Nick Prinsloo has been playing pool for a total of 21 years, 15 years competitively. Originally a pro-level snooker player and instructor, Nick discovered 9-ball and came to the US in 1998, where he has been playing on regional tours ever since. Lately, Nick writes more about the game than he actually plays. Nick was the Guide for Billiards at About.com for almost four years. Nick's column archive is located here.
	Part 3: Learn The Lingo By Nick Prinsloo As with every sport, there is a certain set of terminology that is shared among players, apart from the expletives. You may not think this very important, but the fact is, when listening to more experienced players, your instructor, or the TV commentator, you may pick up a lot of little useful tips - if only you knew exactly what they exactly they are talking about. Not only that, but if you knew the correct terms for certain aspects of the game, you may come across a little more professional than if you refer to your thousand dollar cue as a stick. Sticks are things that grow on trees, lie on the ground around trees, and in certain walks of life, where people are from (no disrespect intended). It is a cue - not a cue-stick, but a cue. It may not seem like much, but knowing what "inside" and "outside" english is will help you get a better grasp on the game. The same with terms like "throw", "squirt", "skid", "tangent", "kick", "three-railing it", "running out", "on the hill", "stop shot", "cross side", "looped bridge", and so on. Knowing what all the kinds of spin is called will not only enable you to talk with the big boys, but also understand what they are saying so that you can try it out for yourself. If someone talks about playing a rail-shot with deep draw and outside english to come off three rails in order to get shape on the next shot, you should at least understand what they are saying before learning how to get the first part of the shot right.  Understanding reserved words, foreign to non-participants of a particular practice, is important in every learning experience - from studying medicine, to shooting good stick (or is that cue?). Learning to talk - and listen - like a pro is one of those steps you don't want to skip on your way up the ladder. Next page > The Basic Technique > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Copyright © About.com