Question about term used in pool..."flat"

[inside_english]

I have been hearing commentators say that a player got "flat" on their shot or their position. What does this mean? Are they too close to being straight in?

TIA

 

[Seneca Steve]

You got it right. When you are too straight the only options for position on the next ball is forward or backward.

 

[TX Poolnut]

Flat on a shot means no angle.

No angle usually means bad.

 

[jason]

No angle usually means bad.

Especially in 9-ball, but less in other games.

 

[leaguedude]

agreed. Also, doesn't flat also mean no spin, or a stun shot? I've heard people say "just hit it with a flat ball" meaning stun it with no spin. I might be totally off here, just wondering what others can offer....

 

[CreeDo]

I've heard the second kind of flat too though the first is the most common use that I know of. You can also say the cue ball got a flat (i.e. ran out of gas) when you don't go far enough on position.

 

[Ironman317]

no angle on the next shot or no curve on your tip