set, Pause at the back

The final pause is a brief stop at the back of the last backswing before delivering the cue. It separates the backswing from the forward stroke so you do not rush or jerk, and it gives your eyes a final moment on the object ball.

Also: Concentration

Focus in pool is keeping full attention on the current shot — its line, speed and routine — and letting go between shots. Good players switch focus on when they step into the shot and relax it while waiting.

Also: Follow, Topspin

A follow shot puts topspin on the cue ball by hitting above center, so the cue ball keeps rolling forward after contact. On a straight-in shot it follows the object ball toward the pocket.

Follow-through is the cue continuing forward past the cue ball after contact. A natural follow-through of about 4–6 inches on normal shots shows the cue was accelerating through the ball, not stopping at it.

Also: Spot, Head spot

The foot spot is the marked point at the intersection of the foot string and the long string, at the second diamond from the foot rail. The apex ball of the rack sits on it, and balls are 'spotted' there after certain fouls.

A force follow is a firm, high-tip shot where the cue ball first moves along the tangent line, then the topspin bends it forward sharply. It is used to travel through or around balls for position.

A foul is any rule violation, and under WPA rules it gives the opponent ball in hand anywhere. Common fouls: scratching, hitting the wrong ball first, no ball reaching a rail after contact, ball off the table, double hits, and touching balls.

Also: Ball fractions, Overlap aiming

Fractional aiming judges cuts by how much the cue ball overlaps the object ball at contact: full ball (0°), ¾ ball (about 14.5°), ½ ball (30°), ¼ ball (about 49°) and thin. You learn the angle each fraction makes, then match the shot to the nearest one.

Also: Frozen, Frozen combination

A ball is frozen when it touches another ball or a cushion. Frozen combinations and frozen rail shots behave differently from normal shots because of throw and cushion contact.

Also: Ghost ball aiming

The ghost ball is the imaginary position the cue ball must occupy at contact to pot the object ball — touching it on the line from the pocket through the object ball's center. You aim the center of the cue ball at the center of that imaginary ball.

The grip is how your back hand holds the cue. A correct pool grip is loose — mainly the thumb, index and middle fingers cradling the cue — with the hand directly under the elbow at contact so the cue swings like a pendulum.

A half-ball hit is when the center of the cue ball is aimed at the edge of the object ball, so half of each ball overlaps at contact. It produces a cut of about 30° and is one of the most useful reference shots in pool.

Also: Skill level, Rating, Fargo rate

A handicap evens matches between players of different strengths — by changing the race length, giving balls (e.g. weaker player wins on the 8 too) or using a rating system such as league skill levels or FargoRate.

Also: Duck, Sitter, Cinch

A hanger is an object ball sitting at the edge of a pocket — almost impossible to miss. 'Duck' and 'sitter' mean the same; the challenge is getting the right cue-ball position off it.

Also: Good angle, Wrong side

Having an angle means the cue ball stops with a small cut on the next ball, so you can steer it sideways toward the following ball. Being on the 'wrong side' of the angle forces a difficult route.

Also: Baulk line

The head string is the imaginary line across the table through the second diamond from the head rail. The area behind it is the kitchen, where the cue ball is placed for the break.

Inside english is sidespin on the same side as the direction of the cut — right english on a cut to the right. It throws the object ball toward the outside of the cut, so it is generally harder to pot with than outside english.

An insurance ball is an easy ball, usually near a pocket, that you leave on the table to recover if your position on another ball goes wrong. Spending it too early removes your safety net.

Also: Punching, Poking

Jabbing is a short, quick stroke that stops at or just past the cue ball. It usually comes from tension or fear of overhitting, and it makes speed and spin inconsistent.

A jump cue is a short, light cue with a hard tip designed for jump shots. Under WPA rules a cue used for jumping must be at least 40 inches long. Its light weight makes it easier to drive the cue ball down into the slate so it bounces over a blocker.

A jump shot makes the cue ball leave the cloth and fly over a blocking ball. It is done by elevating the cue and striking down on the cue ball so it bounces off the slate; scooping underneath is a foul.

The key ball is the ball you play just before the 8-ball (or the final ball), chosen because it gives easy position on the 8. Picking it early simplifies the end of the run.

Also: Kick

A kick shot sends the cue ball off one or more cushions before it contacts the object ball. It is used when you are snookered or as a safety, and it relies on the mirror method and diamond systems to find the aim point.

Also: Kiss shot, Double kiss

A kiss is a contact between balls during a shot — sometimes intended, as in a kiss shot that bounces an object ball off another into the pocket, but often accidental, knocking a ball off line.

Also: Behind the head string

The kitchen is the area between the head rail and the head string. The breaker places the cue ball anywhere in the kitchen for the opening break, and some house rules require ball in hand 'in the kitchen' after a scratch.

Also: Lag for break, Lagging

The lag decides who breaks: both players shoot a ball from behind the head string to the foot rail and back, and the ball that stops closest to the head rail wins. It is also the best pure speed-control test in pool.

Under WPA rules, a legal break in 8-ball must pocket a ball or drive at least four object balls to a cushion; in 9-ball a ball must be pocketed or at least four balls must reach a cushion. Otherwise it is an illegal break.

Also: Lock up

A lock-up is a safety that leaves the opponent no legal hit or only a very difficult one — typically by hiding the cue ball behind a blocker or freezing it to another ball or rail.

Also: Long pot

A long shot is a pot where the cue ball and object ball are far apart, often more than half the table. Aiming errors grow with distance, so long shots expose stroke faults and reward a steady head and full follow-through.

Also: LD shaft, Low-squirt shaft

A low-deflection shaft is a cue shaft with a light front end (a hollow or lighter ferrule area, or carbon fiber) that pushes the cue ball off line less when you use sidespin. It reduces squirt, not the need to adjust aim.

Also: Masse shot

A massé is a shot where the cue is elevated steeply and the cue ball is struck with sidespin downward, so it curves sharply around a blocking ball. It is legal in most rule sets as long as you hit the cue ball cleanly.

Also: Rake, Crutch, Bridge stick

A mechanical bridge is a stick with a notched head that supports the cue when the cue ball is out of reach. Use it whenever stretching would lift you off the floor or force an unstable, crooked stance.

A miscue happens when the tip slides off the cue ball instead of gripping it, producing a click, a chalk mark and an unpredictable shot. The usual causes are hitting too far from center, missing chalk, or a hard, glazed tip.

Natural roll is when the cue ball is rolling smoothly on the cloth without sliding — its spin matches its forward speed. Any cue ball eventually reaches natural roll as friction removes sliding.

Also: Rail after contact, No-rail foul

Yes — under WPA rules, after the cue ball contacts a legal object ball, either a ball must be pocketed or the cue ball or any object ball must hit a cushion. Otherwise it is a foul.

An object ball is any ball other than the cue ball — the numbered balls you try to pocket. In 8-ball they are solids (1–7), stripes (9–15) and the 8-ball.

One-pocket is a game where each player has only one of the two foot corner pockets; the first to pocket eight balls in their pocket wins. It is highly strategic, with many safeties and moves.

Also: V bridge

An open bridge rests the cue in a V formed by the thumb pressed against the base of the index finger, with the hand flat on the cloth. It gives a clear view of the cue line and is preferred for most shots, especially by beginners and for draw shots.

In 8-ball, the table is open after the break until a player legally pockets a called ball and chooses a group. While it is open you may hit a solid first to pot a stripe or vice versa; whether the 8 may be contacted first differs between rule sets.

Outside english is sidespin on the side away from the cut — left english on a cut to the right. It reduces or cancels collision-induced throw and makes the cue ball come off the rail with a wider angle.

Also: Front-hand english

Parallel english means moving the whole cue sideways, parallel to the aim line, to hit off center. It is simple but does not compensate for squirt, so you must adjust your aim based on distance and speed.

Also: Running pattern, Table plan

Pattern play is choosing the order of balls and the cue-ball route that makes a run-out simplest. In 8-ball you pick both the order and the pockets; in 9-ball the order is fixed, so pattern play is about routes.

A pendulum stroke swings the forearm from a still elbow, like a pendulum. The tip moves in a slight arc, so it is level only near the bottom of the swing — which is why the cue ball should be struck where the forearm hangs vertical.

A piston stroke lets the elbow drop during the forward stroke so the cue travels in a straighter, more level line, like a piston. It requires good timing, because the shoulder and elbow move together.

The pivot point is the distance back from the tip where, if you pivot the cue, the cue ball's squirt is exactly cancelled. Standard shafts often pivot around 10–13 inches; low-deflection shafts further back.

Also: The ghost, Ghost drill

Playing the ghost is a solo practice game: you break (or take ball in hand) and try to run the rack. If you miss, the 'ghost' wins that rack. It is an honest benchmark for 9-ball and 8-ball run-outs.

Also: Corner pocket, Side pocket, Middle pocket

A pool table has six pockets: four corner pockets and two side (middle) pockets. Under WPA specifications corner pocket mouths measure about 4.5–4.625 inches and side pockets about 5–5.125 inches — roughly two balls wide.

Pocket speed is the gentle pace at which the object ball just reaches the pocket and drops. Tight pockets accept more of their width at pocket speed, so a soft pot is more forgiving than a firm one.

Also: Online pool coach, Billiards lessons

Pool coaching is structured guidance from an experienced player or instructor: diagnosing your game, correcting technique and building a training plan. For most players it shortens the time spent practising the wrong things.

Also: Pocket billiards table, 9-ft table, Bar box

A regulation tournament pool table is 9 ft, with a playing surface of 100 × 50 inches between the cushion noses. 8-ft tables play at about 88 × 44 inches and 7-ft "bar boxes" at about 78 × 39 inches — always a 2:1 ratio.

Also: Shape, Playing position

Position play (shape) is pocketing a ball while sending the cue ball to the best spot for the next shot. Good position aims for a zone with a comfortable angle, not a precise point and not dead straight.

Also: Shape zone, Landing zone

A position zone is the area where the cue ball can stop and still leave a good shot on the next ball. Aiming for a zone instead of an exact spot gives you room for error in speed and direction.

Also: Practice plan, Training plan

A practice routine is a planned sequence for each session — usually a stroke warm-up, one or two skill drills, and a pressure or game test — repeated over weeks so improvement can be measured.

Also: PSR, Shot routine

A pre-shot routine is the same sequence of steps you take before every shot — read the shot, choose speed and spin, step into the line, set, practice strokes, pause, deliver. It makes your technique repeatable and gives your mind a fixed track under pressure.

Pressure practice adds consequences to drills — 'must make 10 in a row', restart on a miss, or a small stake — so your routine and stroke are trained under the tension of real matches.

A problem ball is a ball that cannot be pocketed easily from its current position — in a cluster, blocked, frozen to a rail or with no clear pocket. Good players solve problem balls early while they still have options.

A push out is an option in 9-ball on the shot right after the break: the shooter announces a push and may shoot the cue ball anywhere without needing to hit a ball or a rail. The opponent then decides who shoots next.

A push shot is keeping the tip on the cue ball for an extended time and pushing it, rather than striking it. It is a foul under most rules — it differs from the 9-ball 'push out', which is a legal option.

Also: Race, Race to 7

A race is a match format where the first player to win a set number of racks wins — for example a race to 7. 'Hill-hill' means both players need one more rack.

Also: Triangle, Diamond rack, Racking

A rack is the frame used to set the balls for the break — a triangle for 8-ball (15 balls) and a diamond for 9-ball (9 balls). 'Rack' also means a single game, as in 'he ran three racks'.

Also: Rails, Long rail, Short rail

The rails are the four raised edges around the playing surface that hold the cushions and the diamonds. The two long rails run the length of the table; the short rails are at the head and foot ends.

A rail bridge uses the rail itself to support the cue when the cue ball is near a cushion. The cue slides along the rail between the thumb and index finger, or through a loop if there is room.

Also: Frozen rail shot, Rail cut

A rail shot is a pot along a cushion, with the object ball frozen to or near the rail. The ideal contact hits the object ball and the cushion at almost the same moment, so the ball runs down the rail into the pocket.

Also: Table reading, Table plan

Reading the table means surveying the layout before shooting: which balls are open, which are problems, where the clusters are and what the best pattern is. It decides whether to run out or play safe.

Also: Check side

Reverse english (check side) is sidespin turning against the cue ball's direction along the cushion, so it rebounds at a narrower angle and with less speed.

Also: Runout, Running the table, Table run

A run out is pocketing all the balls you need in one turn at the table to win the rack. It requires a planned pattern, solved problem balls and consistent position — not just potting.

Running english is sidespin that turns in the direction the cue ball is traveling along a cushion, so the ball rebounds at a wider angle and with more speed. It is the opposite of reverse english.

Also: Safety shot, Defence, Playing safe

A safety is a shot played to leave the opponent without a good shot rather than to pocket a ball. Play safe when your chance of running out is low and a good safety gives you a better next turn.

Also: Safety exchange

A safety battle is a series of consecutive safeties between two players until one leaves a pottable shot or fouls. Winning it requires better speed control and patience, not just better potting.

Also: In-off

A scratch is pocketing the cue ball (or the cue ball leaving the table). It is a foul: the opponent gets ball in hand, and scratching while pocketing the 8 in 8-ball loses the game.

Also: Skill test, Skill level test

A self-assessment measures your current level with fixed tests — stroke, potting, speed control, position and run-outs — so you can see your weakest area and pick the right drills. It is the starting point of a structured plan.

The shaft is the thin front half of a cue, from the joint to the tip. It is usually maple or carbon fiber and tapers to the ferrule; its stiffness and end mass decide how much the cue ball deflects (squirts) when you use sidespin.

Also: Eye pattern, Quiet eye

Sighting is the eye pattern you use while aiming and stroking. Most coaches recommend looking back and forth between cue ball and object ball during practice strokes, then finishing with your eyes on the object ball contact point at delivery.

Also: Hooked, Snookered, Blocked

Being snookered (hooked) means a blocking ball prevents you from hitting the legal object ball directly. You must kick, jump or curve the cue ball to make a legal hit.

Also: Cut break, Control break

A soft break uses less power and precise cue-ball placement to pocket a specific ball (such as the wing ball in 9-ball or 10-ball) while keeping the cue ball controlled. It trades spread for predictability.

Also: Touch, Pace

Speed control is hitting the cue ball with exactly the pace needed so it stops in the planned position zone. It is the single most important cue-ball skill: most position errors are distance errors.

The spot shot is cutting an object ball on the foot spot into a corner pocket with ball in hand behind the head string. It is a standard benchmark because the setup is identical on every table.

Also: Cue ball deflection, Deflection

Squirt (cue-ball deflection) is the cue ball being pushed slightly off the cue's line in the direction opposite to the english you apply. More english, a heavier shaft tip end and longer distances make squirt more noticeable.

Stance is how you position your feet, hips and body over the shot. A good pool stance puts your chin over the cue, your back-arm forearm hanging vertically at contact, and your weight balanced so nothing moves except the cue arm during the stroke.

Steering is moving the cue sideways during the stroke to try to guide the ball into the pocket. It happens when you do not trust your aim, and it adds unintended english that makes the shot miss more, not less.

Also: Stop

A stop shot makes the cue ball stop dead on contact with the object ball on a straight-in shot. It happens when the cue ball is sliding with no spin at the moment of contact, so all its forward energy transfers to the object ball.

Also: 14.1 continuous

Straight pool (14.1 continuous) is a call-shot game where every legally pocketed ball scores one point. When one ball remains, the other 14 are re-racked and play continues; matches are usually played to a set score like 100 or 150.

Also: Straight in, Dead straight

A straight-in shot has the cue ball, object ball and pocket on one line. It looks easiest, but it exposes any stroke error instantly — and it leaves no angle for position, so good players often avoid getting dead straight.

Also: Stun follow, Stun through

A stun run (stun follow) is a near-straight shot where the cue ball arrives with only a little topspin, so it rolls forward a short, controlled distance after contact — less than full follow, more than a stop.

Also: Stun

A stun shot hits the object ball with a sliding cue ball (no topspin or backspin). On a straight shot that is a stop shot; on a cut shot the cue ball leaves along the tangent line at 90° to the object ball's path.

Also: Make percentage, Pass standard

Success rate is the percentage of attempts you complete in a drill, for example 7 of 10 stop shots. Tracking it over time is the most reliable way to measure progress in pool, far better than 'feel'.

Also: Curve

Swerve is the curve of the cue ball caused by sidespin when the cue is not perfectly level. It bends the cue ball back in the direction of the english, partly cancelling squirt, and grows with elevation and slower speed.

The tangent line is the line perpendicular (90°) to the object ball's path, passing through the contact point. A stun cue ball leaves along it on every cut shot; follow bends the path forward from it and draw bends it backward.

Also: Feather cut, Thin hit

A thin cut is a cut shot with a very small overlap between cue ball and object ball — usually over about 60°. The cue ball barely brushes the object ball, so aim must be extremely precise and throw becomes significant.

Under WPA 9-ball and 10-ball rules, a player who fouls on three consecutive shots without making a legal shot in between loses the rack. The opponent must warn the player after the second foul.

Also: Collision-induced throw, Spin-induced throw, Cling

Throw is friction between the cue ball and object ball pushing the object ball a little off the line of centers. Cut shots throw the object ball slightly toward the direction of the cue ball's motion, and sidespin can add or cancel throw.

Also: Tip position, Tips of english

Tip offset is how far from center you hit the cue ball, measured in tip widths. About one tip (roughly half the distance to the miscue limit) gives strong spin; the practical maximum before miscuing is about half the ball's radius from center.

A two-way shot is an attempt to pot a ball while also leaving a safety if you miss. You choose speed and cue-ball path so that a miss still leaves the opponent in trouble.

Video analysis is filming your stroke and play — from behind the shot and from the side — to find faults you cannot feel, such as steering, head movement or elbow drop. A coach reviews it and gives specific corrections and drills.

Also: Dominant eye, Eye dominance

Your vision center is the point between or near your eyes where you naturally see a straight line. Placing the cue under your vision center (often closer to the dominant eye) makes the shot line look straight when it actually is.

Also: Mental rehearsal

Visualization is picturing the shot before you play it — the cue ball path, the object ball dropping and the position you will get. It programmes the intended outcome and is part of a strong pre-shot routine.

Also: Practice strokes, Feathering

Warm-up strokes (feathering) are the short practice strokes you make before the final delivery. They check that the cue moves straight along the aiming line at the planned tip height and rehearse the rhythm of the shot.