The terms defined below are taken from the language used in all types of billiards: English pool, French billiards, American billiards or snooker. The term white ball indicates the ball hit directly by the player, the object ball is the ball aimed at. In Carom these two balls are balls n°1 and n°2, for the definition of ball n°3, see below the definition of balls.
Extension: Term designating the often excessive extension of the cue stroke, beyond the natural crossing “into the cue ball”. In series games, it is useless to “extend”, because the powers are moderate. On the other hand, when the shots are played very hard (3-cushion, artistic, 5-pins), the movement can extend beyond the natural crossing.
Elongation (of billiards): Term relating to the characteristic of a trajectory in three (or more) bands, which depends on the performance of the bands (“billiards extend” or on the contrary “square”).
Amplitude: Importance of the pendulum movement that executes the stroke.
American: (Take the American) Position of the balls very close together along the strip and which allows, in the free part, to make series by renewing the same positions.
Cushioned or cushioned: Taking the object ball almost “full” so that the cue ball travels a short distance after impact.
Attack: Point of impact of the process on the ball.
Attack/defense: Tactical concept involved in the analysis of the game situation that arises (often used in “3-cushion”).
Cushions: The edges of the billiard table. The rubber allows the balls to bounce correctly.
Front Rail: Shot where the cue ball hits one or more rails before caroming the 3 ball.
Barrage: Position of the cue ball that will stop ball #3 on its return. Important for in-line backs.
Low: (attack, take). Attack the cue ball below the center to obtain a backspin.
Balls: 3 balls: 2 white and one red. One of the two white balls must be “pointed”, that is to say have two points embedded at the two poles. The player’s ball is called the white ball (no. 1), the object ball (no. 2) is the one that is hit directly by the white ball and ball no. 3 is the one on which the carom is made.
Goal ball: Any ball other than the cue ball.
Cue ball: White ball or shooting ball.
“Big” ball: Refers to a number 3 ball whose position on the playing surface increases the chances of achieving a carom (example: in a corner).
“Small” ball: Refers to a number 3 ball isolated on the playing surface.
Blue: Small cube of chalk (not necessarily blue) that we “grease” on the tip so that it does not slip when it comes into contact with the ball.
Bump: An unexpected encounter between two balls, which generally prevents a carom. In some shots, the player uses the bump to make the point (or that’s what he tries to make you believe…). (Synonym: counter, hard shot).
Barrel: Part of the billiard cue onto which the shaft is screwed (Synonym: barrel).
Carambolage: Action of caramboling, that is to say, hitting balls 2 and 3 with the ball propelled by the player.
Carambole: Name given to the red ball.
Carambole (carom billiards): Generic term which groups together the various playing modes of French billiards.
Carrot: (play or pull the carrot). Leave the opponent a difficult position.
Tile: Complete stop of the cue ball upon contact with the goal ball.
Casino: Attack the red ball so that it makes a cushion and caroms the other white ball.
Break: Start a game by propelling the cue ball into the triangle of balls.
Center (attack at): Attack at the “equator” with or without effect.
Center: A misnomer for the rear point of the cue ball. A center strike does not impart any rotation to the cue ball at the beginning of its path.
Bridge: Placement of the hand placed on the billiard table guiding the arrow to propel the ball.
Stick: Position of a ball that is in contact with the belt or another ball.
Contact: When the cue ball is in contact with a ball, the latter must not be moved during the following shot. It is therefore necessary to play in the half-plane opposite the stuck ball.
Counter: Occurs when the cue and goal balls collide twice.
Sunk: A technical shot using a “forward” spin, allowing the cue ball to move forward after impact with the goal ball.
Sink: Attack the cue ball over the center by “extending” the attack.
Cue stroke: Propulsion of the cue ball by the player with the help of the billiard cue.
Natural Shot: A pile-up made using natural rejection.
Defense: Tactical term aimed at not leaving a favorable situation to the opponent (“playing defense”).
Distance: Number of points to achieve to win a round.
Diamond: Feminine name used in Kasdali Sport & Leisure and designating the markers inlaid on the billiard table.
Dominant: Position which allows the opposing balls to be kept in the direction of the corners by the natural rejection caused by the impact of the balls.
Effect: Rotation of a ball around any axis that passes through its center. The white ball, when struck outside its center, undergoes an effect that influences its trajectory.
Effect: Lateral rotation imparted to the cue ball upon impact.
Good effect: We speak of good effect or natural effect when the direction of rotation given to the ball on itself (the effect) is in the same direction as the trajectory of the ball towards the first cushion.
Opposite effect: We speak of opposite effect when the direction of rotation given to the ball on itself (the effect) is opposite to the trajectory of the ball towards the first band.
Elan: The distance the cue stick moves away from the cue ball. It determines the power of the cue stroke.
Training: Touch the object ball so that it follows a trajectory close to that of the cue ball.
Mowing: Parasitic lateral deviation of the tail stroke.
False tail: Slippage of the tip upon impact with the ball.
Fault: Illegal action, intentional or not, which results in the point being void.
Fine (take end) – finesse: Aim less than ¼ of the object ball.
Arrow: Upper part of the billiard cue on which the tip is glued.
Arrow (take from): Adapt the distance separating the bridge from the white ball depending on the shot to be played.
Shaft: Lower part of the billiard cue onto which the shaft is screwed.
Grease: Coat with blue, the process.
Attack height: Point of impact of the process on the ball located at a height corresponding to the desired rotation.
Reading a table: Predefine the order of pocketing the goal balls.
Image: Back and forth movement intended to prepare the tail stroke.
Glasses (balls in): Balls #2 and #3 very close together, where the carom is easy.
Massaging: Attacking the cue ball vertically.
Measure: Dosage of the force applied to the cue ball so that it is favorably placed for the next shot.
Flies: Marks on the cloth that materialize the location of the balls for the starting point. Also inlays on the billiard cushions that serve as markers, in particular for shots played on the front cushion.
Average: Number of points scored divided by the number of innings. The average is used to define the player’s category.
Passage: Pass the white ball between balls 2 and 3 to regain the dominant position.
Petting: Playing gently by brushing the marbles to keep them in a bundle.
To poke: To strike the cue ball vertically or semi-vertically, so as to make it return backwards.
Full (take): Aim at the center of the object ball.
Point: (carom) Action of caroming, that is to say touching the opponent’s balls (No. 2 and No. 3) with the white ball.
Starting point: Position of the balls at the beginning of the game. Depends on the type of game.
Red dot (play the red dot): Do not worry about the average and only aim for victory (corresponds to a red dot on the match sheet).
Posture: Body position allowing for comfort and stability in playing.
Push-all: Leaving the cue tip in contact with the cue ball after it has touched the object ball. This is a foul.
Process: Leather washer glued to the ferrule facilitating contact with the ball.
Power or force: The power of the tail stroke is determined by the amplitude and speed of the movement.
Ball quantity: Portion of ball “covered” by the white ball on the object ball.
Cue: Instrument used to push the ball. It is composed of the arrow and the shaft.
Cueing: Multiple contacts between the tip and the ball during the execution of the shot.
Cue: Touch the cue ball twice with the cue tip.
Reminder: A shot that allows the balls to return to a desired area.
Rake: Accessory used as an easel when the distance of the cue ball does not allow the player to guide the arrow with the hand.
Grouping (of beads): Concentration of beads carried out approximately.
Natural rejection: Bursting of the white ball upon contact with the object ball obtained under certain conditions.
Yield: Reaction of strips or beads.
Resumption: Each of the parts of a game round. The number of innings corresponds to the number of times a player appears in front of the billiard table during a round. During a round, each player takes the same number of innings.
Backhand: Technical shot which allows the cue ball to move backwards when it comes into contact with the goal ball thanks to a reverse rotation produced by a low attack height.
Series: Number of consecutive pile-ups made during a round.
Snook: The act of hiding the cue ball behind another ball just before leaving the game to the opponent. He can then no longer directly touch one of his balls.
Tactics (principles): Objectives pursued when carrying out a shot (examples: recall, placement, etc.).
Heel (of the tail): Lower end of the shaft.
Techniques (shots): Direction of the white ball obtained by the combination between a quantity of ball and an attack height (rotation) (examples: sink, backspin, etc.).
Head (attack in): Play high on the cue ball.
Crossing: Extension of the cue stroke after impact on the cue ball, defined by the swinging motion of the forearm.
Ferrule: Ring made of synthetic material or metal on which the process is fixed.
Aim: Place on the same line the center of the cue ball in its initial position, the center of the cue ball at the exact location where you want to send it, the billiard cue and your gaze.
Speed: The speed at which the pendulum moves. Speed is a factor in the power of a stroke.