Glossary of Cue Sports Terms - K

K

key ball

The object ball involved in a key shot.

key shot

1. A shot or ball that allows a player to obtain shape on another ball hard to play position to.

2. A shot or ball that is the "key" to running out.

3. The 14th object ball in a rack of straight pool that, when proper position is achieved on, allows easy position play, in turn, on the last (15th) object ball for an intergame break shot.

kick

1. Short for kick shot. Also used as a verb, "to kick " (US).

2. Same as cling (US) and skid (British). Noun, verb and rare adjective usage as per "cling".

kick shot

A shot in which the cue ball is driven to one or more rails (cushions in British English) before reaching its intended target—usually an object ball. Often shortened to 'kick'.

kill shot

Also kill. A shot intended to slow down or "kill" the cue ball's speed as much as possible after contact with an object ball; usually a shot with draw, often combined with inside english. Also known as a dead ball shot.

kiss

An instance of contact between balls, usually used in the context of describing an object ball contacting another object ball (e.g. "the 2 ball kissed off the 12 ball"), or in snooker the cue ball making contact with some object ball after the initial contact with a ball on. If the player's intention was to cause two object balls to kiss (e.g. to pocket a shot ball by ricocheting it off a stationary one), it is often called a kiss shot. Compare double kiss; contrast carom.

kiss shot

A shot in which the object is to pocket (pot) an object ball by striking it with the cue ball and then having the object ball ricochet off another object ball into a pocket.

kitchen

The area on the table behind the head string. The origin of the term has been the subject of some speculation but the best explanation known is that in the 1800s, many homes did not have room for both a billiard table and a dining room table. The solution was a billiards table that had a cover converting it into a dining table. Kept in the dining room, play on such a table was often restricted by the size of the room, so it would be placed so that the head rail would face the connected kitchen door, thus affording a player room for the backswing without hitting a wall. A player was therefore either half or sometimes fully (literally) "in the kitchen" when breaking the balls. See also baulk.

knuckle

One of two jutting curves of the noses of the cushions on either side of each pocket where cushion and pocket meet, forming the jaw of the pocket. The knuckles are protrusive and comparatively sharp on a pool table, and can be used like a basketball backboard to rebound a ball into a pocket. On billiard tables for snooker, English billiards, Russian pyramid and various other games, the knuckles are rounded, and thwart the backboard effect. The curvature of snooker and English billiards knuckles are determined by pocket templates produced by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. The knuckle is also known as a point, horn or titty, depending on area and company.