Pool glossary · Strategy & Safety
Lock-up safety
Also called: Lock up
What is a lock-up safety?
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.
In more detail
Under ball-in-hand rules, a lock-up that forces a foul gives you ball in hand — often the strongest position in pool.
People also ask
How do I practise lock-ups?
Set common positions, aim to hide the cue ball behind a blocker and score yourself on whether a direct hit is possible.