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Cueing Academy

Pool glossary · Table & Equipment

Cushion

Also called: Rubber, Bumper

What is the cushion on a pool table?

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.

In more detail

Cushion condition decides how a table plays: lively rubber gives long, predictable rebounds; dead or hard rubber shortens them and makes bank and kick systems less reliable. Speed and spin also change the rebound angle — a ball hit firmly 'shortens' off the rail, while running english lengthens the angle.

Players often say 'rail' and 'cushion' interchangeably, but technically the rail is the wooden frame and the cushion is the rubber attached to it.

People also ask

Why do bank shots come off the cushion shorter than expected?

Hitting harder compresses the cushion more and the ball rebounds at a shorter (narrower) angle. Draw or reverse spin also shortens the bank; follow and running english lengthen it.

Train it at the table

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