TheThaiger
Banned
The opening shot is here referred to as the break shot. A run is the equivalent of a break (in the UK). The "string" can be a string or it can be a wire and can be referred to by either term... or it can be replaced with a chalkboard or anything else whereby one can keep score. Individual scores are sometimes kept but more often (in my experience) the score is a reflection of the net difference between the two totals. 19 on the wire or string would mean the player having same has a 19 point lead. And isn't it the lead that really matters?
We make bank shots instead of doubles. We don't pot balls, we "make" or pocket them. Most places require a rail be contacted during a shot to avoid a foul. There is no bonus ball, no frozen ball rule, nor any three foul rule in snooker. A shot to nowhere is a foul.
That or some close variation is how I've seen snooker played here in the US since I was a child. The end result is a game that is close enough to the British version to be indistinguishable by most. One who could play well at one could surely and easily adapt to the other (save for the differences in ball and table size).
I don't see the differences in terminology or the slight rule differences as a major source of conflict or irritation.
What REALLY bothers me is the demise of snooker in this country and no apparent serious effort to counter that trend. Bar tables have been our curse.
What about SnookerUSA? Did that ever take off?