balkline

Thân thiện

A player places the cue ball behind the balkline to begin the game.

Definition

Noun: 1. A line drawn across a billiard table: Specifically, a line marked on the surface of a billiard or pool table, behind which the cue ball must be placed at the start of a game or after certain fouls. It defines a specific area of the table.

Usage

The term "balkline" is used primarily in the context of cue sports, such as billiards and pool, to refer to a specific rule or physical marking on the table. - It is a rule term: The player must place the cue ball behind the balkline. - It is a physical feature: The balkline is painted or inlaid on the cloth of the table.

Examples

• In the game of English billiards, the cue ball must be placed behind the balkline for the opening break.
• After the foul, the opponent got ball-in-hand behind the balkline.
• The balkline on this table is very faint and needs to be re-marked.

Advanced Usage

• Balkline billiards: This refers to a specific, complex carom billiards discipline where the table is divided into rectangular "balk" spaces by a grid of balklines. Shots are restricted within these areas to increase difficulty. In this context, "balkline" defines the core rule of the game variant.
  • He is a champion in balkline billiards, a game requiring great precision.

Variants and Related Words

• Baulk line: This is a common alternative spelling, particularly in British English.
• Head string: In pool (especially American-style), the analogous line at the top of the table is often called the "head string." The area behind it may be referred to as the "kitchen."
• String line: A more general term sometimes used interchangeably with balkline.

Synonyms

• Baulk line (variant spelling)
• Starting line (general descriptive term in this context)

Related Phrases

• Behind the balkline: The standard phrase indicating the required position of the cue ball.
  • You must shoot from behind the balkline.
• Balk area / Balk space: The rectangular area of the table behind the balkline, or the sections defined by balklines in balkline billiards.

Học thuật

Noun

1. line across a billiard table behind which the cue balls are placed at the start of a game

Từ đồng nghĩa

• baulk-line
• string line