0-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

0-9

22 -   Snooker is a cue sport played with 22 balls, which includes one white cue ball, 15 red balls worth one point each, and six balls of different colors: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black. The game is divided into frames and a player has to score maximum points than the opponent in a frame to win the game.

99 -   When a player reaches 99 points, the red becomes +1 for him and there is no -10 even if he didn't hit the red. Therefore, the player at 99 will remain at 99 until he put the red or have a foul. He can even put other balls to remain at the table but will not score any points for those balls.

A

A Break -   A series of scoring hits - the number of points scored in one hit.

Above -   This term is used for referring to the position of the cue ball.

Address -  This refers to the earlier cue movements done by the player when he/she trying to settle into the playing position and looking to hit the cue-ball.

Ahead Race Or Session - A format of a match wherein a player has to set up a lead of a decided number of frames (games) to win.

Aiming Line -   An imaginary line started from the preferred path an object ball is to be sent (generally the middle of a pocket) and the middle of the object ball.

Angle - Snooker is usually played by one or two players or teams. It needs the skill to guess the right angle the ball must move to go into any one of the six pockets around the edge of the snooker table.

Angle Shooting -  A shot, which needs the cue ball to drive the object ball other than straight forward.

Angled Ball - This refers to a cue ball located in the open mouth of a pocket in such a way that the ball-on cannot be struck directly.

Apex of Triangle -   This term refers to the location of the front ball in the rack.

Around the Table - This term is used to describe a shot wherein the cue ball contacts three or more cushions, generally including the two short cushions, in an attempt to score.

B

Back Cut -   A cut shot wherein if a line were drawn from the cue ball to the rail at the back of the targeted object ball, vertical to that rail, the object ball would stretch out ahead of the line for the pocket being aimed.

Back Swing -   This refers to the cue's backward motion before striking.

Backspin - A ball revolving in the direction opposite to its travel. It is applied by hitting the cue-ball below center, which causes it to rotate, or spin, in the opposite direction to that wherein it is moving. For Backspin, the player has to lift the butt of his/her cue a little to get to the bottom of the cue ball.

Baize - A thick, flexible, a coarse woolen cloth, similar in texture to feel. It is generally dyed in green and used for coverings on snooker tables. The Baize's surface is not completely smooth but has a NAP, in which the 'hairs' of the Wool stick up on top.

Balance point - The point, generally around 18 inches from the bottom of a cue, upon which the cue will balance when resting on one hand.

Balk / Baulk - Refers to the area on a billiard table following the balkline. From this area, the cue ball is initially shot, and a ball in hand must be played.

Balkline / Baulkline - This is a line crossway a billiard table following which the cue balls are placed at the beginning of a game. It shows the scale of the "Baulk" area. This line is drawn 29 inches from, and parallel to, the facade of the bottom cushion on a full-sized table.

Baulk Colour - Either of the three color balls, which get marked on the baulk line.

Baulk Cushion - Refers to the cushion reverse the top cushion and enclosed by the yellow and green pockets.

Ball -   A round resin object used to play the game. Snooker is played on a large table with 22 balls, consisting one white ball (the cue ball); 15 red balls, worth 1 point each; one yellow, worth 2 points; one green, worth 3 points; one brown, worth 4 points; one blue, worth 5 points; one pink, worth 6 points; and one black, worth 7 points. Players have a long stick to strike a white ball, and score points by tapping colored balls into the pockets at the sides of the table.

Ball games -   Also called ball sports, refers to any form of the game that features a ball as part of the play. Snooker is one among them, which is played with fifteen object balls (not numbered) and solid red, six object balls of other colors and a cue ball (called the white ball). The aim of this game is to put the balls officially according to the rules and score a higher number of points than the challenger.

Ball in hand -   Refers to a situation, wherein a fault by another player, like a scratch, allows the opponent to take the cue ball in hand and set it anywhere behind the baulk line.

Ball on -   Any ball that perhaps lawfully struck by the initial impact of the cue- ball, or any ball that might not be so struck but which perhaps pocketed, is said to be on.

Banger -   A derogatory phrase for a recreational or starting player who "bangs" the balls with no consideration for the position nor try to control the cue ball; also an indication to the preference of beginners to often strike the cue ball quite harder than necessary.

Bank - A shot wherein the object ball is bounced off one or more rails before being pocketed.

Bank shot -   A shot wherein the object ball hit at least one or more cushions before it is pocketed. Minor contact since ball travel along and adjacent to a cushion does not consider as a cushion or bank.

Barbarian -   This word is used as slang in snooker. A classic highly deserved beating for those who are purposely corrupt - blow real hard, makes look like ugly pulp.

Baulk - The area, generally 29 inches deep, between the baulk line and the base cushion. It has no importance in Snooker and is only used in English Billiard games.

Baulk Colour - Either of the three color balls, which get located on the baulk line.

Baulk Cushion -   The cushion reverses the top cushions and bordered by the yellow and green pockets.

Baulk line - This is a straight line from the face of the base cushion and parallel to it.  It is drawn 29 inches across a billiard table following which the cue balls are located at the beginning of a game.

Bed of table - Generally refers to the smooth, cloth-topped surface of the table inside the cushions; the playing region exclusive of the cushions.

Billiards -   This term refers to games played by two people on a table covered in a soft cloth, where the player used a long stick called a cue to hit balls against each other and into pockets around the table.

Black - Also called a Blackball, the highest value ball on the snooker table worth seven points. American Snooker will, in fact, put the number seven on its face.

Blackball - Also called ‘the black’, which is the highest worth ball on the table, which gives seven points.

Blood Test -   Any complex shot, which must be hit under pressure.

Blue - It generally refers to the blue balls. Worth 5 points, located on the blue spot in the mid of the table.

Bottle - A specially formed leather or plastic container used in various games.

Bottom cushion - The cushion placed at the head of a snooker table--closest to the D.

Bouclee - A kind of bridge created between the thumb and forefinger, forming a loop for the cue to pass through.

Break - Refers to the total points scored in one inning.

Break shot - Generally refers to the initial shot in most types of billiards games. It is used for separating the object balls that have been racked together.

Breaking violation - Special rules violation, which applies only to the opening break shot of particular games. If not specified in particular game rules, a breaking violation is not considered as a foul.

Bricole - A shot wherein the cue ball touches a cushion after hitting the object ball and before touching another ball.

Bridge - A cue's support made by placing the fingers on the table and lifting the thumb. The hand arrangement that holds and assist the cue's shaft-end during play.

Bridge Arm - The arm which rests on the table supporting the body when and help in setting the right stance.

Brown Ball - Also called Brown, which is the highest-worth baulk color, value 4 points.

Burst - When the final score reaches more than 41 points.

Butt of cue - Refers to the thicker end of the cue, opposite the tip. The butt generally widens up to the joint, on a two-piece cue.

C

Called ball -   The ball precise or designated by the player to be pocketed on a shot.

Called pocket - The pocket that a player has designated a ball to be shot.

Cannon - A shot wherein the cue ball is caused to get in touch with one object ball after another.

Center Spot - The spot (generally blue spot in snooker) present at the numerical center of the bed of the table. It lies at the junction of the mid string and long string.

Century - A break of 100 points or more that consist of potting at least 26 balls in a row.

Clearance  - When a player successfully pots all object balls-on in a single frame, it is said to have "cleared up" or to have "cleared the table".

Cocked Hat Double - A kind of double off three cushions, for instance, around the baulk colors, and into a mid pocket.

Corner-hooked - When the pocket's corner prevents shooting the cue ball in a straight line straight to an object ball, the cue ball is corner-hooked; similar to angled.

Count - A successful shot, which scores a point.

Coup -   The act of inserting a ball in a pocket without striking another ball.

Cue -   Generally refers to a cue stick, which is approx 55-60" in length with a tip, generally used to push billiard balls.

Cross-corner - The term used for describing a bank shot, which will bounce back from a cushion and into a corner pocket.

Cross side -   The term used for describing a bank shot, this will bounce back from a cushion and into a side pocket.

Cross-table shot  - Shot wherein scoring is accomplished by hitting the cue ball across the table between the long cushion.

Crotch - The corner part of a carom table in straight-rail billiards wherein a player might score not above three successive counts with the balls before driving at least one object ball out of the area. The four crotches are signified as those spaces within crotch lines formed between the first diamond on the end rail to the second diamond on the side rail.

Crutches - Slang phrase used for “mechanical bridge.”

Cue - The tapered device, generally wooden, which is used to hit the cue ball to perform carom or pocket billiard shots. (Also known as cue stick)

Cue ball -   The white ball, which is often unnumbered and always hit by the cue during play.

Cue ball in hand -   Cue ball perhaps put into play anywhere on the playing surface.

Cue ball in hand behind the head string - Cue ball perhaps put into play anywhere between the head string and the cushion on the table head's end not in contact with an object ball.

Cue ball in hand within the d -   Read "cue ball in hand within the half-circle"

Cue ball in hand within the half-circle  - Generally means, the cue ball has been pocketed or has been forced off the table. The cue ball's base perhaps placed anywhere within or on the half-circle. It stays in hand until the player hits the cue ball with the tip of the cue or a foul is committed while the ball is on the table.

Cue tip - A material, generally leather, placed on the edge of a cue stick that gets contact with the cue ball.

Cueist - It refers to a player of cue sports.

Curve shot - A moderate arch imparted to the route of the cue ball by an elevated strike with the use of English (side); or a shot using this technique. Also known as a semi-massé shot

Cushion -   Refers to the elastic bumpers usually mounted on table rails, generally made from rubber or synthetic rubber, from which the balls bounce back.

Cut shot -   This refers to any shot, which is not a center-to-center strike, but almost always used when describing a hit that has more than a small degree of angle.

D

Dead ball shot -  Also called Kill shot, which is planned to slow down or "kill" the speed of cue ball as much as possible after contact with an object ball; often a shot with a draw, generally shared with inside English.

Dead combination -  Two or more red ball's positions, which help a ball to be travel into a pocket with a combination shot.

Dead Stroke -  Flawless game played by a player, where he/she doesn't "miss" and the game seems effortless.

Deep Screw -  When overstated backspin is applied on the cue ball.

Diamond -  Markings or Inlays on the table railings, which are used as position or target points. The diamonds are important for the use of several mathematical systems used by carom and pocket games players.

Double -  In the UK, bank shot or bank is often called a double. In this shot, an object ball is driven to one or more rails before being pocketed.

Double hit -  When the cue ball is hit twice by the cue tip on a single hit.

Double kiss -  A situation wherein a ball hits another ball, which is near to a rail and the struck ball bounce back into the ball it was strike by; generally but not always unintentional.

Draw -  When the cue ball spin back after a straight contact with another ball by applying backspin while striking.

Drop Cannon -   A shot wherein the primary object ball connects or gathers with the cue ball and the other object ball, particularly at the top of the table.

E

Eightball -  Refers to the black ball in the POOL.

English -  When a cue ball is hit on each side of its vertical axis, offering it “sidespin," which is known as "English" in billiards. It may even take place when a ball collides with another or with a rail.

F

Feather shot -  An extremely thin cut shot where the cue ball just hardly grazes or connect the object ball.

Ferrule -  A piece of shielding material (generally plastic, horn, or metal) at the cue shaft's end, which has cue tip attached. Its main aim is to protect the wood on the shaft's end. A ferrule permits the player to change the tip without harming the shaft wood, and affects the glance, feel (“hit”), and sound of the cue.

Five-eighths -  Refers to the object ball deflection versus contact with the cue ball, five-eighths represent 22.1 degrees.

Flat-back Pack -  During a frame, a situation occurs wherein the first line of the remaining reds paired together, where the novel pack was, are in a direct horizontal line. 

Fluke -  To unexpectedly put a ball in an unplanned manner.

Follow shot -  A shot wherein the cue ball is struck over the center and the resulting forward spin makes the cue ball to roll onward after contact with an object ball.

Follow-through -  The cue's movement after getting in touch with the cue ball through the area formerly occupied by the cue ball.

The Foot of the Table -  A carom or pocket billiard table's end at which the balls are racked or located at the beginning of a game.

Foot string -  An imaginary line, which runs horizontally across a billiard table from the second diamond on one long rail to the consequent second diamond on the further long rail on the racking edge of the table. The foot string crosses the long string at the foot spot.

Force -  When the player applied power on the stroke to the cue ball, which causes distortion and shifting of natural angles and action of the ball.

Force drawing -  A shot which has high follow, generally directly at and then "through" an object ball.

Force follow -  A follow shot strike with the highest topspin and quick speed. This phrase is used generally when referring to straight-in (small cut angle) follow shot.

Foul -  This refers to playing rule violation, which generally causes a penalty.

Frame -  Generally, the wooden triangle used to set up the balls or a single game of Snooker,  generally called frame. 

Free Ball -  When any player who is snookered after a foul hit, a 'free' ball is awarded and if it is potted, then the player gets the same number of points as the ball 'on'.

Full-ball -  A perfectly executed straight shot, with the line of aim going through either the mid of the cue-ball and the mid of the object-ball.

G

Games -   The line of play that begins when the referee has completed racking the balls and finishes after an official shot which puts the last required ball in the pocket.

Game Ball -  The ball that if entered in the pocket legally, would produce wins in a game.

Gapper -  When two players agree in a tournament, one of whom will advance to a definite money prize if the game is won, to offer a certain percentage of that money to the loser of the game.

Ghost ball -  A common aiming tactic wherein a phantom ball is expected frozen to the object ball at the point where an imaginary line drawn between their middle is aimed at the preferred target; the cue ball might then be shot at the mid of the "ghost" ball and, preferably, bang the object ball at the correct aiming contact point.

Go off -  Describes the tendency of a player losing little money at gambling to unexpectedly sharply raise the stakes; generally continuing to lose until broke.

Green Spot -  The left-hand mark of the baulk-line on which the green is marked.

Green ball -  The color ball, which worth three points in a game.

Green pocket -  The pocket, which is nearest to the green spot.

Gather Shot -  This refers to the shot in the carom games, where the last result is all the balls close to each other; preferably, in position for the beginning of a nurse on the next hit.

Grip -  The way the player held the butt of the cue in the hand.

H

Half-Ball Contact -  When the player covers half the object ball with the cue ball after a hit.

Half Butt -  A seven and a half foot cue with similar rest used for hits ahead of the reach of the rest.

Handicapping -  When scoring or rules of games are modified to allow players of differing abilities to compete on more even terms.

hazard -  A scoring hit made either when a ball other than the striker is entered in the pocket (winning hazard) or the striker's cue ball itself (losing hazard).

Headrail -  The table's end from which play begins, closest the baulkline.

Hug the Rail -  A ball revolved along the border of the rail.

I

In-Off -  This refers to the losing hazard, an instance, when the cue ball has been entered in the pocket after contacting an object ball. It is generally a foul in most games. The snooker equivalent of a scratch.

J

Jaw -  The slanted cushion's part, which is cut at an angle to form the gap from the bed of the table into the pocket.

Jawed Ball -  A ball, which is unable to drop since it bounces backward and forwards against the jaws of a pocket.

Jenny -  Another term used for an in-off.

Jump Shot -  A shot wherein the cue ball is purposely made to leave the table surface.

Jumped Ball -  A ball hit in a way that it gets to jump over another ball.

K

Key Ball -  The 14th ball of each rack which is important to obtain a position for the all-important first (or break) shot of each reracking of the balls.

Kick Shot -  A shot wherein the cue ball is driven to one or more rails before going to its projected target—generally an object ball. Also called 'kick'.

Kill Shot -  A shot projected to slow down or "kill" the speed of cue ball after making contact with an object ball; generally, a hit with draw often merged with inside English. Also called a dead ball shot.

Kiss Shot -  A shot wherein the cue ball makes more than one contact with object balls; for instance, the cue ball may kiss from one object ball into one more to score the latter ball.

Kiss-Out -  When a shot is failed due to the accidental contact between balls.

Kitchen -  Refers to the part on the table at the back of the head string.

L

Lag -  A shot wherein the cue ball is hit three or more cushions before contacting the object balls.

Lag For Break -  The procedure used for determining the initial player of the game. Each player hits a ball from behind the head string to the foot cushion, trying to return the ball as nearly as possible to the head cushion.

Leave -  A term used for expressing the difficulty of the stroke, which is left for one's opponent. Generally refers to the position of the cue ball after a shot.

Left Eyed -  When the left eye of a player is more dominant than the right eye.

Lemonade stroke -  An intentionally unprofessional stroke to disguise any player's ability to play.

Let out -  Allowing challenger to stop playing a set for money in exchange for something.

Long Rest -  Refers to longer rest's version for a bigger reach.

Long double -  When a player hit a bank shot up and down the longer length of the table off a short rail and into a corner pocket, rather than the more general bank across the short length into a middle pocket or corner.

Long string -  An imaginary line that lengthwise divides the table into two halves.

Long-Butt Cue  - Used to describe a very long shot at the other end of the table. Generally measures 9ft.

Loop Bridge -  Raising the forefinger for the cue to run through / the kind of bridge used when cueing off the cushion.

M

Masse Shot -  A shot wherein excessive English is applied to the cue ball by uplifting the cue butt at an angle with the bed of the table of anywhere between 30 and 90 degrees. The cue ball generally takes a curved path, with more curves that appeared from rising cue stick elevation.

Match -  The overall contest between two players or two teams generally has a predetermined number of frames or games (sometimes prearranged into rounds).

Mechanical Bridge -  Refers to a special stick which assists the cue stick – a stand-in for the bridge hand. It has a grooved, slotted, or supportive end attachment and generally used only when the shot cannot be easily reached with a hand bridge.

Miscue -  When the cue hits the cue ball inappropriately and slides off. It takes place due to lack of chalk on the pool cue tip, badly maintained cue tip, which is not appropriate, and the failure of the player to hit directly through the cue ball due to steering.

Miss -  When the cue-ball does not make initial contact with a ball on and the referee observes that the player has not made a sufficient attempt to strike a ball as per his ability to play the game.

Maximum Break -  Also called maximum, which is generally 147, orally describe a one-four-seven. A player collects a maximum break by putting all 15 reds with 15 blacks for 120 points, subsequently all 6 colors for the next 27 points. It is considered as the biggest achievement in one frame of snooker.

Money ball -  Name for the ball, which when potted legal, wins the game and if it is illegally potted, the player lost a game, or considered a foul.

Money table -  The table, which is generally kept for money games. This table quality remains an exception as it is regularly maintained, and have tight pockets.

Mushroom -  The cue tip leather overhanging the ferrule because of firmness from numerous repeated impacts against the cue ball without good maintenance of the tip.  Also called a mushroomed tip.

N

Natural Angle -  The path formed by the cue-ball after making a connection with a ball or cushion when it is played under forcing strength and without spin.

Nip draw -  A short, pointed stroke, used when a normal draw hit would cause a foul due to drawing the cue ball back into the cue tip.

Nipping -  When players tightly grip the cue to impact with the white.

Nominated Ball -  When a player declares any object ball which he intends to hit initially with the cue-ball.

O

On Ball -  A colored ball (except red) a player planned to pocket legally.

Object Ball -  Refers to the target ball, generally the ball to be struck.

Object-White -  When the player who is going to strike is at the table this phrase is used for describing the opponent's cue-ball.

On the hill -  This refers to a player who is looking to win one more game to become victorious in the match.

On the snap -  Winning the opening break shot by putting the game ball in the pocket. This term is generally used in the game of nine balls where a win is achieved by potting the nine balls at any time on a legal stroke.

Open bridge -  A bridge created by the hand where no finger loops above the cue's shaft.

Orange -  Joe Davis added the two extra colors to snooker to create 'Snooker Plus'. It had worth 8 points and was marked halfway between the pink and the blue.

Outside English -  A strike on the cue ball whereby the tip strikes the cue outside the angle.

P

Position -  Also known as shape. The cue ball placement on each shot relative to the next intended shot.

Pyramid Spot -  Called the Pink Spot, placed midway between the Centre Spot and the top cushion's face.

Pack -  The bunch of reds, which are usually left under the pink spot in the early periods of a frame, not counting those reds, which have been released into potable positions.

Pause -  When the waggles end in the groundwork of hitting.

Pink ball -  The second-highest worth color ball, also called pink, which gives six points to the player. It is numbered "6" on its exterior.

Plain Ball -  Hitting the cue ball in the center, without any spin.

Point -  This term was previously used when a player could use both ends of the cue to hit the cue-ball. However, it is now described as the 'tip' end of the cue.

Pot -  The term used for a ball promoted into the pocket.

Potter -  A British phrase for someone with inadequate experience or understanding of the game, who perhaps skilled at potting single balls but does not consider tactics such as position or safety.

Potting Angle -  The desired angle, which must be formed between the cue ball path and the object ball path upon contact to pocket the object ball. It is generally measured in the mid of the pocket.

Power Shot -  The term used for advanced cueing tactic played at speed, with power.

Q

Quarter Ball -  A hit where the line of aim goes throughout the mid of the cue-ball and passes the outer edge of the object-ball by one-quarter of its thickness.

R

Rack -  The triangular tools used for collecting the balls into the formation essential for the game to be played.

Rails -  Commonly called cushion rail.  The table frame sides upon which the flexible cushion is mounted and wherein the diamonds (sights) are inlaid (on tables that possess them). The term generally used interchangeably with cushion.

Rake -  Slang phrase used for a mechanical bridge. This word is generally used in a condition where the shooting player cannot easily use his or her hand bridge as it would be very uncomfortable. The mechanical bridge perhaps called a rake as it appears similar to an actual rake.

Rat In -  Slang used for pocketing a ball by luck.

Re-rack -  The rejection of a frame upon conformity between the players, so that the balls can be established again and the frame again begins without any change to the score since the last finished frame.

Recovery Shot -  A complex or discomfited scoring hit made after the better position has been lost during a break.

Red Ball -  Any of the 15 balls in snooker worth 1 point each and can be pocketed in any order. During the time of a break, a player must initially pot a red after that a color, and then a red and color, etc., until the reds run out and then the re-spotted six colors must be clear in their order.

Referee -  Someone who is in charge of the game. His primary role is to make sure obedience by both players to the proper rules of the game being played along with racking each frame, re-spotting balls, preserving the tools linked with the table, etc. Also called the umpire.

Reverse English -  When there is side spin on the cue ball that causes abnormally to roll off a cushion against rather than with the momentum of ball and direction of travel.

Right Eyed -  When the player right eye is more dominant than the left one.

Roll-up -  A gentle hit of the cue ball to get it as firm as possible at the back of an object ball, in the hope of a snooker.

Round Robin -  A format of the tournament wherein each contestant plays each of the other contestants at least once. It simply means that every home team plays every visiting team once in the contest.

Rubber Match -  The deciding game between two tied opponents.

Ruckus -  A British phrase used for the dividing of a group of balls when another ball is sent into them, generally to intentionally move them with the cue ball to extend them.

Running English -  Sidespin applied to the cue ball that makes it bounce back from an object ball or a cushion at a narrower angle and at a quicker pace than it would if hit at a similar pace and direction without English.

Running Side -  Sidespin that widens the angle at which the cue ball bounces back from the cushion.

S

Safety Shot -  Defensive shot, which leaves the opponent in a position that looks safe.

Screw -  Extreme back-spin has given to the cue-ball, making it rotate in the opposite direction to that wherein it is traveling. On a direct shot, screw causes the cue-ball to come back along its new path.

Seeding -  Automatically placement of players in a tournament where some have to meet the criteria or automatic placement in later on rounds.

Set -  A plant's type wherein the two object balls are touching.

Sewer -  A pocket; generally used in disgust when explaining a scratch

Shaft -  The upper part of a cue that slides on a player's bridge hand and upon which the cue's tip is mounted at its end.

Sharking -  When a player uses devious strategies to psych-out an opponent.

Short Jenny -  Refers to an in-off into a center pocket.

Short Rail -  Any of the two shorter rails on a snooker table.

Shot -  The term, which describes striking the cue ball to score a point.

Shot to Nothing -  Tactical shot wherein a pot is tried in such a manner as to leave the challenger safe if the shot is missed.

Sidespin -  A spin applied to a ball that causes it to swerve and regulating its angle of bounce back.

Sights -  Also called "diamonds". Inlays (diamond or round-shaped) on the rails, which serve up as reference points. They split the end rails into four equal portions and the side rails into eight equal portions.

Single Elimination -  A format of the tournament wherein a player is out of the tournament after losing one match. 

Single table format -  In tournament final stage, mainly Snooker events, where other tables are detached, to have one single table for a final, or more rounds. Some events, for instance, the Snooker Shoot-out are generally played under a single-table format.

Slip Stroke -  A stroking practice wherein a player releases his gripping hand temporarily and re-grasps the cue farther back on the butt just earlier than striking the cue ball.

Snick -  A British phrase for a pot, which needs good contact between cue ball and object ball.

Snookered -  The state of incoming player's cue ball position when he is not able to hit in a straight line and contact all part of an on-ball directly facing the cue ball.

Snookers Required -  This term is used to describe the situation whereby there are not adequate points available on the table to match the scores for the frame, therefore the straggling player needs his/her challenger to foul. The name derived from the reality that this would usually have to be attained by placing the primary player in foul-prone condition, for instance, difficult snooker.

Spider -  It is a kind of rest, like a common American-style rake bridge but with longer legs underneath the head so that the cue is top and can reach above and around a blocking ball to reach the cue ball.

Split Hit -  A shot wherein it cannot be determined which object ball(s) the cue ball makes a contact first, because of the proximity of the object balls.

Spot -  Either of the six selected points on the table on which a color ball is put back after it has left the playing area (generally after it has been pocketed).

Spot -  Returning a color ball to its selected spot on the table. Also known as re-spot.

Spot Ball -  The white ball, which is well-known for the mark or spot.

Squeeze Shot -  Any shot wherein the cue ball or any object ball has to squeeze by an extra ball to move towards the intended target.

Stop Shot -  Any shot which makes the cue ball stops quickly after striking an object ball. Generally needs a full hit.

Stun Shot -  A shot wherein the cue ball has no topspin or backspin on it when it strikes an object ball, and "stuns" out down the tangent line.

Sucker Shot -  A shot, which only a beginner or fool would take. Generally, it is a certain scratch or other foul, or it cannot be pocketed and is possibly leave the challenger in a good position.

Swerve -  An accidental and often just observable curve imparted to the course of the cue ball from the use of English with no level cue. This term should not be confused with a swerve shot.

T

Templates -  To check the shape of the pocket openings whether they are right or wrong, templates are used. They are formed as sets of four, two to assess the corner pockets, and two in the middle.

Three-quarter Ball -  A stroke in which the line of aim goes through the mid of the cue-ball and passes through a point half-way between the mid and the outer edge of the object ball.

Tied Frame -  When the initial score or foul on the black at the last of a frame causes the scores being equal, the black is respotted, the cue-ball is played from "hand" and the next score or foul finishes the game. In a game consisting of the collective score of two or more frames, the black is only respotted if the scores are equal at the finish of the last frame.

Tight -  When the space for a ball to pot into a pocket is extremely small / when a ball is near to the cushion.

Top -  Kind of spin given to the cue-ball by hitting it above center and following through with the cue. This forward spin speed up the cue-ball after it get in touch with the object-ball.

Top Spin -  The spin applied on the white when struck at the top.

Top Of The Table -  This refers to the end of the table where the black is spotted in snooker.

Total Clearance -  For pocketing all the balls, which are racked at the starting of the frame in a single break (run) is referred to as Total Clearance. The least total clearance gives 72 points (without multiple reds being pocketed on a single hit), in the outline of red then yellow frequently until all reds are pocketed then all of the color balls.

Total Snooker -  In blackball, a condition where the player is not able to see any of the balls he/she wants to strike because of obstacle by other balls or the knuckle of a pocket. The player has to call "total snooker" to the referee that permits a dispensation to the player from having to strike a cushion after getting in touch with the object ball that is or else a foul.

Touching Ball -  The situation wherein the cue ball is resting in getting in touch with an object ball. If the object ball is a ball, which perhaps officially is hit, then it is permissible to simply strike away from it and it counts as having struck it in the shot. If that ball travels, then a push shot must have taken place, wherein it is considered as a foul.

Triangle Or (U.S. & Canad.) Rack -  The triangular frame used for arranging the balls for the beginning shot.

U

Undercut -  To cut back of the base of the rubber at the cushion's face as it curves to form the opening of the pocket. This lifts the contact point over the middle of the ball and well widens the pocket.

V

Volunteer Snooker -  A variation, which permitted a player, after pocketing a red and color, to 'volunteer' to play again on selected color. An unlimited number of volunteered colors the player could pocket, even though if the same one was pocketed three times in succession from a similar spot it then remained off the table until the subsequent hit had been played.

W

Waggles -  The back and forth motion of the cue before hitting / the beginning address.

Whitechapel -  When the player potted the opponent's white ball. This is a derogatory phrase describing the intentional potting of the cue-ball of an opponent. 

Whitewash -  In a snooker match, when a player wins every single frame and their opponent doesn't win any is referred to as Whitewash.

Winning Hazard -  A shot wherein the cue ball is used to pocket another ball. Doing this is called potting in snooker.

Wrist Cock -  The wrist action on the final backswing, just before when the player is going to strike the ball.

Y

Yellow Ball -  The lowest-worth color ball in snooker, generally worth two points.

Yellow spot -  On a snooker table, there is a spot where the yellow ball is placed. Despite table size, it is the connection of the "D" and the balk line on the right side of the breaker.

Yellow Pocket -  The corner pocket, which is nearest to the yellow spot.

The National Hunt Chase is the final race on Day One at the Cheltenham Festival and plenty of racegoers will be sticking around to watch the best amateur jockeys in action.

Racing over the now reduced three miles, seven furlongs trip, the top novice staying chasers will do battle over 25 fences in a bid to claim victory.

It is the oldest race at the Festival, with the inaugural National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup taking place as early as 1860.

Here though, we focus on the last 20 renewals to provide the most important betting trends and statistics ahead of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.

National Hunt Chase Trends & Statistics

This race is a bit of a minefield at the best of times but there are a few statistical trends that keep cropping up. Here are our favourite National Hunt Chase trends:

• 20/20 winners had made fewer than seven OR more than 11 career starts prior to Cheltenham.
• All 20 winners were shorter than 40/1 in the horse racing betting odds.
• 20 out of 20 had no more than 12 runners in their previous race.
• 19/20 had raced four or more times that season.
• 19 out of 20 winners went off no bigger than 12/1 last time out.
• 18/20 winners were within one year of the average race age.
• 18 out of 20 won at least one of their last eight starts.
• 18/20 last win was NOT in a Beginners Chase.
• 17 out of 20 winners had previously ran in a Graded race.

Top Trainers For The National Hunt Chase

Jonjo O’Neill is the top trainer in this race with six victories, the most recent being Minella Rocco in 2016.

Minella Rocco went on to finish second in the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup and could be a leading player in the Foxhunters Chase this year.

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have had two winners apiece in this race in recent years and they have the two market leaders ahead of the 2020 renewal.

Can Carefully Selected get the job done or is Champagne Classic the better selection?

National Hunt Chase Prize Money

There was £125,000 up for grabs for winning connections in the 2019 National Hunt Chase and the 2020 prize fund is likely to be similar.

Punters will be keeping a close eye on horse racing tips, predictions and news in the build-up to the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.

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*Credit for the photo in this article belongs to Alamy*

The Mares Novices’ Hurdle is the penultimate race on Day Three at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival but it may be worth the wait for punters.

In recent years, this race has been kind to racegoers – Limini and Laurina have both justified favouritism to claim victory in this Grade 1 race.

First held in 2016, there isn’t much history to go by but there are a few key trends to consider when betting on the Mares Novice Hurdle. Just remember: Willie Mullins is the one to follow in mares’ races at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mares Novice Hurdle Trends & Statistics

It might not be the biggest horse racing betting event of the week but the 2020 Mares Novices’ Hurdle has all the makings of a classic. Here are the most important race trends:

• 4/4 winners were five years old.
• 4 out of 4 winners had been shorter than 12/1 on all previous starts.
• All 4 winners had at least 41 days off prior to Cheltenham.
• 4/4 had ran it a Class 2 or better last time out.
• All 4 winners had won a Class 3 or better over hurdles.
• 4 out of 4 winners raced without any headgear.
• All 4 winners were trained by Willie Mullins.

 

Top Trainers For The Mares Novice Hurdle

Willie Mullins has trained the winner of all four renewals of this race and you’d be hard pressed to back against him making it five in a row this year.

Lamarckise and Dolcita both have lofty reputations and Mullins will be quietly confident of claiming another victory in this race, as well as the Mares Hurdle on Day One of the Festival.

Henry de Bromhead trains ante post favourite Minella Melody and she could be the main danger to Mullins’ dominance. Stablemate to fan favourite Honeysuckle, Minella Melody is one of the rising mares in horse racing.

 

Mares Novice Hurdle Prize Money

According to various sources, the Mares Novices’ Hurdle prize fund for 2020 will be around £90,000.

Most horse racing followers will be expecting Willie Mullins to claim the bulk of the winnings with top spot but could we see a shock on Day 3 at the Festival?

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*Credit for the photo in this article belongs to Alamy*

With the 2020 Cheltenham Festival just around the corner, what better time to reminisce and look back at some of greatest races that have taken place there over the last 20 years.

Everybody remembers the Cheltenham Gold Cup winners but sometimes our memories are a little bit hazy when it comes to those other significant winners, so here’s a little refresher!

 

2016 Queen Mother Champion Chase – Sprinter Sacre

This comeback of all comebacks will undoubtedly stick in the minds of Sprinter Sacre fans, and racing fans in general, for many years to come.

When the gelding recaptured the Queen Mother Champion Chase with a three-and-a-half length defeat of Un De Sceaux – the odds on favourite, it was a scenario that people could scarcely believe would ever happen again.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, the star chaser was the king of his division for several seasons and clocked up an impressive string of ten consecutive wins, including an emphatic victory in the 2013 renewal of the Champion Chase.

But when he was unexpectedly pulled up in the December of that year, it was found that he was suffering from an irregular heartbeat.

Sprinter Sacre subsequently missed the whole of 2014 as his connections went about remedying the problem, but his racecourse return at the start of 2015 bore no fruits and he was beginning to look like a shadow of his former self.

However the tide began to turn and he won two races at the end of 2015 before returning to the pinnacle of the tree once more in the 2016 Champion Chase.

After the race, Henderson said of the popular chaser: “The two years in the wilderness were dark days. There was always something there. This is completely different to where he was a couple of years ago. Everybody at the yard has put it all together.”

 

2003 Champion Hurdle – Rooster Booster

Both Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs will tell you that the same horse gave them their finest hour in horse racing, and that horse was the gutsy grey – Rooster Booster, who landed the Champion Hurdle in 2003.

A year after winning the handicap that traditionally used to close the Festival - the County Hurdle, the nine-year-old returned to Cheltenham to walk away with the Champion Hurdle itself.

Rooster Booster took over from long-time leader Intersky Falcon approaching the final hurdle and blasted away up the hill to the roar of the crowd.

The race was full of drama with Hors La Loi refusing to race and A.P McCoy's mount Copeland toppling over at the third last whilst still in contention.

When they came around the final turn, the scorching pace set by Intersky Falcon had accounted for the entire field except Rooster Booster.

When Johnson pressed the button at the final hurdle, he scooted clear and had 11 lengths to spare in the end. A happy Hobbs said after the race: "He did it very easily didn't he?

"Everything has gone great in the last two weeks and everything went right today. I'm very pleased. 

"I was pleased to hear the commentator say Rhinestone Cowboy was in trouble at the top of the hill. He came there very easily and if anything he was in front too soon, but that couldn't be helped."

Winning owner Terry Warner, who has a penchant for buying grey horses, said afterwards: "It's the greatest day of my life, he's absolutely bolted up 

"I couldn't believe he was so far clear, I was waiting for something to come and beat him. He won so easily really."

 

2007 Triumph Hurdle – Katchit

In what was a fantastic Cheltenham Festival week for Alan King and Robert Thornton, Katchit won the 2007 JCB Triumph Hurdle in great style.

A winner of five of his six starts over hurdles beforehand, Katchit was a well backed 11/2 second-favourite on the day and he coasted to a nine-length victory.

His jockey, Robert Thornton (“Choc”) was able to ease the horse down in the final strides and crossed the line waving his whip to the crowd.

Speaking after the race, Alan King said: "Choc (Thornton) said all season that he would be a good horse when the ground dried up. He was right."

Thornton added: "What a star. I thought he might improve for better ground and he certainly has.

"I got there a shade too soon so I thought I might as well kick on and I was just thinking going to the last where the others were. He's a little legend."

 

2018 Foxhunters Chase – Pacha Du Polder

If ever guts, grit and determination are ever needed, then it’s in the Foxhunters Chase at the Festival but imagine needing to have all those attributes plus having to push yourself through the pain barrier at the same time?

Well, that’s exactly what rider Harriet Tucker had to do aboard Pacha Du Polder in 2018.

When Tucker gave one final big push into her mount going into the last, her shoulder popped out of its socket, meaning she had to ride the finish with no use of her right arm and through gritted teeth.

“At the second last I started hitting him and of course my shoulder dislocated at the last but I kept going” said Tucker.

“Then I was thinking I was going to be placed, but he bunny-hopped the last and that’s when I thought ‘I’m going to win!’ I was screaming ‘come on Pacha,’ trying to smack him down the neck but, with my shoulder as bad as it was, it was hard.

"I tried to push the shoulder back in and could feel the ball rolling around, which wasn’t a nice feeling. It wasn’t the tidiest finish ever, but I was buzzing so much at winning that I didn’t really feel any pain after the race.”

 

2006 Grand Annual – Greenhope

So why have included this one in the concluding paragraph?

The simple reason being is that I backed this Nicky Henderson runner myself at ante-post prices and if you have any strong convictions yourself about a possible Festival winner then go for it, it can really pay off.

I was well aware that there was no race that trainer Nicky Henderson wanted to win more than that dedicated to his father Johnny, and Henderson was running two in the race – Tysou (Mick Fitzgerald) and Greenhope (Andrew Tinkler).

I really rated Greenhope as the better of the two and he duly obliged at 20/1 on the day.

“I knew what I was trying to do. This was always my objective. This was always the plan,” said the emotional trainer, after Greenhope had romped home under jockey Andrew Tinkler.

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Max Nash / AP Photo*

Cue sports are making a push to be included in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Former snooker world champion Shaun Murphy was part of a group that launched cue sports’ bid to be included at the Paris Olympics back in November 2018.

Billiard sports were backed by the French Billiard Federation and started the campaign at the Eiffel Tower (where else?).

A bid was placed for cue sports to be included in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Unfortunately, those efforts fell through a few years ago. Billiard sports face plenty of opposition and a probable uphill battle to make it to Paris.

Some would suggest it doesn’t require enough physical exertion to be included in the Olympics. Getting a new sport admitted to the Olympics requires years of campaigning and needs the support of IOC delegates.

The Tokyo Olympics sees the addition of several new sports. Baseball, softball, karate, sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding all have events taking place this summer.

Wrestling was dropped from the ‘core’ list – there will be a total of 33 sports at the Tokyo Olympics.

Widespread Participation

Snooker is popular in China, and that’s only been helped by the successes of Ding Junhui. Participation figures in the United Kingdom might be limited to around 25,000 per Statista, but tens of millions play in China.

Unfortunately, it isn’t a worldwide sport.

There are only eight non-British players in the top 30 of the world rankings. Five of those are from China, world number 20 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh is from Thailand and the well-known Neil Robertson, currently second in the rankings, is Australian.

World number 39 Hossein Vaffaei and number 36 Luca Brecel are the first players from a ‘new’ nation, representing Iran and Belgium respectively.

Being focussed on a small group of countries doesn’t rule snooker out, though. Other Olympic sports are limited in the same sense – China have dominated the medals in table tennis, for instance.

As Murphy said at the launch of the bid, snooker is a sport that is inclusive unlike most others, “It’s not about are you a man, are you a woman, are you a young person, are you a senior, we are complete level sports,”.

There’s the potential for a mixed snooker or eight-ball pool tournament at the Olympics. It is one of only a handful of potential Olympic sports that could break the gender barriers.

A list of the biggest sports in the world, generated through amount online coverage, placed snooker 19th, ahead of Olympics staples field hockey, handball and gymnastics. Audience figures, according to an article in 2017, are growing worldwide.

 

Skill Level

Anyone who has tried to play snooker will understand where Murphy was coming from when he said, “It’s not like kicking the football into the goal or hit the ball with a golf club. Billiards sports are, I believe, the most difficult range of sport in the entire world,”.

Darts, like cue sports, hasn’t been entered into the Olympics and much of the opposition is because of the physical effort required.

The necessary skill to exceed at snooker and darts is sometimes overlooked, and that shouldn’t be forgotten about as part of the push for its inclusion in the 2024 Olympics.

It perhaps opens a greater discussion about the point of, and what the Olympics should be about.

Believing it is a case of showcasing the best athletes on earth would sway away from snooker. There’s not exactly a case to be built of snooker as a physically gruelling sport.

If the Olympics is about more than physical attributes. If it is to show skill, application and focus as well, then it’s very hard to argue against snooker deserving a place.

As Murphy touched on, snooker is a sport requiring immense touch, a sport that needs years of practise before you can avoid embarrassment, let alone compete with Ronnie O’Sullivan, the greatest snooker player of all-time.

Snooker Has A Strong Case

Shooting events are in the Olympics. Dressage is too.

Criticisms of snooker’s place in the Olympics need to be stronger than traditional arguments about physical strain.

There’s a balance between athletic challenge and pure skill in each and every sport. It’s a spectrum, with snooker and darts at one end and sprinting at the other.

Wanting the Olympics to be about the peak of ‘traditional’ sports, an exhibition of the strongest, fastest human beings is okay. For that to be the case, though, the current list of Olympic sports would need tweaking.

In its current form, the Olympics is inclusive of a wide range of sports. That’s a good thing. Along those lines, there’s barely a case for opposing snooker.

Whether most of the world are familiar with who has won the most UK snooker championship titles is irrelevant.

Part of the fun watching the Olympics is taking in sports that you otherwise wouldn’t, and witnessing competitors excel on the biggest stage of their careers.

Murphy claimed the Olympics could become the pinnacle of snooker. That should be key.

Expanding the Olympics and giving different sports a chance for all-important exposure every four years, is a positive.

Helping the growth of snooker might not be a motivating factor for the IOC, but the arguments against putting in for Paris 2024 – even if with no longer commitment – are flaky.

Assuming it fits into the calendar properly – unlike comparative efforts with other sports – it will attract the biggest names in the world. It’s never going to be a sport adored by the masses, but that’s not what the Olympics is about.

Snooker, and the other cue sports, have every right to be in the Olympics. It’s long overdue.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Aijaz Rahi / AP Photo*