In the BHE thread there was occasion when I got confused and the problem was that I had the definition of a term wrong or the writer had use the wrong term. I searched on the forum for a definitions thread and didn't see one. Maybe this will become a 'sticky', maybe not. The very large majority of these definitions are not mine. I looked them up from different web sites and tried to pick out just the ones that might be needed, but left out the ones that I thought were common enough that everyone knows. For example I left out the definition for 'cue ball' and 'bank shot'. Anything I found that was in anyway out of the ordinary I included. I think a few of them can be discussed a little before we agree on the definition to make sure we get them right. Before putting them all in alphabetical order I'll start off with a couple I think need clarified. If something can't be agreed on I'll put up a voting thread on that particular definition. Some of the others may even be 'writer' specific, if it is lets clear it up. Additions?
center ball
striking the cue ball in the center of the ball during a shot. I'll put this first cause I've been confused a couple of times on this. It seems some think that this means 'without using side spin' I got all confused because I was thinking it meant in addition to no side spin 'no follow or draw' either, hitting the cue ball in the center. A circle only has one center. It is not nearer to the top than the bottom any more than it is nearer the left than the right. But if the common meaning of the term center ball is not making any reference to the vertical axis at all then that is the way it is. I couldn't find anything official referring to this.
Inside english, outside english, natural english, reverse english, running english
In the definitions I found 'natural english is said to be the same as running english. I always thought that it was the same as outside english. This all need defined because contrary to what some might think, outside english is not the same thing as running english and reverse(ing) english is not the same thing as inside english. Inside and outside referring to the object ball, running referring to the rail, but is natural really the same as running? Does reverse english mean 'reversing english'?
The definitions below on 'inside cut' and 'outside cut' I'm not sure about. They are making reference to banking and that is not the way I understond these terms. Tell me how to reword them.
the rest of the list
stun shot:
Similar to a stop shot, but used when there is a slight angle on the shot. The cue ball is stunned but still has some lateral movement along the tangent line.
tangent line:
One of the critical concepts in pool. The tangent line is an imaginary like that is perpendicular to the line the object ball will follow on any shot that is not straight in. If the cue ball strikes the object ball while it is still skidding, i.e. with out any forward or backward roll, it will move along the tangent line after striking the object ball. This single concept is the basis for all position play in pool.
collision-induced English:
Sidespin imparted to the object ball during a cut shot, caused by sliding friction between the cue ball and the object ball.
collision-induced throw:
Deflection of the object ball path away from the impact line of a cut shot, caused by sliding friction between the cue ball and the object ball.
deflection (AKA “squirt”):
Displacement of the cue ball path away from the cue stick stroking direction caused by the use of English. The effect increases with cue stick speed and the amount of English.
English:
Term usually used to refer to sidespin applied to the cue ball, but can also be used to refer to any type of spin applied to the cue ball (e.g., with draw and follow shots).
English-induced throw:
Deflection of the object ball path away from the impact line resulting from sidespin of the cue ball. It is caused by sliding friction between the cue ball and the object ball.
English transfer:
The imparting of a small amount of spin from the cue ball to the object ball, in the opposite direction of the cue ball spin (e.g., left spin on the cue ball results in transfer of a small amount of right spin to the object ball).
inside cut:
Term used to describe a bank shot where the cue ball hits the object ball on the side toward the bank direction, relative to the aiming line. The cue ball imparts natural (running) collision-induced English to the object ball.
inside English:
Sidespin in the direction of the object ball in a cut shot (e.g., when the cue ball strikes an object ball on the left side, creating a cut shot to the right, right sidespin would be called “inside English” and left sidespin would be “outside English”).
kill shot:
A shot where you use draw or reverse English to limit the cue ball’s motion after object ball or rail contact.
natural English:
Same as “running English.”
outside cut:
Term used to describe a bank shot where the cue ball hits the object ball on the side away from the bank direction, relative to the aiming line. The cue ball imparts reverse collision-induced English to the object ball.
outside English:
Sidespin in the direction away from of the object ball in a cut shot (e.g., when the cue ball strikes an object ball on the left side, creating a cut shot to the right, left sidespin would be called “outside english”).
pocket speed:
The slowest you can hit a shot and still pocket an object ball. The object ball is given just enough speed to reach and drop into the pocket.
rail-induced English:
Sidespin imparted to a ball by a rail when the ball approaches and rebounds off the rail at an angle.
reverse English:
Sidespin where the cue ball slows and has a smaller rebound angle after hitting a rail (i.e., the opposite of “natural” or “running” English). The spin is in the direction opposite from the “rolling” direction along the rail during contact.
running English:
Sidespin that causes the cue ball to speed up after bouncing off a rail, also resulting in a larger rebound angle. The spin is in the direction that results in “rolling” along the rail during contact.
squirt:
Slang term for “deflection.”
stun shot:
A shot where the cue ball has no top or bottom spin (i.e., it is sliding across the felt) when hits the object ball.
throw:
Object ball motion away from the impact line due to relative sideways sliding motion between the cue ball and object ball caused by sidespin or a cut angle.
throw shot:
A shot in which English is used to alter the path of the object ball.
center ball
striking the cue ball in the center of the ball during a shot. I'll put this first cause I've been confused a couple of times on this. It seems some think that this means 'without using side spin' I got all confused because I was thinking it meant in addition to no side spin 'no follow or draw' either, hitting the cue ball in the center. A circle only has one center. It is not nearer to the top than the bottom any more than it is nearer the left than the right. But if the common meaning of the term center ball is not making any reference to the vertical axis at all then that is the way it is. I couldn't find anything official referring to this.
Inside english, outside english, natural english, reverse english, running english
In the definitions I found 'natural english is said to be the same as running english. I always thought that it was the same as outside english. This all need defined because contrary to what some might think, outside english is not the same thing as running english and reverse(ing) english is not the same thing as inside english. Inside and outside referring to the object ball, running referring to the rail, but is natural really the same as running? Does reverse english mean 'reversing english'?
The definitions below on 'inside cut' and 'outside cut' I'm not sure about. They are making reference to banking and that is not the way I understond these terms. Tell me how to reword them.
the rest of the list
stun shot:
Similar to a stop shot, but used when there is a slight angle on the shot. The cue ball is stunned but still has some lateral movement along the tangent line.
tangent line:
One of the critical concepts in pool. The tangent line is an imaginary like that is perpendicular to the line the object ball will follow on any shot that is not straight in. If the cue ball strikes the object ball while it is still skidding, i.e. with out any forward or backward roll, it will move along the tangent line after striking the object ball. This single concept is the basis for all position play in pool.
collision-induced English:
Sidespin imparted to the object ball during a cut shot, caused by sliding friction between the cue ball and the object ball.
collision-induced throw:
Deflection of the object ball path away from the impact line of a cut shot, caused by sliding friction between the cue ball and the object ball.
deflection (AKA “squirt”):
Displacement of the cue ball path away from the cue stick stroking direction caused by the use of English. The effect increases with cue stick speed and the amount of English.
English:
Term usually used to refer to sidespin applied to the cue ball, but can also be used to refer to any type of spin applied to the cue ball (e.g., with draw and follow shots).
English-induced throw:
Deflection of the object ball path away from the impact line resulting from sidespin of the cue ball. It is caused by sliding friction between the cue ball and the object ball.
English transfer:
The imparting of a small amount of spin from the cue ball to the object ball, in the opposite direction of the cue ball spin (e.g., left spin on the cue ball results in transfer of a small amount of right spin to the object ball).
inside cut:
Term used to describe a bank shot where the cue ball hits the object ball on the side toward the bank direction, relative to the aiming line. The cue ball imparts natural (running) collision-induced English to the object ball.
inside English:
Sidespin in the direction of the object ball in a cut shot (e.g., when the cue ball strikes an object ball on the left side, creating a cut shot to the right, right sidespin would be called “inside English” and left sidespin would be “outside English”).
kill shot:
A shot where you use draw or reverse English to limit the cue ball’s motion after object ball or rail contact.
natural English:
Same as “running English.”
outside cut:
Term used to describe a bank shot where the cue ball hits the object ball on the side away from the bank direction, relative to the aiming line. The cue ball imparts reverse collision-induced English to the object ball.
outside English:
Sidespin in the direction away from of the object ball in a cut shot (e.g., when the cue ball strikes an object ball on the left side, creating a cut shot to the right, left sidespin would be called “outside english”).
pocket speed:
The slowest you can hit a shot and still pocket an object ball. The object ball is given just enough speed to reach and drop into the pocket.
rail-induced English:
Sidespin imparted to a ball by a rail when the ball approaches and rebounds off the rail at an angle.
reverse English:
Sidespin where the cue ball slows and has a smaller rebound angle after hitting a rail (i.e., the opposite of “natural” or “running” English). The spin is in the direction opposite from the “rolling” direction along the rail during contact.
running English:
Sidespin that causes the cue ball to speed up after bouncing off a rail, also resulting in a larger rebound angle. The spin is in the direction that results in “rolling” along the rail during contact.
squirt:
Slang term for “deflection.”
stun shot:
A shot where the cue ball has no top or bottom spin (i.e., it is sliding across the felt) when hits the object ball.
throw:
Object ball motion away from the impact line due to relative sideways sliding motion between the cue ball and object ball caused by sidespin or a cut angle.
throw shot:
A shot in which English is used to alter the path of the object ball.
