Billiards & Pool Terms

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Instructions: Rack 'em up and test your knowledge of billiards vocabulary!

1.
In pool, what is a 'scratch'?
A
A shot that barely touches the target ball
B
Damaging the tip of the cue
C
Pocketing the cue ball, resulting in a foul
D
Marking the felt surface
2.
What does 'English' (or 'side spin') mean in billiards?
A
Speaking with a British accent while playing
B
A style of billiards played in England
C
The English translation of the rules
D
Spin applied to the cue ball by striking it off-center
3.
In pool, what is a 'masse' shot?
A
Hitting all balls at once
B
A shot using massive force
C
An extreme curve shot achieved by striking the cue ball with a nearly vertical cue
D
A shot that goes straight down the table
4.
What is the 'break' in pool?
A
A pause in the game
B
A foul that stops the game
C
When the cue stick breaks
D
The opening shot that scatters the racked balls
5.
In eight-ball pool, what are 'solids' and 'stripes'?
A
Types of pool tables
B
The two groups of numbered balls: 1-7 (solid colored) and 9-15 (striped)
C
The markings on the table felt
D
Different types of cue sticks
6.
What is a 'bank shot' in pool?
A
A shot played in a bank building
B
A shot that costs extra money
C
A shot where the object ball bounces off one or more cushions before being pocketed
D
A shot taken from the bank of the table
7.
In billiards, what is 'cue ball position' (or 'position play')?
A
The position of the player's hand on the cue
B
The angle of the cue stick
C
Where the cue ball sits at the start
D
The strategy of controlling where the cue ball ends up after each shot
8.
What is 'safety play' in pool?
A
Playing very slowly
B
A defensive strategy where a player leaves the cue ball in a difficult position for the opponent
C
Wearing protective gear while playing
D
Using a safety rail on the table
9.
In pool, what is a 'combination shot' (or 'combo')?
A
A combination of bank and jump shots
B
Using two cue sticks
C
Pocketing two balls with one shot
D
Hitting the cue ball into one object ball which then hits another object ball into a pocket
10.
What is the 'rack' in pool?
A
A scoring system
B
The table itself
C
A shelf for cue sticks
D
The triangular or diamond-shaped frame used to arrange balls before the break
11.
In billiards, what is a 'jump shot'?
A
A shot where the cue ball is made to jump over an obstructing ball
B
The player jumping while shooting
C
Bouncing the cue ball on the table
D
A shot taken from a standing position
12.
What is a 'run' (or 'running the table') in pool?
A
Pocketing all remaining balls in succession without missing
B
Running around the table between shots
C
Moving the table to a different location
D
A rapid series of bank shots
13.
In pool, what is a 'draw shot' (or 'backspin')?
A
A random shot selection
B
A shot where the cue ball is struck below center to make it spin backward
C
A shot that draws the opponent's attention
D
Drawing a picture of the shot
14.
What is the 'kitchen' (or 'behind the line') in pool?
A
The pocket closest to the player
B
The table's felt surface
C
The snack area in a pool hall
D
The area behind the head string where the cue ball is placed after certain fouls
15.
In pool, what does 'slop' (or 'slop shot') mean?
A
A messy table
B
A ball that is pocketed unintentionally or by luck
C
A poorly maintained cue tip
D
Spilling chalk on the table

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