L.A. SPEAK : Pool Parlance
ball banger: n . novice player who tries to look experienced by slamming the balls around.
clock: v . to watch a player closely to determine how well he really plays. “I missed a few shots on purpose because I knew that guy was clocking me.”
dog: v . to choke. “Gerry plays like God, but he’s always dogging the eight-ball.”
fish: n . one who regularly loses money gambling.
jam-up: adv. playing well. “That road agent pretended to be a lobster, but I know he really plays jam-up. “
lemon: v . hiding your ability. “That fish will play you all night if you lemon well enough.”
lobster: n . someone who can’t play very well. Syn. dead man .
on the hill: adj . when a player needs one game to win a set.
park the car: v . to place the cue ball in a certain spot.
road agent: n . a player who travels from town to town playing pool for a living. If he’s good, he’s called a road warrior.
steering: v . when a local tells a road agent whom to play, usually for a cut of the winnings.
woof: v . to goad someone into playing. “I woofed that lobster for an hour, then took him for $50.”
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