C
Cannon
A contact made with another ball(s) after making contact with the object ball, e.g. “he will play to cannon the reds in order to stay on the black”.
Centre pocket
The two pockets on either side of the table, halfway up the side cushions. They are cut shallower than corner pockets because they have a 180-degree opening, instead of 90 degrees. Also commonly called a middle pocket.
Century
Describing a break of 100 points or more, which involves consecutively potting at least 26 balls.
Chalk
A powdered substance placed on the tip of the cue to provide grip when striking the cue ball. Usually green in colour, it is common for a player to “chalk” their cue between each shot.
Check side
A type of spin imparted to the cue ball through striking either left or right of centre in order to make it rebound from a cushion at a shallower angle than it would if the spin had not been used.
Chinese snooker
A situation where the cue ball is directly in front of another ball in the line of the shot such that the player is unable to play the shot using their normal bridge.
Choke
Usually associated with committing unforced errors towards the end of a frame or match. “he choked under pressure”.
Clean
1) Describing a pot that goes directly into the pocket without touching either jaw.
2) A term used to describe the wiping of any ball on the table, usually in an attempt to prevent kicks. “he is having the cue ball cleaned”.
Clearance
The successful potting, consecutively, of all object balls in play.
Cloth
See baize.
Cluster
A group of two or more object balls that are touching or are close together. A term commonly made famous by BBC TV commentator, John Virgo - “he will attempt to cannon into the cluster”.
Cocked hat double
A term applied to a type of double, using three cushions, e.g. around the baulk colours and into a centre pocket.
Colour(ed) ball(s)
All of the object balls, excluding the reds. A colour ball must be potted after each red and followed by a further red in order to make a break. Whenever a colour is potted, it is replaced onto its own spot until there are no reds left. After which the colours must be potted in their order:
yellow(2 points);
green(3 points);
brown(4 points);
blue(5 points);
pink(6 points);
black(7 points).
Contact point
The point at which the cue ball and object ball touch during a shot.
Containing safety
Also referred to as a “negative safety”. It is usually played because the player at the table is faced with a difficult pot or safety shot.
Corner pocket
The four pockets located in each corner of the table. They have a 90 degree opening and as such are cut deeper than center pockets.
Cross-rest
See “Rest”
Cross double
Describes a shot in which the object ball is potted after hitting a cushion, with cue ball crossing its future path.
Crucible
The theatre in Sheffield, England that has been home to the world championship since 1977.
Cue
The snooker player’s weapon. Traditionally made from wood, with modern variations using graphite. It is usually around 55-60 inches long, weighing between 16-20 oz. Cues can be one or two-piece with a joint either half way of three-quarters of the down the butt, making it easier to transport.
Cuefactor
The world’s first online snooker handicap system. “how big is yours?”
Cue action
A term describing the technique used by a players to play any given shot. Coaching has become more widely accepted in the search for a perfect cue action, although techniques vary dramatically amongst players.
Cue ball
The ball, which a player strikes with the tip of the cue, often referred to as the "white ball".
Cue power
A term used to describe the amount of speed a player can transfer to the cue ball through their cue action. Among the modern players Stephen Lee and Ali Carter are considered to generate the most cue power.
Cue tip
A dome-shape piece of leather, positioned at the top of the cue and used to strike the cue ball. The tip is stuck onto the ferrule using a super strength-fixing agent, e.g. Super Glue.
Cushion
The boundaries of the snooker table, made from rubber or synthetic rubber and covered in baize, allowing the balls to rebound on the bed of the table.
Cut
Any shot that is not straight. More commonly used to describe a shot that requires a very fine contact between cue ball and object ball.
