Snooker glossary
This glossary explains the terms used by players and commentators, grouped by what they describe.
Scoring
| Term |
Meaning |
| Break |
The points scored in one visit to the table |
| Century |
A break of 100 or more |
| Maximum |
A break of 147 |
| Clearance |
Potting every ball left on the table in one visit |
| Frame ball |
The pot that leaves the opponent needing snookers |
| Needing snookers |
Trailing by more points than remain on the table |
| Respotted black |
The tie-break when scores are level after the final black |
Shots
| Term |
Meaning |
| Pot |
Sending a ball into a pocket |
| Safety |
A shot played to leave the opponent nothing to pot |
| Snooker |
A position in which the opponent cannot hit the required ball directly |
| Plant |
Playing one object ball onto another to pot the second |
| Double |
Potting a ball after it has bounced off a cushion |
| Cannon |
The cue ball striking a second ball after the first |
| Kiss |
Light contact between two balls, often unintended |
| In-off |
The cue ball going into a pocket after hitting another ball |
| Shot to nothing |
An attempted pot that leaves the cue ball safe if it misses |
| Fluke |
A pot or a good result that was not intended |
Cue ball control
| Term |
Meaning |
| Screw |
Backspin, which brings the cue ball back after contact |
| Stun |
Striking the cue ball so that it stops, or nearly stops, on contact |
| Top |
Topspin, which makes the cue ball run on |
| Side |
Sidespin, which changes the angle off a cushion |
| Position |
Where the cue ball finishes for the next shot |
| Running side and check side |
Sidespin that widens or narrows the angle off a cushion |
Rules
| Term |
Meaning |
| Foul |
An illegal shot, which gives points to the opponent |
| Free ball |
The right to name any ball as the ball on, given when a foul leaves a snooker |
| Miss |
A call made when a player fails to hit the ball on without a good enough attempt |
| Touching ball |
The cue ball resting against another ball. The player must play away from it |
| Push shot |
A foul in which the cue stays in contact with the cue ball too long |
| Ball on |
The ball a player is required to hit next |
| Re-rack |
Starting a frame again by agreement when play has become stuck |
The table and equipment
| Term |
Meaning |
| Baulk |
The area behind the baulk line |
| The D |
The semicircle from which the cue ball is played in hand |
| Pack |
The cluster of reds |
| Rest |
A stick with a cross-shaped head that supports the cue on long shots |
| Spider and swan |
Raised rests for bridging over other balls |
| Extension |
A piece that lengthens the cue |
| Nap |
The direction in which the fibres of the cloth lie |
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