Billiards refers to all games normally played on a billiard table. Games that are played on a table with pockets are usually called pocket billiards to differentiate them from carom games which are played on billiard tables without pockets. All of the games included with Ultimate Pool are pocket billiard games, and in the United States these games are usually called pool.
Billiards has been a popular game for centuries and originally was an indoor version of lawn croquet. This is why the traditional felt color is green--it's supposed to look like grass. Billiard tables have changed quite a bit over the years, but the tables we play on today have been standard since the mid-1800s.
A proper treatment of the history of billiards would probably require several hundred pages of text and is way beyond the scope of this manual. If you are curious about the history of billiards, check the bibliography at the end of this manual. It will point you in the direction of more information.
The billiard table shown below is a reduced version of the one used in Ultimate Pool. It is annotated and will help you become familiar with pool terminology. A basic understanding of pool terms is necessary in order to make sense of the individual game rules which follow.
The following terms are the subset of billiard terms used in Ultimate Pool. If you are not already familiar with basic pool terminology, you should read through this section, as the specific game rules that follow assume that you know these terms.
Back spin. See bottom spin.
Ball in hand. Also called "cue ball in hand", this means that you may position the cue ball anywhere on the table you would like to before shooting. You will often be awarded ball in hand when your opponent fouls.
Ball in hand behind the head string. Also called "cue ball in hand behind the head string", this means that you may position the cue ball anywhere behind the head string before making a shot. Most opening breaks are ball in hand behind the head string and you may move the cue ball from the head spot and reposition it before breaking if you like. Ultimate Pool enforces the ball in hand behind the head string rule for the different games, and you will only be permitted to reposition the cue ball in a valid location.
Ball in kitchen. Also called "cue ball in kitchen", this is a slang term that means the same thing as "ball in hand behind the head string".
Bank shot. A shot where either the cue ball first hits one or more cushions before striking an object ball, or where an object ball first hits one or more cushions before being pocketed. During play, if you do not have a direct shot to make, you will often need to make a bank shot in order to pocket one of your object balls or avoid fouling.
Bed of table. The flat, interior surface of the pool table where the balls roll around.
Bottom spin. A shot where the cue strikes the cue ball below center. Bottom spin imparts a backward spin on the cue ball. After contacting an object ball, any remaining bottom spin will cause the cue ball to roll backward. Bottom spin is often used to avoid scratching, especially when an object ball lies very near a pocket.
Bottoms. Another term for bottom spin.
Break. The opening shot in pool when the player shoots the cue ball into the racked balls in order to break them apart.
Butt of cue. The wide end of the pool cue that you hold in your hand.
Call shot. A game is call shot if you are required to indicate the ball you intend to pocket and the pocket you intend to hit it into. The individual game rules note whether a game is call shot.
Called ball. The ball you have indicated you will pocket.
Called pocket. The pocket you have selected to hit the called ball into.
Center string. The imaginary line crossing the width of the pool table, passing through the center spot.
Center spot. The center of a pool table's playing surface. (See the billiard table diagram above.)
Cue. The tapered stick which you use at the pool table to strike the cue ball.
Cue ball. The unnumbered, ivory-colored ball that you strike with your cue during play.
Cushion. The felt-covered, raised bumpers that encircle the table's playing surface.
Draw. Another term for bottom spin. A draw shot is a shot with bottom spin applied.
English. The American term for side spin; so named because the Americans learned this technique from the English. See the entry for side spin for an explanation of its effects.
Follow. Another term for top spin. A follow shot is a shot with top spin applied.
Foot spot. The spot on the pool table where the balls are racked. In general, the foot spot is also where illegally pocketed balls are spotted. (See the billiard table diagram above.)
Foot string. The imaginary line crossing the width of the pool table, passing through the foot spot.
Force. The amount of power or energy used on a stroke.
Foul. A foul is any illegal shot you make during a pool game (e.g., in most games, scratching is a foul). Fouls are very game specific and are discussed in the individual games rules that follow.
Head spot. The spot on the pool table where the cue ball is initially positioned, and where it is spotted after a scratch. (See the billiard table diagram above.)
Head string. The imaginary line crossing the width of the pool table, passing through the head spot. In general, you may position the cue ball anywhere behind the head string before the opening break.
Inning. A single player's uninterrupted shooting run at the table. A player's inning ends when he either wins the game or fails to make a valid shot and must turn the table over to his opponent.
Kitchen. A slang term used to indicate the area of the pool table's playing surface behind the head string. A ball is "in the kitchen" if it is positioned in this area of the table. (Note: It is the center of the ball that determines whether or not a ball is in the kitchen. If the ball's center is on or behind the headstring, then it is in the kitchen.)
Long string. The imaginary line running the length of the pool table, and passing through the head spot, center spot, and foot spot.
Object balls. Any balls on the table other than the cue ball. The term object ball (singular) is used to indicate the ball you are attempting to pocket.
Open break. A requirement in some games that the break be sufficiently hard to cause the balls to be widely dispersed on the table. Some games enforce an open break by requiring that a minimum number of balls hit the foot cushion or the break is invalid. Any specific requirements are noted in the individual game rules.
Open table. A term used in Stripes & Solids and in 8-ball to indicate that a player's set of balls (stripes or solids) has not yet been determined. A player may legally shoot at any ball on an open table.
Position. Position refers to the positioning of the cue ball after you make a shot. Advanced pool players usually try not only to pocket an object ball during a shot, but also to position the cue ball advantageously for their next shot.
Push out. A special play in tournament 9-ball in the shot immediately following the opening break. The player who is shooting has the option to push out and reposition the cue ball rather than attempting to hit the valid object ball. See the 9-ball tournament rules for a more complete explanation.
Rack. The triangular device used to group together the object balls used in a game.
Rail. The outer edges of a pool table not covered with felt (and usually made of wood).
Safety. A shot made in pool where the goal is not to pocket an object ball, but rather to reposition the cue ball. It is usually a defensive play and is made when the player cannot find a reasonable shot, so instead opts to reposition the cue ball to minimize his opponent's chances of scoring. After a safety play, the player's inning at the pool table ends. Individual games enforce different rules regarding if and when safety plays are permitted and what constitutes a valid safety play.
Scratch. Any shot where the cue ball is pocketed. In general, if you scratch, any of your own object balls you pocketed will be spotted and your opponent will get cue ball in hand or cue ball in hand behind the headstring.
Shot. A shot begins as soon as your cue makes contact with the cue ball, causing it to project forward.
Side spin. A shot where the cue strikes the cue ball to either side instead of in the center. Side spin affects the position of the cue ball after it makes contact with a ball or cushion. A shot made with left side will deflect off to the left, and a shot made with right side, to the right.
Spin. A shot in pool where the cue strikes the cue ball off center. See top spin, bottom spin, and side spin for an explanation of their individual effects.
Spotted balls. A spotted ball is a ball that is removed from a pocket and placed back on the pool table. Generally, the cue ball and any of a player's object balls are spotted after a player scratches (however, individual games rules do vary). Object balls are usually spotted on the foot spot and the cue ball is usually spotted on the head spot.
Stroke. The forward movement of the pool cue as the cue ball is struck.
Stun shot. A shot where the cue ball has no forward or backward roll when it collides with an object ball. After collision, the cue ball stops and remains in position.
Top spin. A shot where the cue strikes the cue ball above center. On a normal shot, the cue ball skids for a bit before achieving natural roll, causing it to slow down. However, a shot made with top spin imparts some natural roll to the cue ball and the initial slowdown is diminished.
Tops. Another term for top spin.